Horological Regulating Member with Pressure-Compensating Balance Spring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mechanical watches with balance springs and Swiss lever escapements face precision issues due to variations in external parameters like temperature, humidity, and gravity, but lack compensation for changes in ambient pressure, leading to frequency variations and errors in time measurement.
Innovation Solution
A horological regulating member with a balance spring and an elastic device that connects to a stationary support, featuring prestressing means to adjust stiffness according to external pressure, ensuring precise operation by modifying the force or torque on the resilient element to maintain the oscillation frequency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the balance spring operates in a conventional mechanical resonator, then the time base provides stable oscillation, but the oscillation frequency varies due to changes in external pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the balance spring's attachment point by introducing a resilient element that can move radially. This movement alters the effective length and stiffness of the balance spring, thereby changing its oscillation frequency to compensate for pressure-induced variations. The resilient element's position is adjusted in response to pressure changes, dynamically modifying the resonator's parameters to maintain stable timekeeping.
2Reliability
If the balance spring is made more rigid to maintain frequency stability, then the resonator becomes less sensitive to pressure changes, but the time base loses adaptability to different operating conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static attachment of the balance spring into a dynamic system by introducing a resilient element that can move radially in response to pressure changes. This dynamic adjustment mechanism allows the balance spring's effective stiffness to vary automatically, providing both frequency stability under normal operation and adaptability when pressure conditions change. The system transitions from a fixed-parameter design to a variable-parameter design that self-adjusts to environmental conditions.
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
The solution effectively maintains precise running of the watch by adjusting the resonator's rate in response to pressure changes, ensuring accurate timekeeping despite significant pressure variations.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic device for compensating for the external pressure, connecting the external end of the strip to a first support that is immobile with respect to the horological movement, the elastic compensation device being configured to adapt its stiffness according to the external pressure
Implementation Method 2
the prestressing means exert a variable force or torque on the elastic element of the elastic compensation device according to the pressure
Data Source
AI summary
A regulating member for a horological movement includes an oscillating weight, for example a balance, a balance spring including a flexible strip wound about itself in a plurality of turns, the strip having a predefined rigidity to allow the oscillating weight to undergo a rotary oscillatory motion, and the strip including an outer end of the strip. The regulating member includes a resilient device for compensating for external pressure, connecting the outer end to a first support that is immobile with respect to the horological movement, the resilient compensation device being configured to adapt its stiffness according to the external pressure in order to compensate for an effect of the external pressure on the regulating member. Additionally, the horological movement includes the regulating member.