Watch Movement Intermediate Connecting Block for Simultaneous Reset

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Solution Overview

Problem

Chronograph movements face positioning, tolerance, and adjustment challenges due to the need for precise control and reset operations across multiple counters, leading to potential issues in the quality and simultaneity of time measurement resets.

Innovation Solution

A watch movement with an intermediate connecting block mounted to pivot on an axis X, featuring a receiving zone and contact zones to exert forces on control elements, allowing for precise positioning and increased flexibility in the dimensioning and positioning of the external control member, which can act on both motion control elements simultaneously.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single control member acts simultaneously on reset devices arranged on both bridge side and dial side of the movement, then all counters can be reset simultaneously, but positioning precision and tolerance control become difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimultaneity of reset operationVSAvoidpositioning precision of control member
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediate connecting block as a mediator between the external control member and the control elements. This block has a receiving zone that receives force from the control member and transmits it through contact zones to multiple control elements. The intermediary structure allows the control member to be positioned with greater flexibility while maintaining precise force transmission to all reset devices, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of positioning and manufacturing precision requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Area of stationary object

If control elements are arranged on opposite sides of the movement plate, then space utilization is improved, but the complexity of ensuring precise simultaneous action increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace utilization of movementVSAvoidcomplexity of control transmission mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the third dimension (thickness of the movement plate) by positioning the intermediate connecting block within the movement structure, with contact zones on opposite sides. This allows control elements to be arranged on both the bridge side and dial side while maintaining a compact overall structure. The intermediate block acts as a force distribution hub that simplifies the control transmission mechanism despite the distributed arrangement of control elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the reception zone of the intermediate block is made larger, then flexibility in positioning the external control member is improved, but the precision of force transmission to control elements may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexibility in positioning control memberVSAvoidprecision of force transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The intermediate connecting block is segmented into distinct functional zones: a larger receiving zone that provides flexibility for control member positioning, and smaller contact zones that ensure precise force transmission to control elements. This segmentation allows the block to accommodate variations in control member position while maintaining accurate force application at the contact points, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP1960843B1Timepiece movement
Publication Date: 2013.05.01 VAUCHER MANUFACTURE FLEURIER
  • EP1960843B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1960843B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1960843B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a clockwork movement comprising at least two control elements (4, 40) which are movable with respect to the frame thereof, are used for interacting with the same external control member (60) in response to the activation thereof and are positioned remotely to each other in the direction of the clockwork movement thickness. The inventive clockwork movement comprises an intermediate connecting unit (57), which is rotatable about the axis X substantially extending in the direction of the clockwork movement thickness, pivotally mounted on the clockwork movement frame element and provided with a reception area (100) which is distant from the axis X and exposable to a force produced in response to the control member activation. The intermediate unit also comprises at least two contact areas (62, 63) each of which is used for producing a force on the corresponding control element and which are located on the both sides of the reception area (100) in the direction of the axis X. Said characteristics make it possible to improve the accuracy of the movement transmission from the external control member to the movable elements.