Spring, mainspring, hairspring, and driving mechanism and timepiece based thereon
AssigneeSeiko Epson Corporation
InventorsMasatoshi Moteki, Fumio Takagi, Tatsuo Hara
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A mainspring used as a power source for a driving mechanism is made of an amorphous metal sheet, and has an S-shaped free-exploded shape. The curvature changing point, where the curving direction of the free-exploded shape changes is formed on the inner end side of a middle point between the inner end on the winding side and the outer end serving as the other end of the inner end. Because of the high tensile stress and a low Young's modulus, the amorphous metal permits increase in mechanical energy stored in the mainspring.
Claims33
A timepiece comprising:
- a mainspring;
- and
- a substrate receiving at least a portion of the mainspring,
- wherein said mainspring is formed of spirally arranged amorphous metal having an S-shaped free exploded shape so that when the mainspring is mounted on the substrate the mainspring has an initial flexure, and said mainspring is spirally arranged so as to lie in a plane.
A timepiece comprising:
- a hairspring;
- and
- a substrate receiving at least a portion of the hairspring,
- wherein said hairspring is formed of spirally arranged amorphous metal having an S-shaped free exploded shape so that when the hairspring is mounted on the substrate the hairspring has an initial flexure imparted thereto, and said hairspring is spirally arranged so as to lie in a plane.
A drive mechanism for a precision machine comprising:
- two barrel drums;
- two mainsprings mounted, respectively, in the two barrel drums, each mainspring being formed of spirally arranged amorphous metal having an S-shaped free exploded shape so that when the mainspring is mounted in the barrel drum that mainspring has an initial flexure imparted thereto, and said mainspring is spirally arranged so as to lie in a plane;
- and
- a train wheel, said barrel drums simultaneously engaging said train wheel, for transmitting mechanical energy from said two mainsprings.
A time piece having a drive mechanism comprising:
- two barrel drums;
- two mainsprings mounted, respectively, in the two barrel drums, each mainspring being formed of spirally arranged amorphous metal having an S-shaped free exploded shape so that when the mainspring is mounted in the barrel drum that mainspring has an initial flexure imparted thereto, and said mainspring is spirally arranged so as to lie in a plane;
- and
- a train wheel, said barrel drums simultaneously engaging said train wheel, for transmitting mechanical energy from said two mainsprings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.