Pivoting Assembly Limit Stop for Thin Timepiece Movements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pivoting assemblies for timepieces with resiliently locked balance springs face challenges in implementing small thickness movements due to the extra height caused by washers, making them unsuitable for movements of limited thickness.
Innovation Solution
A pivoting assembly with an arbor rotatably mounted between two bearings, where at least one bearing includes a limit stop that directly contacts a resilient washer to restrict movement, replacing the arbor's shoulder with the washer's surface to minimize height, allowing for the use of resilient washers in any type of timepiece movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a resilient washer is used to lock the balance spring on the arbor, then the balance spring can be resiliently locked without bonding, but the total height increases making it impossible to implement in movements of small thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a vertical stacking arrangement (shoulder on arbor above washer) to a horizontal contact arrangement (limit stop on bearing surface contacting washer). This dimensional change allows the washer to be positioned at the same level as the bearing, eliminating the need for additional vertical space and thus reducing the total height of the assembly while maintaining the resilient locking function.
Solution Approach 2:
The limit stop on the bearing acts as an intermediary element that transfers the restriction of movement from the arbor to the washer. Instead of the arbor shoulder directly limiting washer movement, the limit stop mediates this interaction, allowing the washer to be positioned flush with the bearing surface and eliminating the need for extra height.
2Ease of operation
If the limit stop contacts the arbor shoulder, then movement is restricted, but the extra height of the washer cannot be compensated, preventing use in small thickness movements
Solution Approach 1:
The contact interface is shifted from a vertical arrangement (arbor shoulder above washer) to a horizontal arrangement (limit stop on bearing surface contacting washer laterally). This dimensional repositioning allows the washer's height to be compensated by the bearing structure itself, enabling the assembly to fit within small thickness movements while maintaining movement restriction.
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 configuration compensates for the extra height of the resilient washer, enabling the assembly's application in movements of small thickness by directly restricting movement between the arbor and bearings, thus accommodating various timepiece designs.
Implementation Method 1
a member mounted on the arbor with the aid of at least one resilient washer
Implementation Method 2
each at least one jewel is resiliently mounted in its associated bearing in order to dampen shocks received by the arbor
Data Source
AI summary
A pivoting assembly includes an arbor rotatably mounted between two bearings, a member mounted between a shoulder of the arbor and a resilient washer, at least one of the two bearings including a limit stop which is arranged to enter into direct contact with the resilient washer in order to restrict the relative movement between the arbor and its bearings.