CH704683B1 - Instrument for counting the duration of differentiated phases. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a duration counting instrument (1) for differentiated phases comprising a plurality of duration recording means each operable for its arming and disarming by a first control means (13), said instrument comprising a means general control for controlling, from a rest position where all said recording means are disarmed, the arming of only one of them, selected by selection means that said instrument comprises, and for still command, at a terminal instant, the disarming of all said recording means. The instrument comprises switching means arranged to, during an arming command of one of said recording means, trigger the disarming of all the other recording means, and keep the cumulative recording of the time counted on each of said recording means. The selection means are arranged to be controlled by a user and/or by measuring means or/and by a signal, to trigger arming of one of said recording means. The invention also relates to a duration counting method implemented by said duration counting instrument for differentiated phases.

Description

The present invention relates to a duration counting instrument for differentiated phases comprising a plurality of duration recording means each operable for its arming and disarming by a control means, said instrument comprising a general control means for command, from a rest position where all said recording means are disarmed, the arming of only one of them, selected by selection means that said instrument comprises, and to further command, to a terminal instant, the disarming of all said recording means while storing the recorded data.

The invention also relates to a duration counting method implemented by said duration counting instrument for differentiated phases.

TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

[0003] It is known that timepieces can be used by pilots when they are flying. Indeed, for each air trip, pilots must be able to precisely define their flight time in order to accurately fill in their flight log, to respect their flight plan and to precisely calculate their recovery time. This knowledge of the flight time is essential for the calculation of the fuel autonomy. Indeed, in aviation, autonomy is indicated in time, so that if the pilot knows his consumption, the flight time and the amount of fuel he is carrying, he can easily know his autonomy. For example, if the pilot knows that his plane is carrying 400L of fuel plus the legal reserve, that at maximum speed it consumes 100L/hour, he knows that he will have consumed all his fuel after 4 hours and will then have to land his plane before the expiry of these 4 hours, without using the legal reserve. Thus, if the pilot knows that he has flown for 2h30 at maximum speed, he knows that he has 1h30 of flight left.

[0004] There are watches which can record the pilot's flight log, that is to say from the time the aircraft engine is switched on until the engine is stopped after the landing. One of these watches comprises an electronic watch movement as well as display means and control means. The time information supplied by the electronic watch movement is displayed via the display means. When the aircraft engine is started, the pilot activates the control means so that the engine start time is memorized by the electronic watch movement, the latter comprising a calculation unit and a memory. Then, subsequent activations of the control means make it possible to store other information such as the time of take-off, landing, engine shutdown or even taking into account the stopovers made during the flight. As a result, the user knows the time and duration of all the important moments of his flight and can report them.

[0005] However, a drawback is that this watch cannot calculate the duration of several distinct phases in series, such as for example the different phases of an air journey. Indeed, it may be advantageous for a pilot to know the duration of a first flight phase and the duration of a second flight phase. The best-known phases of flight are VFR visual flight (for View Flight Rules) and IFR instrument flight (for Instrument Flight Rules).

[0006] Visual flight is characterized in that the pilot has a clear view of the horizon so that he can easily anticipate anything that may happen. On the contrary, instrument flight is characterized when the pilot cannot anticipate events only with his eyes. This can happen at night or during inclement weather fog or flying in clouds. The pilot must only rely on his flight instruments, which makes these phases of IFR flight stressful because extreme concentration is required.

[0007] Consequently, it can be assumed that the necessary rest times will be different depending on whether the pilot flew in visual or instrument flight.

[0008] However, this possibility does not exist in the prior art and no timepiece offers this function for calculating the duration of different flight phases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing to provide a timepiece capable of counting the time of flight for at least two different phases while being readable and simple to use.

To this end, the invention relates to a duration counting instrument for differentiated phases comprising a plurality of duration recording means each operable for its arming and disarming by a first control means. The instrument comprises general control means for controlling, from a rest position where all said recording means are disarmed, the arming of only one of them, selected by selection means that said instrument, and to further command, at a terminal instant, the disarming of all said recording means. The instrument comprises switching means arranged to, during an arming command of one of said recording means, trigger the disarming of all the other recording means, and keep the cumulative recording of the time counted on each of said recording means, said selection means being arranged to be controlled by a user and/or by measuring means or/and by a signal, to trigger arming of one of said recording means.

