FR2500181A1 - TIME MEASURING APPARATUS - Google Patents

Abstract

The subject matter of the invention are time measuring instruments for displaying time cycles not subject to the normal 24-hour rhythm, in particular tide meters, lunar phase clocks and other astronomical clocks, which are constructed in such a way that use is made of a normal clockwork having quartz control, that this clockwork is driven by a quartz crystal which is detuned with respect to a normal clock quartz, and that use is made, if appropriate, on the output side of the clockwork, of an additional gear chain, in particular a speed reducer coupled to a 24-hour wheel of the clockwork and having a corresponding transmission ratio. In this case, a plurality of time measuring instruments can be combined to form a unit.

Description

 The present invention relates to a time measuring device comprising a clockwork movement with quartz-driven motor and an hour axis.

 Such time measuring devices are very widespread in the form of clocks, and in particular battery clocks, for indicating the legal time. They include, in addition to the normal watchmaking quartz for piloting, a motor, and in particular a stepping motor, and a clockwork movement with several parallel axes, one of which is driven by the motor, and connected by a gear train to present motor axes which make a revolution in 12 or 24 hours, in 1 hour or 1 minute, in order to indicate the time in hours, minutes and seconds.

 Time measuring devices are also known in the form of special clocks, and in particular astronomical clocks, in which a normal motor drives relatively complex mechanisms, and in particular planetary gear mechanisms, which make it possible to indicate for example the lunar phase, the height of the Moon and / or the Sun compared to certain signs of the zodiac and other data.

 While mass production makes it possible to offer normal clocks at an extremely attractive price, despite the high precision of the time indication obtained with modern quartz controls, astronomical clocks and other instruments for measuring time times not operating with the normal 24-hour cycle represent more or less special manufacturing and are therefore very expensive to manufacture, maintain and repair.

 The subject of the invention is a time-measuring device allowing the simple and economical measurement even of cycles not subject to the 24-hour rhythm for determining time.

 According to an essential characteristic of the invention, a pilot quartz is tuned to a frequency different from that of a normal watchmaking quartz, for the indication of a cycle different from the 24-hour rhythm of the mean solar time.

 The basic idea of the invention thus essentially consists in using the components of a normal clock, but in employing for piloting a quartz tuned to a different frequency, in order to be able to thus indicate cycles differing from normal time, with the if necessary an additional speed reduction.

 In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the time measuring device is made in tide clock; the pilot quartz is tuned so that the hour axis completes one revolution in 24 h 50 '28,32; and a hand mounted on the hour axis moves on a tide scale. to indicate the time until the next or since the last high or low water.

 In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the time measuring device is produced in the lunar clock; the pilot quartz is tuned so that one axis of the movement makes a revolution in 2 x 29 d / 12 h / 44 '/ 29 "; an indicator disc (36) with two circular surfaces (38) is fixed on said axis , with respect to which the surfaces are diametrically opposed and at the same radial distance; and a cover plate (32) has a circular opening (34), of diameter at least substantially equal to that of the surfaces (38) and located for the observer in front of the trajectory of said surfaces (38) of the indicator disc (36).

A time measuring device thus produced as a lunar clock according to the invention allows, by the interaction of the circular surfaces of the indicator disc and the opening of the cover plate, a direct representation of the lunar phase, an appropriate window for the cover plate also allowing the indication of the date of the phase considered, calculated since the last news
Moon, either 14 or 15 for the full moon.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, a time-measuring device can be produced using an astronomical clock comprising one or more scales, allowing for example the reading of the following data 1. Sunrise and sunset time 2. Insolation 3. Height of the Sun relative to a determined zodiac sign
(indication of the season) 4. Moon rise and set time 5. Moon height in relation to a determined zodiac sign.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, several time measuring devices equipped with quartz control tuned to different frequencies and scales or different indicating devices are combined in a set, which indicates the aforementioned data and, where appropriate, a local time at least. In the case of such an assembly comprising several different indicators, it is also possible to derive the control frequencies of various devices from a common base frequency, using for example frequency divider and / or synthesizer arrangements.

