US3745843A - Motion transformer - Google Patents

Motion transformer Download PDF

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Publication number
US3745843A
US3745843A US00244053A US3745843DA US3745843A US 3745843 A US3745843 A US 3745843A US 00244053 A US00244053 A US 00244053A US 3745843D A US3745843D A US 3745843DA US 3745843 A US3745843 A US 3745843A
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United States
Prior art keywords
motion
ratchet wheel
oscillatory
stop
teeth
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00244053A
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English (en)
Inventor
M Hetzel
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Omega Louis Brandt and Frere SA
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Omega Louis Brandt and Frere SA
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Omega Louis Brandt and Frere SA filed Critical Omega Louis Brandt and Frere SA
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Publication of US3745843A publication Critical patent/US3745843A/en
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Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B11/00—Click devices; Stop clicks; Clutches
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16H—GEARING
    • F16H31/00—Other gearings with freewheeling members or other intermittently driving members
    • F16H31/003—Step-by-step mechanisms for rotary motion
    • F16H31/005—Step-by-step mechanisms for rotary motion with pawls driven by a reciprocating or oscillating transmission member
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B11/00—Click devices; Stop clicks; Clutches
    • G04B11/02—Devices allowing the motion of a rotatable part in only one direction
    • G04B11/04—Pawl constructions therefor, e.g. pawl secured to an oscillating member actuating a ratchet
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S74/00—Machine element or mechanism
    • Y10S74/04—Magnetic gearing
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T74/00—Machine element or mechanism
    • Y10T74/15—Intermittent grip type mechanical movement
    • Y10T74/1526—Oscillation or reciprocation to intermittent unidirectional motion
    • Y10T74/1529—Slide actuator
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T74/00—Machine element or mechanism
    • Y10T74/18—Mechanical movements
    • Y10T74/1856—Reciprocating or oscillating to intermittent unidirectional motion
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T74/00—Machine element or mechanism
    • Y10T74/21—Elements
    • Y10T74/2133—Pawls and ratchets
    • Y10T74/2141—Sliding pawls

