Double-Function Locking Lever for Timepiece Striking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing timepieces lack a reliable mechanism to prevent chime triggering during time-setting operations, leading to potential deterioration or jamming of movement components due to user error.
Innovation Solution
A locking rocker mechanism that pivots to a locked striking position when the time-setting rocker is engaged, preventing the chime from triggering and ensuring the time-setting mechanism is locked, using a minimal number of parts and integrating with the striking mechanism to prevent both chime and time-setting operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If no locking mechanism is provided to prevent chime triggering during time-setting operations, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates due to risk of deterioration or jamming of movement components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the locking of the chime mechanism and the locking of the time-setting mechanism into a single locking rocker (24). This rocking lever performs dual functions: its first arm locks the chime trigger rocker (60) while its second arm locks the time-setting rocker (30), thereby merging two separate locking functions into one component to avoid complexity while ensuring reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The locking rocker (24) is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously performs multiple locking functions. It can lock both the chime mechanism and the time-setting mechanism depending on its position, making a single component serve universal protective purposes against incorrect handling
2Reliability
If a locking mechanism is added to prevent incorrect handling, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the locking functions for both chime and time-setting mechanisms into a single locking rocker (24), avoiding the need for separate locking components. This rocking lever integrates multiple locking actions into one piece, thereby improving reliability without proportionally increasing the number of parts
Solution Approach 2:
The locking rocker (24) serves as a universal locking component that can lock different mechanisms (chime and time-setting) based on its pivoting position. This multi-functionality allows one component to provide comprehensive protection against incorrect handling without requiring multiple specialized locking parts
3Device complexity
If the locking rocker performs dual functions, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation may worsen due to interconnected locking mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The locking rocker (24) is designed to pivot dynamically between different positions, allowing it to selectively lock or unlock different mechanisms. This dynamic behavior enables the single component to adapt its locking function based on operational needs, maintaining simplicity while ensuring proper operation sequencing
Data Source
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Figure 3~4
AI summary
The timepiece has a time-setting mechanism (16) with a time-setting lever (30) pivoting between angular rest and time-setting positions. The lever (30) controls pivoting of a pull-out piece (50) between winding and time-setting positions. A locking lever (24) cooperates with a release lever (60) of a striking mechanism (20). A hooking arm (88) causes the lever (24) to pivot to locked striking work position. The lever (24) has a striking work locking hook (74) cooperating with a complementary unit to prevent release of striking work in work position.