 According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the lunar phase is indicated by a sphere visible through an opening, having a light half and a dark half, and performing a turn for the duration of a synodic month.

 According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the rising and setting of the Sun or the Moon are indicated using cursors, which a cam control moves concentrically to a graduated ring. Such cursors have the advantage of allowing a direct and very clear indication of the arc traversed by the Sun or the Moon, the length of the arc simultaneously indicating the duration of the time interval separating sunrise from sunset; an additional scale may however be provided if necessary for this last indication.

 Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better understood with the aid of the detailed description below of exemplary embodiments and of the appended drawings in which FIG. 1 is the front view of a time-measuring device according to the invention, produced in tide clock; FIG. 2 represents the simplified block diagram of a time-measuring device according to the invention; Figure 3 is the front view of a time measuring device according to the invention, produced in the lunar clock; Figure 4 is the front view of a time measuring device according to the invention, made in astronomical clock; Figure 5 is the front view of an assembly comprising several time measuring devices according to the invention and two normal clocks; Figure 6 is the front view of an alternative embodiment of a time measuring device according to the invention in lunar clock; Figure 7 is the ace view of an alternative embodiment in astronomical clock of a time measuring device according to the invention; FIG. 8 is the front view of the cam control of the cursors of an astronomical clock according to FIG. 7; and FIG. 9 is a section through a cam control of the cursors of an astronomical clock according to FIG. 7.

 The time measuring device produced as a tide clock 10 according to FIG. 1 comprises a dial 12, crosses in its center Far an axis 14 carrying a needle 16. The circular dial 12 bears on its circumference, like the dial of a clock normal, hourly divisions, the 12 o'clock position however being occupied by a 0 division for high water HW and the 6 o'clock position by a 0 division for low water NW. The hand 16 moves in front of hourly divisions indicating how many hours will elapse until the next division 0. In the position of hand 16 shown in Figure 1, the high water HW or the highest waters will be reached in 3 h 45 min. In addition to the time divisions, the caran 12 has a lunar zone 18 of different color, the radial width of which optically indicates the height of water relative to the low water NW constituting the reference zero.

 A time-measuring device according to the invention, such as the tide clock shown in FIG. 1, can be very simply obtained from a normal commercial clock piloted by quartz, as described below. . using figure 2.

 FIG. 2 represents the simplified block diagram of a time-measuring device, in which a quartz 20 delivers driving or rhythm pulses to a motor 22, and in particular to a stepping motor, which causes a movement d mechanical watchmaking 24. When the quartz oscillates at the frequency of 4 1943J4 MHz, often used for the control of clocks, the watch according to figure 2 makes it possible to obtain a normal clock, including an hour axis which performs one revolution in 12 hours and wears the hour-mark for a normal clock. The watch movement 24 thus operates with a 24-hour or 12-hour rhythm. This rhythm peeled off the basis of the legal time or the average solar time at the place considered. The tides, which are a function of the Moon's force of attraction, that is to say the alternation of ebb and flow, obey on the other hand a rhythm for which the time interval between high water HW and base water NW next is 0.25 x 24 h 50 '28.32 ". The hand 16 of the tide clock 10 according to figure 1 must therefore make a revolution not during a time interval of 12 hours like an hour hand normal, but in a time of about 12 h 25 '. This result is obtained in an extremely simple way, from a normal clock controlled by quartz, using a quartz at a frequency of 4.0522718 MHz, that is to say slightly out of tune with respect to the aforementioned frequency of a normal watchmaking quartz.

It is likewise possible to produce a lunar clock 30 according to FIG. 3. It should be noted that the rotation of the Moon takes place in 29 d / 12 h / 44 '/ 29 ". A cover plate 32, placed facing the observer, has a dark upper half, with a circular opening 34 representing the Moon; a clear indicator disc 36 rotates and has on its face opposite the observer two circular circular surfaces 38 dark, diametrically opposite and at the same radial distance from the center of the disc, and of diameter at least substantially equal to that of the opening 34. The characteristic images of the
Increasing and decreasing moon are produced, i.e. the lunar phase is clearly indicated when the axis of the clockwork movement rotates the disc 36 at a speed such that it makes a revolution in 2 x 29 days / 12h / 44 '/ 29w. This result is obtained by means of a normal clock movement, with a quartz pilot at a frequency of 4.260931 MHZ and a reduction in the ratio 1/60 of the rotation of a 24-hour wheel of the The application of the basic principle of the invention thus allows the easy and economical production of a lunar clock, which indicates the characteristic phase of the
Moon and is particularly advantageous in connection with a tide clock for example, because the lunar phase exerts a decisive influence on the height of the tide or high water, the height of the tide being greater for the full Moon than for the new
Moon.

