Presentations link
Proposal
Collaborative Project of R.A. or Rude Awakening Clock
Aaron Ramirez, Khandakar Mustafiz, Bryan Maldonado, Derek Rodriguez, Sushanta Sapkota
City College Of New York
ENGL 21007: Writing for Engineers
Professor Rodwell
April 23, 2023
The R.A. Clock is simply an alarm clock that you could use to wake up your friends and family in an unruly manner. It is a standard alarm clock, except it utilizes spring system powered punching gloves to potentially punish/surprise its user for not having woken quick enough. As the designated time for the user to awaken strikes and the R.A. clock rings, so too will your head if you cannot silence the alarm clock quick enough as it propels a punching glove straight in front of the alarm clock. The R.A. clock will not be capable of hurting someone however, it will surprise its user and potentially wake them if they do not respond to the ringing. The R.A. clock serves as a light-hearted gift for friends and family alike to give to those whom they can recall have been late or a heavy sleeper. We are a team of undergraduate students studying to become engineers in the future and have a budget of nearly zero.
Table Of Content
- “ Bryan M., Khanakar, Aaron”Introduction…………………….3
- Proposal for product
- “Khanakar” Maintenance……………………4
- Process/method of maintaining the product
- Cost for materials for maintenance
- “Sushanta, Derrick, Khanakar,Aaron,Bryan” Technical Description………………………………………………..5
- “Aaron Ramirez” Cost of products…………14
- “Derrick, Aaron R.”Innovation process…………15
- “Khanakar, Bryan” Appendices/Evaluation Techniques……………………………..16
- Appendix A – Task Schedule………..
- “Aaron,Sushanta, Bryan” References…………….…………………………………….19
Introduction:
Waking up can be a challenge, especially for a heavy sleeper. Alarm clocks have a long history dating back to the year 1787 when the first ever alarm clock was created by a man named Levi Hutchins in the USA. Alarm clocks were an invention that was designed for the sole purpose of giving people a wake up call to start their day and through time we can see the evolution of this invention/innovation. The first ever alarm clock was effective yet limited as this first generation alarm clock could only have an alarm go off at 4 in the morning. As of 2023, alarm clocks have advanced in many aspects to the point where alarm clocks can be found within a phone. Alarm clocks have become an essential tool to many people no matter the age. Alarm clocks have become a tool that can serve new purposes other than waking people up, they are now used as a tool of reminder and more. Alarm clocks have progressed in the same way for years and that’s why we want to add a little excitement and twist to the alarm clock, we want to give it a feature that will make people engage with the alarm more. With these things in mind we came up with the idea of an alarm clock with a punching mechanism, we plan to have a punching glove pop out of a box as the alarm rings, our proposal has the intention of making the alarm clock into a little game that will challenge the user to stop the punching glove before it’s too late. We propose the idea of an alarm clock that will punch you awake, we introduce our new alarm clock with a punching mechanism! Designed to add a fun twist to your morning routine, this product is perfect for heavy sleepers and can also be used for practical jokes or as a unique gift. Priced at only $30, it’s an affordable way to bring some excitement to your wake-up call.
Maintenance:
The product itself does not require much maintenance due to the fact that beyond the use of the gag, the alarm clock will always rest in it’s default position, therefore, maintenance fees are not required for this product, and any and all alterations an individual has made to the product, the manufacturers are not responsible for. If the boxing glove mechanism breaks or tears due to misuse or a failure to tuck the mechanism back in, then additional boxing gloves will be available to purchase. Rude Awakening works by setting the alarm for when you would like to wake up. Ensure that the alarm clock is oriented directly towards your face and at a close enough distance in order to use the product to its intended purpose. When the boxing glove strikes you, it will remain suspended in its launched state, which will then require the user to tuck the glove back into the opening in the alarm clock. Simply push the boxing glove until a click noise can be heard and close the opened doors and the clock has been reset. Do not allow children under the age of 5 to come into contact with the alarm clock as it may injure the child or they may damage themselves with the alarm clock. Do not tug the boxing glove mechanism in the alarm clock or else the entire alarm clock may break apart.
Technical Description of R.A.
