CH679355B5 - - Google Patents

Abstract

The time indicator has a central disc (122) connected to the watch movement (112) so as to make one revolution during a 24 hour period. The disc supports a projecting hemisphere which represents a terrestrial globe having its axis of rotation passing through a pole. A rigid elastically deformed wire (128) extending longitudinally forms a meridan. The wire is driven by a control unit (130) so as to display the frontier between an illuminated time zone (132) and a non-illuminated zone (134) of the earth. ADVANTAGE - Display of illuminated and non-illuminated zones is precise yet miniaturised so that it can be incorporated in pocket or wrist watches.

Description

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Description

The invention relates to a timepiece intended in particular for displaying the illuminated area of the earth as a function of the seasons and in particular a timepiece comprising a case and a timepiece movement, a central disc kinematically connected to said movement to make a revolution in twenty-four hours, said disc carrying in projection at least the representation of a hemisphere of the terrestrial globe and having its axis of rotation passing through the pole.

Urte table clock including a display device of the illuminated area of the earth according to the seasons was already made in the eighteenth century by a watchmaker named Pater Johannes Klein.

This table clock, produced in Prague in 1738 and visible at the State Mathematics and Physics Fair in Dresden (DDR) is said to be "astronomical and geographical". It presents a large number of indications distributed respectively on a front face and on a rear face. The front has the hours and minutes indication on a twelve-hour dial, the date indication and the sunrise and sunset hours indicator.

The rear face, which interests us more particularly, includes a dial graduated over twenty-four hours, two concentric rings respectively indicating the months and the signs of the zodiac, and an hour ring carrying an indicator symbolized by a sun. The hour ring goes around in twenty-four hours and rotates in connection with a spherical cap moving around a half terrestrial globe placed in the center of the dial and projecting from it. Thus the cap covers, depending on the season, the parts of the half globe which are not lit by the sun.

The cap control means comprise an annular disc forming a cam, the outer periphery of which cooperates with an extreme free edge of the cap. This cam controls the rotational movement of the latter around a geometric axis contained substantially in the plane of the dial and varies the part of the terrestrial globe covered by the cap.

This display device of the lit part of the earth according to the seasons has drawbacks, however.

Indeed, it is easily understood that such a device having a structure comprising a terrestrial globe, a spherical cap and its control device requires a significant thickness. However, such a thickness is not always available and what is more, is not compatible with timepieces of smaller dimensions such as pocket watches or wristwatches.

In addition, such a device is also not usable when for practical or aesthetic reasons one wishes to represent the earth not in the form of a sphere but in the form of a planar projection teile only on a disc like this is described in patent CH 270 584.

In fact, this document describes a geographic hourly dial comprising, arranged concentrically with each other, a projection of the terrestrial globe centered on the north pole, a twenty-four hour hour circle and another of twelve hours. These elements are mechanically linked together and to a set of usual hour and minute hands so that two turns of the hour hand correspond to a relative movement of one turn clockwise in the circle. twenty-four hours from the projection of the globe. In this construction, the twenty-four hour time circle rotating clockwise at the rate of one revolution in twelve hours, therefore accompanies the hour hand to which said circle could be attached. In this way, the hour hand indicating the legal time at the place for which the timepiece is set to the time is always opposite the location of the projection of the globe for which the sun is at its zenith. . For this and by construction, the hour hand is kept in coincidence with the twelfth hour or noon of the twenty-four hour time circle. This situation of midday of the sun at the place considered is represented by a mark symbolizing the sun affixed on the hour hand. Thus, in this construction the illuminated area of the earth is determined by a rectilinear meridian perpendicular to the hour hand. However, this meridian is not materialized, so that the user must make an effort to read said area which in any case will be approximate since it is difficult to take into account the spherical shape of the earth. In addition, this rectilinear meridian being fixed with respect to the hour hand, it is impossible to obtain information concerning the variation of the illuminated area of the earth as a function of time. In particular, nothing in this device makes it possible to indicate the different solstices and equinoxes.

Document US-A 3,316,706 also discloses a time instrument indicating the lit areas and the unlit areas of the earth as a function of the seasons. According to this document, two elongated elastically deformable elements are used and a control device for simultaneously deforming each of these elements in two opposite lateral directions to form an S. However, such an arrangement only allows to indicate the illuminated zones and unlit zones of the earth represented by a planisphere and no other information. In addition, the dimensions of such an instrument are not very compatible with those of portable timepieces.

