Sympathetic Clock Synchronization with Periodic Watch Winding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sympathetic clocks and watches face issues with unnecessary strain on time-setting mechanisms, premature wear of components due to constant winding, and inaccurate time settings if not synchronized regularly, leading to lost settings and inefficient energy transfer.
Innovation Solution
A sympathetic clock assembly with a pendulum and watch connected by two separate transmission lines, allowing for independent and sequential adjustment of functions such as winding, time setting, and display correction, using a connecting mechanism that includes rotatable and translatable shafts to ensure precise and efficient energy transfer and synchronization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the watch is continually placed on the clock for constant winding, then the watch ensures full energy storage, but the automatic barrel undergoes significant wear and the time-setting mechanism experiences unnecessary strain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic winding action through a ratchet mechanism that allows the barrel to be wound only at specific intervals rather than continuously. The escapement mechanism controls the periodic transfer of energy from the clock to the watch, reducing continuous mechanical stress on components while maintaining adequate energy storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the winding function from continuous operation by using an intermediate energy transfer mechanism. The barrel is segmented into discrete winding steps controlled by the ratchet and escapement, allowing energy to be transferred in controlled portions rather than continuous flow, thereby reducing wear.
2Ease of operation
If the watch is stopped when placed on the clock for time setting, then the time can be adjusted, but the setting is lost if the watch remains stopped too long or if winding is not completed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary winding action before time setting. The ratchet mechanism ensures the barrel is wound to sufficient energy level before the watch is stopped for time adjustment. This preliminary energy storage prevents the watch from stopping during or after time setting, ensuring the time setting is retained.
Solution Approach 2:
The escapement mechanism provides feedback control for the winding process, monitoring the energy state of the barrel and controlling when winding occurs. This feedback ensures the watch has sufficient energy before being stopped for time setting, preventing loss of settings.
3Productivity
If fast winding is used to quickly charge the barrel, then the watch reaches full winding faster, but the sliding flange function experiences stress and premature wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic winding with the ratchet mechanism to allow faster charging without continuous stress on the sliding flange. By enabling intermittent high-speed winding steps rather than sustained fast winding, the system achieves quick charging while giving the flange mechanism periodic rest periods, reducing cumulative wear.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for capturing data on a sympathetic clock (100), for the on-demand time setting of a sympathetic watch (200), which forms a sympathetic assembly (1000) with the clock (100), the watch (200) having an hour display (4) and a minute display (5), of which a reference position is defined at a reference time; according to said method the clock (100) sets the time of the watch (200) variously: when said watch is deposited (200) on the clock (100); at a predetermined time on the clock (100): on demand by the action of a user on a control means (300) with which either the clock (100) or the watch (200) is equipped; or under the control of a clockwork movement (900) with which the clock (100) is provided (100); and the time displayed by the clock (100) is read so as to transmit the time information to the watch (200) using a mechanism of the clock (100), which reads the deviation between the current time and this reference time and transmits the information of the value of this deviation to the watch (200), so as to index the latter after setting the displays thereof (4; 5) to the reference position. The invention further relates to a sympathetic timekeeping assembly (1000) for implementing this method.