Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G04—HOROLOGY
  • G04G—ELECTRONIC TIME-PIECES
  • G04G9/00—Visual time or date indication means
  • G04G9/0076—Visual time or date indication means in which the time in another time-zone or in another city can be displayed at will
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G04—HOROLOGY
  • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
  • G04B19/00—Indicating the time by visual means
  • G04B19/22—Arrangements for indicating different local apparent times; Universal time pieces
  • G04B19/226—Arrangements for indicating different local apparent times; Universal time pieces three-dimensionally shaped, e.g. terrestrial globes, cylinders and the like

Definitions

• This invenuon proposes to meet a need that is born and grows in parallel with the intensification ⁇ es communications over the entire surface of the globe.
• the reception at home, whether by private means, such as fax or telephone, or by public means, such as television, of information coming from all over the world is more and more rapid and intense.
• the ease of traveling at distances covering a significant proportion of the world tour is continuously increasing.
• the invention aims to meet this need by creating a time measurement instrument which instantly gives, thanks to a synoptic display and in a practical and handy form, the required information.
• This horometric device can be produced in multiple different forms, for example as a clock, pendulum or pendulum, display device with screen, etc. To simplify, the general term “clock” will be used in the remainder of this description.
• German patent application DOS 2,018,727 published in 1971, suggests using a spherical shell supported by an arore coaxial at the pole line as substrate and as a means of visualizing the twilight trace a second, hemispherical, transparent shell. or tinted, partially surrounding the substrate, pivoting around an axis which is perpendicular to the pole line and passes through the center of the globe.
• the time reference is a fixed ring or capaole of a slight oscillating movement, which surrounds the substrate at the level of the equator or in the vicinity of the south pole.
• the clock is conceived mainly as a time instrument measuring sidereal time, and not the average solar time
• the conception of the time reference and its cooperation with the geographical representation carried by the substrate does not allow an easy reading of the local time at any time in all time zones.
• the drive mechanisms provided are reiauve ent com ⁇ lex ⁇ s. 98/01795
• the time reference is a simple ring located at the base of the substrate, which hinders an easy reading of the local time in n 'ir ⁇ por.e which point of the geographical representauon and the necessary motor means in the case where fully automatic and regulated drive must be provided, seem complicated
• Patent application EP 0441 67S published in 1991 also relates to a terrestrial globe mounted so as to simulate the movements of the earth relative to the sun.
• this embodiment which includes relatively complicated mechanisms, is mainly designed to indicate the sidereal time, and its time mark does not allow easy reading of local time.
• the present invention aims to achieve this goal. Its ooje: is generally defined by claim 1.
• the idea of the invention consists in producing the movements in terrestrial giooe relative to the base of the device, in such a way that when viewed from a privileged side of the clock, they appear as they would appear to a fictitious observer.
• the geographic representation will bear the limits to the time zones. These are often, at least on the continents, different ass traces a ⁇ m me ⁇ iens delimiting the time zones.
• the meridian which, in each z: o ⁇ e timetable determines the time Local and whose ⁇ istance to é ⁇ dien ae Green icn is an integer multiple ae 15 degrees, carry one or more telltale signs, specially marked by exemp s e, s signs can be drawn with a colored coating or luminescent or leave apparaî t re the suosirat where this: _ ⁇ -c ⁇ is transparent or translucent so had a Moven lighting in te laughing the visioles make.
• the time mark and its locating elements cooperating with the indicator signs we will see below different possible forms of execution for this rigid member.
• Being ⁇ esan ⁇ to cover at least partially the geograomic representation. its overlapping appearances will preferably be transparent, only the normal elements proper being visible.
• a gra ⁇ uaaon at its base, this preference on a flange surrounding the arore, in cases where the substrate is a three-dimensional body, or on a longitudinal strip at the mark in the case of a flat or curved execution, a gra ⁇ uaaon of 0 to 24 hours, with, if necessary, suo ⁇ ivisions if the dimensions allow it.
• the norary elements comprise at least the element of 12 hours which determines with the point centrai or giooe, the yaws which one called solar plan.
