EP0909409B1 - Time zone indicator device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention proposes to meet a need which has arisen and is developing in parallel with the intensification of communications over the entire surface of the Earth. Reception at home, whether by private means, such as fax or telephone, or by public means, such as television, of information from all the points of the globe is becoming faster and more intense. On the other hand, the ease of displacements at distances covering a significant proportion of the turn of the earth continuously increasing. These realities demand today, from a number always taller people, quick knowledge of the conditions (hours of the day or day night, dates, seasons, distances) that characterize a specific place located at a great distance relative to where the person is.

The invention aims to meet this need by creating a time measurement instrument which gives instantly, thanks to a synoptic display and in a practical form and handy, the information required. This horometric device can be produced under multiple different shapes, for example as clock, pendulum or pendulum, device on screen display, etc. To simplify, we will use, in the rest of this presentation, the general term "clock".

We already know several embodiments of timekeeping devices comprising a substrate with a geographical representation of the surface of the globe, a time marker and a means visualization of a path representing the moving line of twilight, these components being animated, from an engine assembly, relative movements simulating the movements of the earth relative to the sun.

Thus, German patent application DOS 2,018,727, published in 1971, suggests using as a substrate a spherical shell supported by a shaft coaxial with the line of the poles and as a means of visualizing the twilight line, a second hemispherical shell, transparent or tinted, partially surrounding the substrate, pivoting around an axis which is perpendicular to the pole line and goes through the center of the globe. The time marker is a ring fixed or capable of a slight oscillating movement, which surrounds the substrate at level of the equator or near the south pole.

However, the lessons of this publication only partially respond to the needs mentioned above: on the one hand the clock is designed mainly as a hourly instrument measuring sidereal time, not average solar time, on the other hand design of the time marker and its cooperation with the geographic representation carried by the substrate do not allow an easy reading of the local time at any time in all time zones. Finally, the drive mechanisms provided are relatively complex.

Another earlier document, the French patent FR 1,411,022 proposed, in 1965, a similar realization in which the substrate had the shape of a cylindrical body carrying a geographical representation of the globe Mercator type terrestrial. The means of visualization of the twilight trace is a screen fitted with a lamp, pivotally mounted inside the substrate.

In this case also the time marker is a simple ring located at the base of the substrate, which hinders easy reading of local time by any point of the geographical representation and the driving means necessary in the event that a fully automatic and regulated drive should be expected, seem complicated.

Patent application EP 0441 678 published in 1991 also relates to a terrestrial globe mounted so as to simulate the movements of the earth by relation to the sun. However, this achievement, which includes mechanisms relatively complicated, is primarily designed to indicate sidereal time, and its time mark does not allow easy reading of local time.

Document US-A-5,379,271 describes a horometric device essentially comprising the elements of the preamble of claim 1. However, the device does not allow easy reading of local time in each point.

• facilité de lecture de l'heure locale
• simulation claire des mouvements réels dans le système horaire
• simplicité constructive.

It follows from this analysis that in order to meet the current needs defined at the start, it is necessary to produce a timekeeping device which has maximum quality from the following three points of view:

• ease of reading local time
• clear simulation of real movements in the time system
• constructive simplicity.

The present invention aims to achieve this goal. Its object is defined in a way general by claim 1.

The idea of the invention consists in producing the movements of the terrestrial globe by relative to the base of the device, as seen from one side privileged of the clock, they appear as they would appear to a fictitious observer looking at the earth from a point on the straight line which join the center of the earth to the center of the sun, or to a fictitious observer who would move in the plane perpendicular to the ecliptic and containing this line.

It follows that the definition of the invention covers four types of embodiments which exhaustively represent the simulation possibilities defined above.

Before listing them, however, it is important to note that the design of means provided on the geographic representation of the globe and on the benchmark to allow immediate reading of the time, also constitutes a important element of the invention.

The geographical representation will bear the limits of the time zones. These are often, at least on the continents, different from the plots of meridians defining time zones. In addition, the meridian which, in each time zone determines the time local, and whose distance to the meridian of Greenwich is an integer multiple of 15 degrees, bear one or more specially marked indicator signs. For example, these signs can be traced with a colored or luminescent coating or allow the substrate to appear in case it is transparent or translucent so that a means of interior lighting make them visible.

