Ornatus-Mundi
[Zenith]
7136
You are right Suitbert...
similar teeth profiles have been used before. Just to show some examples from SteveG's 'watch launchpad':
Lemania with 'epicycloidal' teeth:
Valjoux with straight teeth:
While I did not investigate back then when I wrote the report whether the epicycloidal shapes are truly unique for Minerva (shame on me!), I am quite glad that I did not make such a bold claim. From all the information I have I cannot make out how unique Minerva's solution is and how much it differs e.g. from the Lemania shown above.
What I consider important, however, is that the engagement of the chronograph seems to have no significant influence on the amplitude of the balance.
Some companies claim that such can only be achieved by a vertical clutch. At least Minerva's design indicates that this might not be the case and that there could be other approaches. Where is the truth? Someone more knowledgeable would have to chime in.
I for one am glad that companies still considers such minor details which never will make it on the front page. For me, this is watchmaking!
Best,
Magnus
Tradition and innovation. Let's have a discussion over esoteric watch engineering theory
It is the smallest of details but Montblanc Villeret made a change to its design. Here it is. The basic engineering theory can be found in horological text books dating back to the late 1800's (thanks to Google's Library Project) but nothing current. Can ...
Are you talking about the blocking lever...
with its arrow-shaped top: I consider this an aspect that shows the attention to details in a very subtle way. Such tiny Minerva arrows were first introduced in the Cal. 16-29 and 62-00, but now Montblanc/Minerva also included them in the Cal. 13-21 and 1...
So close but no :-)
A topic that is also a bit esoteric is the proper geometry and travel of the different levers in a chronograph movement which I hope can be another discussion. But you've hinted at what I was hoping to discuss ( I think ) with your last sentence! Best, Mi...
In case I am right your picture shows it well...
I am talking about the shape and the geometry of the chronograph teeth. Minerva sought to improve the measurement of time by optimising the interaction of the transfer wheel (which is mounted in the axis of the seconds wheel and engages, once the Chronogr...
Spot on! But is it really that simple? Why hasn't it been done before?
To focus everyone on the specific area of interest, here is the Minerva Cal 16-29 Photocredit: Anthony Tsai Here is the similar area on a Lange Datograph. Photocredit: SteveG A modern VC chronograph using a Lamania based design. Photocredit: Armanico So t...
Funny thing is.....
Hi Mike, all, the funny thing is, it has been done before. Even one of your pictures above exactly shows an example, that this was a common approach 60 or 70 years ago (at least) - the Lemania caliber. I'm pretty sure there are others as well, but I'd hav...
Hi Suitbert! It is good to hear from you. Yes the underlying principles have been
around for a while. From reading around it would seem that the ideal for most gearing is to have conjugate action so that when a gear rotates at a constant angular velocity, the mating gear also rotates at a constant velocity. It also would seem that give...
Hello, Mike,....
I think there is at least a bit of misunderstanding. My impression is, that Minerva/Montblanc's claim was about the combination of the triangular shaped tooth profile (clutch wheel) with a more epicycloidal (or evolvent, or whatever ) transfer wheel (the ...
No worries Suitbert, I'm glad you expressed your opinion
You are very right in many regards. What I wanted to find out was if this change in teething profile could due what Mr. Cabbidu's claims. I sort of take everything with a grain of salt ...perhaps a small incremental improvement in the amplitude delimma (o...
You are right Suitbert...
similar teeth profiles have been used before. Just to show some examples from SteveG's 'watch launchpad': Lemania with 'epicycloidal' teeth: Valjoux with straight teeth: While I did not investigate back then when I wrote the report whether the epicycloida...
Magnus, you touched on the two points
1. "Some companies claim that such can only be achieved by a vertical clutch. At least Minerva's design indicates that this might not be the case and that there could be other approaches. Where is the truth? " 2. " I for one am glad that companies still c...
Even if it does cause less of an amplitude drop
then a traditional horizontal clutch, I would expect it suffer from the other problem that the vertical clutch solved, jumpy starts. Unelss that epicycloidal tooth is close to inline with the triangular one, the hand is going to jump forwards or backwards...
I don't think it can....
since the gear teeth still have to mesh, which means a sudden movement if they are out of alignment, but we'll have to wait and see. To minimize observer bias you'll need to make sure we both get one A
I need one as well...
we have to represent different continents to rule out environmental influences! Best, Magnus
Should I be getting one too then...
...so that Lady PuristS are thoroughly represented, and to ensure that the test results are gender neutral? Cheers, Daos
With the four of us that would easily account for more than 1% of the complete
annual production of Villeret! Mike