Wristwatch Fluid Indicator With Mechanical Gear Pump
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wristwatch designs face challenges in displaying time indications using liquids due to the absence of suitable pumps, sensitivity to shocks and accelerations, and aesthetic limitations imposed by the need for brightly colored liquids and large cavities, which restrict design freedom and legibility.
Innovation Solution
A wristwatch with a fluid pump driven by the movement that circulates a colored fluid through channels in the watch glass to display time indications, allowing for visible, fine details and animations without obstruction by reflections or moving hands, using immiscible fluids for clear visibility and miniaturized gear pumps for efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a liquid is used to display time indications in a wristwatch, then elegant or original display forms are achieved, but the device becomes sensitive to shocks and accelerations causing the liquid to spill or flow in undesired directions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible membrane to separate the liquid reservoir from the viewing area. The membrane allows the liquid to be contained and manipulated while protecting against shocks and accelerations that would cause the liquid to spill or flow undesirably. This flexible barrier maintains the display function while improving reliability under mechanical stress.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a hydraulic system using liquid to transmit forces and torques from the movement to the display mechanism. The liquid circulates through channels and cavities, using hydraulic pressure to drive the display elements. This hydraulic approach allows the liquid to be contained and controlled, preventing spilling while maintaining the elegant display form.
2Illumination intensity
If cavities of large size are used to fill with liquid for visibility, then the liquid becomes visible, but the cavities occupy important space on or behind the dial and require powerful pumps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses colored or luminous liquid to enhance visibility. The liquid can change color or emit light to make it visible in the channels and cavities, eliminating the need for large cavity sizes. This allows small,精致 channels to be filled with visible liquid, reducing the space occupied while maintaining clarity and visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the need for powerful mechanical pumps with a hydraulic system where the liquid itself transmits forces. The hydraulic pressure generated by the liquid circulation replaces the need for powerful external pumps, enabling efficient operation with smaller components and less complexity.
3Illumination intensity
If brightly colored liquids are used to overcome reflections on glass, then the liquid becomes visible, but aesthetic freedom is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs liquids with variable color properties, including fluorescent, phosphorescent, or color-changing liquids that can adapt to different lighting conditions. This allows the liquid to maintain visibility without being restricted to fixed bright colors, enabling greater aesthetic freedom while overcoming reflections on the glass.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer or coating on the glass surface to reduce reflections. This intermediary element allows the liquid to be visible without requiring it to be excessively bright, preserving aesthetic freedom while maintaining visibility through the glass barrier.
4Stability of the object's composition
If liquid circulates in pipes or cavities recessed behind the glass and dial, then the liquid can be contained, but reflections on glass or stones diminish contrast and prevent the liquid from being seen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses liquids with enhanced optical properties such as fluorescent, phosphorescent, or luminescent materials that emit or enhance light. This increases the contrast and visibility of the liquid against the glass and dial, overcoming the diminishing contrast caused by reflections while maintaining the recessed containment structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an optical intermediary layer or anti-reflective coating on the glass surface to reduce reflections and enhance light transmission. This intermediary element improves the contrast and visibility of the liquid in the recessed cavities while maintaining the liquid containment structure.
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
Enables direct and legible time indication display on the watch glass with high visibility of light-colored fluids in small channels, offering enhanced aesthetic freedom and improved legibility, even under varying conditions like shocks, by using a mechanical gear pump to drive fluid circulation.
Implementation Method 1
a hydraulic system is used to transmit forces or torques from one point of the movement to the other
Implementation Method 2
a fluid, this time transparent, circulates between two glasses in order to transmit movements in an invisible manner between two points
Data Source
AI summary
An indicator including a housing, a movement lodged in the housing, a watch glass above the housing, a fluid pump driven by the movement for pumping a fluid, and a channel. The channel is arranged so that the fluid circulated by the pump reaches the channel in order to fill the channel for displaying indications.