Regarding the time mark and its locating elements cooperating with the signs indicators, we will see below different possible forms of execution for this body rigid. Being intended to cover, at least partially the geographical representation, its overlapping parts will preferably be transparent, only the time elements proper being visible. At its base, preferably on a collar surrounding the tree, in cases where the substrate is a three-dimensional body, or on a longitudinal strip of the mark in the case of a flat or curved execution, we will provide a graduation from 0 to 24 hours, with, if necessary, subdivisions if the dimensions allow it. When their number is a sub-multiple of 24, the time elements include at least the 12 o'clock element which determines with the central point of the globe, the plane that we have called the solar plane.

The arrangement of the engine assembly as defined in claim 1 includes the four types of achievements which seem to provide the desired combination of advantages: readability of the synoptic display, clarity of the simulation of real movements, simplicity constructive.

Two of these embodiments are shown in Figures 1 and 2. In the execution according to fig. 1, as the time mark and the axis of the substrate are fixed and the twilight plane oscillates around a line passing through the center of the globe and perpendicular to the earth-sun radius, the fictitious observer who "sees" the fixed axis of rotation and the oscillating twilight plane is supposed to move in the solar plane by deviating or approaching the plane of the ecliptic, while tilting more or less, alternately in both directions.

A variant of this principle implementation consists in providing that the twilight plane is fixed but that the whole of the base, of the time marker and of the globe with its tree performs a movement oscillating about a parallel axis but which can be offset from the axis of oscillation of the twilight plane in the previous execution. The fictitious observer remains then placed on the earth-sun line, but tilts more or less so as to see the axis constantly straight when in reality it describes a circular translational movement in an oblique position, inclined by 23.5 degrees from the perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic.

The third solution is the one shown in fig. 2: the fictitious observer is constantly on the earth-sun line and therefore sees the twilight plane perpendicular to the direction of his gaze. The axis of the globe describes, in an oblique position, a rotational movement around a line passing through its center and perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic and the time marker whose solar plane is constantly oriented towards the observer describes a slow, swaying movement, simulating even better than the previous executions the actual movements of the earth.

Finally, the fourth solution is to transpose the geographic representation of the globe on a flat or curved surface, this representation moving from West to East under a grid which presents a network of lines forming time elements oriented in parallel to the meridians. On such a representation the twilight line is then a line having the appearance of a sinusoid which moves north or south depending on the course of seasons. In this case also, the moving indicator signs of the representation geographic and the time elements of the fixed time mark will cooperate to allow a easy reading of local time.

According to the invention, the geographic representation of the terrestrial globe in fact constitutes a single indicating organ, which may be in the form of a sphere or any other body to 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 time reference mark and the organ indicator, which implies that one or the other of the two organs can be fixed, while the other is mobile, or that the two organs are mobile relative to the same base which is fixed. As will be seen, the forms of execution which appear to be the most advantageous comprise an indicator member having a periodic displacement at a period of 24 hours from the base, and an hour mark which is fixed or which, at least, permanently maintains a fixed orientation relative to the base.

However, realizations in which the geographic area is fixed and the benchmark timetable moves, are also possible. We note however that the indicator means auxiliary which has the function of marking the twilight line on the indicating organ should have a more complicated absolute movement if the indicating organ is fixed, than if he travels periodically within 24 hours, and in particular a displacement in rotation around an axis.

To permanently mark the racy of the twilight line on the surface of the globe, the auxiliary indicating means must be designed to share the surface of the earth in two parts in a large circle whose plane is constantly oriented towards the sun, and therefore is perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic. Since in reality astronomical the earth makes a displacement in relation to the sun in such a way so that its axis of rotation describes a circular translational movement around from the sun, while remaining tilted by 23.5 ° with respect to a perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic, the transposition of this movement and of the proper rotation movement of the earth, on a model capable of being built in the form of a clock presents a number of difficulties. These difficulties are resolved in the clocks described below by providing, between the time reference and the indicating member, a relative displacement periodic having a precise 24 hour period, and between the auxiliary indicating means and the time mark, a periodic relative displacement which has a normal period of 365 days and can be corrected during leap years so as to be extended to 366 days. Thus, the clock described operates on the basis of a time count referred to the second. It constantly indicates the average true solar day, and the evolution of the usual calendar can be displayed permanently, increasing the annual period 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 an accessible corrector of the user.