The main object of the invention is therefore to remedy the drawbacks of the aforementioned prior art by providing a timepiece comprising a device for displaying the illuminated area of the earth simple, precise and capable of being produced in a small footprint, so that it can in particular be easily integrated into timepieces of the pocket watch or wristwatch type.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a timepiece comprising a case and a timepiece movement associated with a dial, and further comprising at least one elongated element with longitudinal stiffness.

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naie, deformable laterally in an elastic manner and visible from outside the part, said element being able for example to form a member indicating information, as well as at least one control device for deforming this element, said part being remarkable in that said elongate element is arranged to flex only, under the action of the control device, in a lateral direction from a first position in which said element is substantially straight towards a second position in which it forms an arc.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the deformable element is deformed in a plane parallel to the plane of the dial.

Thus, according to a first embodiment of the invention, it is possible to predetermined order one or more deformable elements to create an original decorative or aesthetic effect.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the deformation of the deformable element or elements is controlled by the clockwork movement.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, the timepiece is remarkable in that it comprises a central disc kinematically connected to the clockwork movement to make a revolution in twenty-four hours, said disc carrying in projection at minus the representation of a hemisphere of the terrestrial globe and having its axis of rotation passing through the pole, and in that at least one of the deformable elements constitutes a meridian, the latter being driven by said control device to display the border between the lit area and the unlit area of the earth.

Thanks to these characteristics, a device is obtained for displaying the illuminated area of the earth compatible with the representation of the latter in planar projection. In addition, this device comprising a deformable element as a function of time allows the continuous and precise display of the evolution of the lit part of the earth as a function of the seasons. In addition, thanks to the material by the deformable element of the meridian delimiting the illuminated zone with respect to the shadow area of the earth, by the deformable element, it greatly facilitates the reading of this information.

According to a particular characteristic of this second embodiment, the element is deformable between two opposite opposite curved positions, indicating respectively the winter solstice and the summer solstice and a rectilinear intermediate position indicating the equinoxes.

According to a third embodiment of the invention in which the control device is also connected to the clockwork movement, the dial includes a scale indicating at least the hours, and at least one deformable element has an index moving opposite. said scale to indicate the standard time. Thus, one can produce a timepiece allowing the original display of the time using an indicator member, namely a rigid elongated element with longitudinal stiffness and lateral elastic deformation.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description of nonlimiting embodiments in conjunction with the attached drawings, among which:

- fig. 1 is a top view of an embodiment of the timepiece according to the invention comprising a device for displaying the illuminated area of the earth;

- fig. 2 is a schematic view on the dial side of the gear train driving the device for controlling the deformable element, the central disc having been omitted;

- fig. 3 is a section through the axes 01-07-08-09-010-011 of fig. 2 showing the drive of the device for controlling the deformable element;

- figs. 4a, 4b, 4c show respectively in top view, the device for controlling the deformable element in an intermediate position and in its two extreme positions.

- fig. 5 shows a section along the line V-V of FIG. 1;

- fig. 6 shows a top view of another embodiment of the timepiece according to the invention comprising a device for linear display of the standard time.

The detailed description of the timepiece according to the invention which will follow is made mainly in the context of an application to display the illuminated area of the earth according to the seasons.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 5, we see a timepiece 100 provided, according to the invention, with a device for displaying the illuminated area of the earth. This timepiece here has the size of a watch attached to the wrist by means of a bracelet 102. While remaining in similar dimensions, it could be a pendant watch or a pocket watch.

This timepiece is composed of a case 104 having in a manner known per se a middle 106 closed by a bottom 108 and a crystal 110. The case encloses a timepiece mechanism 112 whose movement itself is conventional, this movement comprising, at the end of the kinematic chain, a central PTO making a turn in twenty-four hours (see fig. 2, wheel 46). From this PTO are driven at least hour indicators 114 and minutes 116 by means of a conventional mechanism which, to facilitate the reading of the figures, has not been shown.

The indicators 114, 116, move clockwise opposite a dial 118 shown here on the bezel 120 of the timepiece. This same power take-off 46 drives a central disc 122 making a revolution in twenty-four hours counterclockwise. The disc 122 here projects at least the representation of the northern hemisphere of the terrestrial globe, the term "at least" meaning that the northern hemisphere in any case extends to the equator represented by a circle 124 The disc is completed

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by an hour turn 126 over 24 hours and the meridian of Greenwich 127 pointing over 12 hours. Fig. 1 shows that the axis of rotation of the disc 122 passes through the pole.

