Watch Time-Setting Mechanism Disengagement Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mechanical timepieces require complex and space-consuming time setting mechanisms with numerous parts and transmissions, making them cumbersome and difficult to adapt to different watch movements.
Innovation Solution
A simplified time setting mechanism that uses a disengagement device to temporarily disconnect the time display mechanism from the regulating escapement, allowing it to rotate freely for setting, reducing the number of components and eliminating the need for transmissions like lanterns or friction systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a pull-out time-setting mechanism is used, then the time can be set by operating the winding or time-setting stem, but the mechanism includes a fairly large number of parts (lever, pull-out, intermediate wheel) and various transmissions (intermediate wheel, sliding pinion), increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the intermediate transmission elements (lever, pull-out, intermediate wheels, sliding pinion) from the time-setting mechanism. The control member is directly connected to the escape wheel, removing the complex transmission chain while preserving the time-setting function. This extraction principle directly resolves the contradiction by reducing the number of parts while maintaining operational capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a traditional pull-out mechanism that engages intermediate wheels, the patent inverts the approach by directly engaging the escape wheel with the control member. This inversion eliminates the need for multiple transmission stages and simplifies the mechanism while maintaining the ability to set time effectively.
2Ease of operation
If traditional time-setting mechanisms are used, then the time can be set, but the shapes and dimensions of the time-setting mechanism and its parts must be adapted to each watch movement, making components constitute a sort of fingerprint of the watch and reducing adaptability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal time-setting mechanism where the control member can be directly connected to various escape wheels different from the going train escape wheel. This multi-functional design allows the same basic mechanism structure to be adapted to different watch movements without requiring custom-shaped components, thereby improving versatility while maintaining the time-setting function.
3Ease of operation
If a pull-out time-setting mechanism is used, then the time can be set, but it is also necessary to use a lantern system (lantern-shaped pinion on the tigeron of the center pinion) or a friction system (friction drive wheel fixed to the cannon-pinion), increasing device complexity and space requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the lantern system or friction system from the time-setting mechanism. By directly connecting the control member to the escape wheel, the invention eliminates the need for these additional space-consuming components while preserving the time-setting capability, thereby reducing the volume requirements.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a clockwork movement comprising a driving element, a finishing gear driven by the driving element, an escapement (1) driven by the finishing gear, a regulating element (2) maintained by the escapement (1) and regulating the finishing gear, a time display mechanism driven by the finishing gear for displaying at least one time indication and a time-setting mechanism arranged to allow setting the time of the time display mechanism, the time-setting mechanism comprising a control element.The time-setting mechanism further includes a disengagement device (7) arranged to move between two positions when a user operates the control member: a first rest position, in which the finishing gear and the time-display mechanism are connected to the escapement (1) and thus regulated by the regulating member; and a second time-setting position in which the disengagement device (7) cooperates with a moving part of the escapement or a moving part of the finishing gear so that the time-display mechanism is no longer regulated by the regulating member and rotates freely driven by the motor member.