Timepiece Mechanism Decoupling Member for Precision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mechanisms for timepieces face a disadvantage where a decrease in energy storage leads to reduced oscillation amplitude and frequency disruption, affecting temporal precision.
Innovation Solution
A mechanism with a decoupling member elastically connected to the pallet fork and regulating member, oscillating with a constrained amplitude between extreme positions, maintains constant oscillation amplitude even with decreased energy storage, ensuring temporal precision through motion limiting means and elastic linking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the energy storage device is normally loaded with energy, then the regulator oscillates with nominal amplitude and frequency, but when energy decreases, oscillation amplitude reduces and frequency changes
Solution Approach 1:
A decoupling member is introduced as an intermediary between the energy distributing member and the regulator. This decoupling member absorbs the variability in energy transmission, allowing the regulator to maintain constant oscillation amplitude and frequency despite changes in energy storage levels. The decoupling member acts as a buffer that mediates the interaction between the energy source and the oscillator.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the oscillation parameters of the decoupling member to be independent of the energy storage level. By controlling the decoupling member to oscillate with a constant amplitude and period regardless of energy variations, the system maintains temporal precision. The decoupling member's oscillation parameters are designed to remain constant while the energy distributing member's parameters vary with energy storage.
2Power
If the decoupling member oscillates with large amplitude, then energy transfer is efficient, but oscillation amplitude varies with energy storage changes
Solution Approach 1:
The decoupling member is designed to oscillate with a constant amplitude and period that are independent of the energy storage level. This is achieved by designing the decoupling member's oscillation characteristics to remain stable while the energy distributing member's oscillation amplitude varies with energy storage changes, thus maintaining stable energy transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into two independent oscillation systems: the energy distributing member that varies with energy storage and the decoupling member that maintains constant oscillation. This segmentation allows each component to have different oscillation characteristics optimized for their specific functions, with the decoupling member providing stable energy transfer regardless of energy storage variations.
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
The solution ensures the timepiece operates normally with preserved temporal precision by maintaining constant mechanical energy transfer and oscillation amplitude, even when the energy storage decreases.
Implementation Method 1
a first elastic linking means connecting said pallet fork to said frame, designed to transfer mechanical energy from said energy distributing member to said pallet fork
Implementation Method 2
a decoupling member elastically connected to said pallet fork by said first elastic linking means and to said regulating member by second elastic linking means, said decoupling member being arranged to oscillate with a certain amplitude between first and second extreme positions
Data Source
AI summary
A timepiece mechanism comprising a regulator, an energy distributing member a pallet fork controlled by the regulator to alternate in locking and releasing the energy distributing member, and a decoupling member elastically connected to the pallet fork and to the regulator. The decoupling member is arranged so as to oscillate between two stop elements.