Tangential Escapement Device with Single Blocking Element

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tangential drive escapement devices with two active vibrations face challenges in manufacturing complexity, assembly difficulties, and compactness due to small, complex components, often requiring restrictive detent pins for shock resistance.

Innovation Solution

A tangential drive escapement device with a single blocking mobile element and two escapement mobile elements, where the blocking mobile element is pivotally mounted to alternately block the escapement mobile elements, allowing for a compact assembly without detent pins, and transmitting two impulses during a single oscillation of the inertial element.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single blocking mobile element is used with two escapement mobile elements, then device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase due to the need for accurate blocking surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of mobile elementsVSAvoidblocking surface accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the blocking functions into a single blocking mobile element that interacts with both escapement mobile elements, reducing the total number of mobile elements from three (in conventional designs) to two, thereby simplifying the overall device structure and reducing assembly complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The blocking mobile element features localized blocking surfaces with specific geometric properties (inclined planes or curved surfaces) that are optimized for their specific function of controlling the escapement mobile elements, allowing precision to be concentrated where most needed rather than distributed throughout the entire mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Volume of moving object

If the blocking mobile element is pivotally mounted to alternately block escapement mobile elements, then compactness is improved and detent pins are eliminated, but reliability may be affected by the pivotal mounting mechanism

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveescapement device compactnessVSAvoidoperation without detent pins

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The blocking mobile element is designed with pivotal mounting that allows it to dynamically alternate between blocking the first escapement mobile element and the second escapement mobile element, enabling a compact oscillating motion that eliminates the need for static detent pins while maintaining reliable operation through controlled dynamic interaction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The blocking mobile element acts as an intermediary between the escapement mobile elements and the impulse transmission system, mediating the interaction through its pivotal mounting to achieve compactness while maintaining reliability by controlling the engagement and disengagement of blocking surfaces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If two impulses are transmitted during a single oscillation, then productivity is improved and energy efficiency increases, but device complexity increases due to the additional escapement mobile element

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpulse transmission frequencyVSAvoidnumber of escapement mobile elements

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The first escapement mobile element is positioned and configured to deliver the first impulse during the oscillation, while the second escapement mobile element is pre-configured to deliver the second impulse, allowing both impulses to be transmitted in sequence during a single oscillation cycle without requiring complex additional mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Both escapement mobile elements serve the universal function of impulse transmission to the inertial element, with each element specialized for delivering one impulse per oscillation, thereby achieving doubled productivity while keeping the added complexity minimal through functional symmetry

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250021049A1Escapement device for a timepiece

Publication Date: 2025.01.16 ROLEX SA

AI summary

Escapement device, comprising:first escapement mobile element comprising a plurality of first blocking surfaces and a first drive toothing forming a first main drive toothing,a second escapement mobile element comprising a plurality of second blocking surfaces and a second drive toothing forming a second main drive toothing,an inertial element,a blocking mobile element, comprising:blocking surface portions, arranged to come into contact with the first escapement mobile element and with the second escapement mobile element,an impulse receiver,an impulse transmitter,characterized in that:the second main drive toothing and the first main drive toothing are engaged together and cooperate with the blocking mobile element in the same plane.