A possible embodiment for the auxiliary indicating means consists of a screen circular bearing a lamp on one of its faces. This screen is mounted inside the indicator member of spherical shape and cooperates with drive means which impose the movement corresponding to the required function. If the globe is fixed, which causes the time mark to rotate with a 24-hour period around the axis of the poles, then the inner screen must be driven on the one hand according to a rotational movement identical to that of the time marker, so as to be constantly oriented according to the plan in which are the meridians whose local time is 6:00 am and 6:00 pm, and on the other hand in an oscillating movement, of amplitude ± 23.5 ° around an axis which is perpendicular to the previous one. In the opposite case, where it is the globe which revolves around the axis of the poles and the time reference coaxial with the globe which remains oriented in one direction fixed, then the 12h00 hour sign remains constantly oriented towards the sun and to simulate this situation, the interior screen is only animated by a single movement, which is the oscillation movement described above. From a constructive point of view, this achievement is therefore relatively simple and it is this which will serve as the first example described in detail below.

In most embodiments, the time mark constitutes a rigid member which has certain general characteristics which should be mentioned before proceeding to the detailed description. Thus this rigid member will be arranged in the form of a hollow body some parts of which may be of transparent material and in which the organ indicator representing the surface of the earth will be partially or fully engaged. The time reference will be a body with axial symmetry, coaxial with the indicating member. n will bear on one or more visible areas, radial lines representing the hours marked from 1 to 24. For example, this time marker can be designed in the form of a cap in portion of a sphere partially surrounding the southern hemisphere of the representation geographic of the terrestrial globe.

This cap will be made of a transparent material and its shape will be adapted to that of the substrate of so as to cover it tightly. At its base a circular flange of flat shape, or frustoconical or even curved, will carry the hourly graduation 0 hour - 24 hours, while that on the cap itself, engraved lines will form the time elements.

However, an achievement that seems both aesthetic and particularly effective consists to give the hourly marker the shape of a flat frustoconical body placed under the globe terrestrial and provided with a certain number of transparent plates, arranged in a star song around the axis. These plates will each have a curved edge extending opposite the surface of the globe along the route of the meridians. We can thus provide four or eight plates, representing the hours of 6 in 6 or 3 in 3 hours. These plates can for example extend to the height of the earth's equator or even higher. They will be transparent enough not to hinder the vision of the geographic area of the world.

In the case where the periodic relative displacements defined above are displacements solid bodies moving relative to each other, the clock will include a or more motors. In fact, all the required movements can be produced from of a single motor to which a speed reducer with two output shafts will be incorporated. This motor can be of any type, for example a stepping motor or a motor synchronous drive. Preferably it will be driven by a time base, for example quartz type, although an electric motor driven by the network frequency may also, depending on the case, be sufficiently reliable. On another note, if we want entirely mechanical realizations, a spring motor, of classic type, likely to be reassembled by hand or, if necessary, automatically depending on the temperature variations or pressure variations, can also be expected.

It follows from the concept of the present invention that the counting of days by adding the past hours, as well as the display of the date and the month, will be derived directly of the time base, and that the display of these parameters will be dissociated from the indicator auxiliary whose function is strictly limited to marking the twilight line and indication of the direction of the sun, including the height of the sun above the equator line and its variations over the seasons. So, for the display of calendar data, the base or the base of the clock will include preferably digital display means for conveniently reading the date, month, if applicable year, day of week or any other indication interesting. The clock cabinet can also wear a classic dial with 12-hour hour and minute hands, adjustable in a time zone preferential.