[0011] A first advantage of the present invention is to have an instrument capable of calculating the duration of different phases of an event and of displaying in a readable manner, when the event is over, the time of flight the duration of these phases. Indeed, the present invention is arranged so that the duration of each flight phase is calculated while the total time of the event is calculated and displayed. This allows the pilot to easily identify which phase of flight he is in and without having any confusion about his flight time.

Another advantage of the present invention is that the handling of this instrument is simple. The present invention makes it possible to easily activate the calculation of the time of flight of the various phases. Effectively, after activation of the calculation of the duration, an action on the control means of the timepiece makes it possible to automatically switch the calculation of the duration from one phase to another.

In a first advantageous embodiment, said recording means are electronic counters controlled by an electronic circuit.

In a second advantageous embodiment, the cumulative duration of the different phases between the instant of general arming and the instant of general disarming is displayed on display means.

In a third advantageous embodiment, the duration of at least one of the phases is displayed on the display means by action on a second control means whether or not coincident with the first control means.

In a fourth advantageous embodiment, said instrument is a timepiece and in that the electronic circuit is a watch movement.

In another advantageous embodiment, the display means comprise a first display on which is displayed the cumulative duration of the different phases between the instant of general arming and the instant of general disarming and/or the time counted for each phase.

In another advantageous embodiment, the display means further comprise a second display on which is indicated the phase corresponding to said recording means.

In another advantageous embodiment, said instrument comprises two recording means and a number of displays equal to the number of recording means on each of which is displayed the duration counted by a recording means when the latter is displayed. it is armed.

In another advantageous embodiment, the displays are digital.

In another advantageous embodiment, the display means further comprise a total display displaying the total time counted since the arming of a recording means by the action of the general control means.

In another advantageous embodiment, the general control means is a push button.

In another advantageous embodiment, the first control means are a pusher.

In another advantageous embodiment, the selection means is a rotating element.

In another advantageous embodiment, said rotating element is the rotating bezel of the timepiece.

In another advantageous embodiment, the first control means are a touch button.

In another advantageous embodiment, said instrument comprises a first control means by differentiated phase in order, during an arming command of one of said recording means, to trigger the disarming of all the others recording means, and keeping the cumulative recording of the time counted on each of said recording means.

In another advantageous embodiment, the two displays are analog, each comprising a needle.

In another advantageous embodiment, the cumulative duration of the different phases between the instant of general arming and the instant of general disarming is displayed on the first display.

The invention also proposes to provide a duration counting method for differentiated phases of a plurality of duration recording means each operable for its arming and disarming by a first control means, said method comprising the following steps: - selecting, in a rest position where all said recording means are disarmed and by means of selection that comprises said instrument, one of the recording means; – control, by action of a general control means, the arming of the selected recording means and display, on display means, the counting of the duration provided by this recording means; – actuate the switching means to control the arming of one of said recording means, trigger the disarming of all the other recording means, and keep the cumulative recording of the time counted on each of said recording means ; – command the disarming of all said recording means.

In an advantageous embodiment of this method, this method further comprises the step of displaying, on display means, the duration of at least one of the phases is by action on a second control means confused or not with the first control means.

In an advantageous embodiment of this method, this method further comprises the step of displaying the cumulative duration of the different phases between the instant of general arming and the instant of general disarming is displayed on display means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

The aims, advantages and characteristics of the instrument according to the present invention will appear more clearly in the following detailed description of at least one embodiment of the invention given solely by way of non-limiting example and illustrated by the appended drawings in which: - figures 1 and 2 schematically represent a top view of the instrument according to the present invention with digital displays; - Figures 3 and 4 schematically show a top view of the instrument according to the present invention with analog displays. - Figure 5 schematically shows the instrument 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention: - Figure 6 schematically shows the instrument 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention; - Figure 7 schematically shows a variant of the instrument 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In Figure 1 is shown the instrument according to the present invention. This instrument is for example a timepiece 1. This timepiece 1 comprises a case 3 closed by a bottom and a crystal. This timepiece further comprises a dial 5 arranged under the crystal and on which time information is displayed. This information can be time information and/or information linked to a chronograph function. The time information is preferably displayed via analog or digital reading means 7. The information related to the functions other than the classic time is displayed via analog or digital display means 16 . This timepiece also comprises a timepiece movement. This watch movement 9 is in the form of an electronic circuit and comprises recording means 11. Each recording means 11 is in the form of a counter providing time information. The recording means 11 are connected to a switching means 15 controlled by first control means 13. This time information is displayed on the dial 5 on the display means 16. In the nonlimiting example of the present description, an electronic watch movement is used. This electronic timepiece circuit 9 is thus arranged to have a chronograph function.