• the arrangement of the engine assembly as defined in claim 1 encompasses the four types of embodiments which appear to ensure the comot ⁇ aison of advantages sought: readability of the synoptic display, clarity of the simulation these real movements, simplicity construcuve.
• FIGS. 1 and 2 Two of these forms of execution are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
• the ⁇ afc operator which "sees" the axis of fixed rotauon and the oscillating twilight plane is supposed to move in the solar plane by deviating or approaching the plane of the ecliptic, while inclining more or less, alternately in both directions
• a variant of this execution o p ⁇ ncipe consists in providing that the twilight plane is fixed but that the assembly with the base, the time reference and the globe with its aror ⁇ performs an oscillating movement: around a parallel axis but which can be ⁇ caié with respect to the axis ⁇ oscillation eu p.an twilight c r.
• the third solution is that which is represented by the fis 2 the new oservator is constantly on the earth-sun line and consequently sees the twilight plane perpendicular to the angle of its gaze.
• the giooe axis is in the oolic position, a 8/01795
• the fourth solution consists in transposing the geograp ⁇ iqu ⁇ representation of the globe on a flat or curved surface, this representauon moving from West to East under a grid which presents a network of lines forming o ⁇ ent norary elements parallel to the meridians.
• the twilight line is then a line having the appearance of a sinusoid which moves towards the North or towards the South according to the course of the seasons.
• the mobile indicator signs that the geographical representation and the time elements of the fixed time marker will cooperate to allow easy reading of the local time.
• the geographic representation of the terrestrial globe in fact constitutes a single indicating organ, which can have the shape of a sphere or any other body with axial symmetry, but which can also be a flat or curved surface.
• This indicator member cooperates with a time marker and the display device operates so as to create a periodic relative movement between the standard marker and the indicator member, which implies that one or the other of the two members can be fixed. , while the other is mobile, or that those organs are mobile relative to the same base which is fixed.
• the embodiments which appear to be more advantageous comprise an indicator member having a periodic movement at 24 hour period relative to the emoase, and an hourly mark which is fixed or which, at least, retains permanently a fixed o ⁇ e ⁇ tauon relative to the base.
• auxiliary indicatejr means which has the function of marking the line of twilight on the indicating organ will have to include an absolute movement more comph ⁇ ué if the indicator organ is fixed, only if it makes a periodic displacement with a penode of 2 hours, e: in particular a displacement in roca ⁇ on around an axis
• the decent clock operates on the basis of a time count referred to the second. It constantly indicates the true mean solar day, and the evolution of the usual calendar can be displayed permanently, the increase of the annual penode to 366 days in leap years that can be done automatically on the basis of a program incorporated into the time base or at will by means of a corrector accessible to the user
• auxiliary indicator means consists of a circular screen carrying a lamp on one side of its faces. This screen is mounted on the inside of the spherical-shaped indicator member and cooperates with the drive means which impose on it the movement corresponding to the required function.
• the interior screen must be driven on the one hand according to a rotation movement identical to that at the mark hourly, so as to be constantly aligned according to the plane in which the mendians are found whose local time is 6:00 am and 6:00 pm, and on the other hand according to a movement of oscillation, of amplitude ⁇ _ 23.5 ° around d 'an axis which is perpendicular to the previous
• a movement of oscillation of amplitude ⁇ _ 23.5 ° around d 'an axis which is perpendicular to the previous
• the hourly clock constitutes in most forms of execution a ngide organ which has certain general characteristics which should be mentioned before going on to the detailed description.
• this ngide organ will be arranged according to the shape of a hollow body of which some publications may be in a transparent color and in which the indicating organ representing the surface of the terrestrial giooe will be partially or slightly involved.
• the standard coordinate system will be a body with an axial symmetry, coaxial with the indicating member. It will bear on one or more visible zones, radial lines representing the hours marked from 1 to 24.
• this hourly mark can be designed in the form of a cap in portion of sphere partially surrounding the southern hemisphere of the geographic representation. of the earth.
• This cap will be a transparent material and its shape is adapted to that of SUBSTRA t so the recouvnr closely.