 The invention also makes it possible to produce an astronomical clock according to FIG. 4. This clock 40 comprises a rotating dial 42, opposite which are arranged two fixed diametrically opposed marks, and in particular transparent indexes 44, 46. The dial 42 carries several scales concentric: outside, a scale 48 indicating the name of the signs of the zodiac, then a scale 50 indicating the hours of sunrise, then a third scale 52 indicating the hours of sunset. The rotating dial 42 is further surrounded concentrically by a fixed graduated ring 54, indicating the duration of sunshine for the calendar day considered. A fixed symbol 56 of the Sun is also provided opposite the dial 42, at the 12 o'clock position and inside the graduated ring 54, of which it is for example integral.

 On the astronomical clock according to FIG. 4, the index 46 indicates the time of sunrise on the middle scale 50 of the dial 42.

The scale 50 extends from division 4, being in the 6 o'clock position in the position shown on the dial 42, to division 8 # being in the 12 o'clock position, passing through divisions 5 #, 6 # and 7 # clockwise and counterclockwise. On the position of the astronomical clock represented in figure 4, the Sun rises at 600. The setting time of the
Sun is indicated by the index 44 on the interior scale 52 which, in the same way as the scale 50, carries divisions from 16 # to 2000. In the position represented, the Sun sets at 18.

The outer scale 48 of the dial 42 indicates the zodiac sign in which the Sun is located. In the position shown, the solar symbol 56 is at the limit between the signs "Aries" and "Pisces". An arrow 58 is finally provided at the periphery of the dial 42, opposite the fixed graduated ring 54; it allows you to read the duration of sunshine, that is to say the time interval between sunrise and sunset. To do this, the graduated ring carries from the 3 o'clock position, which corresponds to an insolation duration of 8 hours, divisions marked from 9 to 16 clockwise and counterclockwise. , so that a total exposure time between 8 and 16 hours can be indicated.

 The dial performs one revolution at 365.25 days, the duration of the solar year. This result can be obtained by using a quartz at a frequency of 4.193619 MHz and by driving the axis of the dial 42 by a wheel of the 24 hours of movement and a gear ratio of 1/365.

 While individual embodiments of time measuring devices according to the invention have been described so far, FIG. 5 represents an assembly comprising several time measuring devices: a tide clock 10, a lunar clock 30 , an astronomical clock 40 with a solar dial and an astronomical clock 60 with a lunar dial are mounted on the plate 62 of a common case 64. The plate 62 also carries a normal clock 66, which indicates for example the mean solar time, ie Central European time for Germany, and a normal clock 68, which can be adjusted for local time, then used for example for the initial adjustment of clocks 10, 30, 40, 60. To complete the set according to FIG. 5, the plate 62 of the case 64 finally carries a barometer 70 which, in conjunction with the tide clock 10 and the lunar clock 30 makes it possible to predict the likely tide height.

The astronomical clock 60 with lunar dial of the assembly according to Figure 5 indicates, in the same way as the astronomical clock 40 with sundial, the times of rising and setting of the Moon, and the position of the latter relative to the signs of the zodiac. A dial 74 carrying the signs of the zodiac and an outer ring 76, carrying a graduation from 1 to 24, are arranged concentrically with a fixed inner disc 72. Two sliders 78, 80 are further provided, the upper edge of which in the figure indicates the time of the rising (A) or setting (O) of the Moon, and which in common very clearly indicate the duration of the time interval separating the rising of the setting of the moon
Moon. An index 82 carrying a lunar symbol, fixed on the disc 72, further indicates the position of the Moon relative to the signs of the zodiac.

