Monolithic Silicon Hairspring Assembly for Watch Movements
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Classic clock movements face complications and delicate adjustment requirements due to the independent mounting of hairsprings and their components, leading to increased parts and assembly complexity, which affects isochronism and requires benchmarking operations.
Innovation Solution
A one-piece assembly comprising a hairspring, its ferrule, a large plate, and a small plate with a notch, where the components are integrated to form a single unit using silicon etching and micromechanical techniques, allowing precise alignment and reducing the number of parts and assembly operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the hairspring and its ferrule, the large plate and the small plate are mounted separately on the balance staff, then each component can be manufactured independently, but the number of parts increases and delicate adjustment operations are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the hairspring, ferrule, large plate, and small plate into a single integrated component manufactured from a monolithic silicon substrate using micromechanical techniques. This eliminates the need for separate mounting operations and reduces the number of parts while maintaining manufacturing precision through single-substrate fabrication.
2Ease of operation
If the ferrule of the hairspring is mounted independently on the balance staff, then the hairspring can be installed, but the alignment condition is practically never fulfilled requiring a mobile piton holder
Solution Approach 1:
The ferrule is integrated directly with the hairspring as a single monolithic component, eliminating the need for independent mounting and alignment adjustments. The unified structure ensures proper alignment is inherently achieved through the single-substrate fabrication process.
3Manufacturing precision
If a mobile piton holder is added to allow rotation for alignment, then the escapement can be aligned properly, but the movement complexity increases and delicate adjustment operations are required
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment function is integrated into the monolithic structure itself, eliminating the need for separate mobile piton holders or rotation mechanisms. The precise alignment is achieved through the fabrication process of the single substrate rather than through adjustable mechanical components.
4Ease of manufacture
If the hairspring and large plate are mounted independently, then separate manufacturing is possible, but the registration condition is never fulfilled
Solution Approach 1:
The hairspring, ferrule, and large plate are fabricated as a single integrated structure from one monolithic silicon substrate using micromechanical techniques. This ensures perfect registration and alignment is inherently achieved through the single-substrate fabrication process, eliminating registration errors from separate mounting operations.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The clockwork has a plate (1), an anchor bridge (2) and a balance bridge (3) on which a beam axle (5) and an anchor (4) are swiveled. A beam (6) is fixed in the beam axle, and a hairspring (7) is connected with a ring (7.1). A large plate (9) carries an ankle (10), which cooperates with a fork (4.1) of the anchor, and a small plate (8) is provided with a notch, where the small plate cooperates with a dart (4.2) of the anchor. The hairspring, the ring, the large plate, the ankle and the small plate form a single-piece unit.