• a circular flange of flat, or frustoconical or even curved shape will carry the hourly graduauon 0 hour - 24 hours, while on the cap itself, engraved lines will form the hourly elements.
• the clock will include one or more motors.
• all the required movements can be produced from a single motor, to which a speed reducer with a two output shafts will be incorporated.
• This motor can be of any type, for example a stepping motor or a synchronous drive motor.
• Preferably it will be driven by a time base, for example of the quartz type, although an electric motor driven by the frequency of the network can also, depending on the case, be sufficiently reliable.
• a spring motor of the conventional type, capable of being wound by hand or, if necessary, automatically depending on variations in temperature or pressure va ⁇ auons, can also be expected.
• the base or the base of the clock will include these display means preferably of digital type allowing to read conveniently the quanuème, the month, the case starting from the year, the day of the week or any other interesting indication.
• the clock cao ⁇ net can also wear a classic dial with hour and minute hands on 12 o'clock, adjustable on a preferred time zone.
• the study fo ⁇ cuons that it was interesting to see showed that a means of icateur in the d ⁇ cate change could help. It is known, that with the exception of the ins t ant where the meridian of cnange ⁇ nt ⁇ ate is L-ove local time 2 hours *, the cifférents points of the surface of giooe not all on the same date.
• these cells will be found on the one of the two indicator / time marker organs which is fixed, while a sliding contact mounted on the rotary member and rotating with it will successively excite these cells as the rotation progresses, so that the excited cells designate the globes having the new calendar.
• the passage of the meridian this arrangement this date at the local time 24 hours will enuraî ⁇ ra the immediate d ⁇ s ⁇ xcita ⁇ on of all the cells.
• a device having exactly the same effect, but constructed entirely mechanically, can easily be designed, and this is the case with different models. We will return to this point later.
• the program could determine, for example, the fastest route, subject to certain general conditions, between the starting point and the starting point, passing through a minimum no more of route nodes, and reveal the route thus determined, by exciting these different route nodes concerned. It is easy to see that this detraction rrc .. ation of routes is particularly simple to achieve s; the indicator member and the norair ⁇ mark are these flat surfaces, and more specifically the surfaces of ⁇ screen a Conscious to visuaiisauon electronics.
• a control means mounted on the console makes it possible to control this rotauon at will.
• Such a console also makes it possible, for example, to house control means for the function which has just been deformed, showing signs of light, or these means exciting on the geographical representation, the outline of the time zone which is thus brought in the favorable observation position.
• the indicator signs corresponding to the mendian of the local time in this time zone may have been excited.
• This first function can also finally be used to show the local time shifted in the time zones (winter time - summer time),
• the time winter is the mean solar time of the mendian - 15 degrees (passing a little east of Berlin) and summer time is the mean solar time of the mendian - 30 degrees (passing near St.Peersburg).
• the clock of FIG. 1 comprises an indicator member 1 in the form of a spherical shell in semi-transparent material, bearing a decoration which represents the surface of the terrestrial globe with its men ⁇ iens.
• This shell (1) is integral with a tubular arore (2) which is attached to it at the location representing the south pole and which is aligned along the axis to the globe. At its lower end.
• this shaft (2) carries a toothed road (3) which meshes in a pinion (4) mounted on an arore ⁇ e output from a motor (5).
• the arore (2) and the globe (1) are guided and supported by a fixed tounllon (6) which crosses the arore (2) over its entire length and extends inside the sphere (1) on a certain distance.
• the base (8) has a cylindrical shape, with a vertical axis, but its ⁇ upenior face is inclined, the shaft (6) perpendicular to said upper face being itself inclined by 23.5 ° with respect to the vertical.
• the axis c ⁇ giooe (1) therefore has the same inclination, which corresponds to the inclination oe the terrestrial axis with respect to a perpendicular to the plane of the eclipuch.
• This time reference consists of a tapered cone-shaped utilise (II) with a flat upper face (12) and an inferior surface used to fix the reference to the base (8)
• the body (1 1) is therefore coaxial with the shaft (2 ), the upper face (12) being pierced with an opening allowing the passage of this arore.
