Horological Anchor Elastic Lips for Wear and Shock Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing escapement mechanisms in watch movements suffer from wear and degradation due to incessant shocks, leading to reduced efficiency and amplitude, with existing solutions like surface coatings, material choices, and bearings either delaying shock effects or being incompatible with the mechanical kinematics of anchors and balance wheels.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of micrometric slots or chambers in the anchor's horns to create elastic lips that absorb and distribute impact forces, maintaining mechanical strength while reducing wear by making the contact zone between the anchor and balance wheel elastic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If surface coatings or special materials are used, then wear resistance is improved, but shock attenuation capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by creating elastic lips through micrometric slots or chambers in the anchor's horns. These elastic lips act as flexible elements that can deform under shock loads, providing shock attenuation while maintaining wear resistance at the contact surfaces. The elastic deformation absorbs impact energy without compromising the hardness or wear resistance of the contact zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the anchor horn material from purely rigid to elastically deformable by introducing micrometric slots or chambers. This parameter change allows the material to exhibit both wear resistance (through hardened contact surfaces) and shock attenuation (through elastic deformation of the elastic lips), resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.
2Loss of energy
If bearings are used, then friction is reduced, but compatibility with shock-loaded kinematics deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the bearing-based friction reduction mechanism with an elastic lip-based shock absorption mechanism. Instead of using bearings that are incompatible with shock loads, the invention uses elastic lips that naturally accommodate shock-loaded kinematics through elastic deformation, providing both friction reduction and shock compatibility without requiring bearing components.
3Weight of moving object
If lever arm length is reduced, then inertia is reduced, but modification of existing movement kinematics deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by introducing micrometric slots or chambers only in specific zones of the anchor horns where elasticity is needed, rather than changing the overall dimensions or inertia of the entire lever arm. This localized modification allows the existing movement kinematics to remain unchanged while providing shock attenuation benefits at the critical contact points.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-configuring the elastic lips through micrometric slots or chambers during manufacturing, so that the shock attenuation capability is built into the component itself. This allows the existing movement to be used as-is without requiring modification of kinematics or replacement of other components, simply by equipping the anchor with this pre-designed elastic feature.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If elastic elements are introduced, then shock attenuation is improved, but mechanical strength deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses thin film elastic lips created by micrometric slots or chambers that are specifically designed to deform elastically under shock loads. These thin elastic elements provide shock attenuation while maintaining overall mechanical strength because the elastic deformation is localized and reversible, and the contact surfaces retain their full strength for load-bearing functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent carefully controls the parameters of the elastic lips (thickness, slot width, chamber size) to ensure that the elastic deformation remains within acceptable limits that do not compromise mechanical strength. By optimizing these parameters, the invention achieves shock attenuation while maintaining the necessary structural integrity and mechanical strength for the anchor to function reliably.
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
This approach effectively reduces wear and maintains mechanical integrity by ensuring deformations remain within the elastic range, thereby enhancing the longevity and efficiency of the escapement mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
ensuring deformations remain within the elastic range
Data Source
Figure 1~8
Figure 9~10
AI summary
The method involves providing flexibility to end horns (3, 4) by arrangement of micrometric slots (5, 6) or chamber in proximity to a contact surface or surfaces, to delimit elastic lips (20, 21) extending between the contact surface and the micrometric slots or chamber. The slot or chamber is realized in a manner to perpendicular to a plane (P) along which a timepiece movement component is developed, where the plane is orthogonal to the contact surface or contact surfaces. An independent claim is also included for a pallet assembly for an escapement mechanism of a timepiece movement.