The study of the functions which it was interesting to visualize showed that an indicator means a change of date could be of service. We know indeed, that with the exception of the moment where the meridian of the date change is incubated in local time 24 hours, the different points on the surface of the globe do not all have the same date. Those located between the date change meridian and one that is in local time 24 hours (or 0 hour) and which are located west of the date change meridian, have a date that corresponds to the new current calendar, while the other points on the globe, located at east of the date change meridian, still have the old calendar. So we can provide a device visualizing this feature. It can be electronic. he will then include, for example, 24 cells of the light-emitting diode or LCD cell type spread around the globe. Preferably these cells will be found on that of two indicator / time marker elements which is fixed, while a sliding contact mounted on the rotary organ and rotating with it will successively excite these cells progressively of rotation, so that the excited cells designate the parts of the globe having the new date. The change from the date change meridian to local time 24 hours will cause immediate de-excitation of all cells. A device having exactly the same effect, but built entirely mechanically, can easily be designed, and this according to different models. We will return to this point later.

It is also worth mentioning, in these general considerations, two further improvements which may still be foreseen. So on the surface that represents the earth's surface, we can determine a certain number of particular points which are route nodes, for example the locations of certain airports important. These route nodes will be provided with type identification means electronic and stored in program memory with the necessary data. The program in question will include a calculation and research instruction allowing to determine the series of route nodes corresponding to certain initial conditions that you can choose at will. So, for example, if we determine a first node route designated as starting point, then a second route node designated as end point, the program could determine for example, the fastest path, subject to certain general conditions, between the point of departure and the point of arrival, in passing through a minimum number of route nodes, and showing the route as well determined, by exciting these different route nodes concerned. We can see that this route determination function is particularly simple to perform if the organ indicator and time marker are flat surfaces, and more precisely surfaces screen of a conscle with electronic display.

Finally, in the embodiments in which the substrate of the representation geographic is a body with axial symmetry and the 12-hour time element of the coordinate system schedule remains constantly directed to the side from where the clock is intended to be viewed, it can be interesting to provide a means to easily see, if desired, a portion of the globe in which the local time is very different from noon. So in all these embodiments, an additional assembly can be provided according to which the base is still supported by a console, or a stand, and manual or motor drive auxiliary allows it to be rotated quickly in one direction or the other. This movement can be limited to 180 degrees. A control means mounted on the console allows to control this rotation at will. Such a console also allows, for example, to house means for controlling the function which has just been described making it appear itineraries, or exciting means on the geographical representation, the outline of the time zone which is thus brought into the favorable observation position.

At the same time, the indicator signs corresponding to the meridian of the local time of this time zone can be excited. This last function can also be used to show the local time offset in the time zones (winter time - summer time), So, for example, in Central Europe, winter time is solar time mean of the meridian +15 degrees (passing a little east of Berlin) and summer time is the mean solar time of the meridian +30 degrees (passing near St. Petersburg).

We will now describe by way of example the two particular embodiments which appear, under the present conditions, the most realistic and which are represented Figures 1 and 2 respectively.

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 meridians. This shell (1) is integral with a tubular shaft (2) which is fixed to it the location representing the south pole and which is oriented along the axis of the globe. To his lower end, this shaft (2) carries a toothed wheel (3) which meshes in a pinion (4) mounted on an engine output shaft (5). The tree (2) and the globe (1) are guided and supported by a fixed pin (6) which crosses the shaft (2) over its entire length and is extends inside the sphere (1) for a certain distance. It is provided with bearings outside (7) which guide the tree (2). This trunnion which is itself hollow, is part of the frame of a base (8) integral with the base (9) of the clock. The base (8) has a shape cylindrical, with a vertical axis, but its upper face is inclined, the pin (6) perpendicular to said upper face being itself inclined by 23.5 ° relative to the vertical. The axis of the globe (1) therefore has the same inclination, which corresponds to the inclination of the earth's axis with respect to a perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic.

It should however be noted that in the embodiment shown in Figure 1, this 23.5 ° tilt of the globe axis from the vertical is purely conventional. The same realization could also be planned with an axis of the globe vertical. We will see below the unimportant changes that this would entail.