• On the lateral frustoconical surface of the body (1 1) are marked with signs (13), in the form of radial lines, cutting the penphene of the hour mark in 24 divisions which correspond to the 24 hours of the mean solar day
• the face (12) of the time marker (10) pore a number of radial plates (14) which are placed singing on regularly spaced hourly divisions.
• the clock includes an auxiliary indicator means which plays, so to speak, the role of the sun.
• the auxiliary indicator means will comprise the following elements first of all the motor (5) is equipped with a second arore this output which, in FIG. 1, is coaxial with that carrying the pinion (4), and which itself pores a pinion (17).
• This pinion (17) meshes with a wheel (18) which is connected so as to make a revolution on itself in 365 days under normal conditions
• This wheel (18) is integral with an interior shaft (19) which is driven inside the tounllon (6) and guided by these bearings (20).
• This arore (19) ends slightly below in the center of the globe (1) and carries at its end an eccentric (21)
• the tounllon (6) also supports.
• a semi-circular cradle (22) whose plane is oriented perpendicular to the plane shown in Figure 1, and whose two branches extend along the men ⁇ iens of 6n00 and this I 8h00 inside the globe.
• the ends of the two branches of this cradle (22) are at the height of the equator, that is to say that they define an axis perpendicular to the plane of the plane in Figure 1 and passing through the center of the globe .
• Said ends of the two cradle branenes (22) serve this bearing to nipples which project from a circular plate (23) made of an opaque material, which is thus suspended inside the globe (1) along the honzontal axis defined above.
• This plate is cut in the region which is at the height of the eccentric ( 21) and has a folded tab (24) with a slot (25) in which the spout of the eccentric (21) is engaged.
• the plate (23) performs a double oscillating movement during each annual penode and the arrangement of the tongue (24) and of the eccentnque (21) are such that the amplitude of the oscillating movement is exactly .r__ 23.5 ° of pan and auue of the plane perpendicular to the drawing, and containing the axis of giooe
• this circular plate which plays the role of screen, is vertically arranged and it is understood that this particular arrangement corresponds to the date of the summer soil.
• the position of the screen (23) is symmetrical with respect to the axis of the poles of that which corresponds to the summer solstice, while at the time of the equinoxes, the screen ( 23) is in the plane perpendicular to the drawing and containing the axis of the poles
• ⁇ may be sufficient for the face of the screen (23) turned to the left in FIG. 1 sou of white color, while the other face is black , to create the impression on the spherical shell (1) of the twilight line sharing the lighted areas or giobe, of c ⁇ iles which are in the dark.
• a bulb such as the bulb (26)
• the clock in FIG. 1 also includes display devices of the digital type sketched at (27) on the base (S), indicating for example the quan th, month and year
• the corresponding counting devices can be fitted with an auto-corrector automatically showing up every four years on 29 February at leap years.
• the date change will naturally have to be synchronized with the local time 24h00 / 0h00 of one of the time zones, for example the time zone of Central Europe, but this indicauon nsque d'eue, in c ⁇ rtams case, insufficient if the user plans for example a plane trip in direction of Australia, or a country of the Far O ⁇ ent
• the clock shown at Figure 1 also includes a device for changing ⁇ ate.
• a contact element (29) which cooperates with a s ⁇ e of corresponding contacts (30 ) , also placed on the body (1 1), for example on the reverse side of the upper flat surface of this body.
• This date setting indicator device could also be supplemented by a double display of the date in the field (27), so that users have constantly before them the indications of the two dates in question.
• the date change indicator device can also be mechanical.
• the various cells (28) can be replaced by a series of circular circular housings in an annular plate which surrounds the arore carrying the shell (1).
• a second plate placed under the first annular plate has an upper surface of a certain color which appears in all the counters at the time which corresponds to the operation of all the diodes in the case of the electronic device.
• the time clock can be designed enuèr ⁇ ment mechanically, without any external energy source.
• the drive means can be simplified while improving the quality oe simulauon of the actual displacements.
• this extension consists in replacing the drive mechanism (18), (19), (21), (24) of the screen (23) by a simple suspension provided with a counterweight, so that the screen is naturally placed in an equilibrium position in which it is vertical or possibly under a determined inclination.
