Timepiece Regulating Organ With Axial Spring Suspension
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mechanical timepieces face challenges in maintaining high quality factors for their regulating organs due to friction in the bearings, which is exacerbated by lower oscillation frequencies and larger amplitudes, and previous solutions like magnetic devices or helical springs are either ineffective or disruptive.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical solution involving axially prestressed balance springs, positioned on either side of the balance wheel, exerting forces parallel to the axis of rotation to suspend the shaft, thereby reducing friction in the bearings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the balance spring is strengthened to maintain oscillation frequency and amplitude, then the quality factor improves, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
A magnetic field is introduced as an intermediary force to suspend the balance shaft, replacing direct mechanical contact in the bearings. The magnetic field acts as a non-contact mediator that supports the balance assembly, reducing friction without requiring stronger balance springs that would increase power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical bearing contact system with a magnetic field-based suspension system. Instead of relying solely on mechanical elements (balance springs and bearing contacts) to maintain oscillations, a magnetic field is used to suspend the balance shaft, eliminating mechanical friction and allowing weaker balance springs to suffice.
2Reliability
If magnetic devices are used to suspend the balance wheel, then bearing friction is reduced, but the timepiece operation is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the magnetic suspension function from the balance spring system itself and places it in a separate, dedicated magnetic field generation system. The balance springs retain only their elastic function, while the magnetic field (generated by separate poles) provides the suspension force, isolating the magnetic function to minimize interference with other timepiece components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces controlled magnetic poles as intermediaries that create a localized magnetic field for suspension purposes only. These magnetic poles act as dedicated mediators for the suspension function, separated from other magnetic components in the timepiece, thereby reducing unwanted magnetic interference while achieving the suspension effect.
3Reliability
If helical springs are used to suspend the balance, then bearing friction is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical helical spring suspension system with a magnetic field-based suspension system. Instead of adding complex mechanical helical springs, the invention uses magnetic fields (generated by magnetic poles) to achieve suspension, simplifying the mechanical structure while maintaining the friction-reduction benefit.
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
This approach enhances the quality factor of the regulating organ by minimizing bearing friction, maintaining oscillations efficiently without increasing power consumption or disrupting the timepiece's operation.
Implementation Method 1
two balance springs (10, 11) arranged on either side of the balance (8) and fixed to the shaft (9) by their inner end... the two balance springs (10, 11) being axially prestressed, by positions distant from the inner end and the outer end of each balance spring (10, 11) along the axis A, so that two forces parallel to the axis A and in opposite directions are exerted on the shaft (9) by the balance springs (10, 11)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a regulating organ device for a timepiece comprising a frame (2) and a regulating organ (3). The regulating organ (3) comprises a balance (8) secured to a shaft (9) and first and second balance springs (10, 11). Each of the first and second balance springs (10, 11) has an inner end secured to one of the shaft (9) and the frame (2) and an outer end secured to the other of the shaft (9) and the frame (2). The shaft (9) comprises pivots (14, 15) arranged to rotate in bearings (16, 17) of the frame (2). The first and second balance springs (10, 11) are prestressed so as to exert on the shaft (9), parallel to the shaft (9), two forces in opposite directions.