The globe (1) is therefore rotated from the motor (5) by the wheel (3) at the right of a turn in 24 hours. It cooperates with a time marker (10) which is fixed and integral with the base (8). This time marker has a frustoconical base (11) with one face upper flat (12) and a lower face used for fixing the marker to the base (8). The body (11) is therefore coaxial with the shaft (2), the upper face (12) being pierced with a opening allowing the passage of this tree. On the lateral frustoconical surface of the body (11), are marked with signs (13), in the form of radial lines, cutting the periphery of the hour mark in 24 divisions corresponding to the 24 hours of the average solar day. In in addition, to facilitate the reading of the time, the face (12) of the time marker (10) has a certain number of radial plates (14) which are placed on edge on time divisions regularly spaced. Thus, in the case where 8 plates (14) are used, they will be oriented at 45 ° to each other and will fix the position of the hours 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24. As seen in Figure 1, the inner edges (15) of the plates (14) are curved along arcs whose radius corresponds to that of the globe (1) so as to facilitate the appreciation of local time at any point on any meridian of the globe (1). In Figure 1, the plates (14) extend to the height of the equator, but it is obvious that they could, if necessary, have a different height.

The motor (5) driven by a time base (16), and whose frame is fixed to the base (8) drives therefore the scrolling of the different zones of the terrestrial globe in front of the time signs (13) and the plates (14) going east, that is to say a turn in the opposite direction to that of watch hands, when viewed from above, in the direction of the north pole, south pole. To display the day and night zones, the clock has a means auxiliary indicator which plays, in a way, the role of the sun. Like the hour mark is fixed, and that the 12 o'clock direction corresponds approximately to the direction of the sun, we will choose for example the plate (14) appearing on the left in figure 1, as plate representing the 12 hour time sign. Under these conditions, the auxiliary indicating means will include the following elements: firstly the motor (5) is equipped with a second shaft output which, in Figure 1, is coaxial with that carrying the pinion (4), and which carries itself a pinion (17). This pinion (17) meshes with a wheel (18) which is driven so as to perform a tour on itself in 365 days under normal conditions. This wheel (18) is integral with an inner shaft (19) which is led inside the pin (6) and guided by bearings (20). This tree (19) ends a little below the center of the globe (1) and carries at its end an eccentric (21). The pin (6) also supports a cradle in a semicircle (22) whose plane is oriented perpendicular to the plane of the drawing Figure 1, and whose two branches extend along the meridians from 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. to inside the globe. The ends of the two branches of this cradle (22) are at the height of the equator, i.e. they determine an axis perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in figure 1 and passing through the center of the globe. Said ends of the two branches of the cradle (22) serve as a bearing for nipples which project from a circular flat plate (23) made of an opaque material, which is thus suspended inside the globe (1) along the horizontal axis defined above. This plate is indented in the region which is located 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. Thus, the plate (23) performs a double oscillating movement during each annual period and the arrangement of the tongue (24) and the eccentric (21) are such that the amplitude of the oscillation movement is exactly ± 23.5 ° on either side of the plane perpendicular to the drawing, and containing the axis of the globe. In the position shown in Figure 1, this circular plate, which acts as a screen, is arranged vertically and understands that this particular arrangement corresponds to the date of the summer solstice. In date of winter solstice, the position of the screen (23) is symmetrical with respect to the axis of the poles of the one corresponding to the summer solstice, while at the time of the equinoxes, the screen (23) is located in the plane perpendicular to the drawing and containing the axis of the poles.

The material of the spherical shell (1) being semi-transparent, it may be sufficient that the face of the screen (23) turned to the left in FIG. 1, either in bright white color, while the other side is black, to create the impression on the spherical shell (1) of the twilight line sharing the lighted areas of the globe, of those in darkness. However, we can also complete the screen layout by placing, on with the side facing left, a bulb, such as the bulb (26), permanently lit or capable of being lit at will.

In addition to the auxiliary indicator means (23) (26) described above, the clock of FIG. 1 also includes digital display devices sketched at (27) on the base (8), indicating for example the date, the month and the year. Counting devices correspondents may be equipped with an automatic corrector showing automatically every four years on February 29 of leap years.

