Resonator Mechanism Shock Protection with Flexible Guiding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Watchmaking oscillators, particularly those with elastic blades, face challenges in shock resistance as existing anti-shock systems protect the blades inadequately against out-of-plane impacts, leading to potential breakage and disruption of the resonator's isochronism and energy dissipation.
Innovation Solution
A resonator mechanism with a flexible pivot suspended in a system that is very stiff in the oscillation direction but flexible in other directions, utilizing axial stop means to limit translational travel and prevent parasitic movements, ensuring the blades are protected from breakage during impacts without affecting the resonator's performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the flexible pivot is made very flexible for oscillatory rotation, then the resonator's quality factor is maximized, but the blades become vulnerable to breakage during out-of-plane shocks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a shock absorption system with stops positioned to limit the displacement of the flexible pivot before blades can break during out-of-plane shocks. This preliminary protective measure allows the pivot to remain flexible for oscillation while preventing excessive movement that would cause blade failure
2Measurement precision
If the flexible pivot is made very rigid in other degrees of freedom to prevent unwanted movements, then position error is reduced, but the blades cannot accommodate shocks effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different mechanical properties to different directions: the flexible pivot is made flexible only in the oscillation direction (degree of freedom RZ) while being rigid in all other degrees of freedom. This directional differentiation allows the system to achieve both position stability and shock tolerance
3Stability of the object's composition
If the pivot's fixed support is made very rigid along the oscillatory degree of freedom, then isochronism is maintained, but energy is dissipated through movements caused by reaction forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary shock absorption system between the flexible pivot and the fixed support. This intermediary system absorbs reaction forces during shocks through controlled movement of the flexible pivot against the stops, preventing energy dissipation while maintaining isochronism
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 limits out-of-plane movements of the blades, enhancing the system's performance by maintaining isochronism and preventing energy dissipation, thus protecting the blades from breakage during shocks without compromising the resonator's quality factor.
Implementation Method 1
each said elastic blade being deformable essentially in a plane XY perpendicular to said first direction Z
Implementation Method 2
said axial stop means being arranged to cooperate in a buttress support with said inertial element for the protection of said first blades at least against axial impacts along said first direction Z
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
A resonator mechanism (100) for clockmaking, comprising a structure (1) carrying, by means of a flexible suspension (300), an anchor block (30) from which is suspended an inertial element (2) oscillating in a first degree of freedom in rotation RZ, under the action of restoring forces exerted by a flexible pivot (200) comprising first elastic blades (3) each fixed to said inertial element (2) and to said anchor block (30), the flexible suspension (300) being arranged to allow a certain mobility of the anchor block (30) in all degrees of freedom other than the first degree of freedom in rotation RZ in which only the inertial element (2) is mobile to avoid any disturbance of its oscillation, and the rigidity of the suspension (300) in the first degree of freedom in rotation RZ is much greater than the rigidity of the flexible pivot (200) in this same first degree of freedom in rotation RZ.