Horological Resonator Flexible Rotary Guide With Rotation Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing horological resonator mechanisms with flexible guides are vulnerable to spurious movements and impact-induced stress, particularly in directions other than those protected by current impact protection systems, which can lead to premature failure of resilient strips.
Innovation Solution
A horological resonator mechanism with a flexible suspension allowing multiple degrees of freedom, equipped with retaining means to dampen rotations in specific directions, using resilient strips and damping elements to mitigate spurious movements and enhance impact protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a flexible guide with resilient strips is used to maximize the quality factor of the resonator, then the oscillation quality is improved, but the resilient strips become vulnerable to impact-induced stress and premature failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a shock absorber mechanism with a movable mass and resilient elements that are positioned to engage before impact occurs. The shock absorber absorbs impact energy through controlled deformation of its resilient components, protecting the fragile resilient strips of the flexible guide from direct impact stress. This beforehand cushioning approach allows the resonator to maintain high quality factor while protecting its vulnerable resilient elements from impact-induced failure.
2Strength
If impact protection systems are added to protect the resilient strips, then the impact resistance is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shock absorber mechanism is designed to serve multiple functions: it protects the resilient strips from impact, maintains the virtual pivot position stability, and does not interfere with the normal oscillation of the resonator. By making the protection mechanism multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving comprehensive impact protection.
3Strength
If existing shock absorbers are used to protect the pivots, then the pivot protection is improved, but the resilient elements remain vulnerable to impact
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of protecting only the pivots as in conventional shock absorbers, the patent inverts the protection approach by positioning the shock absorber to protect the resilient strips of the flexible guide. The shock absorber's resilient elements are arranged to engage with the flexible guide's resilient strips, transferring impact energy away from the pivots and onto the shock absorber's protective elements, thereby protecting the most vulnerable components from impact stress.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The mechanism effectively reduces disturbances and enhances the resilience of the flexible suspension, preventing premature failure of the resilient strips by damping unwanted rotational movements and improving impact resistance.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible suspension arranged to allow the anchor unit to move with a plurality of degrees of freedom
Implementation Method 2
means for retaining the flexible suspension, which means are configured to damp rotation of the inertial element and of the flexible suspension about the direction X, and/or about the direction Y
Implementation Method 3
said inertial element being subjected to return forces exerted by a flexible guide forming a virtual pivot
Data Source
AI summary
A horological resonator mechanism (100) including a structure (1) and an anchor unit (30) from which is suspended at least one inertial element (2) arranged to oscillate, with a first degree of rotational freedom RZ, about a pivot axis (D) extending in a first direction Z. The inertial element (2) is subjected to return forces exerted by a flexible guide (200) forming a virtual pivot, the anchor unit (30) being suspended from said structure (1) by a flexible suspension (300) arranged to allow said anchor unit (30) to move with a plurality of degrees of freedom. A retaining device (10) provides the flexible suspension (300), which is configured to damp the rotation of the inertial element (2) and of the flexible suspension (300) about the second direction X, and/or about the third direction Y.