Shock Absorber Spring Ring Locking Against Impact Decoupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shock-absorbing devices for micromechanical devices, such as watch movements, face challenges in securely locking the damping spring in rotation, leading to potential decoupling during impacts and increased risk of mechanical failure, especially in side impacts.
Innovation Solution
The shock-absorbing device features a spring ring with radially extending lugs that engage with recesses on the peripheral bearing surface, where the recesses are designed to be at least as deep and wide as the lugs, and an additional blocking recess ensures the spring ring remains locked in its fixing position, preventing decoupling by inducing curvature and deformation of the lugs for secure angular immobilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the spring ring is provided with lugs that engage with recesses on the peripheral bearing surface, then the spring ring can be mounted and fixed on the support, but the spring ring may pivot on itself and decouple from the support during impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing an additional blocking recess positioned to engage with a lug before the spring ring can pivot away during impact. This preemptive structural feature ensures that the spring ring is locked in its fixing position in advance, preventing decoupling before it can occur during axial or lateral impacts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the engagement features into multiple distinct recesses: standard recesses for normal mounting and fixing, and an additional blocking recess specifically positioned to prevent angular pivoting. This segmentation of functional recesses allows the spring ring to be securely fixed while preventing rotation during impact events.
2Strength
If the recesses are made deep and wide to accommodate the lugs, then the lugs can engage securely, but the spring ring may still rotate to a position where lugs align with notches and decouple
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking recess is strategically positioned to engage with a lug before impact can cause pivoting. This preliminary engagement prevents the spring ring from rotating to the decoupled position, ensuring that the strong lug-recess engagement is maintained throughout the impact event.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking recess provides preliminary anti-action by creating an opposing engagement that prevents the spring ring from pivoting away during impact. This counter-engagement acts in advance to counteract the forces that would otherwise cause decoupling, maintaining reliable connection despite impact forces.
3Ease of operation
If only standard recesses are provided for mounting, then the spring ring can be fixed on the support, but additional angular locking features increase device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into the peripheral bearing surface by incorporating both standard recesses for mounting/fixing and blocking recesses for angular locking into a single integrated structure. This combining of fixing and locking features in one component maintains simplicity while providing enhanced security against decoupling.
Solution Approach 2:
The peripheral bearing surface serves multiple functions: it provides standard recesses for normal mounting and fixing operations, and simultaneously provides blocking recesses for angular locking during impact. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate locking mechanisms, maintaining device simplicity while improving reliability.
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 significantly reduces the risk of components coming apart during axial or lateral impacts, ensuring reliable shock absorption and preventing mechanical failure by maintaining secure engagement of the spring ring with the support.
Implementation Method 1
a spring element which exerts on the counter-pivot stone an elastic force of tackle
Implementation Method 2
inducing curvature and deformation of the lugs for secure angular immobilization
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a shock-absorbing device (1) comprising a spring ring (2) that can adopt a mounting position and a fixing position, respectively, relative to the support (3) of the shock-absorbing device (1). This spring ring (2) has lugs (8) on its outer periphery that cooperate with a peripheral bearing surface (6) of the support (3) of the shock-absorbing device (1), which is provided with recesses (25) that are in excess of the lugs (8). In the fixing position, only a portion of the lugs (8) are arranged under the peripheral bearing surface (6) of the support (3), the other portion of the lugs (8) comprising one or more lugs, referred to as locking lugs (8'), which respectively fit into the excess recess(s), referred to as locking recesses (25'), of the support (3).In the fixed position, at least one locking lug (8') housed in a locking recess (25') is framed by lugs (8) positioned below the peripheral bearing surface (6). These lugs (8) positioned below the peripheral bearing surface (6) of the support (3) are subjected to a stress applied by said peripheral bearing surface (6). The application of this stress causes a deformation into a curved shape of the section of the spring ring including the locking lug, located between the two points of application of the stress, preventing the rotation of the spring ring relative to the support.