The field of the invention is winding apparatuses and method for keeping self-winding automatic mechanical watches winded during periods of no use.
The following background discussion includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
Automatic mechanical watches employ spring mechanism for storing energy for watch movement. When not in use, winding of the spring is commonly performed by automatic watch winders. Usually, those machines periodically wind automatic watches for pre-determined number of revolutions with pre-determined direction of rotation. No feedback on the actual winding state of the watch main spring is utilized for prior art watch winders, resulting in under winding, or excessive wear and tear due to unnecessary winding when main spring is already fully winded. The first results in stopped watch, whereas the latter causes mechanical tear of precise gear train of expensive watch, specifically slipping clutch of the watch.
The underlying idea of the present invention is based on the fact that automatic watch main spring cannot accumulate any more mechanical tension in fully winded state. With winding still in-progress for already winded main spring, the excessive mechanical energy dissipates in the form of small pulses generated by mechanical watch gear train, specifically by slipping mechanism. The pulses result in small variations of rotation speed of the winding apparatus rotating shaft. If a sensor capable to detect those variations of speed is employed, then a method of computation could be found for accurate detection of automatic watch winded state. Once number of revolutions needed for full winding is established, a winding schedule could be computed so to keep automatic watch winded when not in use for long period of time, and to avoid wear and tear of the watch mechanism.
Automatic watch winders have been broadly used for decades. They allow to keep automatic mechanical watches running during periods of no use, and also carry out another function: for exhibition purposes. For those familiar with the art, numerous efforts succeeded for ornamental design of the watch winder case, for improving visibility and arrangement of watches, for development multi case and stackable configurations, for development special planetary motion for attached watches, for various designs of the watch mounting holder, for ease of control, for improving programming of the winder, for wireless power and control, for solar energy powered winders, etc. Nevertheless, the previous art does not allow determination of the winded state of the watch main spring, and no sensing means claimed.
Another important prior art apparatus and method (U.S. Pat. No. 7,198,401 B2) claims watch winder and method for keeping automatic watch in optimal partially winded state, so to avoid mechanical wear of watch mechanism. The method claimed under U.S. Pat. No. 7,198,401 B2 describes manual operations, involving series of tests followed by manual calculations, for determination of winding schedule for automatic watch, so to avoid wear and tear. The apparatus claimed under U.S. Pat. No. 7,198,401 B2 does not employ any sensor for determination state of winding of the watch main spring. Instead, the U.S. Pat. No. 7,198,401 B2 claimed method assumes indirect way for that determination: with testing by a person. The user of the watch winder has to manually perform series of tests for determination number of revolutions, for manual calculation of number of revolutions needed for partial winding, for setting up winding schedule, and periodically make corrections. As a result, operation of the prior art watch winder within optimal partially winded automatic watch main spring state involves significant effort input by the user, and does not guarantee accuracy.
Another shortcoming of the previous art is mechanical noise caused by friction, gears, and motor. Significant progress reported on lowering level of noise, but it was never eliminated completely.
These and all other extrinsic materials discussed herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. Where a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply.
The objective of present invention is a winding apparatus and method for automatic mechanical watches. The apparatus and method of this invention overcome some deficiencies of the prior art. The apparatus and method of this invention can detect watch main spring state during winding process, detect under winded and fully winded state of the spring, automatically find direction of rotation for winding, completely eliminates operational noise.
To accomplish the abovementioned goals, the winding apparatus and method of the present invention consist of: a rotating shaft carrying automatic watch, angular speed sensor, drive motor; precise angular speed sensor mounted on the above mentioned shaft for determination winding speed rotation and small deviations of the same; contactless, zero noise electric motor rotating the shaft and attached watch to be winded; electronic circuits for interfacing to the angular speed sensor, microcomputer interface, and motor control; microcomputer with user interface for inputting data from the angular speed sensor, and computing control signals for the electric motor; microcomputer programmed constant rotational speed algorithm for maintaining constant average speed during whole winding process; microcomputer programmed present invention method for determination correct direction of watch rotation for winding; microcomputer programmed present invention method for computation winding state of the watch main spring.
Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.
