Sympathetic Watch Reference Setting With Clutch And Rack Mechanism
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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 setting when the watch is not placed on the clock, leading to lost settings.
Innovation Solution
A sympathetic clock assembly with a pendulum and watch that includes a connecting mechanism with two separate transmission lines for function selection and energy transfer, allowing for on-demand time setting, precise adjustment, and continuous winding, using a combination of mechanical and magnetic transfers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the watch is continually placed on the clock for constant winding, then the watch ensures full winding, but the automatic barrel undergoes significant wear and the time-setting mechanism experiences unnecessary strain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic winding action where the clock only winds the watch when needed (when power reserve is low) rather than continuous winding. The time-setting function is also activated periodically or on-demand rather than continuously, reducing unnecessary strain on mechanisms while ensuring the watch is properly wound when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The watch's automatic barrel winds itself through the wearer's motion, eliminating the need for manual winding by the clock. This self-winding mechanism reduces the strain on the clock's winding mechanism and prevents premature wear of the automatic barrel's sliding flange function.
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 is removed before full winding is complete
Solution Approach 1:
The patent ensures that winding is completed as a preliminary action before time setting is finalized. The system checks that the watch has sufficient power reserve before allowing time setting to take effect, preventing loss of settings due to insufficient winding.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback on the winding status and power reserve level to the user. This feedback mechanism allows the user to understand when the watch is properly wound and ready for time setting, and when removal might cause loss of settings, enabling informed operation.
3Productivity
If the winding speed is increased to ensure full winding, then the watch reaches full winding faster, but the sliding flange function of the barrel experiences premature wear
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous high-speed winding that causes wear, the system uses periodic winding at controlled speeds. The clock activates winding only when the power reserve drops below a threshold, allowing the barrel to wind at moderate speeds without excessive stress on the sliding flange, while still ensuring full winding is achieved.
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
Ensures optimal winding and precise time setting to the second, even when the watch is stopped, with reduced wear on components and the ability to display additional information beyond minutes.
Implementation Method 1
using a combination of mechanical and magnetic transfers
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for setting the reference time of the displays (4; 5) of a sympathetic watch (200) by a sympathetic clock (100) with which the watch (200) forms a sympathetic assembly (1000), the watch (200) being provided with a clutch mechanism (706) between its display and finishing gear trains, hour (4) and minute (5) displays of which a reference position is defined, a rack (823) meshed with an hour wheel (808) integral with the hour display (4) and supporting an hour cam (802) with a wolf's tooth notch, and a pawl (801) held in abutment against the hour cam (802) by a spring, the rack (823) being configured to disengage from the hour wheel (808) in the clockwise direction, the watch (200) further having a rack pinion (824) for driving and setting the rack (823), which disengages at each tooth, during normal operation of the watch (200) without co-operation with the clock (100); according to said method, the reference time of the watch (200) is set at any moment by a first phase during which setting to the reference position is triggered by a first movement of an interface between the clock (100) and the watch (200), the reference time of the displays (4; 5) is set, the clutch mechanism (806) is disengaged to allow the rack (823) to drive the display gear train of the watch (200) anti-clockwise, for as many turns as necessary, until the pawl (801) meets the wolf's tooth notch of the hour cam, then the time-setting mechanism controlled by the clock (100) sets the time of the displays (4; 5) of the watch (200) clockwise to the exact time by resetting the rack (801), and then the clutch mechanism (806) is re-engaged.