Watch Case Subassembly with Elastic Inclined Teeth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Watch assembly technologies face challenges in achieving secure sealing and precise angular indexing of trim parts while preventing involuntary disassembly, which complicates maintenance, cleaning, and repair.
Innovation Solution
A sealed casing sub-assembly with inclined teeth and elastic means allows for easy angular indexing and unidirectional adjustment, ensuring secure assembly and precise positioning through a ratchet mechanism that requires a specific torque for rotation, making disassembly more difficult.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional sealing and indexing mechanisms are used, then sealing and angular indexing are achieved, but the assembly becomes complex and difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated mechanism. The sealing element simultaneously provides sealing, angular indexing, and anti-disassembly protection. The inclined teeth are integrated with the sealing element rather than being separate components, reducing overall assembly complexity while maintaining all required functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing element is designed as a multi-functional component that performs sealing, angular positioning through inclined teeth engagement, and prevents involuntary disassembly. This universal component eliminates the need for separate mechanisms for each function, simplifying the overall device structure.
2Manufacturing precision
If secure assembly and precise angular indexing are implemented, then positioning accuracy is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to torque requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The inclined teeth mechanism allows dynamic adjustment during assembly. The sealing element can be rotated to different angular positions by applying torque, and the inclined teeth engage at specific angles to lock the position. This dynamic capability enables both precise positioning and relatively easy adjustment during assembly and maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The angle of the inclined teeth can be optimized to balance between positioning precision and torque requirements. By adjusting the inclination angle parameter, the mechanism achieves sufficient angular precision while keeping the torque required for operation within acceptable limits for manual assembly and maintenance.
3Reliability
If anti-disassembly mechanisms are added, then security against involuntary disassembly is improved, but ease of repair worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The inclined teeth mechanism provides automatic anti-disassembly protection through its geometric design. The sealing element with inclined teeth naturally resists rotation in the disassembly direction without requiring additional locks or fasteners. During authorized maintenance, the same mechanism allows controlled disassembly by overcoming the inclined tooth engagement, balancing security and maintainability.
4Reliability
If multiple sealing elements are used, then sealing reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the sealing function with the angular indexing mechanism into a single unified component. The sealing element incorporates the inclined teeth directly, eliminating the need for separate sealing rings and indexing mechanisms. This merging reduces the total number of components while maintaining robust sealing reliability.
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 provides a secure and sealed assembly with precise angular adjustment, preventing accidental disassembly and ensuring a high level of compression and sealing, while allowing for easy assembly and maintenance by requiring a controlled torque for rotation.
Implementation Method 1
a sealing position of maximum compression of at least one seal (9) in an axial direction (D)
Implementation Method 2
a set of elastic means (5) arranged to deform elastically under the action of a torque applied around the axis (D)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~6
Figure 7~8
AI summary
Watch case sub-assembly (100), comprising a sealing gasket (9) between a first (1) and a second (2) component screwed together, the first component (1) having a first inclined tooth (11) cooperating with a second inclined tooth (21) of the second component (2), the first component (1) or second component (2) or a second ring (5) interposed between them having a zone elastically deformable under the action of a relative rotation between the first (1) and the second (2) components imposed by an external force, and whose deformation range allows a compression of the elastically deformable zone allowing the crossing of the tooth tips during the relative rotation, and a relaxation of this zone allowing the return to cooperation of the tips (110, 210) and the hollows (220, 120) of teeth in a new relative angular position.