Offset Circular Scales with Pivotable Carrier Aperture
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In wristwatches, the overlapping circular scales for better readability limit the visibility of areas behind the dial from the front side, making it difficult to clearly see components like a tourbillon.
Innovation Solution
An aperture in the dial allows visibility of the area behind the dial, with a pivotable scale carrier for the second scale that moves out of the way when the second hand passes over it, enabling larger scales for better legibility without obstructing other dial areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the second scale is made large to cover the dial for better readability, then the legibility of the scale is improved, but the visibility of the area behind the dial (e.g., tourbillon) is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The scale carrier is made movable instead of fixed, allowing it to pivot between a display position (covering the aperture) and a retracted position (not covering the aperture). This dynamic element enables the scale to be large and readable while periodically clearing the path to the tourbillon area, resolving the contradiction between scale size and visibility of background elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The second scale is segmented into a movable scale carrier portion that can be independently positioned. This segmentation allows the scale to be divided into functional parts: the main scale body remains fixed for readability, while the overlapping segment on the scale carrier can move to clear the aperture, enabling both large scale dimensions and aperture visibility.
2Measurement precision
If the scale carrier is always in the display position to ensure continuous scale visibility, then the scale legibility is maintained, but the tourbillon area becomes obscured when not needed
Solution Approach 1:
The scale carrier is equipped with an automatic driving mechanism that uses the existing timepiece movement to pivot the scale carrier into the display position only when the second hand is moving across the aperture. The mechanism self-regulates based on the hand's position, eliminating the need for manual intervention or complex continuous control systems while maintaining scale visibility only when necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The scale carrier operates periodically rather than continuously, pivoting into the display position only during the specific time intervals when the second hand traverses the aperture area. This periodic action reduces the overall complexity by eliminating the need for constant positioning mechanisms while ensuring scale readability is maintained during the critical moments when the hand is in the aperture zone.
3Area of stationary object
If the aperture is made large to improve visibility of the tourbillon, then the visibility of components behind the dial is improved, but the area available for the scales is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The scale carrier provides a dynamic solution that allows the scale to effectively extend into the aperture area when needed. The aperture can be made larger for better tourbillon visibility since the scale carrier will pivot into position to cover it during hand traversal, eliminating the need to reduce the aperture size to accommodate a fixed scale.
Data Source
AI summary
A timepiece, particularly wristwatch, having a dial on which are arranged at least two circular scales having centers which are offset relative to one another. A first hand can sweep over the first scale and a second hand can sweep over the second scale, each hand being rotatable around a hand axis centric to the associated scale, and wherein the scales partially overlap. There is formed in the dial in the area surrounded by the first circular scale an aperture through which an area of the timepiece located behind the plane of the dial is visible. The circle segment of the second scale extending across the aperture is arranged on a separate scale carrier which is pivotable around a pivot axis coaxial to the hand axis of the second hand between a display position covering the aperture into a non-display position not covering the aperture.