U.S. patent number 3,641,373 [Application Number 04/863,056] was granted by the patent office on 1972-02-08 for electrostatic system for generating periodical mechanical vibrations.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Etablissement Procor. Invention is credited to Franz Elkuch.
United States Patent |
3,641,373 |
Elkuch |
February 8, 1972 |
ELECTROSTATIC SYSTEM FOR GENERATING PERIODICAL MECHANICAL
VIBRATIONS
Abstract
The present invention concerns means for generating periodical
mechanical vibrations by means of electric energy, and deals with a
greatly simplified and efficacious swing system, which produces
mechanical vibratory movements, which system dispenses with any
active elements or components except for an energy or current
source or cell, the energy losses produced by ohmic resistances in
the system being reduced to a minimum and resulting in a high
degree of efficiency, reliability and accurate performance.
Inventors: |
Elkuch; Franz (Schellenberg,
FL) |
Assignee: |
Etablissement Procor (Vaduz,
FL)
|
Family
ID: |
4405098 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/863,056 |
Filed: |
October 2, 1969 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Oct 8, 1968 [CH] |
|
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14948/68 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
310/309; 968/456;
368/160; 968/480 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G04C
3/08 (20130101); G04C 3/024 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G04C
3/00 (20060101); G04C 3/02 (20060101); G04C
3/08 (20060101); H02h 001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;310/5,6,21,22,25,31,32
;317/250 ;318/116 ;58/23,23TF,23MV,28,28A,29 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Duggan; D. F.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A system for generating periodical mechanical oscillations with
relatively high-frequency stability, in particular for use in
connection with timepieces and like instruments, characterized by
two electrodes springedly and swingably supported and mutually
electrically insulated, a common bridge element for said two
electrodes forming the support therefor and maintaining the two
electrodes at predetermined fixed distance from each other, a third
electrode having opposed surfaces located between said bridge
element and said two swingable electrodes, the course of
oscillation of said two electrodes with said bridge element being
limited by said opposed surfaces of said third electrode, and means
connecting both said swingable electrodes with respective poles of
a power source.
Description
Two or more electrodes are arranged to constitute a mechanical
oscillating or swinging arrangement of which at least one electrode
is resiliently supported and is capable of flexing and swinging
along a predetermined length of an oscillating course and direction
toward and away from the other electrode or electrodes; a charge
compensation in condenser fashion occurring when selected ones of
said electrodes approach each other closely enough, within an
electric field established between said electrodes. In the position
of rest said electrodes are sufficiently remote or spaced from each
other, but are aligned with their frontal faces confronting each
other.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is applicable more generally to the operation and
performance of clocks, watches and similar instruments requiring
substantially no surveillance and nevertheless acting dependently
and accurately for an extensive length of time.
It is therefore one of the important objects of the invention to
provide means resulting in a highly economical and inexpensive
vibratory drive system which can be easily adapted to the clockwork
of timepieces and similar instruments preferably employable in the
scientific field which require precision and exactitude for their
operation.
It is another object of the present invention to provide means
conducive to a compact and relatively sturdy device for
transferring electric energy to a mechanical drive arrangement
which includes vibratory motion release and distribution.
Yet a further object of the invention is directed to means
affording convenient and continuous replacement or replenishment of
energy losses to which said device or instrumentality is being
subjected during operation.
These and other objects and features of the invention ensue from
the following detailed specification, reference thereto being made
in the attached drawings illustrating some preferred embodiments of
the invention .
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 shows a basic diagram of a device according to the invention
employing two electrodes, one of which can be excited to perform
mechanical vibrations.
FIG. 2 is another form or embodiment pursuant to the invention with
two electrodes, both of which being excitable to carry out
vibrations.
FIG. 3 is a similar embodiment equipped with three electrodes, two
of which being movable.
FIG. 4 is still another form of the invention having incorporated
three electrodes, of which only one is movable.
FIG. 5 shows schematically the application of the embodiment of
FIG. 4 to a ratchet wheel drive.
DETAILED SPECIFICATION
For achieving a structure capable of performing desired vibrations
a mass must be mounted in a resilient or springy manner and in a
fashion that the mass can transmit its kinetic energy to a
resiliently suspended or supported member, and after complete
transmission or transfer of kinetic energy of the mass, the static
energy stored in the resiliently suspended member is again
completely transferred to the mass in the form of kinetic energy.
To maintain the resultant vibration, it becomes further necessary
to replace any inevitably resulting energy losses.
In FIG. 1 there is disclosed a device with an arrangement capable
of executing vibratory motions for the drive of a clock or
timepiece mechanism. On an elastic or resilient member or tongue 1
is fastened an electrode 2, which constitutes at the same time
primarily the vibrating mass. The other end of the tongue 1 is
rigidly connected with an insulating block 3. The electrode can
swing back and forth in the direction of arrow 4, when it is
excited or caused to do so. For this purpose a second electrode 5
is provided at a distance and location opposite the movable
electrode 2, which is likewise fastened on said block 3 by means of
a relatively heavier support or carrier 6.
Tongue 1 and carrier 6 are electric conductors, so that through
connections 7 and 8 electric current can be supplied to the
electrodes from a voltage source or energy cell (not shown) for the
charging of these electrodes. Block 3 contains or consists of
insulation material.
The two opposite electrodes 2 and 5 constitute or function as a
condenser, the capacity of which depends on the size of the
mutually opposite faces of the electrodes and the distance between
them. This condenser charges across the connections 7 and 8, so
that electrode 5 has a positive and electrode 2 a negative
potential. By the action of the electric field between these two
electrodes the latter are pulled and attracted toward each other,
the movable electrode 2 being moved counter to the force of the
elastic tongue 1 toward and up to electrode 5.