However, with regard to the date display, the date change must naturally be synchronized with the local time 24h00 / 0h00 of one of the time zones, for example the Central European time zone, but this indication may be, in in some cases, insufficient if the user plans for example a plane trip by direction of Australia, or a country of the Far East. To remedy this difficulty, the clock shown in Figure 1 also includes a date change device. Thus, inside the body (11) of the time marker (10) is mounted a row of 24 diodes luminescent indicated by (28) and placed so as to be astride, each, with one of the time signs (13). On the other hand, on the shaft (2) which supports the globe (1) is mounted a contact element (29) which cooperates with a series of corresponding contacts (30), also placed on the body (11), for example on the reverse of the upper flat surface of this body. These simple means make it possible to identify at any time which zones are of the globe which have the same date as, for example, Central Europe, and which are those who still have a date corresponding to the previous day or who already have a date corresponding to the next day. We indeed know that when the meridian of change of date, the course of which is approximately opposite the Greenwich meridian, changes to local time 24h00 / 0h00, the entire surface of the globe is on the same date, but that immediately after this time, the local time west of the meridian of change of date reaches a date whose date is one unit higher than the old date. In synchronism with this movement, the contact (29-30) will cause the excitation of that of diodes (28) which corresponds to the position of the date change meridian at this time. Thus, as the globe rotates east, the diodes carried by the base (10), shifted to the east with respect to the 24 hour time sign and to the right of which the date change meridian passes, will be energized and will remain on, indicating that in the corresponding regions of the globe, the date is the new date. This progressive movement will take place until the indicator member (1) has performed a complete rotation on itself, the meridian of date change being found in the 24h00 / 0h00 position, time at which all the diodes will go out, so as not to reset that the first diode (28) when the area of the date change meridian reaches the new date.

We could also complete this date change indicator device with a double display of the date in the field (27), so that users have constantly before the eyes the indication of the two dates involved.

The date change indicator device can also be entirely mechanical. For that, one has the choice between several different constructive principles. So, for example, different cells (28) can be replaced by a series of circular windows formed in an annular plate which surrounds the tree carrying the shell (1). A second plate disposed under the first annular plate has an upper surface of a certain color that appears in all counters at the time that corresponds to the extinction of all the diodes in the case of the electronic device. When, in the movement of rotation of the globe, the date change meridian passes over the time sign 24, a finger entrainant, integral with the tree of the globe, hangs a piece in the form of a split ring, which is placed under the second fixed plate, but overflows on it at the right of the sign of 24 hours through a slot. This split ring will be retained by a spring. During the 24 hour period which begins with the attachment of the split ring, the latter, of which the surface can be colored in a light color, will be gradually driven under the silk counters that, as it advances, the color visible through these the latter will for example go from dark to light. At the end of the round a ratchet will release the split ring which, recalled by its spring, will instantly return to its original position and the cycle can start again.

It is also possible to have, around the time mark, a series of rockers rotating around axes distributed along the date change device. These scales cooperate with elastic arms of an annular spring plate, so as to have two positions stable in one of which a clear part of the scale appears in the window corresponding, while in the other position, it is the other, dark part of the rocker which is visible through the windows The desired operation is ensured by the simple fact that the drive shaft of the globe drives a finger capable of successively actuating all the rockers and causing, at the moment when it completes its complete rotation, a displacement of an articulated lever and hooked to a return ring. The latter, released from a spring, brings all the scales back to their original position at the same time.

Thus, the clock described can be designed entirely mechanically, without any external energy source.