According to an essential characteristic of the invention, the timepiece comprises an elongated element with longitudinal stiffness and lateral elastic deformation 128 constituting a meridian. This element extends above the central disc 122 and can be deformed laterally by a control device 130 (fig. 4a, 4b, 4c) kinematically connected to the clockwork movement which will be described in more detail below.

As is clear from FIG. 1, or meridian 128 constitutes a border which delimits the illuminated zone 132 and the unlit zone 134 of the earth.

The polar circle designated by the reference 136 has also been represented on the central disk 122. The polar circle is the area of the earth permanently lit by the sun at the summer solstice. This area is permanently in darkness at the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere.

In the example shown in fig. 1, the vertex 138 of the element 128 is in an extreme position 142a in which the element is tangent to the polar circle 136 and indicates the summer solstice. The intermediate position 140 and the opposite extreme position 142b of the element have been shown in dotted lines. They indicate the equinoxes and the winter solstice respectively.

In addition, in order to easily distinguish when reading this display, the area of the earth lit by the sun (day) from the area which is in the dark (night), the housing can advantageously include a fixed mark 144 symbolizing the sun.

In the example described, the deformable element 128 is materialized by a metal wire with longitudinal stiffness. This wire is elastically deformable transversely in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the central disc 122.

The deformable element 128 is connected by each of its two ends 146, 148 to movable anchoring means 150 connected to the control device 130 and allowing, by rotation about an axis 152 (fig. 4a, 4b, 4c) extending perpendicular to the central disc 122, to operate the lateral deformation of the wire or in other words to vary its curvature.

We will now describe an example of a mechanism for driving the control device 130 and therefore these movable anchoring means 150. For this, reference will be made in particular to FIGS. 2 and 3.

Fig. 2 is a schematic view of the train driving the device for controlling the movable anchoring means, this control device being shown in detail in FIGS. 4a, 4b, 4c. Fig. 2 shows a number of toothed wheels. Each wheel has teeth. Wheel and corresponding toothing are symbolized by the same reference (for example 8) and rotate around an axis whose reference is preceded by a zero (for example axis 09 for wheels 8 and 9). Fig. 2 also shows a ring 11 carrying an internal toothing. Ring and corresponding teeth are also symbolized by the same reference.

In this case, the ring 11 is a month ring also carrying the indications of the signs of the zodiac and the latter is driven by the wheel 9 carried by the axis 09.

Fig. 3 is a section through the axes 01-07-08-09-010-011 of fig. 2 to show the drive of the control device of the mobile anchoring means. The wheel 1 secured to the PTO 46 by the axis 01 rotates counterclockwise and makes one revolution in twenty-four hours. The axis 01 also carries the central disc with which it is integral, the wheel 1 meshing with the wheel 2 (axis 07). On the same axis 07, is mounted a pinion 3 secured to the wheel 2, the pinion meshing with a wheel 4 (axis 08). On the same axis 08 is mounted a pinion 6 secured to the wheel 4, this pinion meshing with a wheel 8 (axis 09). On this same axis is mounted a pinion 9 integral with the wheel 8 (axis 09), this pinion meshing with, on the one hand, the month ring 11 and, on the other hand, with a wheel 25 (axis 010) . On the same axis 010 is mounted a pinion 26 secured to the wheel 25, this pinion meshing with a wheel 27 (axis 011).

The speed imparted to the wheel 27 is of the order of one revolution approximately per 365 days. More precisely, the gear ratios given in the following equation will be chosen starting from the wheel 1 (axis 01) linked to the central disc 122, the figures in parentheses giving the reference of the wheel and the figure preceding the figure in parentheses giving the number of teeth of said wheel:

(1) 17 (1} • 15 (3) • 25 (6) • 9 (9) • 12 (26) 1

41 (2) • 57 (4) • 61 (8) • 36 (25) • 49 (27) 365, 24408

The speed to be imparted to the ring of months 11 is also of the order of around one revolution per 365 days and the gear ratios given by the following equation will be chosen:

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(2)

17 (1} • 15 (3} • 25 (6) • 9 (9)

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41 (2) • 57 (4) • 61 (8) • 147 (11)

365, 24408

The wheel 27 carries a finger 154 forming a crank. This finger extends perpendicularly to the plane of the wheel 27 and is engaged in a slide 156 of a carriage 158 (described in more detail with FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c) to drive the latter in translation above a support plate 160 disposed between the central disc 122 and a plate 161 carrying the cogs.

As appears more clearly in FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c, the mobile carriage 158 constitutes, in the example illustrated, the control device 130 of the mobile anchoring means 150.