 In 1 astronomical clock 60, a cam control makes the sliders 78, 80 pivot up and down, concentrically with the fixed disc 72; these sliders form a rotating artificial 7-orizon, which takes into account the height of the lunar moon. This artificial horizon varies with the rhythm of the tropical month, lasting 27 days, 7 hours, 43 ', 4.7 ". This time interval also determines the training of the dial 74 carrying the signs of the zodiac and performing a turn in a tropical month.

 It is also advisable to determine the times of rising and setting of the Moon according to the duration of a rotation of the Moon around the Earth, taking into account the relative movement of the Earth and the Sun, i.e. - say according to the synodic rotation, the duration of a synodic month being 29.5306 d. The outer graduated ring 76 is therefore driven so as to make one revolution during the above-mentioned time interval, that is to say one synodic month.

 A normal clockwork movement allows to obtain a corme following a rotation speed adapted to the tropical month, that is to say producing a revolution in 27 d, 7 h, 43 ', 4.7 ": the movement is equipped of a watchmaking quartz tuned to a frequency of 4.144937 Hz and the speed of rotation of the 24-hour wheel is multiplied in a ratio of 1/27 for driving dial 74. A normal clockwork movement, equipped of a quartz oscillating at a frequency of 4.26957S MHz, is also necessary for driving the outer graduated ring 76 at a speed of rotation corresponding to the synodic month, i.e. one revolution in 29.5306 d, the rotation of the 24-hour wheel being multiplied in a ratio of 1/30. This additional movement can be used for driving the external graduated ring, using a cylindrical gear for example. The cam control of the sliders 78, 80 of the clockwork movement of the dial 74 (tropical month) is also driven so that the stroke angular of the artificial horizon indicated by the cursors 78, 80 is +24 for 1 tropical month.

 FIG. 6 represents a lunar clock 84 modified with respect to the example of embodiment according to FIG. 3; it includes a dial 86 with a graduated scale from O (new moon) to 29. A hand 88 indicates on this scale the gold l-u lunar cycle.

The needle 88 can be driven or a normal clockwork movement, controlled by a watchmaking quartz at a frequency of 4.260931 MHz and comprising at the output a 1/30 reduction gear for the needle 88, which thus performs a revolution in 29 j, 12 h, 44 ', 29 ", that is to say the duration of a synodic month.

 The lunar clock 84 further comprises for the symbolic representation of the lunar face a sphere 90, visible in a window 92 of the dial 86. The sphere 90 has a light half and a dark half; it rotates around an axis which crosses it diametrically and cuts the line of separation of the light and dark faces, the axis of drive of the sphere 90 rotating at the same speed as the axis of drive of the needle 88 , so that the sphere 90 also performs a revolution for a synodic month. To do this, the axis of the sphere is connected to the axis of the needle by a 1/1 ratio reduction gear. The needle 88 and the sphere 90 rotate to the left, that is to say anticlockwise.

 FIG. 7 represents an embodiment of an astronomical clock 94 differing from the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 4 and allowing the indication of the time of sunrise and sunset, the duration of sunshine, the position of the Sun in relation to the signs of the zodiac, the month and the season. It includes a dial 96 with two concentric scales, the inner scale 98 bearing the names of the months and marks (V) for the indication of the start of the seasons, while the outer scale 100 bears the name or the symbol of the signs of the zodiac. The dial 96 is surrounded concentrically by a graduated outer ring 102 and fixed, carrying a graduation of approximately 4 to 20. The outer graduated ring 100 carries an index 104 constituted by a Sun symbol, the position of which on the scales 98, 100 of the dial 96 indicates the month 1 the season and the zodiac sign. The indices 44, 46 of the clock 40 according to FIG. 4 are also replaced in the astronomical clock 94 according to FIG. 7 by two cursors 106, 108, the upper end indicates the time of sunrise (A) or sunset (U) on the scale of the fixed graduated ring 102; in the position represented by the sliders 106, 108, the Sun rises at 5 a.m. and sets at 7 p.m. A cam control turns the two sliders up and down, concentrically with the axis of rotation of the dial 96; these cursors form a kind of artificial horizon, which indicates the arc of the Sun particularly well.

