3-Watch Thursday #67
Patek Escapement Technology
Good morning team,
Happy Thursday. In the run up to W&W24, speculation is rife.
As ever, most people are looking to Rolex, but my European Patent Office (EPO) Register alerts are popping off, and we might have some Patek Philippe movement technology news.
Will this feature in the new Patek line that Stern has hinted towards?
Only time will tell.
Let’s have a look below.
EP 4 250 019 A1
In recent years we’ve seen a lot of innovation in escapement technology.
It probably started with the co-axial escapement in the late 1900s, followed by it’s subsequent commercialisation.
Then came the era of anti-magnetic balance springs.
Now we’re in what I like to refer to as the ‘Spirate era‘.
Modern materials and manufacturing techniques to make existing technologies better.
We’ve seen Rolex and Omega develop this kind of tech. Now it’s the turn of Patek Philippe.
A couple of weeks ago I speculated at the new Patek line of watches that Stern has indicated will release this year. The patent that published was to do with high resolution chronograph indicator.
Maybe this application goes hand in hand with it, or maybe it’s something that will take a bit longer to commercialise.
The short of it is, EP 4 250 019 A1 is a patent application titled Timepiece Oscillator For Extra-Flat Movement.
It does not take a rocket scientist or patent attorney for that matter to work out what this patent is for.
Reading the translation of the description explains how this system works and hints towards the improvements it offers over a traditional swiss lever escapement.
This invention replaces the idea of a palette fork with the impulse and release wheel 10, the locking pinion 8 and the escape wheel 6. For completeness the balance wheel pinion is along the axis of plate 2.
Impressively, this saves weight and provides some other neat advantages.
Take a look at the teeth marked 12 and 14 in figure 1 on the escape wheel 6. They remind me of the teeth Rolex use in the 4130 chronograph movement. The hollowed out teeth allow the wheel in the 4130 are able to flex and mesh more tightly with neighbouring teeth. This reduces backlash.
The same is an advantage of the teeth in the Patek escape wheel.
The teeth 14 are able to flex and reduce any backlash in the escape mechanism. The same is true of release tooth 30 on the impulse and release wheel 10. Some degree of flex in the teeth reduces backlash.
Rolex patent US 9284654B2 no doubt limits the processes that Patek can use to make this new escapement mechanism, however in order to achieve the shapes required they must surely be using additive manufacturing techniques. Using additive manufacturing may also help to keep the mass and thickness down.
Patek also share that by adding these spring like parts to the teeth, it reduces a need for anti shock type assemblies as shocks can be absorbed by the springy teeth.
For such a traditionally conservative watchmaker, this is really quite innovative.
It kind of speaks to an idea that even on the surface the traditional watch brands give off this air of conservative and traditional design, they really are quite innovative at their core and still foster cultures of innovation.
It just remains to be seen whether this makes it into a release in the near future.
Unfortunately, that’s all for this week.
Next week should be more normal in terms of 3 pieces of content :))
Have a good weekend when we get there!
Owen
Good explanation 👍