The mobile carriage 158 is produced in the form of a generally rectangular plate, the long side of which extends parallel to a first axis of symmetry X-X 'and the short side parallel to a second axis of symmetry Y-Y'. This carriage comprises, in its center, a circular recess 162 allowing passage to the barrel 163 (fig. 3) of the wheel 1 (axis 01) carrying the central disc 122 and of which only the circle of the equator 124 and the polar circle 136 are shown in phantom. Furthermore, the carriage comprises the slide 156, extending symmetrically on either side of the axis XX 'and in a direction parallel to the axis Y' Y in the vicinity of the obviously circular.

Finally, the carriage comprises two projecting parts 164 extending from the long side in its middle zone and in a direction parallel to the axis Y-Y '.

These two projecting parts each comprise a toothing 166 forming a rack. Each rack is directly engaged with the movable anchoring means 150 via a toothed sector 168.

The carriage thus produced moves in a direction parallel to the axis XX ′ and is guided in translation by guide fingers 170 driven into the support plate 160.

These movable anchoring means are each mounted free to rotate about the fixed pivot 152 driven into the support plate, this pivot extending perpendicular to the latter. The fixed line which connects the axes of rotation of these pivots extends in a direction parallel to the axis Y-Y 'and will be designated below by the axis Z-Z'.

The structure of the anchoring means will also be described in conjunction with FIG. 5 which represents a section along the line V-V of FIG. 1.

The mobile anchoring means each comprise a member configured in “L” shape. This member comprises, on the one hand, a first branch 172 rotatably mounted on the pivot 152 and comprises at its free end the toothed sector 168 in engagement with the rack 166 and, on the other hand, a second branch 174 extending in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the support plate so as to project above the central disc 122. This second branch 174 comprises at its free end means for anchoring the wire 128. In this case, the free ends 146,148 of the wire are securely fixed by pinching between two jaws 176,178 provided at the end of this second branch 174. The wire 128 has a length such that when the first two branches are aligned along the axis Z-Z ', the latter has the straight configuration.

We will now describe the operation of the device for displaying the area illuminated by the wire by referring to FIGS. 4a to 4c. In the description of the operation which will follow, it will be assumed by convention that the sun is always in the upper part of the figure considered.

Referring first to fig. 4a, it can be seen that the first two branches 172 of the movable anchoring means 150 are aligned and that the axes Y-Y 'and Z-Z' are merged. Furthermore, the crank 154 for controlling the carriage, the center of rotation of which is on the axis XX ′ is located at the right end of the slide in the drawing. The wire therefore has its rectilinear configuration and displays the spring equinox. The sun being above the wire, the circle of illumination passes through the poles and therefore on all the earth, the night and the day have an equal duration.

The position of the crank is also shown in dotted lines when the wire 128 displays the autumn equinox. It will of course be noted that the wire has the same rectilinear configuration, but that the crank has turned 180 ° clockwise and is located at the right end of the slide 156.

Referring now to FIG. 4b, the control crank 154 has rotated 90 ° in the direction of the arrow Rc so that the carriage has moved in the direction of the arrow D. The translation of the carriage has caused the anchoring members to rotate around of their pivot and the wire has taken the configuration of an arc of a circle. The crank is in one of its extreme positions since it is located on the axis XX ', the wire therefore has its maximum radius of curvature corresponding to the display of the summer solstice. The sun is then on the side of the concavity of the wire. It will also be noted that in this configuration the vertex of the arc defined by the wire is tangent to the polar circle 136.

Finally, referring to fig. 4c, the crank has turned 180 ° clockwise from the position shown in fig. 4b, and is then in its opposite extreme position. The carriage and the anchors have been moved in opposite directions and the radius of curvature of the wire now corresponds to the display of the winter solstice. The sun is therefore opposite the convexity of the wire.

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In addition, it is interesting to note that during the passage of the wire from one extreme position to the other, the latter comprises two invariant points in position denoted i and that according to an important characteristic of this embodiment of the invention, these two points are located substantially at the right of the equator.

The wire deformation speed is such that the wire occupies the same extreme position every 365 days or so. To do this, we will choose a ratio of the radius rk of the path of the crank to the radius rt of the arc of the toothed sector equal to:

rk 2 t.50.79449 °

rt 360 °

the angle 50.79449 corresponding to the half angle of movement of the toothed sector measured from the axis Z-Z '.

Fig. 5 which is a section along the line V-V of FIG. 1 shows more particularly how various elements described are arranged with respect to the case of the timepiece. It is noted that the hour indicator 114 and the minute indicator 116 are carried by rings 115, 117 driven by their internal toothing by means of suitable wheels (not shown). In addition, the minute ring and the hour ring are guided by a stonework 179 comprising several stones, on the one hand, and by flanges provided on the plate cooperating with the interior of the rings on the other hand.