1)Escapement
The escapement is an interwoven sequence of subparts uniting to control the movement of other parts of R.A., including the gear train and alarm strings
Escape wheel: Controls the release of energy from the clock’s power source. An escape wheel is a small, circular wheel with a diameter that typically ranges from 10-15 millimeters to several centimeters. It is made of steel, which is a strong and durable metal that can withstand the stress of constant movement and wear.
Figure #1:Escape wheel (science museum group), notice the ridges, these are referred to as the teeth of
the wheel
Balance wheel:The balance swings back and forth to keep the time accurate.10 mm in diameter, 0.5 mm thick, no teeth, consists of circular rims which oscillate movement.
Gear train: A gear train is a group of gears that cooperate to move power and motion from one location to another. It exists four gears in the gear train and each serve to transfer rotational energy for different purposes, such as moving the hour and minute hands, or ringing the alarm
Figure#3: gear train (youtube,2012)
The image shows four separate gears, which are working together to turn the hand of a clock.
The great wheel: 50mm in diameter, brass in color, made of brass, 2 mm in width, 80 teeth.It is the main wheel that drives all the other wheels in the gear train. It is linked to the center pinion and drives the center wheel
Center pinion: 5mm in width and 10mm in length, 6 teeth, made of brass, brass color.It resides on the center wheel and great wheel and acts as a hinge
The center wheel: 15mm in diameter, 60 teeth, brass colored, made of brass.the center wheel and rotates once per hour which makes it responsible for carrying the hour hand
The third wheel: 12 mm in diameter, 40 teeth, brass color, made of brass.it is linked to the center wheel and carries the energy built up in the arbor to the fourth wheel
The fourth wheel: 10mm in diameter, 30 teeth, brass in color, made of brass. The fourth wheel is linked to the third wheel and rotates once per minute, which usually makes it responsible for carrying the minute hand
Mainspring: A mainspring is a long coiled-up piece located inside the clock’s barrel and is connected to the clock’s gears. This is the power source of the clock, a coiled spring that stores energy when wound up and releases it slowly to power the rest of the movement. The mainspring is around 25-30mm in length, 0.1-0.4mm in thickness and made of high-carbon steel which is known for its high durability.
figure#4: (The diagram shows a main spring that has potential energy being stored up)
Lever: In a clock, a lever is a small 4-10mm, thin piece of metal that acts like a switch to control the movement of other parts. The lever, which swings back and forth like a seesaw while the clock runs, slowly releases the energy. The clock’s hands are moved by the gears, which are turned by the lever’s action. The lever determines how quickly or slowly the hands move.
Pallet Fork:The pallet fork links to the escape wheel and catches the teeth of the escape wheel, releasing it’s rotational movement by a set amount.8mm in length, 1 mm in width, made out of polycarbonate, gray in coloration (akin to steel)
Pallets: a lever with a forked design and two prongs that fit into the teeth of the escape wheel. The pallet rocks back and forth as the escape wheel turns, sending energy from the mainspring to the pendulum or balance wheel, which controls the movement of the clock. 1 mm in width, 5 mm in length, made of polycarbonate, silver or metallic in color
Banking pins: 0.2mm in diameter, made of polycarbonate, metallic in color, small pins located near the pallet fork which prevent it from moving too far in either direction
Barrel: 12-20 mm in diameter, made of steel, metallic in color.The barrel is the cylindrical housing for the clock’s mainspring in an analog alarm clock. The clock’s mainspring serves as its power source and supplies the force required to move its hands and gears.
Spring Barrel Arbor: The spring barrel arbor is a metal shaft that holds the barrel housing the mainspring. The spring barrel arbor holds the barrel and extends from the main plate of the clock, allowing it to freely rotate. The mainspring inside the barrel releases energy as it unwinds, powering the clock’s mechanisms and hands. 4mm in diameter, made of steel, metallic in color
Hairspring: A thin spring is attached to the balance wheel and controls its swinging. It keeps the balance wheel swinging at a constant rate which helps ensure the clock’s accuracy with the time. Its 15mm in length, 0.01mm in width, made of steel nickel alloy, gray in color (akin to steel)
2)Bell Hammer: The bell hammer is 5mm in length and 3 mm in width, and is made of steel, having a dark metallic color. The hammer typically consists of a heavy, rounded head mounted on a shaft or handle that is used to strike a bell or chime in order to produce sound. When the shaft is pulled or released, the head swings forward and strikes the bell, producing a ringing tone.
