Clock runs with motion

Behind the surface of this watch is the belt and wheel-link system that works according to the movement of the user. These parts move exactly 18,000 times in an hour to display the time perfectly.

The TAG Heuer Monaco V4 is unlike any other conventional watch, it does not work with energy batteries or mechanical wiring. Inside the watch is a heavy platinum. When the user's hand moves, this metal ingot will oscillate to generate force for the clock to work.

Machinery equipment capable of storing energy for a certain period of time. This toy is called the Newton pendulum consisting of a system of heavy metal marbles that are hung on a rack. When the balls shake forward and backward, energy is transmitted from one marble to the next. Thus the movement of the marbles proved that the pendulum contained energy for a few minutes. In the TAG Heuer watch, the metal lays the energy between the four spring wheels. The clock outperformed the Newton pendulum in that it could hold energy for a few hours instead of minutes.

(Photo: Xnet)

Principle of operation

The energy generated by the movement of metal ingots inside the watch will be contained in the spinning wheels. A spiral spring will fit in the core of the wheel. When the wheel moves a circle, the spring will shrink to hold the energy and when it turns back, the spring will expand and release energy. The operation of these spinning wheels is like a battery of energy.

The fluctuation of the metal ingot is the engine of the watch. This is the heaviest part of the watch with a weight of 4.5g. On the underside of the metal ingot is a gear system that transfers energy to the spinning wheels when the ingot moves.

The four rotating wheels transmit energy to the belts that control the operation of the clock hands on the surface at different speeds. In other watches, this process is done by tiny wheels that fit together. Using belts is much more effective because energy is wasted due to friction that will be significantly reduced. This TAG Heuer uses 13 belts. For their operation to be accurate, the underside of the wires has very small serrations.

(Photo: timeinc.net)

Xuan Thi