Timepiece Resonator With Rotary Flexible Guide Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clock resonator mechanisms with flexible guidance fail to adequately protect elastic blades from shocks in all directions and prevent parasitic movements, leading to reduced travel and operational disturbances.
Innovation Solution
A clockwork resonator mechanism with a flexible suspension system that allows mobility in multiple degrees of freedom, incorporating retaining means to dampen rotations around specific directions, using elastic blades and damping elements to mitigate shock-induced damage and parasitic movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If flexible guidance with elastic blades is used to maximize quality factor, then oscillation performance is improved, but shock resistance deteriorates as blades are vulnerable to breaking under impact stress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a shock absorption system with a shock-absorbing element positioned between the resonator axis and the elastic blades. This element is designed to deform under shock loads, absorbing impact energy before it reaches the blades. The cushioning action occurs in advance of the actual shock event, protecting the blades from breaking while maintaining their flexibility for normal oscillation operation
Solution Approach 2:
The shock-absorbing element acts as an intermediary component between the external shock source and the elastic blades. This mediator absorbs and dissipates shock energy through controlled deformation, preventing direct transmission of harmful forces to the blades while allowing normal operational forces to pass through unchanged
2Adaptability or versatility
If flexible suspension allows mobility in multiple degrees of freedom, then operational flexibility is improved, but parasitic movements increase causing disturbances to oscillation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the suspension system into distinct functional components: a flexible suspension allowing multi-degree-of-freedom mobility for the anchoring block, and a separate retention mechanism with retaining elements that selectively constrain parasitic movements. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function without interfering with the other, maintaining mobility while eliminating harmful parasitic movements
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 effectively reduces disturbances and protects the resonator mechanism from shocks by damping parasitic rotary movements, enhancing the resonator's durability and operational stability.
Implementation Method 1
retaining means configured to dampen the rotation of the inertial element and the flexible suspension around the X direction, and/or around the Y direction
Implementation Method 2
flexible guide forming a virtual pivot... elastic blades each fixed, at a first end to said anchoring block, and at a second end to said inertial element
Data Source
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AI summary
A resonator mechanism (100) for a timepiece comprising a structure (1) and an anchoring block (30) from which is suspended at least one inertial element (2) arranged to oscillate according to a first rotational degree of freedom RZ about a pivot axis (D) extending in a first direction Z, said inertial element (2) being subjected to return forces exerted by a flexible guide (200) forming a virtual pivot, said anchoring block (30) being suspended from said structure (1) by a flexible suspension (300) arranged to allow the mobility of said anchoring block (30) according to a plurality of degrees of freedom, at least two of which are in an XY plane, in a second direction X and in a third direction Y orthogonal to said second direction X,the clockwork resonator mechanism (100) comprising means (10) for retaining the flexible suspension (300) configured to dampen the rotation of the inertial element (2) and of the flexible suspension (300) around the second direction X, and/or around the third direction Y.,