Definitions

  • FIGZ I FIG.3 FIGA MOTION TRANSFORMER RELATED APPLICATION This application describes an improvement on the motion transformer mechanism disclosed in United States application Ser. No. 88,715 now US. Pat. No. 3,691,754.
  • This invention relates to motion transformers, espe cially for use in time pieces such as wrist watches for converting oscillatory or reciprocating motion to rotary motion.
  • the invention pertains particularly to motion transformers comprising a ratchet wheel mounted so that it can oscillate back-and-forth through a limited path of travel and also rotate substantially about its center axis, and further comprising stops to limit the amplitude of the back-and-forth oscillatory motion and pawls engaging the ratchet wheel teeth to cause the ratchet wheel to rotate unidirectionally at a velocity determined by the frequency of the oscillations.
  • the rotating ratchet wheel may be coupled magnetically to the drive gear in a watch or other time piece gear train.
  • the invention provides, in such a motion transformer,
  • a common type of electric (battery-energized) wrist watch utilizes a vibratory element which is electrically driven at a predetermined accurate (usually resonant) frequency.
  • the vibratory back-and-forth motion of this element must be converted by a motion transformer to rotary motion by which the gear train of the time piece can be actuated.
  • a driving pawl attached to the vibrator and aligned in the vibration direction, which pawl engages the teeth of a ratchet wheel.
  • the pivot axis of the latter is stationary relative to the vibrator.
  • a restraining pawl likewise engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel to prevent reverse motion, the fixed end of this retraining pawl likewise being stationary relative to the vibrator.
  • the operating frequency of vibrators of the described type is usually in the range from 200 to 700 oscillations per second.
  • the diameter of the ratchet wheel generally is about I to 3 mm. (0.040 to 0.120 inch).
  • this motion transformer Since pawls and stops are mounted in close proximity on the assembly enclosure this motion transformer is relatively insensitive to loss of adjustment due to thermal effects or mechanical shock, and its design is such that the speed of rotation of the ratchet wheel is dependent only on the frequency of oscillation of the vibrator and is essentially independent of the amplitude of such oscillation.
  • the basic design and mode of operation of this improved motion transformer is described in greater detail in the aforesaid US. application Ser. No. 8 8 ,71 5
  • the invention accordingly, is incorporated in an improved motion transformer, especially suited for use in electric vibrator-driven wrist watches and other time pieces, for converting oscillatory to rotary motion, comprising a ratchet wheel mounted both for oscillatory back-andforth motion substantially on a diameter thereof and for rotary motion substantially about its center, a pair of stops fixedly mounted for limiting the amplitude of said oscillatory motion, and a pair of pawl engaging the teeth of said ratchet sheel substantially at the ends of a wheel diameter approximately normal to the direction of said oscillatory motion.
  • a resilient shock-absorbing braking member is secured to each of said stops in position to abut the teeth of the ratchet wheel as it approaches each end of its oscillatory path of travel, whereby the motion of the ratchet wheel at each end of its path of travel is gently braked to a stop without injury to its teeth.
  • each resilient braking member is in the form of a thin flexible lamina secured only at one end to the fixed stop and except where so secured is spaced by a substantial gap from the stop.
  • the braking member again is a thin lamina but is attached at both ends to the fixed stop, with a substantial gap separating such lamina from the stop intermediate such attachments.
  • the entire assembly of ratchet wheel, stops and pawls is mounted in a liquid-tight enclosure and said enclosure is filled with a suitable damping liquid which advantageously also has lubricating properties, such as an oil of low viscosity e.g. about 1 centistolte.
  • a suitable damping liquid which advantageously also has lubricating properties, such as an oil of low viscosity e.g. about 1 centistolte.
  • damping liquid fills the gap between each lamina and the adjoining stop and damps the movement of the flexible lamina.
  • This arrangement makes it possible to elastically absorb the shock to which the ratchet wheel and its teeth are subjected due to the impact on the stop, and to transfer the kinetic energy of the ratchet wheel into kinetic energy of the damping liquid, which in turn is converted into heat by way of friction.
  • This heat in view of the given energies and the great mass of the damping fluid, can hardly be measured, and is totally insignificant inso
  • the cross-section of the gap between the laminae and the stops may be quadrangular, i.e. rectangular, square or trapezoidal, or it may be curvilinear.
  • the particular shape and size of the gap may be chosen to make the damping harder or softer, or otherwise to adjust it to preselected conditions. It is also possible to adjust the size and shape of the gap in conformity to the selected frequency of oscillations since the damping liquid being pressed out of the gap must immediately afterward flow back into it.
  • the damping effect preferably is designed in such a way as to avoid any reactive effect on the ratchet wheel.
  • the flexible laminae are of a hard jewel material, such as ruby, sapphire, or other stone or mineral commonly used as watch jewels, to minimize wear on these parts. If not the entire lamina, then at least the portion which abuts the ratchet wheel teeth is made of such hard jewel material.
  • Yet another embodiment of the invention comprises a braking member in the form of a soft elastic material, such as a rubber or rubber-like synthetic resin, which is secured directly to the fixed stop and is faced where it abuts the ratchet wheel teeth with a hard deformation-resistant material such as a jewel or other stone material.
  • a soft elastic material such as a rubber or rubber-like synthetic resin
  • FIG. I is a schematic plan view of a motion transformer incorporating one embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a fragmentary schematic plan view of a motion transformer similar to that of FIG. l. but incorporating another embodiment of the invention
  • FIG. 3 is face view of the stop assembly shown in FIG. 2;
  • W6. 4! is a side view of another form of stop assembly according to the invention.
  • the motion transformer shown in FIG. 1 constitutes a unitary assembly mounted in an enclosure E formed of base and cover plates joined by side members and hermetically sealed after assembly and adjustment.
  • the assembly may be constructed and adjusted prior to sealing the cover plate in place.
  • the assembly is mounted on a vibratory member which is caused to vibrate at a predetermined frequency by a batteryenergized electronic circuit, as is well understood in the electric time piece art.
  • the mounting of the motion transformer of FIG. 1 on such vibratory member is such as to cause the assembly to oscillate back-and-forth in the direction indicated by the double-headed arrow.
