Radial Clamping System for Brittle Timepiece Components
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional radial clamping systems for watch components, particularly those using metallic materials, are not applicable to brittle materials like crystalline silicon, silicon carbide, or crystalline alumina due to the absence of a significant plastic deformation zone, limiting their securement to a pivoting axis.
Innovation Solution
A radial clamping system utilizing a crenellated crown with a tapered inner section and concentric blind recesses to exert radial constraint and allow for elastic deformation, enabling securement of brittle materials to a support element by maximizing radial stress and offering greater freedom of movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional radial clamping system is used to secure watch components, then metallic materials can be effectively secured through plastic deformation, but brittle materials like crystalline silicon, silicon carbide, or crystalline alumina cannot be secured because they lack a significant plastic deformation zone
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the deformation mechanism parameter from plastic deformation to elastic deformation. The crown is designed with sufficient thickness and material properties to undergo elastic deformation during the clamping process, allowing brittle materials to be secured without requiring plastic deformation zones that they lack.
Solution Approach 2:
The crown is segmented into multiple blades or teeth that can independently deform elastically. This segmentation allows each blade to flex and apply radial constraint forces to the brittle material, distributing the stress and enabling securement through elastic rather than plastic deformation.
2Reliability
If the crown is made thick enough to undergo elastic deformation, then brittle materials can be secured, but the crown occupies excessive space and increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The crown is designed as a dynamic element that flexes and deforms during the securement process. The blades can bend elastically to engage the brittle material, then spring back to maintain continuous radial constraint. This dynamic behavior allows thin-walled brittle components to be secured without excessive crown thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The crown blades are designed as flexible elastic elements rather than rigid structures. This flexibility allows them to deform and conform to the brittle material surface, providing effective securement with minimal material and space, avoiding the need for thick rigid structures.
3Strength
If the crown exerts strong radial constraint to secure brittle materials, then securement strength increases, but the risk of cracking or breaking the brittle material increases
Solution Approach 1:
The crown provides dynamic radial constraint through elastic deformation of its blades. The blades flex during engagement and spring back to maintain continuous contact, providing strong yet compliant securement that adapts to the brittle material surface without concentrating excessive stress that could cause cracking.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the stress application mode from rigid high-force contact to elastic deformation-based distributed force. The crown blades distribute the radial constraint force across multiple contact points and through controlled elastic deformation, maintaining securement strength while reducing peak stresses that could fracture brittle materials.
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
Effectively secures brittle watch components to a support element by leveraging their elastic deformation zone, ensuring a strong and precise attachment without relying on plastic deformation, suitable for materials like silicon carbide, crystallized silicon, or crystallized alumina.
Implementation Method 1
uses only the elastic deformation zone of the material to be secured with its support element
Data Source
Figure 1~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a watch component (1) comprising an opening (7) for receiving a support element (3) and a clamping system (13) for applying radial force to secure the watch component to the support element. According to the invention, the clamping system (13) includes a radial clamping device (15) comprising a crown (6) for applying the radial force and a concentric blind recess (8) spaced from the opening to allow the crown to move. Furthermore, the clamping system (13) also includes a movement device (17) for providing the crown with more degrees of freedom relative to the support element. The invention relates to the field of watch parts.