Timepiece Pivot Bearing Geometry for Wear-Reduced Pivot Insertion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for manufacturing pivot bearings for timepiece components are not optimized and do not enable the production of all desired shapes and materials.

Innovation Solution

A method involving boring a hole in a bearing blank, laser engraving a second clearance zone, and removing material by wear to form a pivot bearing with a first pivot zone and a second clearance zone connected by a rounded connection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional pressing techniques are used to manufacture sintered stones, then ceramic-based bearings can be produced, but the manufacturing process is not optimized and cannot produce all desired shapes and materials

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to produce all desired shapes and materialsVSAvoidmanufacturing process optimization

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The manufacturing process is divided into distinct stages: boring the hole in the bearing blank, laser engraving the clearance zone, and olive-cutting the pivot zone. This segmentation allows each operation to be optimized independently and enables greater versatility in producing different bearing shapes and materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Traditional pressing techniques are replaced with a combination of boring, laser engraving, and olive-cutting operations. This substitution enables the production of bearings from various materials including ceramics and precious stones, significantly expanding the range of producible shapes and materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If a clean edge separates the depression and pivot zone in prior art jewels, then the geometry is simple to manufacture, but the pivot may abut against the edge during insertion and become marked

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepivot insertion without markingVSAvoidboundary zone complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A rounded connection is created between the clearance zone and the pivot zone, replacing the sharp clean edge with a curved transition. This curvature prevents the pivot from abutting against a sharp edge during insertion, eliminating marking while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through the olive-cutting process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The rounded connection acts as an intermediary element between the clearance zone and pivot zone. This intermediate rounded boundary zone mediates the transition, preventing direct contact between the pivot and sharp edges while still allowing proper pivot insertion and rotation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If material is removed by olive-cutting to form the pivot zone, then the pivot zone geometry is optimized for pivot contact, but the process requires precise coordination with laser engraving and boring

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepivot zone geometry precisionVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The manufacturing process is divided into distinct sequential operations: boring the hole, laser engraving the clearance zone, and olive-cutting the pivot zone. This segmentation allows each operation to achieve high precision in its specific function while maintaining overall process coordination through standardized tooling and procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 method optimizes the manufacture of pivot bearings, allowing for the production of bearings with specific geometries and materials, thereby improving the chronometric performance of timepieces by minimizing wear and impact-related variations.

Implementation Method 1

laser engraving, in the blank, in particular using a femtosecond laser, a second clearance zone of the bearing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLaser ablation: Laser Ablation

Data Source

PatentUS12339627B2Method for manufacturing a timepiece bearing

Publication Date: 2025.06.24 ROLEX SA

AI summary

A method for manufacturing a pivot bearing (1) for the pivoting of a timepiece component (2), in particular a pivot stone, includes:—boring (E1) a hole (10a) in a bearing blank (1a) along an axis (A1) intended for the pivoting of a timepiece component (2), this hole (10a) forming a start point (13a) of a first pivot zone (13) of the bearing (1), then—laser engraving (E2), in the blank (1a), in particular using a femtosecond laser, a second clearance zone (14) of the bearing (1), juxtaposed with the start point (13a) of a first pivot zone (13), this second clearance zone (14) of the bearing (1) opening at a first face (11a) of the bearing (1) blank (1a), then—removing material by wear (E3), in particular by olive-cutting, at the start point (13a) of the first pivot zone (13) of the bearing (1) and a boundary zone (14a) between the start point (13a) and the second clearance zone (14) of the bearing (1) in order to form a first pivot zone (13) and a second clearance zone (14) that are juxtaposed, connected to each other by a rounded connection.