  • the motion transformer mechanism comprises a ratchet wheel 1 provided with ratchet teeth 2.
  • the ratchet wheel is not secured in place by a fixed pivot or shaft, but instead is free to oscillate within the enclosure through a limited path of travel in the direction of the double-headed arrow, and also to rotate substantially about its center. Oscillation of the entire motion transformer assembly by the vibratory member on which it is mounted causes the ratchet wheel, because of its inertia, to oscillate correspondingly within and relative to the enclosure.
  • a first pawl arm 3 terminates at one end in a pawl jewel 4 which engages the ratchet wheel teeth and is fastened at its other end to the enclosure base plate.
  • a second pawl arm 6 is provided at one end with a pawl jewel 7 which engages the ratchet wheel teeth and is attached at its other end to the enclosure base plate.
  • the pawl jewels 4 and 7 engage the ratchet wheel at substantially diametrically opposite positions approximately normal to the direction of oscillation of the ratchet wheel indicated by the double-headed arrow.
  • a pair of stop members 9 and 14 secured fixedly to the enclosure base plate limit the maximum path of travel of the ratchet wheel in its back-and-forth oscillation.
  • the pawls compel rotation of the ratchet wheel (in a counter clockwise direction in the apparatus of FIG. I as is described in detail in the above-mentioned US. application Ser. No. 88,715.
  • Rotation of the ratchet wheel may be transmitted magnetically to a drive gear (not shown) to drive the gear train of a time piece.
  • the two stops 9 and M are provided respectively with a flexible lamina II and lb. Those laminae are attached at one end only to the fixed stops by connecting members 12 and 17 re spectively. Except at the connecting members, gaps 13 and 118 are formed between the laminae ll and 16 and the stops 9 and M.
  • the laminae form resilient braking members which abut the teeth of the ratchet wheel as it approaches each end of its oscillatory path of travel, and they gently brake the translational motion of the ratchet wheel to a stop without injury to the ratchet teeth.
  • the significance of the gentle braking effect of the laminae H1 and 16 is indicated by the following:
  • the ratchet wheel l in its to-and-fro motion runs up against one of the stops, its teeth 2 impinge on the stop at an average pressure per unit area of the magnitude of 50 lrg/mrn (over 70,000 psi) in normal time piece (wrist watch) operation. Under such conditions the tips of the teeth are soon flattened.
  • the laminae 11 and 16 respec tively, when the teeth 2 of the ratchet wheel 1 run up against them, will yield as a flexible bar and deflect in the direction of the stops 9 and 14, respectively.
  • the interior 19 of the enclosure E is filled with a damping liquid such as a low viscosity mineral oil.
  • a damping liquid such as a low viscosity mineral oil.
  • This liquid completely fills the sealed enclosure and in consequence fills the gaps 13 and 18.
  • the liquid present in these gaps will be squeezed out due to the reduced size of the gap, whereby this kinetic energy of the liquid is converted into heat due to turbulence.
  • This heat on account of the large volume of liquid in the space 19, is too small to be measured.
  • gaps l3 and 18 it is possible to design the gaps l3 and 18 with a suitable cross-sectional shape, for example, a quadrangular shape, e.g. square, rectangular or trapezoidal, or a round or other curvilinear shape, in such a way as to obtain optimum damping characteristics for the particular dimensions, frequencies and materials of a given mechanism. In this manner it is possible to afford maximum protection for the tips of the teeth 2 of the ratchet wheel 1 and to ensure reliable working of the motion transformer mechanis over long periods of time.
  • a suitable cross-sectional shape for example, a quadrangular shape, e.g. square, rectangular or trapezoidal, or a round or other curvilinear shape
  • FIG. 2 shows a part of a ratchet wheel 22 with teeth 23 in a motion transformer of the same general design as that of FIG. 1.
  • the amplitude of back-and-forth oscillatory movement of the ratchet wheel (right to left and back again as viewed in the drawing) is limited by a pair of stops, of which only one stop 25 is shown.
  • This stop 25, shown also in FIG. 3, is fixedly mounted on the base plate of the mechanism enclosure and is provided with a lamina 27 preferably made of a hard jewel material.
  • the lamina 27 differs from the laminae ll, 16 of FIG. 1 in that it is attached at both ends to the stop 25, advantageously by gluing at fastening points 28.
  • a gap between the lamina 27 and the stop 25 allows for deflection of the lamina toward the stop to gently brake the translational motion of the ratchet wheel.
  • FIG. 4 A further design of a shock absorber stop in accordance with the invention is shown in FIG. 4.
  • the stop 32 and an abutment member 34 are connected by an intermediate eleastic buffer 35 of rubshown) on the abutment member 34 by absorbing the kinetic energy of the impact in the buffer 35 where it is converted into strain energy and thence into frictional heat.
  • a motion transformer for converting oscillatory to rotary motion comprising a ratchet wheel mounted both for oscillatory back-and-forth motion substantially on a diameter thereof and for rotary motion substantially about its center, a pair of stops fixedly mounted for limiting the amplitude of said oscillatory motion, and a pair of pawls engaging the teeth of said ratchet wheel substantially at the ends of a wheel diameter approximately normal to the direction of said oscillatory motion, the improvement comprising a resilient shock-absorbing braking member secured to each of said stops in position to abut the teeth of said ratchet wheel as it approaches each end of its oscillatory path of travel, whereby the motion of the ratchet wheel at each end of its oscillatory path of travel is gently braked to a stop without injury to the teeth.
  • each resilient braking member is a thin flexible lamina secured only at one end to the fixed stop and except where so secured is spaced by a substantial gap from said stop.
  • a motion transformer according to claim 2 wherein the assembly of ratchet wheel, stops and pawls is mounted in an enclosure and said enclosure is filled with a damping liquid which extends into the gap between each lamina and the adjoining stop and damps the movement of the flexible laminae.
  • each resilient braking member is a thin flexible lamina secured at both ends of the fixed stop and except where so secured is spaced by a substantial gap from said stop.
  • each resilient braking member where it abuts the ratchet wheel comprises a hard jewel material.
  • each resilient braking member comprises a soft elastic material secured to the stop and faced where it abuts the ratchet wheel teeth with a hard deformation-resistant material.
  • a motion transformer according to claim 7 wherein the hard deformation-resistant material is a her or rubber-like synthetic resinous material. This jewel material.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
  • Vibration Prevention Devices (AREA)
US00244053A 1971-04-26 1972-04-14 Motion transformer Expired - Lifetime US3745843A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH612671A CH536504A (de) 1971-04-26 1971-04-26 Schwingungsmotor für Zeitmessgerät