All the above description is based on the fact that the central disc 122 carries a projection of the representation of the northern hemisphere of the terrestrial globe, the skilled person will therefore easily understand that it is necessary to reverse the direction of all mobiles except for the hour and minute indicators when you want to represent the lit part of the earth in the southern hemisphere.

In addition, the description of the invention has just been made in connection with a linear projection of the northern hemisphere of the terrestrial globe, and it is understood that the invention can also be applied to other types of projections such as for example a stereographic projection. In this case, the drive of the control device 130 will be modified as appropriate.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and according to a variant, shown in FIG. 7 one can for example use wire 128 to replace the hour indicator. In this case, the fixed dial 180 surmounting the movement comprises a scale 182 and the wire comprises an index 184 moving opposite said scale. Thus, by appropriately connecting the control device 130 for the deformation of the wire to the clockwork movement, it is possible to obtain an original display of the standard time.

Claims (16)

Claims 1. Timepiece (100) comprising a case (104) and a timepiece movement (112) associated with a dial (180), and further comprising at least one elongated element (128) with longitudinal stiffness, deformable laterally resiliently and visible from outside the part, as well as at least one control device (130) for deforming this element (128), said part being characterized in that said element is arranged so as not to bend, under the action of the control device, only in a lateral direction from a first position in which said element is substantially rectilinear towards a second position in which it forms an arc. 2. Timepiece according to claim 1, characterized in that the deformation of said element is carried out in a plane parallel to the plane of the dial (180). 3. Timepiece according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the deformation of said element (128) is controlled by the timepiece movement (112). 4. Timepiece according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises a central disc (122) kinematically connected to the clockwork movement (112) to make a revolution in twenty-four hours, said disc carrying in projection at minus the representation of a hemisphere of the terrestrial globe and having its axis of rotation passing through the pole, and in that at least one of the deformable elements (128) is driven by said control device (130) to display the border between the illuminated area (132) and the unlit area (134) of the earth. 5. Timepiece according to claim 4, characterized in that said element (128) is deformable between two extreme positions (142a, 142b) opposite curved, indicating respectively the summer solstice and the winter solstice passing through a rectilinear intermediate position (140) indicating the equinoxes. 6. Timepiece according to claim 3, characterized in that the dial (180) comprises a scale (182) indicating at least the hours and in that at least one of the deformable elements (128) comprises an index (184 ) moving opposite said scale (182) to indicate the standard time. 7. Timepiece according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each deformable element (128) is connected by its two ends (146,148) to anchoring means mo7 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 CH 679 355G A3 biles (150), the displacement of these anchoring means causing the variation in curvature of said element (128). 8. Timepiece according to claims 4 and 7, characterized in that the anchoring means (150) are rotatable around an axis (152) extending perpendicular to the plane of a support plate ( 160) arranged below the central disc (122). 9. Timepiece according to claim 8, characterized in that the deformable element (128) has two invariant points (I), these two points being located substantially in line with the equator (124). 10. Timepiece according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the anchoring means (150) cooperate with the control device (130) which is of the gear type. 11. Timepiece according to claims 8 and 10, characterized in that the movable anchoring means (150) each comprise a member configured in L having a first branch (172) pivoted around said axis (152), on the one hand and which cooperates with the control device (130), on the other hand, and a second branch (174) extending in a direction perpendicular to the plane of said support plate (160) substantially above the level of the plane of the control device, the second branch (174) comprising means for anchoring (176,178) the deformable element (128). 12. Timepiece according to claim 11, characterized in that the free end of the first branch (172) comprises a toothed sector (168) extending substantially in a plane parallel to the support plate (160), said sector (168) cooperating with said control device (130). 13. Timepiece according to claim 12, characterized in that the control device (130) comprises a carriage (158) guided in translation above the support plate (160), said carriage comprising, of on the one hand, a slide (156) in which is guided a crank (154) integral with a wheel (27) making a turn in an average solar year and, on the other hand, two racks (166) respectively meshing with said toothed sectors (168) mobile anchoring means (150). 14. Timepiece according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said deformable element (128) is a wire. 15. Timepiece according to claims 4 and 14, characterized in that the wire (128) extends above and in the vicinity of the surface of the central disc (122). 16. Timepiece according to any one of claims 4 to 15, characterized in that it further comprises a ring (11) indicating months moving opposite an index (144) formed on the housing ( 104). 8