According to the invention, the electronic watch movement 9 is programmed to integrate a time-of-flight calculation function for different types of flight. Of course, the example described in this description is not limiting.

In a first embodiment shown in Figs 1, 2 and 5, the instrument comprises a single control means P2 located at 1H for all the recording means 11. the instrument 1 comprises a crown 10 at 3H for setting the time and a general control means 12 such as a pusher P2 at 10 o'clock. Take the example of two distinct types of flight: visual flight called VFR (for View Flight Rules) and instrument flight called IFR (for Instrument Flight Rules). The instrument 1 then comprises two counters 11, one for each flight phase.

The dial 5 of the timepiece 1 carries the display means 16 which comprise two digital displays 17, 19. The first digital display 17 is used to indicate the total flight time calculated by the watch movement c' that is to say by the electronic circuit 9 during the execution of the flight time calculation function.

[0038] During the operation of this instrument 1, the first step consists in activating the function by action on the general control means 12. In this first embodiment, the activation of the function is carried out by the pilot by pressing pusher P1 located at 10 o'clock. This pusher P1 acts as a general control means 12. The flight log function is then activated and the first display 17 begins to display the flight time and the recording means 11 dedicated to VFR flight counts the VFR flight time without displaying it. By default, the second display 19 indicates that the VFR flight phase is the phase whose duration is counted. The information displayed is produced by the counter 11 dedicated to visual flight. The user takes off and flies by following his flight plan.

Of course, the type of flight displayed by default can be chosen beforehand by the pilot by means of selection 14. This makes it possible to start the calculation of the flight time for the desired flight phase. These selection means 14 can be a push-button P3 located at 4 o'clock and act on the switching means 15 connected to the recording means 11 to select the desired recording means.

[0040] When the flight phase changes, that is to say that the pilot switches from a VFR flight to an IFR flight, the pilot presses the push-button P2, that is to say on the first control means 13 .

[0041] This support causes the stoppage, the disarming of the recording means 11 dedicated to the calculation of the flight time corresponding to VFR visual flight. Indeed, pressing the push-button P2 causes the activation of the switching means 15 connected to the recording means 11 which here are counters. When they are activated, these switching means 15 automatically switch the recording means 11 so that the recording means 11 in operation is stopped while the recording means 11 which was deactivated is started. This operation is carried out without the display of the total flight time being stopped. Thus, in the present example, the counter 11 dedicated to calculating the VFR flight time is stopped, its value is saved in a memory space 9a dedicated to VFR visual flight of the electronic circuit 9. At the same time, the counter 11 charged with the IFR flight time calculation is armed or started. The second display 19 then indicates the new phase.

[0042] When the pilot changes flight phase again, that is to say he goes from an IFR phase to a VFR phase, he presses the push-button P2 again. This pusher P2 acts on the switching means 15 which automatically switch the recording means 11. electronic 9, of the calculated value. The inactive recording means 11, that is to say the counter dedicated to VFR visual flight, is again activated, started up. The calculation is then resumed so that the VFR visual flight time is counted again.

When landing, the pilot presses the general control means 12, that is to say the pusher P1 to stop the flight time calculation function. This pressing automatically stops the counting of the flight time in progress, that is to say the stoppage of the active counter 11, all the counters 11 are then inactive. The times saved for VFR visual flight time are added together and the times saved for IFR instrument flight time are added together. The result of each addition is stored in the electronic circuit 9. The counting of the total flight time is also stopped.

Then, by acting on second control means which may or may not be the first control means 13, the user switches the display to display, on the first display 17, the results of each flight phase.

It is conceivable that said instrument 1 is provided with an additional digital screen of the LCD type so as to display intermediate values. This makes it possible to display, in addition to the flight time, the calculated time for each phase. This additional screen alternately displays the duration of each phase.

This first embodiment allows good readability of the information since only the information of the total flight time. This avoids any risk of confusion which could turn out to be serious.

