Magnetic Escapement Wheel with Variable Width Track
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing magnetic watch escapement mechanisms face challenges in efficiently varying magnetic interaction energy to create smooth, continuous ramps and barriers, which is difficult to achieve with discrete magnets, leading to increased friction and energy requirements.
Innovation Solution
A magnetic escape wheel with a continuous magnetized track of constant thickness and variable width, designed to produce desired energy variations through geometric distribution, allowing for smooth ramps and barriers that alternate between internal and external tracks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If discrete magnets are used to create magnetic interaction energy, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the smoothness and linearity of energy variation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic track is segmented into multiple discrete magnets arranged in a specific pattern around the escape wheel circumference. Each magnet creates a localized magnetic field that contributes to the overall energy variation profile, allowing the system to achieve smooth energy variation through proper spacing and orientation of discrete magnetic elements.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the escape wheel are equipped with magnets of varying strengths and orientations to create specific local magnetic field characteristics. This allows the energy variation to be optimized in different angular positions, achieving linear ramps and appropriate barrier heights through localized magnetic field design rather than uniform magnet distribution.
2Reliability
If mechanical contact force is used in anchor escapement, then the reliability of engagement is improved, but friction losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The traditional mechanical contact between escape wheel teeth and anchor pallets is replaced with a magnetic interaction system. The escape wheel incorporates a magnetized track that interacts with magnets on the anchor, creating magnetic forces for engagement and impulse transmission without physical contact, thereby eliminating friction losses while maintaining reliable tooth-magnet engagement through magnetic attraction and repulsion.
Solution Approach 2:
A magnetic field is introduced as an intermediary between the escape wheel and anchor components. The magnetized track on the escape wheel and magnets on the anchor create a magnetic field that transmits force and energy without direct mechanical contact, serving as a non-contact mediator that reduces friction while maintaining the necessary engagement reliability.
3Manufacturing precision
If continuous magnetized track with variable width is used, then the linearity of energy variation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of manufacturing a single continuous magnetized track with variable width, the system segments the magnetic functionality into multiple discrete magnets positioned at specific locations on the escape wheel. Each magnet has uniform dimensions, but their spacing and orientation create the desired variable magnetic field strength profile, achieving linear energy variation through geometric arrangement rather than continuous geometric variation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system achieves variable magnetic interaction energy by changing the spatial parameters (position, angle, spacing) of discrete magnets rather than changing their physical dimensions. By adjusting the angular positions and radial distances of individual magnets, the magnetic field strength varies continuously around the wheel, creating linear energy ramps without requiring complex variable-width magnetic material geometry.
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 design reduces friction and energy requirements, enabling more efficient operation of the magnetic anchor escapement mechanism by achieving linear energy variation and minimizing maintenance torque.
Implementation Method 1
each said area comprising a magnetic ramp with increasing field followed by a magnetic field barrier with increasing field
Implementation Method 2
the practical realization of a magnetic anchor escapement requires varying the interaction energy according to ramps and barriers
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~11
Figure 12~14
AI summary
A watch escapement wheel (1) comprising a magnetized track (10) with a succession of sections according to a rotation period (PD) in which its magnetic characteristics repeat, each section comprising a magnetic ramp with an increasing field followed by a magnetic field barrier with an increasing field gradient greater than that of the ramp. This track (10) comprises a continuous magnetic layer (4) closed around the entire periphery of the escapement wheel (1), of constant thickness and variable width, the geometry of which defines these magnetic ramps and barriers. A magnetic escapement mechanism (100) comprising such an escapement wheel (1) cooperating with a balance wheel and hairspring via a pivoting magnetic stop (2) comprising a pole piece (20) arranged to cooperate alternately with an inner track (11) and an outer track (12) of the magnetic layer (4).Resonator mechanism (200), clock movement (300), watch (400) incorporating such a magnetic escapement mechanism (100).