Titanium Calendar Mobile Teeth to Prevent Marking and Delamination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing calendar mechanisms in mobile devices face issues with delamination of coatings and marking of driving components due to contact pressures, leading to potential degradation and pollution, particularly in aluminum alloy discs used for annual calendars.

Innovation Solution

The use of titanium or titanium alloy obstacle elements with specific tooth configurations and designs, such as internal or external teeth, to enhance resistance to aging and prevent marking, ensuring reliable and robust time information display without the need for surface coatings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If aluminum alloy discs are used for calendar mechanisms, then low density is achieved, but coating delamination and marking of driving components occur due to contact pressures

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovedensityVSAvoidcoating stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from aluminum alloy to titanium or titanium alloy, fundamentally altering the physical and chemical properties. This material substitution eliminates the need for surface coatings while providing inherent resistance to marking and degradation under contact pressures, directly resolving the coating delamination issue while maintaining low density.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs titanium alloys as composite materials that combine multiple desirable properties: low density, high strength, excellent resistance to marking, and zero particle release. These composite materials replace aluminum alloy and its required protective coatings, achieving both weight reduction and improved reliability simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Weight of moving object

If aluminum alloy discs are used for calendar mechanisms, then low density is achieved, but marking of driving components occurs leading to degradation

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovedensityVSAvoidmarking and contamination
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from aluminum alloy to titanium or titanium alloy, fundamentally altering the physical and chemical properties. This material substitution eliminates the need for surface coatings while providing inherent resistance to marking and degradation under contact pressures, directly resolving the coating delamination issue while maintaining low density.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent eliminates the need for protective coatings on aluminum alloy by switching to titanium materials that inherently resist marking and wear. This removes the temporary protective layer approach and replaces it with a durable, long-lasting material that maintains its properties throughout the component's service life, preventing contamination and marking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If titanium or titanium alloy obstacle elements are used, then resistance to aging and marking prevention are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresistance to agingVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from aluminum alloy to titanium or titanium alloy, fundamentally altering the physical and chemical properties. This material substitution eliminates the need for surface coatings while providing inherent resistance to marking and degradation under contact pressures, directly resolving the coating delamination issue while maintaining low density.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3499317B1Timepiece calendar mobile
Publication Date: 2024.08.21 ROLEX SA
  • EP3499317B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3499317B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3499317B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Mobile (10) for indicating time information or information derived from the time, comprising at least a first obstacle element (1a, 2a, 3a) intended to receive a contact action for driving the mobile and/or intended to transmit a contact action for driving the mobile, the first obstacle element being made of titanium or titanium alloy.