Automatic watch main spring winding mechanism is known to involve numerous designs for transfer swinging rotation of the winding weight (rotor) into main spring tension, thus allowing mechanical energy accumulation within the main spring for watch movement. With fully winded main spring and continuing winding, that energy is partially released thanks to known safety mechanisms such as, for example, slipping clutch. Once the main spring is fully winded, the safety mechanism goes into action, causing mechanical feedback not present during normal winding process. As a result, the watch mechanism receives a series of small mechanical pulses. The present embodiment apparatus allows sensing of those small pulses, whereas method implemented with microcomputer software, allows determination of the main spring winding state.
The above mentioned small pulses result in small variations in rotational speed of the watch winder shaft, whereas average rotation speed of the shaft with attached watch is maintained constant, so those small variations could be detected by the angular speed sensor. Preferred embodiment of the present invention employs high quality ball bearings, although for those experienced in the art, other types of bearings could serve the same or better: air bearings, liquid bearings, magnetic bearings, etc. Preferred embodiment of the present invention employs frictionless Eddy Current electric motor, known for constant torque developed by the motor, and smoothness of rotation, although for those experienced in the art, other drive types can work the same or better: air, liquid, thermal, etc. Another advantage of Eddy Current motor is simplicity for control with conventional electronic circuits.
Referring to
Mechanical unit 100 carries rotating parts and microcomputer with user interface, whereas electronics unit 200 houses motor control and interface circuits. The power supply unit 300 was chosen one of conventional type.
Referring now to
A sectional view of electronics unit of the present embodiment winding apparatus is shown with
Referring to
Referring now to
Referring to
Referring now to
Referring now to
The graph (A) illustrates typical raw data for automatic mechanical watch: above mentioned Eddy Current motor computed torque stimulus (top curve), and winding rotational speed (bottom curve). As a result of present method computations, the average winding speed is fixated. Numerical value for the speed is 1 turn per second, although for those experienced in the art is clear: the value could be chosen different. Detailed consideration of winding speed curve reveals change in behavior at the last stage of winding: small pulsations in winding rotational speed sharply increased. This illustrates the above mentioned underlying idea of the current invention: watch main spring protection mechanism goes into action for fully winded main spring, which results in feedback pulses. Detailed examination of the motor torque curve reveals gradual increase for its value during winding process, with more torque needed for watch main spring winding as it gets close to fully winded state. For those experienced in the art, the gradual increase of the motor torque data could also allow detection main spring winded state, for estimation number of turns needed for complete winding of any automatic mechanical watch, when stopped watch isn't allowed. That estimation could be used for establishing periodicity and optimal winding schedule to keep watch running for periods of no use and avoid mechanical wear and tear at the same time. The optimal winding schedule may consist of periodic winding to partially winded state of the main spring. Number of turns needed for that partial winding could be based on above mentioned estimation.
The graph (B) illustrates result of computation, according to present method per Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) Integral, with deviations in winding speed against its nominal value as input to FFT. Also shown average (mean) value for FFT Integral.
The graph (C) illustrates result of computation according to present method per Root Mean Square (RMS) deviations in winding speed against its nominal value, as input to RMS. Also shown average (mean) value for RMS.
Upon reaching watch main spring fully winded state at about 900 turns, real-time FFT Integral and RMS exceeded their mean values, which resulted in triggering Threshold Detector (also shown with
Both FFT Integral and RMS are known computational algorithms, employed by current method, and adopted by programming with microcomputer 110 (
This discussion provides many example embodiments of the inventive subject matter. Although each embodiment represents a single combination of inventive elements, the inventive subject matter is considered to include all possible combinations of the disclosed elements. Thus if one embodiment comprises elements A, B, and C, and a second embodiment comprises elements B and D, then the inventive subject matter is also considered to include other remaining combinations of A, B, C, or D, even if not explicitly disclosed.
Accordingly, in some embodiments, the numerical parameters set forth in the written description and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by a particular embodiment. In some embodiments, the numerical parameters should be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of some embodiments of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as practicable. The numerical values presented in some embodiments of the invention may contain certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements.
As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
The recitation of ranges of values herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each individual value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided with respect to certain embodiments herein is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the invention.
It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced.
This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/373,865 filed Aug. 11, 2016. All extrinsic materials identified herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
62373865 | Aug 2016 | US |