The dial 96 of the clock 94 is driven by a clockwork movement, which is fitted with a pilot quartz at a frequency of 4.134016 Hz and which comprises at the output a reduction gear with a ratio of 1/360, so that the dial 96 performs one revolution during a solar year, that is to say in 365.2422 d. The same clockwork movement drives the cam control, so that the angular travel of the artificial horizon is +31.05 during this time.

 The external graduated ring 102 of the clock 94 may, as shown in FIG. 7, have at its lower part a second graduated scale of approximately 16 to approximately 8 for indication, by the lower edge of the cursor 108, the duration of sunshine which, in the position shown, is approximately 14 hours.

 The details of the cam control of the sliders 106, 10 of the clock 94 according to FIG. 7 are described below with the aid of FIGS. 8 and 9 which represent it in plan and in cross-section.

The clock 94 comprises a wheel 110, carrying out a torr laying out a solar year and comprising a hub located in a hollow shaft, the anterior end facing the observer - on the left in FIG. 9 - crosses the central opening d 'a fixed bridge 112. The sliders 106 and 108 are mounted in free rotation on the hub of the wheel 110, in front of the bridge 112. A slide 114 is also arranged in front of the sliders and comprises a central opening, in which the hub of the wheel 110 is projecting . An adjustment knob 116 blocks the dial 96 and a rotating cam 118; its split rod is introduced into the hub of the wheel 110 and connected to the latter by force or friction, so that the parts 96, 118 normally rotate in common with the wheel 110, but can be moved relative to said wheel for setting the astronomical clock 94.

 The bridge 112 has on its rear face pivots 120, guided in longitudinal grooves 122 of the bridge 112. The slide 114 has on its front face another pivot 124, which moves in an annular groove 126, eccentric relative to the axis of rotation of the cam 118. When the wheel 112 rotates, the slide 114 is thus moved up and down by the interaction of its pivot 124 and the annular groove 126 of the cam 118; its pivots 120 moving in the longitudinal grooves 122 of the bridge 112 guide it vertically and block it in rotation.

 The described vertical reciprocating movement of the slide 114 is transmitted to the sliders 106, 108 by two external pivots 130 located on its rear face and engaging in oblong holes 132 of the sliders 106, 108, transverse with respect to the direction of movement of the slide 112. A pivoting of the sliders 106, 108 corresponding to the arc of the Sun, varying along the solar year, is thus produced as a function of the eccentricity or more generally of the shape of the annular groove 26 constituting the cam control. The outer pivots 130 can also be guided in corresponding grooves in the bridge 112, the central opening of which is produced in the form of an oblong hole, as shown in FIG. 8.

 Of course, various modifications can be made by the person skilled in the art to the principle and to the devices which have just been described only by way of nonlimiting examples, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (17)