3)Clock Face: The clock face is the circular surface of a clock that displays the time. The clock face is typically divided into twelve equal segments or hours, each marked with a number or Roman numeral indicating the hour of the day. The hours are usually marked with a shorter line or tick, while the half-hour and quarter-hour marks are marked with smaller lines or dots. The dimension of the clock face is 3 inch in diameter and made of plastic.
Figure #5: (Clock Face Part)
4)Clock Hands: The Clock hands are the moving components of the clock that indicate the current time by pointing to the hour, minute, and sometimes second markers on the clock face. The hour hand is the shortest and thickest hand on the clock, pointing to the hour markers on the clock face.The minute hand is usually longer and thinner, and it points to the minute markers on the clock face. In some clocks, a third hand, called the second hand, is present, and it is the thinnest and longest hand, pointing to the second marker on the clock face. The minute hand of the R.A. is 40 mm in length and 1 mm in width, and the hour hand is 15mm in length and 10 mm in width. They are both made of brass and are coated with a black finish. The second hand is 50mm and 0.8mm in length and width.
Figure #6: Hours and Minute hands(Clock Hands Archives)Figure #7: Seconds hand (Sweep second hand)
Figure #9: Back of the clock (GUIDAI, 2023).
5) Alarm mechanism: The alarm mechanism are an interrelated sequence of subparts that work together to create the alarm sound that alarm clocks produce
Figure #10: Electromagnetic buzzer( (Gigi, 2021)
Buzzer or bell: A 8.5g circle shaped device with a dimension of 23.5x 16.5 x H15.5mm , made out of an metal exterior, oscillator, magnet, coil and a vibrating disk.The buzzer is designed to release sound for the set alarm time. The buzzer within the clock functions through voltage sent towards the oscillator which creates frequency resulting in the development of sound.
On/off switch: Small rectangular switch, made out of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, connected with wiring that sends out commands from the switch to the .on the back of the clock, has to be moved/pushed in either the direction up or down in order to turn on the alarm or to turn it off. This switch is mainly to give the option of getting rid of the alarm feature of the clock.
Alarm-setting knob: Circle shaped button that is 1mm in diameter , made out of Plastic, has wires that connect to the clock hands.The alarm-setting knob is a small circle located in the back of the clock that has to be manually turned counter clockwise in order to set the wanted alarm time. The knob is designed to give the user the freedom to switch and adjust the time in which the alarm goes off.
Alarm hammer or lever: The alarm hammer consists of a metal lever that pivots around a central axle or pinion. At one end of the lever is a weighted hammer or striker, and at the other end is a spring or mechanism that drives the hammer. The hammer is designed to strike a bell or gong that is mounted inside the clock case, producing a loud and distinctive ringing sound. It is 1 x 0.5 inches and made of metal.
6) Battery: The battery is the powersource of the alarm clock, designed to provide 1.5 volts of energy. With dimensions of 13.5 mm in diameter, 49.2 mm in length and made zinc.
10) A.B.S plastic box which holds the spring mechanism and boxing gloves : A.B.S. plastic is a type of thermoplastic made up of acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene polymers that is used in many everyday objects. It’s durable, lightweight, and can be easily molded into various shapes and sizes. For the sake of the R.A. alarm clock it will be molded into a perfect box 10×10 in inches and 0.06 inches in thickness and will be black.
11) Electric Lever: It controls the mechanism that releases the punching arm. The lever could be attached to a spring-loaded mechanism that is tensioned when the alarm is set. When the alarm goes off, the pressure applied , it sends an electrical signal to the alarm system. It is H: 24 / 46.5 / 56.5mm in size and made of Zinc alloy.
12) Boxing Gloves: The boxing glove designed for use with the alarm clock is a protective glove made of vinyl material. It is intended to provide protection to the face or body when being punched by the alarm clock. The glove measures 3 inches in length and 1.5 inches in width.
13.) Coiled spring :The spring that will be used to build up the potential energy required to hit charge the punching glove, and dimensions of 7mm in diameter and made of steel.
14) Nylon threading: The nylon thread is used for stitching the outer shell of the boxing gloves, the thread prevents components from the inside of the gloves to get out. The size of the threads is 5,400 yards and made of Bonded nylon.
