Watch Movement Barrel Drum Isolation for Shock Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional watch movements with multiple barrels face challenges in achieving a comfortable power reserve while maintaining stability and compact dimensions, especially in the presence of shocks, and are not suitable for producing timepieces with large power reserves but small thickness.
Innovation Solution
The watch movement design includes a barrel with enlarged diameter, where the barrel arbor is completely isolated from its drum, using annular shoulders and ring bearings to ensure stable force transmission and accommodate a complication mechanism, allowing for a significant power reserve without adding intermediate gears, which could cause inefficiencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the barrel drum is directly mounted on the barrel arbor and rests in a bearing, then the structure is simple, but the stability deteriorates in the event of shocks causing the drum to strike the barrel arbor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the barrel assembly into two independent parts: the barrel drum and the barrel arbor. The drum is no longer directly mounted on the arbor but is instead independently supported by the movement frame through dedicated bearings. This segmentation isolates the drum from direct connection to the arbor, preventing shock transmission while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The movement frame serves as an intermediary structure between the barrel drum and the barrel arbor. The drum is mounted on the frame via bearings rather than directly on the arbor, creating a stable reference frame that absorbs shocks without transmitting them to the arbor or the going train.
2Duration of action of moving object
If two barrels are mounted coaxially to provide significant power reserve, then the power reserve is improved, but the thickness of the movement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a coaxial arrangement (one dimension) to a lateral arrangement where barrels are positioned side-by-side in the plane of the movement. This dimensional change allows the barrels to be arranged laterally rather than superimposed, maintaining power reserve while reducing thickness.
3Reliability
If the barrel drum is isolated from the barrel arbor using annular shoulders and ring bearings, then the stability is improved by preventing shock transmission, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The movement frame serves multiple functions: it supports the barrel drum through bearings, provides a stable reference structure for shock absorption, and eliminates the need for direct drum-arbor connection. This multi-functionality reduces overall complexity despite the added isolation features.
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 design achieves a compact and stable watch movement with enhanced power reserve and reduced risk of shock-induced disturbances, allowing for the integration of complication mechanisms without compromising efficiency or size constraints.
Implementation Method 1
a barrel arranged to maintain the oscillations of a mechanical oscillator by means of a going train... housing a barrel spring... one end of which engages with a barrel arbor
Implementation Method 2
a transmission member integral in rotation with the barrel arbor... the drum defining a first level... a toothing meshing with a first wheel set of the going train
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a clock movement comprising a frame (30, 43) supporting a barrel (1) arranged to sustain the oscillations of a mechanical oscillator (24, 25) by means of a finishing gear train (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20). The barrel includes a drum (5) which houses a mainspring (2), a first end thereof being connected to a barrel arbour (4) pivotably mounted in two bushes (28, 29), at least one of which is supported by the frame, the drum defining the first level in the body of the clock movement, the finishing gear train comprising a first mobile (13) arranged to engage with a transmission member (10) rotatably secured to the barrel arbour and rotatably mounted on the frame according to an axis of rotation vertically adjacent to the barrel drum (5) in the body of the clock movement to define a second level. The movement is characterised in that the barrel drum (5) is also pivotably mounted in a bush (33) of the frame (30) so as to be suspended from the latter.