EPFL Researchers Remove ‘Ticking’ From Mechanical Watches With IsoSpring Oscillator
Everyone is familiar with the ‘tick tock’ sound of mechanical watches. This sound is heard by insomniacs in the middle of the night and is included in the background score of innumerable movie and TV shows to heighten the drama. The sound could well be a thing of the past if researchers from École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne have their way. The team has replaced the ticking mechanism of watches with a new oscillator that is completely silent and consumes 60% less energy. In traditional mechanical watches a system of gears operates with the help of alternating oscillations of the balance wheel. Every time the balance wheel changes the direction the gearing mechanism starts and stops emitting the ticking sound. The folks at EPFL say that this start-stop mechanism wastes 60% of the energy and it is high time someone finds a solution.
The team at EPFL designed a new oscillator called as IsoSpring. The IsoSpring rotates continuously in a smooth motion eliminating friction and need for lubrication. To help us understand how the new oscillator works the team asks us to visualise an ancient sling. The sling has a leather strap that makes the stone turn in a circle. If we replace the leather strap with one made out of an elastic band the stone will now move in an ellipse. In the elliptical motion, the speed of the stone will not remain constant but the time period shall remain constant in every rotation. This time period will be used to measure the actual time. In the clock developed by EPFL a conventional barrel spring maintains the rotation. The principle on which the watch works is not new, it was theorised by Sir Isaac Newton in the 17th century.
The only problem with the EPFL watch is that in its prototype stage the watch weighs a whopping four kilograms, so do not expect to land this watch on your wrist anytime soon. The team has started working on miniaturising the system and until then if you wish to get rid of the ticking go for a digital watch or one of the many #-Link-Snipped-# available in the market.
Source: The oscillator that could makeover the mechanical watch - EPFL via #-Link-Snipped-#
The team at EPFL designed a new oscillator called as IsoSpring. The IsoSpring rotates continuously in a smooth motion eliminating friction and need for lubrication. To help us understand how the new oscillator works the team asks us to visualise an ancient sling. The sling has a leather strap that makes the stone turn in a circle. If we replace the leather strap with one made out of an elastic band the stone will now move in an ellipse. In the elliptical motion, the speed of the stone will not remain constant but the time period shall remain constant in every rotation. This time period will be used to measure the actual time. In the clock developed by EPFL a conventional barrel spring maintains the rotation. The principle on which the watch works is not new, it was theorised by Sir Isaac Newton in the 17th century.
The only problem with the EPFL watch is that in its prototype stage the watch weighs a whopping four kilograms, so do not expect to land this watch on your wrist anytime soon. The team has started working on miniaturising the system and until then if you wish to get rid of the ticking go for a digital watch or one of the many #-Link-Snipped-# available in the market.
Source: The oscillator that could makeover the mechanical watch - EPFL via #-Link-Snipped-#
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