15)Boxing glove straps: The strap helps secure the boxing gloves to the alarm clock. The dimensions of the strap are 50mm/roll. 2mm width and made of Polypropylene.
16) ADHESIVE VINYL: It is the outer part of the boxing gloves, It is used for safety. It is 31.5 inches in surface area and made of vinyl
At Wholesale value, the sum of parts necessary to construct one alarm clock is approximately 12$ and takes approximately 7 months to produce a small batch of 1,000 alarm clocks. The alarm clock will operate by adding an extra sequence of gears into the gear train that will link to the coiled spring mechanism, which will be locked down by several levers and pallets. When the alarm rings, the hammer striking the bell will cause the energy from the gear train to release and cause the interconnected sequence of gears to transfer the energy from the train to the pallets and levers, which will release, causing the box to burst open, and the boxing glove to punch the individual. The reaction will be initially delayed, so the alarm will ring first and then it will punch someone, which is part of the gag, since this is marketed towards individuals who miss their alarms.
The Rude Awakening Clock is powered by a double-A battery, which measures 13.5 mm in diameter and 49.2 mm in length. The battery utilizes zinc as its primary material, providing reliable and long-lasting power. The clock face, with a diameter of 3 inches, is made of durable plastic, ensuring clear visibility of the time display. The R..A Clock incorporates a variety of materials and components to ensure its functionality and design. The clock’s boxing glove features adhesive vinyl, with a surface area of 31.5 inches, adding a unique touch to its appearance, The clock is housed in a sturdy A.B.S plastic box measuring 10 x 10 inches, with a thickness of 0.06 inches, providing durability and protection. The clock movement set, composed of ABS/QUARTZ components, ensures accurate timekeeping and reliability, while the polypropylene boxing gloves straps offer secure attachment. The clock assembly utilizes bonded nylon threading, with 5,800 yards of material, to ensure strong and lasting construction. For the boxing glove mechanism, two steel springs with a diameter of 7mm provide the necessary tension. The clock also features a metal buzzer with an on/off switch for the alarm functionality. The electrical trigger lever, made of zinc alloy, enables the mechanism activation, and the plastic alarm setting knob allows easy adjustment. Additionally, the alarm hammer, measuring 1 x 0.5 inches, is made of metal and ensures a clear and audible alarm sound. These components are integral to the clock’s functionality and design.
We sourced a company named Lumichron Commercial Clocks to construct 15,000 clocks for $25,000 with the total profit for each unit being $3 since each unit’s cost of production is $16.88 and we are selling the product for 20 dollars. We expect a profit of 20,000 dollars if all clocks sell.
| Material | Dimensions and Size (Per Unit) |
Description of material used | Cost per unit |
| ADHESIVE VINYL(for boxing gloves) | 31.5 inches in surface area | vinyl | $0.09 |
| A.B.S. plastic box | 10 x 10 inches, 0.06 inches in thickness | A.B.S plastic sheets | $1.28 |
| Clock Movement Set | 56 x 56 x 16mm | ABS/QUARTZ | $0.72 |
| Boxing glove straps | 50mm/roll. 2mm width | Polypropylene | $0.08 |
| Nylon threading | 5,800 yards | Bonded nylon | $2.50 |
| Spring mechanism (for boxing gloves) | 7mm in diameter 2 springs |
Steel | $1.50 |
| Buzzer
On/Off Switch |
23.5x 16.5 x H15.5mm | Metal | $0.31 |
| Electrical trigger Lever (for boxing glove mechanism) | H: 24 / 46.5 / 56.5mm | Zinc alloy | $2.20 |
| Alarm setting knob | 1mm in diameter | Plastic | $1 |
| Alarm hammer | 1 x 0.5 inches | metal | $5 |
| Power source(Battery double a) | 13.5 mm in diameter, 49.2 mm in length | zinc | $1.50 |
| Clock Face | 3 inches in diameter | Plastic | $1 |
Appendix A – Task Schedule
Figure #11: Task Schedule (Mustafiz, 2023)