In a variant shown in Figs 3 and 4, the dial 5 of the instrument 1 comprises three analog displays 21, 22 and 23. On the three analog displays 21, 22 and 23 are arranged markings to indicate a duration as for example minutes or hours. The displays 21, 23 are each dedicated to a type of flight: the display 21 for the VFR flight and the display 23 for the IFR flight. Each display 21, 23 comprises a needle 25 whose rotation is controlled by the electronic circuit 9 in order to point to the counted value. The display 22 is used to indicate the total flight time. It is then understood that the electronic circuit 9 sends signals to each motor in order to actuate them and therefore to cause the corresponding needle 25 to rotate.

The general control means 12 are arranged to activate this function.

[0049] During the operation of this instrument 1, the first step consists in activating the function by pressing the button P1 located at 10 o'clock. The flight log function is started and the first counter starts counting and the result is displayed on a display, here on the VFR flight display 21.

[0050] In a second stage, the pilot enters a flight phase where he must fly using the instruments, that is to say he enters a flight phase in which the visibility conditions are poor. . Therefore, he must count the flight time with IFR instruments. To do this, he presses the push-button P2, the push-button located at 1H, so that the switching means 15 automatically switch the recording means 11. This switching causes the first counter 11 dedicated to the VFR phase and the display 21 corresponding stop. The second counter 11 linked to the IFR flight phase starts and the calculated duration is displayed on the IFR flight display 23. The counting of the total flight time is therefore not interrupted and it continues to be displayed on display 22.

[0051] When the pilot returns to a flight phase in which he can again anticipate and fly visually, he again actuates the push-button P2. The consequence is that the counter 11 dedicated to the IFR flight and its display 23 are stopped. The counter 11 dedicated to counting the VFR flight time is restarted and the associated hand 25 moves again to indicate the flight time in IFR condition.

When the pilot lands, he actuates the pusher P1 to stop the counters 11. The hands 25 of the two displays 21, 23 are stopped and therefore indicate the total time for the IFR flight and for the VFR flight. The pilot then knows perfectly how long he flew by sight and how long he flew by instruments in addition to knowing the total flight time. This variant therefore makes it possible to have an overview of the flight phases as well as an overview of the flight time.

One can imagine that the transition from one phase to another is controlled by a measuring means such as a light sensor or simply by a radio signal giving the information that the phase change must take place. Similarly, it is possible for the transition from one phase to another to be controlled by an altimetric sensor which switches from one phase to another when the pilot crosses a certain threshold. It also works with a temperature sensor.

In another variant, the counters 11 and the displays 21, 23 are reset at each phase change. This means that the needle 25 which is stopped before switching to another phase is reset. Thus, when the pilot switches back to this phase, the hand 25 restarts from a zero position. This configuration allows the pilot to know the time of each phase, the total time of each phase being provided on landing.

In another variant, the counters 11 and the displays 21, 23 are not reset immediately after the switchover of the display from one flight phase to another. The reset is only done when the pilot switches back to the initial flight phase of VFR flight. For example, the pilot is in a VFR flight phase and time is running out. Then, it passes into an IFR flight phase and therefore switches the display. The VFR flight display 21 stops and the display 23 dedicated to IFR flight is switched on. However, the display 21 dedicated to VFR flight is not reset. When the pilot switches from the IFR flight phase to the VFR flight phase, the IFR flight display 23 is stopped, the display 21 dedicated to VFR flight is instantly reset and then switched on so that the VFR flight time is counted. This variant makes it possible to always have in mind the flight time of the previous phase.

In another variant, the two counters are digital screens of the LCD type which can be equipped with backlighting to improve the viewing of information at night. These digital screens of the LCD type. The information can be digital or be pseudo-digital with a screen simulating an analog display. It is also possible to imagine that these two counters are only a single counter comprising two distinct zones.