Claims 1. A time-measuring device, comprising a clockwork movement with a quartz pilot motor and an hour axis, and characterized by a piloting quartz tuned to a frequency different from that of a normal horological quartz, for the indication of a cycle different from the 24-hour rhythm of the mean solar time. 2. Time measuring device according to claim 1, characterized by its realization in tide clock (10). 3. Time measuring device according to claim 2, characterized in that the piloting quartz is tuned so that the hour axis makes one revolution in 24 h 50 '28.32 "; and a hand (mounted on the hour axis (14) moves on a tide scale (12) to indicate the time to the next or from the last high (HW) or low (W) waters. 4. Time measuring device according to claim 1, characterized by its realization in lunar clock (30). 5. Time measuring device according to claim 4, characterized in that an axis is coupled to a 24-hour wheel dlun normal clockwork movement with a ratio of 1/60 performs a revolution in 2 x 29 d / 12 h / 44 '/ 29 "; an indicator disc (36) having two circular surfaces (38) is fixed on said axis, with respect to which the surfaces are diametrically opposite and at the same radial distance; and a cover plate (32) has an opening circular (34), of diameter at least substantially equal to that of the surfaces (38) and located for the observer in the path of said surfaces (38) of the indicator disc (36). 6. Time measuring device according to claim 1, characterized by its realization in astronomical clock (40) with a scale (50) indicating the height of the Sun relative to a determined zodiac sign, for the calendar day considered. 7. Time measuring device according to one of claims 1 cu o characterized by Sa. realization in astronomical clock (40) ajc.c a scale (50) indicating time of -GVer from the Sun for the calendar day considered.  8. Measuring device according to any one of claims 1, 6 and 7, characterized by its realization in astronomical clock with a scale (52) indicating the time of sunset for the calendar day considered. 9. Measuring device according to any one of claims 1 and 6 to 8, characterized by its realization in astronomical clock (40) with a scale (54) indicating for the calendar day considered the duration of the time interval between sunrise and the sunset. 10. Time measuring device according to a quekonque of claims 6 b 9, characterized in that it is produced in astronomical clock (40) with a rotating dial (42); the dial (42) is provided with three concentric scales ( 48, 50, 52) opposite which fixed indices (44, 46, 56) indicate the zodiac sign in which the Sun is located and the time of sunrise and sunset; another fixed scale (54) is provided, on which an index (58) of the dial (42) indicates the duration of sunshine; the motor axis of the dial (42) is driven by a 24-hour movement wheel with a ratio of 1/365; and the frequency of the pilot quartz is chosen so that the dial performs one revolution in approximately 365.25 days. 11. Time measuring device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is performed in astronomical clock (60) with scales indicating the height of the Moon relative to a determined zodiac sign, the time of rising from the Moon, the setting time of the Moon and / or the time interval between the rising and setting of the Moon. 12. Time measuring device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized by its meeting with others in a set of time measuring devices. 13. Time measuring device according to claim 12, characterized by frequency dividers and / or synthesizers which, from a base frequency, deliver the control frequencies to the various devices of the time measuring unit. 14. Time measuring device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by its realization in device powered by a battery. 15. Time measuring device according to claim 4, characterized in that the piloting quartz is tuned so that an axis coupled to a 24 hour wheel of a normal movement, with a ratio of 1/30, performs a turn in 29 d / 12 h / 44 '/ 29 "; a hand (88) is mounted on said axis and turns on a dial (86); a scale is graduated from 0 to 29 to indicate the day of the Lunar phase; and the dial (86) has an opening (92) behind which a sphere (90), having a light half and a dark half, driven at the speed of rotation of the axis of the needle and rotating in the opposite direction of clockwise, is provided for the symbolic representation of the lunar phase. 16. Time measuring device according to any one of claims 6 b 9, characterized in that it is produced in astronomical clock (94) with a rotating dial (96); the dial (96) has two concentric scales - (98, 100) opposite which a fixed index (104i indicates the zodiac sign in which the Sun is located, the month and the season; another fixed scale (102) is pre - street, on which two cursors (106, 108) controlled by cam and forming an artificial horizon indicate the time of sunrise, the time of sunset Sun and the duration of sunshine, the drive of the cezr /, Tane t-ar cam and of the motor axis of the dial (96) is carried out by a wheel of 24 hours of a normal movement, with a report 1/360; and the frequency of the quartz for controlling the movement is chosen so that the dial makes one revolution in approximately 365.25 days. 17. Time measuring device according to claim 11, characterized in that it is produced in astronomical clock (0) with a rotating dial (74), which carries a scale on which a fixed index (82> indicates the sign of the zodiac where the Moon is located; the dial (74) is surrounded concentrically by a graduated ring (76) rotating, which carries a scale on which two cursors (78, 80l indicate the time of rising and setting of the Moon ; a cam control rotates the two sliders by an angle of +240 for the duration of a tropical month; a normal clockwork movement, equipped with a quarter control at the frequency of 4.144937 H and d '' a sartie reducer with a ratio of 1/27, makes a revolution on the dial (74) in a tropical month of 27 d / 7 h / 43 '/ 4.7 "; and a normal clockwork movement, equipped with '' a pilot quartz at a frequency of 4.260975 MHZ and an output reducer with a ratio of 1/30, makes one revolution of the external graduated ring (76) take place in one month 27d / 7h / 43 '/ 4.7 "tropic