Timepiece Locking Device Shock Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing watch mechanisms with gear trains experience significant wear and material deformation due to violent shocks between the locking device and the mobile stopper during the locking and unlocking cycles, leading to premature failure of the stopping function.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an elastic member connected to the stop wheel, which absorbs and dissipates the shock energy through elastic deformation and friction, reducing the peak force and duration of the impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a blocking member directly contacts the blocking beak to stop the mobile stopper, then the gear train is effectively immobilized, but violent shocks occur causing significant wear and material deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an elastic member (spring) between the blocking beak and the stop wheel that compresses during the locking operation. This elastic element absorbs the impact energy before it can cause violent shocks to the blocking beak, thereby cushioning the system in advance against harmful forces while maintaining reliable stopping function.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic member acts as an intermediary element between the rigid blocking beak and the stop wheel. Instead of direct contact between hard surfaces, the spring mediates the interaction, transforming the impulsive shock into a controlled compression process that reduces wear and deformation of the blocking beak.
2Speed
If the blocking member moves quickly to immobilize the gear train, then the stopping response is fast, but the shock duration is very short (less than 1 ms) intensifying the impact force
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static, rigid locking interaction into a dynamic process by introducing the elastic spring. The spring allows the system to adapt during the locking operation, progressively compressing as the blocking beak engages with the stop wheel. This dynamic behavior extends the interaction time and reduces peak forces while maintaining fast overall locking response.
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 solution effectively reduces wear and deformation, ensuring reliable operation by distributing the impact energy across the elastic member and friction surfaces, thereby extending the lifespan of the mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member carried by the stop wheel of the stop mobile and arranged to connect the blocking nose to the said stop wheel and to allow, in the event of a shock between the locking member and the locking beak, a damping of said shock comprising at least one elastic part
Implementation Method 2
the elastic member is arranged to allow, during a shock between the blocking member and the blocking beak, a damping of said shock comprising an elastic part but also an energy dissipative part, preferably by friction
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a clockwork mechanism provided with a gear train and a locking device for said gear train, said locking device comprising a stop mobile (6) arranged to be driven in rotation by the gear train and formed of a pinion (6a) and a stop wheel (6b), said stop wheel (6b) being arranged to carry a locking beak (8), and a locking member movable between a first stop position in which the locking member cooperates with the locking beak to stop the stop mobile (6) in order to immobilize the gear train and a second position in which the locking member does not cooperate with the stop mobile (6).The locking device further includes an elastic element (14) carried by the stop wheel (6b) of the stop mobile (6) and arranged to connect the locking beak (8) to said stop wheel (6b) and to allow, in the event of a collision between the locking element and the locking beak (8), a damping of said collision comprising at least an elastic part, and preferably an elastic part as well as an energy dissipative part.