In a second embodiment, the instrument 1 is arranged to calculate the duration of a number of phases greater than two such as for example visual flight, instrument flight, autopilot flight and oceanic flight. The instrument 1 then comprises four recording means 11 that is to say four counters. Here we will take the example where the instrument 1 comprises a first display 17 for the total flight time and a second display 19 to indicate the corresponding phase to the pilot. The selection means 14 are used to choose the initial phase and to allow the user to choose the phase to which he wants to switch. Effectively, in the case where the instrument 1 is used to calculate the duration of two phases, the switching means 15 are a simple rocker. This rocker makes it possible to engage the counter of the desired phase while disengaging the counter 11 in operation. For a number of phases greater than two, a flip-flop cannot be used. The selection means are used to choose the phase in which one wishes to enter. The first control means 13 act accordingly on the switching means 15 to switch the instrument 1 so that the recording means 11 corresponding to the selected phase is switched on and the other recording means 11 are stopped.

The selection means 14 of this second embodiment can be in the form of a rotary knob such as a potentiometer or a multi-position switch. The rotating bezel can be used as a means of selection 14.

The user begins by selecting, using the selection means 14, the phase with which he begins. This selection is made by turning a button. For example, the pilot begins by flying in the visual flight phase. Once the duration calculation function has been activated by pressing push-button P1, the selected counter 11 starts while the first display 17 indicates the duration of the total flight time, this duration being calculated by the electronic circuit 9 serving as a watch movement.

When a phase change occurs, the user begins by selecting, via the selection means 14, the phase in which he wants to enter. For example, he wants to enter the ocean flight phase. It acts on the selection means 14 by turning the corresponding button to point to the oceanic flight phase. Once the selection has been made, the pilot presses the first control means 13, that is to say the push-button P2. This pressing causes the switching means 15 to be activated. The counter 11 dedicated to visual flight is stopped automatically while the display of the total flight time continues. The counted value is saved in a memory space 9a. The selected counter 11, that is to say the one dedicated to oceanic flight, is automatically engaged in order to count the duration of flight in the oceanic phase. The second display 19 indicates the new phase selected so that the pilot can know in which phase he is.

The same manipulation is performed for each phase change.

[0062] When the flight is over, the pilot activates the pusher P1 and all the counters 11 are stopped. The different results are then added together and the pilot can use the selection means 14 and the first control means 13 to display the different results on the display means 16.

In a first variant visible in Figure 6, the display means 16 further comprising a display for each phase in addition to the display 17 dedicated to the total flight time. In the case of four flight phases, the display means 16 comprise four displays 31, 32, 33 and 34

When a phase change occurs, the user begins by selecting, via the selection means 14, the phase in which he wants to enter. For example, he wants to enter the ocean flight phase. It acts on the selection means 14 by turning the corresponding button to point to the oceanic flight phase. Once this selection is made, the pilot presses the first control means 13, that is to say the push-button P2. This pressing causes the activation of the switching means 15. The switching means 15 act so that the counter 11 dedicated to visual flight stops, that one of the displays 31, 32, 33 or 34 corresponding is stopped. The selected counter 11, that is to say the one dedicated to oceanic flight, is activated automatically. The result of the calculation of the duration of the counter 11 is sent to one of the displays 31, 32, 33 or 34 dedicated to the oceanic flight phase.

In a second variant visible in Figure 7, the selection means 14 and the first control means 13 are combined. Indeed, it is possible for the instrument to be equipped with one control means per phase, in the case of four phases, the instrument 1 comprises four control means 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d. Therefore, pressing one of the control means 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d corresponding to a phase causes the switching of the instrument 1 so that the counter 11 associated with the controlled phase starts up while all the other counters are automatically stopped.

If each phase is associated with one of the displays 31, 32, 33, 34, switching from one phase to another automatically causes one of the displays 31, 32, 33, 34 which is associated to the stopped phase and the activation of one of the displays 31, 32, 33, 34 which is dedicated to the phase which is started.

On the other hand, if there is only one display 17 for all the phases, this displays the total flight time and pressing one of the control means 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d which triggers the corresponding phase implies that the duration of the previous phase is saved in the electronic circuit 9. The display of the total durations of each flight phase is performed at the end of the flight, when the flight time calculation function is disabled.