• the base (8) will be separated from the base (9) and pivotally mounted relative to it around an axis parallel to the axis of suspension of the screen (23).
• the motor (5) can remain integral or base, instead of the output pinion (17) it will include an axis output parallel to the two aforementioned axes.
• the base will include a fixed crown, or even a toothed sector in which the pinion replacing the pinion (17) will mesh.
• This axis of exit of the engine will be controlled this way to make oscillate the base and the whole of the mechanisms which it carries with an amplitude of 47 degrees and a penode of 365 times 24 hours, being able to be modified to 366 times 24 hours once every 4 years.
• the control of stepping motors makes it possible to achieve schemes of this kind without difficulty.
• a screen (42) consisting of a transparent flat plate in an arc or a circle, having a different coloring on its two faces, that is to say a clear coloring on the side where the source of sunlight is, and dark on the other side. It is possible to also provide an external lamp illuminating the terrestrial globe, in order to mark, on its surface, the twilight line.
• the screen (42) with the different colors ⁇ e its two faces may suffice to represent, at least approximately, this marking.
• the mobile parts of the clock move in a complex movement, which will be decnt below, inside the outline of the screen (42).
• the upper face of the base (41) carries a guide member (43), such as a slide, rail, track of rollers, etc. , whose outline is circular, horizontal and centered on the vertical axis of the clock.
• This guide means allows the base (44), whose general shape is recognized, similar to that of the base (8) of the first form of execution, to perform rotauon movements around said axis.
• This mobile base comprises, on a circular base plate (45) an eccentric cylindrical housing (46), the upper face (47) of which is inclined. While the circular edge of the plate (45) cooperates with the guide means (43), the upper face (47) is integral with a hollow shaft (48) fitted internally and externally with bearings (49 &.
• the axis of the tounllon (48) is inciiné of 23.5 ° by rappo ⁇ vertically, and it will be noted that the relief dimensions of the elements are such, that the axis of the tounllon (48) constantly intersects the vertical axis of symmetry of the clock at a point which is fixed, and which corresponds to the cenue of the hemispherical cap of the cao ⁇ net.
• a moceur (51) the nozzle of which is fixed in the casing (46) of the base (44) has an output arore provided with a pinion (52) which meshes, in a fixed circular rack (53), integral with the base (41).
• This circular rack is also centered on the cenual vertical axis of the clock, so that the rotauon with the pinion (52) in the cremai.lér ⁇ (53), causes a movement this rotauon of the base (44) on the means ce guide (43), that is to say a movement of rotauon around the vertical central axis of the clock.
• the speed of this rotauon movement will normally be 1 complete revolution in 365 times 24 hours, so that the axis having a hollow tounllon (48) functions during this period as the generat ⁇ ce of a double surface conical, the apex of which is located at the central point of the clock where the vertical axis and the oblique axis of the hollow shaft intersect, and whose opening angle is 47 °.
• the reference number (54) designates a spherical shell made of a rigid material, which may be opaque or transparent, and which has, on its outer surface, a representation of the surface of the globe.
• This shell is po ⁇ ée by an arore (55) engaged inside the hollow tounllon (-S) and guided by the two bearings (49) arranged inside this trunnion.
• the shaft (55) po ⁇ e an ⁇ enté ⁇ wheel (56) which meshes with a pinion (57), constituting a second aror ⁇ of so ue of the motor (51).
• the rotauon speed of the drive members (57 &. 56) will be such that the sphere (54) performs a complete rotauon on itself in 24 hours.
• the sphere (54) functions as a synoptic indicating member, in cooperation with an hour mark which is carried by the base (44) and which is coaxial with the hollow pin (48).
• This time marker comprises a body of this frustoconical shape (58), the lateral surface of which carries hour signs from 1 to 24 designated by (59).
• a last ⁇ isposiuo ⁇ which consists in that those portions of arc of the external geor the organ (60], designated by (61 & 62), are provided in their edges of a groove to which corresponds a ngide point (63), respectively (64), embedded in the plate on the screen (42), extending ho ⁇ zontal horizontally at the height of the c ⁇ ual point of the clock. of these ngid uges penetrate into the grooves (61 & 62).
