Sympathetic Timepiece Assembly With Cam-Actuated Winding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sympathetic clocks and watches face issues with inefficient winding, time setting, and adjustment, leading to unnecessary wear, inaccurate time setting, and limited functionality due to periodic or constant interactions, which can result in premature wear or delayed operation.
Innovation Solution
A sympathetic timepiece assembly with a clock and watch connection mechanism using distinct transmission lines for function selection and power transfer, allowing for optimal winding, precise time setting, and additional information display, including features like date, moon phase, and year, with independent adjustment sequences controlled by the clock.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If the watch is placed continuously on the clock for winding, then the winding function is performed, but the automatic barrel undergoes significant wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic winding action through a cam mechanism that engages the barrel at specific intervals rather than continuous winding. The cam profile is designed to provide winding impulses at predetermined moments, allowing the barrel to rest between windings, thereby reducing cumulative wear on the barrel and its components while maintaining adequate power reserve.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a preliminary winding action before time setting operations. The cam mechanism is designed to wind the barrel in advance of when time setting is required, ensuring the watch has sufficient power reserve before critical adjustments are made. This preliminary winding prevents the need for rapid continuous winding during time setting, reducing wear on the barrel.
2Adaptability or versatility
If periodic time setting is performed, then the time setting function is provided, but the time-setting mechanism is unnecessarily biased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a feedback mechanism through the cam profile design that senses the position of the time-setting mechanism and adjusts the winding action accordingly. The cam is positioned and shaped to provide winding impulses only when the time-setting mechanism is in neutral position, preventing bias accumulation. The feedback ensures that winding occurs at optimal moments when it will not interfere with or bias the time-setting operations.
3Ease of operation
If the watch is stopped when placed on the clock, then the watch can be stored, but the time setting is delayed until the next passage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary winding action when the watch is placed on the clock, even if the watch is stopped. The cam mechanism is designed to engage and wind the barrel as soon as the watch is positioned on the clock, regardless of whether the watch is running or stopped. This preliminary action ensures that the watch accumulates power reserve in advance, so when the user subsequently starts the watch and requests time setting, the necessary power is already available, eliminating delays.
4Productivity
If constant rapid winding is applied, then the watch is fully coiled quickly, but the sliding flange function of the barrel experiences premature wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic cam-actuated winding instead of constant rapid winding. The cam mechanism delivers high-speed winding impulses at periodic intervals rather than continuous operation. This allows the sliding flange and associated components to rest between winding events, significantly reducing cumulative wear while still achieving full coiling of the barrel in a reasonable total time through repeated periodic action.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for acquiring data on a sympathetic clock (100) for setting the time of a sympathetic watch (200) at request. The sympathetic watch forms with the clock (100) a sympathetic assembly (1000). The watch includes an hour display (4) and a minute display (5), a reference position of which will be defined at a reference time, and the clock (100) performs the time setting of the watch (200), either when the watch (200) is placed on the clock (100), or alternatively at a predetermined time on the clock (100), or at request by action of a user on a control means (300) included in the clock (100) or the watch (200), or upon control of a horological movement (900) included in the clock (100).