Opposed-Rotation Timepiece Escapement Cages for Lower Energy Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional watch movements, particularly those with Potter tourbillons, consume excessive energy due to the large mass and distance moved by the moving assembly, leading to inefficiencies in isochronism compensation.
Innovation Solution
The anchor and escape wheel are both carried by mobile cages that rotate in opposite directions around a common axis, reducing the distance traveled by each component by half while maintaining constant duration, thus minimizing energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the escape wheel is fixed and the anchor cage moves through a large angle, then the isochronism compensation function is achieved, but the energy consumption increases due to the large mass and distance moved
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of fixing the escape wheel and moving the anchor cage through a large angle, the invention inverts the arrangement by fixing the anchor cage and allowing the escape wheel to rotate through a large angle in the opposite direction. This inversion maintains the isochronism compensation function while reducing the distance the moving mass must travel
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a mobile escape wheel cage that can rotate around the tourbillon axis, transforming the static escape wheel into a dynamic component. This allows the escape wheel to move in coordination with the anchor cage, reducing the relative displacement required and thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining the tourbillon's gravity compensation function
2Reliability
If the moving assembly represents a large unit, then the isochronism compensation is effective, but the energy required to move it increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the traditional Potter tourbillon configuration by making the escape wheel the moving component rather than the anchor cage. This allows the larger mass of the escape wheel to rotate in place rather than requiring the entire anchor cage assembly to travel a large distance, reducing kinetic energy requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines the escape wheel's rotation with the tourbillon cage's rotation around the tourbillon axis. By merging these two rotational movements, the system achieves both the isochronism compensation function and reduced energy consumption through coordinated motion of the escape wheel and anchor
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a timepiece movement comprising an energy source, a distribution member (11), a transmission member (19) arranged to transmit energy from the energy source to the distribution member (11), and a regulating member (15). The distribution member (11) comprises an escapement (12) formed of an escape wheel (13) and an anchor (14). The timepiece movement is characterized in that it comprises an anchor cage (34) supporting the regulating member (15), the anchor (14) and a drive pinion (23a); an escape wheel cage (31) supporting an escape wheel (13) and a drive pinion (23b); and a toothed crown (22, 122). The drive pinions (23a, 23b) are meshed with the ring gear (22, 122) and are arranged to drive the anchor cage (34) and the escape wheel cage (31) in two opposite directions of rotation.The invention further relates to an escapement (12) for a timepiece comprising an escape wheel (13) and an anchor (14). This escapement (12) is characterized in that it comprises an anchor cage (34) as defined above; an escape wheel cage (31) also as defined above; and a toothed crown (22, 122). The drive pinions (23a, 23b) are meshed with the toothed crown (22, 122) and are arranged to drive the anchor cage (34) and the escape wheel cage (31) in two opposite directions of rotation. The invention further relates to a timepiece comprising a timepiece movement as defined above, as well as a timepiece comprising an escapement as defined above.