Sympathetic Watch Assembly With Stepwise Time-Setting and Winding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sympathetic clocks and watches face issues with biased time-setting mechanisms, excessive wear on automatic barrels, inconsistent winding, and limited functionality due to periodic or constant time-setting methods, leading to inaccurate timekeeping and premature wear.
Innovation Solution
A sympathetic timepiece assembly with a clock and watch connected via two distinct transmission lines, allowing for independent and sequential adjustment of functions such as winding, time-setting, and display correction, ensuring precise time-setting and optimal winding at any time, even when the watch is stopped.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the watch is placed continuously on the clock for periodic time-setting, then the time-setting function is performed automatically, but the time-setting mechanism becomes biased and the automatic barrel undergoes significant wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by using a control mechanism that activates the time-setting function only at specific predetermined moments (e.g., when the clock's hour hand passes a reference position), rather than continuously. This periodic activation allows the automatic barrel to wind without constant time-setting interference, reducing mechanical bias and wear while maintaining automated functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the time-setting function conditional and adaptable rather than fixed. The control mechanism dynamically determines when to activate time-setting based on clock time and user presence, allowing the system to adjust its behavior to minimize wear while ensuring time-setting occurs when needed.
2Productivity
If the winding is constant and rapid to ensure the watch is wound within reasonable time, then the winding function is efficient, but the sliding flange of the barrel experiences premature wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic action to control the winding function by activating it only at specific intervals rather than continuously. The control mechanism triggers winding at predetermined moments, allowing the barrel to rest between winding cycles, which reduces wear on the sliding flange while still ensuring the watch is adequately wound over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by providing winding only when and where needed rather than continuous excessive winding. The control mechanism determines the appropriate moments to activate winding, avoiding unnecessary wear from constant rapid winding while ensuring sufficient power reserve is maintained.
3Reliability
If the time-setting is performed once or twice a day at a fixed time, then the time-setting mechanism is not overly biased, but the user must wait for the next passage to set time, resulting in uncertain time-setting accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the time-setting frequency and timing adaptable rather than fixed. The control mechanism can adjust when time-setting occurs based on user needs and clock time, allowing for more frequent or immediate time-setting when required while maintaining reduced bias through intelligent scheduling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses feedback by monitoring user interactions and clock time to determine when time-setting should occur. The control mechanism receives feedback about user presence and time requirements, then activates time-setting at appropriate moments, ensuring both reduced mechanism bias and high time-setting accuracy.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple functions are integrated into the sympathetic clock, then the functionality is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the control mechanism to manage multiple functions (winding, time-setting, display correction) through a single integrated system. The control mechanism can selectively activate different functions based on conditions, providing multi-functionality without requiring separate independent mechanisms for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses segmentation by dividing the control of multiple functions into distinct controllable modules. The control mechanism can independently manage winding, time-setting, and display correction functions, allowing each to be optimized separately while coordinated through a unified control system, thus managing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for step-by-step time setting of a sympathetic watch (200) by a sympathetic clock (100), forming together a sympathetic assembly, where a predetermined time-setting step and a reference position of the displays (3; 4; 5) of the watch (200) are determined, and where the clock (100) performs the time setting of the watch (200) by positioning a transmission line in a position corresponding to the time setting, and by actuating, in successive steps, each of the value of the predetermined step, a transmission line capable of imparting to a time-setting mechanism internal to the watch (200) any movement necessary to precisely achieve the display of the current time.