In a variant to this first embodiment, already mentioned previously, it is possible to simplify the means of training while improving the quality of simulation of actual displacements. Returning to fig. 1, this variant consists in replacing the mechanism drive (18), (19), (21), (24) of the screen (23) by a simple suspension provided with a counterweight, so that the screen naturally places itself in an equilibrium position in which it is vertical or possibly under a determined inclination. On the other hand, the base (8) will be separated from the base (9) and mounted to pivot relative to it about an axis parallel to the screen suspension axis (23). The motor (5) can remain integral with the base, Instead of the output pinion (17) it will include a loudness of axis parallel to the two axes mentioned above. The base will include a fixed crown, or even a toothed sector in which will mesh with the pinion replacing the pinion (17). This motor output axis will be controlled this way to oscillate the base and all the mechanisms it carries with an amplitude of 47 degrees and a period of 365 times 24 hours, which can be changed to 366 times 24 hours once every 4 years. Stepper motor control allows to realize without difficulty regimes of this kind.

It will be noted that with this variant, the quality of the simulation of the movements is better. than with the construction of Figure 1. Indeed, if the inclination of the axis of the poles was 23.5 degrees in the example chosen, this value was arbitrary and the variations in the apparent inclination of the pole axis was not simulated, whereas it is with the variant comprising two parallel axes of oscillation which has just been described.

It is important to emphasize again that the use of a circular screen, the edge of which follows the interior surface of the substrate and of a lamp placed on one side of this screen, is not the only possible solution to show on the geographical representation, the route twilight. By using one or more lamps of another type than the lamps with incandescent filament, directed beams or light streaks can be produced which do not require hardware screens. We know that the use of such screens requires in fact to choose the spherical shape as the substrate form, while cylinders or ellipsoids may, where appropriate, be advantageous.

The embodiment shown in Figure 2, which we now consider, differs from the first regarding the principle of transposition into a concrete model from reality astronomical. Nevertheless, it has the same advantages of synoptic reading of the time in different time zones. Here the elements of the clock are enclosed in the interior of a cabinet (40) which has been given a cylindrical shape with a part upper rounded half-sphere. Apart from the base (41), this cabinet includes a cylindro-hemispherical envelope entirely of transparent material. It is obvious however that any other form of cabinet may be provided for in this second execution of the clock described. The functional organs are fully visible and the positions they occupy in Figure 2 correspond to those they occupy at the time of an equinox. The direction from which the sunlight comes is therefore oriented along a line perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. The sun can be assumed both forwards and forwards rear, compared to this plane.

Inside the cabinet (40) is fixed a screen (42) consisting of a flat plate transparent in an arc, having a different coloring on both sides, that is to say a light coloration on the side where the source of sunlight is, and dark the other side. It is also possible to provide an external lamp illuminating the globe terrestrial, in order to mark, on its surface, the twilight line. However, the screen (42) with the different colors of its two faces, may be enough to represent, at least approximately, this marking. The moving parts of the clock move one complex movement, which will be described 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, pebble track, etc., the outline of which is circular, horizontal and centered on the vertical axis of the clock. This guide means allows the base (44), which we recognize the general shape, similar to that of the base (8) of the first embodiment, to perform movements of rotation about said axis. This mobile base includes, on a circular base plate (45) an eccentric cylindrical housing (46), the upper face (47) of which is inclined. So that the circular edge of the plate (45) cooperates with the guide means (43), the face upper (47) is integral with a hollow pin (48) fitted internally and externally with bearings (49 & 50). As in the first embodiment, the axis of the pin (48) is inclined 23.5 ° relative to the vertical, and it will be noted that the dimensions relative elements are such that the axis of the pin (48) constantly intersects the axis of vertical symmetry of the clock at a point which is fixed, and which corresponds to the center of the cabinet hemispherical cap.

A motor (51) whose frame is fixed in the housing (46) of the base (44) has a shaft of outlet fitted with a pinion (52) which meshes in a fixed circular rack (53), secured to the base (41). This circular rack is also centered on the axis vertical center of the clock, so that the rotation of the pinion (52) in the rack (53), causes a rotational movement of the base (44) on the guide means (43), that is to say a rotational movement around the vertical central axis of the clock. We design that the speed of this rotational movement will normally be 1 complete revolution in 365 times 24 hours, so that the axis of the hollow pin (48) operates, during this period, as the generator of a double conical surface, the apex of which is at the point central of the clock where the vertical axis and the oblique axis of the hollow pin intersect, and whose the opening angle is 47 °.