As soon as the electrodes closely approach or touch each other, as
is indicated in broken lines (FIG. 2), the potential difference
between these two electrodes is compensated and the electric field
rapidly disappears. Electrode 2 is now exposed only to the action
or force of the tensioned elastic tongue member 1 and hence can
swing back, passing, owing to inertia, beyond its neutral or
initial position to a second end position shown in broken lines
(FIG. 1).
The voltage source with which the electrodes are connected is
high-ohmic, or has purposely been rendered high-ohmic by a
preconnected or series ohmic resistance (not shown), in order that
at the time of contact of the electrodes the short circuit current
is limited and, on the other hand, the condenser constituted by the
electrodes, after these latter two do no longer touch each other
due to the return movement of the movable electrode, is charged
again with delay. This internal resistance is so great that the
condenser is charged to practically the full voltage of the energy
supply source at the earliest after attainment of the central
position of electrode 2.
In the selection of the active internal resistance it must be also
taken into consideration that the capacity of this condenser may
vary, whereby the charging time may likewise be varied.
In FIG. 2 another form of construction according to the invention
is revealed in principle. It differs from the first embodiment only
in the likewise resilient arrangement of the second electrode
5.sup.1, which is fastened to an elastic tongue 1.sup.1, so that
the two electrodes 2 and 5.sup.1 are able to execute mutually
oppositely directed swinging movements, whereby they touch once in
the course of each occurrence of vibration for the purpose of
charge exchange, as is indicated in broken lines. Also these
electrodes are connectable to a high-ohmic voltage or like energy
source (not shown).
In the embodiment of the invention according to FIG. 3, two
electrodes 10 and 11, maintained at a distance by a web or bridge
element 9, and electrically insulated from each other, are arranged
at the freely vibrating end of a resilient tongue 12. These
electrodes are connected for electric conduction via flexible
conductors 13 and 14 with the terminals 15, 16 so that
corresponding charges can be supplied to them from an energy cell
or source (not shown).
Between these two movable electrodes 10 and 11, there is arranged a
stationary or fixed third electrode 17 which is electrically
insulated. Between the two outer electrodes 10 and 11 there exists
a voltage difference, and when by a single external influence
electrode 10, for example, has been brought into contact with the
central electrode 17, the latter assumes the same polarity, and
subsequently electrode 10 is repelled from and simultaneously
electrode 11 is attracted by electrode 17, because the latter two
carry opposite charges. These two forces acting in the same
direction deflect tongue 12 in the opposite direction until
electrode 11 comes in contact with electrode 17, thereby causing a
charge exchange and the aforementioned operation and phenomenon
repeating itself in reverse direction.
In contrast to the two first-mentioned examples pursuant to the
invention as per FIG. 3 forces act on the vibrating mass in either
direction of movement thereof, and during the brief contact of the
electrodes 10, 17 and 11, 17 only a relative small compensating
current flows, which is independent of the resistance of the
circuit including electrode 10, conductor 13, terminal 15, voltage
source, terminal 16, conductor 14 and electrode 11. The voltage
source must simply replenish the electrons intermittently absorbed
by electrode 17 from electrode 11, which it transfers to electrode
10. Therefore the efficiency of this device is extremely high and
dependable.
FIG. 4 shows a variant of the embodiment of the invention of FIG.
3, in that the two outer electrodes 18 and 19 are fixedly attached
or held in position and the central electrode 20 is fastened to the
freely vibrating end of tongue 21 as indicated in FIG. 4 at 25, 26.
Electrode 20 is electrically insulated from the remaining part of
the instrumentality, as shown. The operation of this structure of
FIG. 4 is basically the same as that of FIG. 3 with the exception
that the central electrode 20 is able to swing back and forth
between the two outer electrodes 18 and 19. (See wiring diagram of
FIG. 5.)
Contact points 22, 23 and 24 of a known conductive metal or
material resistant to burning down or melting are arranged on the
end faces of the respective electrodes. They render it possible
that when using a voltage source of 1,000 volt, for example, the
electrodes need not approach each other completely for the charge
exchange or load compensation, in that already at a sufficiently
minute or small distance between the contact points a spark arcs
over, which suffices for charge compensation. In this way the
harmonic vibratory movement of the mass (electrodes) is not
disturbed by any impact of the electrodes on each other.
For the partial decoupling of the vibration energy a transducer may
be inserted in the circuit, which transforms the current surges
occurring during a charge reversal into an alternating current
voltage, which can be tapped at the terminals of the secondary
winding of the transformer or transducer. At the resilient tongue a
pawl may be arranged which engages in the asymmetrical teeth of a
gear, the latter being advanced by one tooth during each vibratory
movement. (See FIG. 5.)
Since for generating a force necessary for vibrating the electrodes
a voltage source of relatively high voltage, say, of at least 100
volt, is necessitated, an isotropic generator is advantageously
employed. Such voltage cells or sources can be accommodated within
a minimum of space and yet furnish a terminal voltage of more than
1,000 volt.
The electric circuit of these above described aggregates or
instrumentalities is very simple and any necessary changes of
direction of the electric field are effectuated automatically by
the movements of the electrodes. The great advantage of this
arrangement is that a vibration generator can be conveniently
accommodated at greatly reduced dimensions, yet operates with a
very high efficiency and is suitable for installation in timing
instruments, clockworks and the like.
It will be seen from the aforesaid disclosure that there has been
created according to this invention a very compact and highly
efficient vibratory system, which lends itself to a great variety
of applications in the instrument field and may be modified or
altered according to the purpose intended.
* * * * *