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3745843A true US3745843A (en) 1973-07-17

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00244053A Expired - Lifetime US3745843A (en) 1971-04-26 1972-04-14 Motion transformer

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US (1) US3745843A (enExample)
CH (2) CH536504A (enExample)
DE (1) DE2209061A1 (enExample)
FR (1) FR2134489B1 (enExample)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4556381A (en) * 1983-04-09 1985-12-03 Ulrich Walter Press for producing pellets from bulk material
US4562751A (en) * 1984-01-06 1986-01-07 Nason Clyde K Solenoid drive apparatus for an external infusion pump
US5881483A (en) * 1997-10-06 1999-03-16 C.J. Associates Ltd. Means for and methods of conveying information to prospective purchasers
US20090105650A1 (en) * 2007-10-18 2009-04-23 Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc. Drug delivery pump drive using linear piezoelectric motor
EP2654859A4 (en) * 2010-12-22 2014-06-04 Alcon Res Ltd DEVICE FOR INJECTION AND / OR SUCTION

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4556381A (en) * 1983-04-09 1985-12-03 Ulrich Walter Press for producing pellets from bulk material
US4562751A (en) * 1984-01-06 1986-01-07 Nason Clyde K Solenoid drive apparatus for an external infusion pump
US5881483A (en) * 1997-10-06 1999-03-16 C.J. Associates Ltd. Means for and methods of conveying information to prospective purchasers
US20090105650A1 (en) * 2007-10-18 2009-04-23 Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc. Drug delivery pump drive using linear piezoelectric motor
US7922695B2 (en) * 2007-10-18 2011-04-12 Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc. Drug delivery pump drive using linear piezoelectric motor
US8936574B2 (en) 2007-10-18 2015-01-20 Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc. Drug delivery pump drive using linear piezoelectric motor
EP2654859A4 (en) * 2010-12-22 2014-06-04 Alcon Res Ltd DEVICE FOR INJECTION AND / OR SUCTION
EP2654826A4 (en) * 2010-12-22 2014-07-02 Alcon Res Ltd DEVICE FOR INJECTION AND / OR SUCTION
US9592337B2 (en) 2010-12-22 2017-03-14 Alcon Research, Ltd. Device for at least one of injection or aspiration

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2134489A1 (enExample) 1972-12-08
DE2209061A1 (de) 1972-11-02
FR2134489B1 (enExample) 1974-12-06
CH612671A4 (enExample) 1972-09-15
CH536504A (de) 1972-09-15

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