Of course, it will be understood that the instrument 1 can be a totally mechanical timepiece, the switching means 15 being in the form of a clutch system made to switch between the different recording means . In the case of two counters for a single display, this clutch system may consist, for example, of two gear trains connecting each of the counters to the gear of the display. The clutch system further comprises a clutch element at the level of the display gear so that pressing the control means 13 causes the activation of this clutch. This clutch then connects the idle gear train to the display gear. The gear train cooperating with the display gear becomes inactive. It acts like a rocker

It will be understood that various modifications and/or improvements and/or combinations obvious to those skilled in the art can be made to the various embodiments of the invention described above without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

The instrument 1 can also include an additional display to display the flight number. Indeed, provision may be made for the instrument to be able to memorize each flight, that is to say the data of each phase between two presses on the general control means. This makes it possible to save the values for a certain time so that the pilot does not have to fill in his flight log immediately after the end of his flight.

[0071] Furthermore, provision may be made for this instrument to be used to calculate the time it takes the user to make a hole in a golf course. Thus, at each hole, the user changes phase and the duration of said phase is measured.

Similarly, provision could be made for this instrument not to calculate the duration of each hole but the number of strokes required. The recording means are then counters and are activated by a gyroscope or an accelerometer which detects a swing.

Claims (19)

1. Duration counting instrument (1) for differentiated phases comprising a plurality of duration recording means (11), each counting a duration of a phase and being operable for its arming and disarming by a first means of control (13) of said instrument (1), said instrument comprising general control means (12) for controlling, from a rest position where all said recording means are disarmed, the arming of a single between them, selected by means of selection (14) which comprises said instrument, and for further controlling, at a terminal instant, the disarming of all of said recording means, characterized in that said instrument comprising switching means ( 15) arranged to, during an arming command of one of said recording means, trigger the disarming of all the other recording means (11), and keep the cumulative recording of the time counted on each of said recording means, said selection means (14) being arranged to be controlled by a user and/or by measuring means or/and by a signal, to trigger arming of one of said recording means. 2. Instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that the cumulative duration of the different phases between the instant of general arming and the instant of general disarming is displayed on display means (16). 3. Instrument according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the duration of at least one of the phases is displayed on the display means (16) by action on a second control means whether or not coincident with the first means of command (13). 4. Instrument according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said instrument (1) is a timepiece and in that the electronic circuit (9) is a watch movement. 5. Instrument according to claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the display means (16) comprise a first display (17) on which is displayed the cumulative duration of the different phases between the moment of general arming and the instant of general disarmament and/or the duration counted for each phase. 6. Instrument according to claim 5, characterized in that the display means (16) further comprise a second display (19) on which is indicated the phase corresponding to said recording means (11) selected. 7. Instrument according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said instrument comprises two recording means (11) and a number of displays (21, 23) equal to the number of said recording means on each of which the time counted by one of said recording means when the latter is armed is displayed. 8. Instrument according to claim 2 and one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the display means (16) are digital. 9. Instrument according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the general control means (12) is a pusher. 10. Instrument according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first control means (13) are a pusher. 11. Instrument according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the selection means (14) are a rotary element. 12. Instrument according to claim 2 and claim 11, characterized in that said rotating element is the rotating bezel of the timepiece. 13. Instrument according to Instrument according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the first control means (13) comprise at least one touch button. 14. Instrument according to claim 7, characterized in that the two displays (21, 23) are analog, each comprising a needle. 15. Instrument according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recording means (11) are electronic counters. 16. Instrument according to one of claims 5 to 15, characterized in that the cumulative duration of the different phases between the instant of general arming and the instant of general disarming is displayed on the first display (17). 17. Duration counting method for differentiated phases of a plurality of duration recording means (11) each operable for its arming and disarming by a control means, said method being implemented by an instrument (1 ) for duration counting for differentiated phases, according to one of claims 1 to 16, said method comprising the following steps: – select, in a rest position where all said recording means are disarmed and by means of selection (14) that comprises said instrument (1), one of the recording means (11); – control, by action of a general control means (12), the arming of the recording means (11) selected and display, on display means (16), the counting of the duration provided by this means of registration; – actuate the switching means (15) to control the arming of one of said recording means, trigger the disarming of all the other recording means, and keep the cumulative recording of the time counted on each of said means recorder and display, on display means, the count of the duration of the armed recording means; – command the disarming of all said recording means (11). 18. Duration counting method according to claim 17, characterized in that it further comprises the step of displaying, on the display means (16), the duration of at least one of the phases is by action on a second control means coincident or not with the first control means (13). 19. Duration counting method according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that it further comprises the step of displaying the cumulative duration of the different phases between the instant of general arming and the instant of disarming general is displayed on display means (16).