• the plate (60), to take this example, will execute an oscillating movement around the honzontai axis defined by the uges (63 & 6 4 ), while combining this oscillating movement with a rotauon around the central axis perpendicular to the plane of the drawing.
• the operation which has just taken place can also be obtained by imposing on the time mark (58, 59, 60) a rotational movement around its axis, relative to the base (46), the speed of this movement being equal and opposite to the movement of the base around the crown (53).
• the direction ⁇ e rotauon or globe around its axis being the direction from west to east, that is to say the opposite direction to that of the hands of the watch seen from the north pole towards the south pole, the rotauon of the base ( 44) sz will also do it anticlockwise as seen from top to bottom, so that, from the position shown in the drawing, a quarter-turn rotation of the base (44) brings the upper edge boiuer (46) up the drawing plane, and the north pole is in front of the screen ( 4 2), which corresponds well to the position of the summer solstice.
• the devices for caien ⁇ er and for changing ae date decnts about the first form of execution are not represented in FIG. 2. It is understood that the clock can also include all c ⁇ devices, and this ⁇ an ⁇ l one or 1 other have various forms of execution which have been menuonned.
• FIG. 2 has an advantageous particularity: the posiuc ⁇ s r ⁇ lauves of the two points which represent the center of the terrestrial globe on the one hand, and the silk on the other hand, are fixed.
• the twilight line is a fixed circle on the spherical shell which represents the terrestrial globe, so that the ⁇ ux muted of this giooe, which respecuvement the zone of day and the zone of night, s ⁇ are constantly to the same e ⁇ roit ⁇ by rappor. at the base and the clock cabinet. These two areas are separated by the screen (42).
• the substrate does not contain any mechanism connected to the extender, so that it is possible to pass these electrical or optical conductors through the shaft.
• the terrestrial globe will be represented in the form of a planisphere, for example in projection not Mercator, so that the mendians are then these straight lines parallel to each other and perpendicular to the line that Ecuador .
• the hour mark will be a fixed member superimposed on the geographic representation and having hour markers in the form of lines parallel to the mendians.
• the time mark will be a transparent plate in which the time elements will be lines engraved or otherwise impnmated.
• a particularly simple arrangement consists in mounting under the standard coordinate system an endless strip suppo ⁇ e between two drums and carrying twice the geographic representation of the terrestrial globe in Mercator projection A ⁇ es tamoours. coupled to a motor, impnme the desired movement to the belt.
• the annual movement visualized by the movements of the twilight line it can be produced by means of a network of diodes or minilamps placed between the ends of the strip and controlled according to a program, so as to effect the displacement North-South or South-North already mentioned.
• the same network can also ensure the visualization of the route nodes when not finding routes between two distant points.
• the geographical representation of the terrestrial globe can also be produced by means of electronic means, in which case the substrate takes the form of a screen, on which the duck of the world appears and scrolls past a recording.
• the superposition of the h ⁇ ne oe twilight to the cane in the world presents no difficulty.
• the use of the Mercator pro j ecuon to represent the earth's surface has the advantage that the mendians are parallel lines onenté ⁇ North-Sud so that the hourly elements of the reference frame are also such lines.
• the devices dec ⁇ ts above, date change and viewing of schedules, can be adapted to a flat realization without any difficulty.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Instructional Devices (AREA)
• Electric Clocks (AREA)

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• 1997
  • 1997-07-03 AU AU32523/97A patent/AU3252397A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1997-07-03 EP EP97928097A patent/EP0909409B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1997-07-03 DE DE69702912T patent/DE69702912T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1997-07-03 WO PCT/CH1997/000262 patent/WO1998001795A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 1997-07-03 JP JP10504617A patent/JP2000514186A/ja active Pending
  • 1997-07-03 US US09/214,434 patent/US6018503A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1999
  • 1999-04-23 HK HK99101796A patent/HK1016705A1/xx not_active IP Right Cessation

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