Timepiece Coupling Device Deactivation Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coupling devices for automatic winding chains in timepieces are complex to manipulate during servicing, requiring dexterity and often necessitate partial disassembly, leading to increased height or volume in the movement's construction, and lack a simple and compact solution for deactivating the barrel spring without continuous watchmaker intervention.
Innovation Solution
A coupling device with a control element that can be actuated by a watchmaker to switch between activation and deactivation configurations, allowing for unidirectional torque transmission during winding and free rotation when deactivated, and spontaneously reconfiguring back to the activated state during engagement direction rotation, thus simplifying servicing and maintaining compactness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If a coupling device is designed to be deactivated for servicing, then ease of repair is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional control elements and mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the deactivation function from the main coupling mechanism by introducing a separate control element (lever or button) that can be actuated to disengage the pawl from the ratchet teeth. This allows the coupling device to be deactivated without requiring disassembly of the entire movement, improving ease of repair while keeping the added complexity minimal through a simple, standalone control mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling device is designed with a control element that allows the watchmaker to easily deactivate and reactivate the coupling without requiring complex tools or disassembly procedures. The control element can be manually actuated to release the pawl, enabling self-service operations during servicing while maintaining the integrity of the overall movement structure.
2Volume of moving object
If the coupling device is made compact, then the movement volume is reduced, but ease of operation during servicing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control element is positioned to be accessible from a dimension different from the main coupling mechanism, allowing the watchmaker to operate it without needing to disassemble the movement. The control element can be actuated through an opening or gap in the movement structure, providing ease of operation while maintaining compact overall dimensions through efficient spatial arrangement of the coupling components.
3Reliability
If the coupling device requires continuous watchmaker intervention to remain deactivated, then reliability of disarmed state is improved, but loss of time during servicing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control element is designed to maintain the deactivated state through a mechanical latch or positioning mechanism that holds the pawl disengaged from the ratchet teeth without requiring continuous watchmaker intervention. Once the control element is actuated to the deactivated position, it remains there automatically, allowing the watchmaker to complete servicing operations quickly without needing to maintain constant pressure or intervention to keep the coupling deactivated.
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
Enables practical and efficient manipulation of the coupling device during after-sales service operations, allowing for disarming of the barrel spring without partial disassembly and maintaining the movement's compactness, while preventing premature wear on the reversing system during manual winding.
Implementation Method 1
Each freewheel includes two monobloc elastic pawls intended to cooperate with gullet teeth of a ratchet connected to a barrel shaft
Data Source
AI summary
The coupling device for a timepiece (400) includes a first part (41;41′;41″), a second part (42;42′;42″) mobile relative to the first part about a first axis (A1;A1′;A1″), at least one blocking element (43;43′;43″), and a control element (45;45′;45″) movably mounted on one of the parts to move between a deactivation first configuration (C1) and an activation second configuration (C2), the device being unidirectional or a freewheel in its activation second configuration (C2), the at least one blocking element (43;43′;43″), the first part (41;41′;41″), and the second part (42;42′;42″) being configured and/or adapted so as to connect the first and second parts by obstacle or by wedging, the at least one blocking element (43;43′;43″) being adapted and/or configured so that, in the first configuration (C1) it enables free relative movement of the first and second parts during rotation in a first direction and in a second direction opposite the first direction, and in the second configuration (C2) it enables coupling of the first and second parts during loading of one or the other in the first direction and free relative movement between the parts during rotation in the second direction.