The estimated time for the development and testing of the R.A. clock will be roughly 8 months and will be deployed during the end of the year just in time for the holiday season. The development process will be broken down into a quarterly schedule, with each quarter containing 4 months worth of development and prep work, broken down into a trimester system. Quarter one contains the resource gathering and construction of the device. The procurement of supplies will begin in January and is expected to end in the end of February, meaning that the process is expected to take two months to acquire all necessary items. The construction of the prototype begins at the beginning of March and ends early April, which means the process will take roughly one month and one week to finish. The development of the alarm clock is the most complex process but due to existing companies and circulating resources to aid in an alarm clock’s construction, the process shouldn’t take more than 3 weeks or so. The development of the boxing mechanism and the integration into the plastic box is even more simple and should take about a week’s worth of time. The final week will be spent working on integrating both the clock and the mechanism together to create the product. Quarter 2 will contain the testing and revision phase. The testing phase will begin in April immediately after the prototype is complete and is expected to end at the end of June. The revision phase will begin in mid May and will be complete in July. This will equate to roughly four months in total of testing and repairs for the alarm clock. The alarm clock will be tested in the intended setting it is marketed for and studied for any failures or flaws, which will be brought up during the revision process. Quarter 3 will contain the marketing of the product as well as its intended launch.The marketing process will begin early August and end mid October, and will be spent creating sites, promoting on social media, and creating advertisements for the product. The product will launch mid October till the end of December, just in time to reach its target demographic for the holiday season.
Evaluation Techniques:
The first trial will test force, the product needs to achieve a balance in applying enough force to wake someone up while also not injuring someone in the process. In this, the boxing glove mechanism will be tested based on force, and a human mannequin will be used to test the force applied to the human face. The objective is to see if the initial punch will disturb the mannequin’s orientation or push it back considerably, and these tests will help in deciding how much force should be applied to safely wake someone up.
The second trial will require willing participants, and through a quantitative sample, a group of roughly 10 participants will be chosen with their consent regarding any and all possibilities for this test run. The intended group will be the oversleepers, which will be collected from a survey, they will be tasked to sleep for roughly 2 hours. The control group will contain oversleepers that have regular alarm clocks in their rooms, and the experimental group will have the R.A. clock installed in their rooms. When the alarm rings, and both clocks activate, the participants will be studied on whether they wake up and if any serious disturbance was caused by the R.A. clock. These results will be written down and sent to the engineering team for revisions. The environment where the participants will stay will remain consistent, and will contain all provisions and the same layout of a bedroom throughout.
References
“CLOCK FACE PART.” EBay, https://www.ebay.com/itm/125802858100. Accessed 26 Apr. 2023.
“Clock Hands Archives.” Clockparts, https://www.clockparts.com/clock-hands/. Accessed 26 Apr. 2023.
“Sweep Second Hand Archives.” Clockparts, https://www.clockparts.com/sweep-second-hand/. Accessed 26 Apr. 2023.
“Bell System Western Electric Hammer Ringer Wall Mount Alarm Bell – Black, 7″.” EBay, https://www.ebay.com/itm/195506815975. Accessed 26 Apr. 2023.
Gigi (2021). Introduction to Buzzers: Piezo and Magnetic buzzers. Seeedstudio.com. https://www.seeedstudio.com/blog/2020/12/22/introduction-to-buzzers-piezo-and-magnetic-buzzers/
GUIDAI (2023). Children’s Room Silver Dinosaur Silent Alarm Clock Twin Bell Mute Alarm Clock Quartz Analog Retro Bedside and Desk Clock with Nightlight-277.380_The Dinosaur Book. Amazon.com. https://www.amazon.com/Childrens-Silver-Dinosaur-Bedside-Nightlight-277-380_The/dp/B07J6HHT3P
Britten, Frederick, and Brearley, Harry C. “Balance Wheel.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 16 Apr. 2023, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balance_wheel.
“Escape Wheel from Long-Case Clock by Fromanteel: Science Museum Group Collection.” Escape Wheel from Long-Case Clock by Fromanteel | Science Museum Group, https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co8625458/escape-wheel-from-long-case-clock-by-fromanteel-escape-wheels.
Murray, Michael. “Mainspring.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 6 Mar. 2023, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mainspring.
YOKKAO. “Boxing Gloves Guide”. Yokkao.com. Accessed May 10, 2023. https://yokkao.com/pages/boxing-gloves-guide