In FIG. 2, the reference number (54) designates a spherical shell made of a material rigid, which may be opaque or transparent, and which has, on its outer surface, a representation of the surface of the globe. The center of this shell naturally coincides with the center point of the clock previously designated. This shell is carried by a shaft (55) engaged inside the hollow pin (48) and guided by the two bearings (49) arranged inside this trunnion. At its lower end, the shaft (55) pore a wheel toothed (56) which meshes with a pinion (57), constituting a second output shaft of the motor (51). The speed of rotation of the drive members (57 & 56) will be such that the sphere (54) rotates completely on itself in 24 hours. As in the first embodiment, 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 hollow pin (48). This time marker comprises a frustoconical body (58), of which the lateral surface has hour signs from 1 to 24 designated by (59). In addition, some number of transparent plates (60) are fixed on the flat upper face of the body (58) in directions corresponding to the direction 6h00 / 18h00, 12h00 / 24h00, 03h00 / 15h00, etc. In the drawing, we see the plate (60) corresponding to the divisions 6h00 / 18h00 of the day and we note that this plate forms a complete ring. In the position shown in Figure 2, it is coplanar with the screen (42), the outer edge of this plate along the inner edge of the screen, while the inner edge of the plate extends a short distance of a large circle of the globe (54), passing through the north and south poles. However, this position is transient. It only reproduces on the equinox dates. The body (58) is guided on the outer bearings (50) of the fixed journal (48) so that it remains in all circumstances coaxial with this journal.

To ensure the functions which the described time marker has to fulfill, a final arrangement which consists in that two arc portions of the outer edge of the member (60), designated by (61 & 62), are provided in their edges with a groove to which corresponds to a rigid point (63), respectively (64), embedded in the screen plate (42), extending horizontally at the height of the central point of the clock. The extremities of these rigid rods penetrate into the grooves (61 & 62). So while allowing the time mark to rotate around the journal (48), depending on the rotational movement annual base (44) around the central vertical axis of the clock, the rods (63 & 64) keep the time mark in a fixed orientation, so that, for example, a perpendicular to the plane of the plate (60) will remain included throughout the rotation of the base (44) in a vertical plane perpendicular to the plane of the screen. Then, the plate (60), to take this example, will perform a rocking motion around the horizontal axis defined by the rods (63 & 64), while combining this oscillation movement with a rotation around the central axis perpendicular to the drawing plane.

In fact, the operation which has just been described can also be obtained by printing on 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).

It will also be noted, with regard to the directions of rotation, that given the arrangement represented in figure 2, if the sun is supposed to be in front of the drawing, then the position relative of the elements corresponds to the spring equinox. The direction of rotation of the globe around its axis being the direction from west to east, that is to say the opposite direction to that of watch hands seen from the north pole towards the south pole, the base (44) will rotate also counterclockwise when viewed from top to bottom, so that at from the position shown in the drawing, a quarter-turn rotation of the base (44) brings the upper edge of the housing (46) behind the drawing plane, and the north pole is located in front of the screen (42), which corresponds well to the position of the summer solstice.

The additional mounting of the base on a console, mentioned above, will include here a vertical axis of rotation. This could be parallel and not confused with the axis of the crown (53), and thus restore the orbital movement of the terrestrial globe.

The calendar and date change devices described in connection with the first form are not shown in FIG. 2. It is understood that the clock can also include all these devices, and this in one or other of the various forms that have been mentioned.

The arrangement of Figure 2 has an advantageous feature: the relative positions of the two points which represent the center of the terrestrial globe on the one hand, and the sun on the other hand, are fixed. In other words, the twilight line is a fixed circle on the shell spherical which represents the terrestrial globe, so that the two halves of this globe, which represent the day zone and the night zone respectively, are constantly at same places in relation to the base and the clock cabinet. These two areas are separated by the screen (42). We could also mark the dividing line between the area of day and night zone, other than by this screen, which could therefore, in this case, be deleted. We could, for example, tint the front and rear parts differently of the hemispherical and partially cylindrical cap which forms the walls of the cabinet (40). Remember that in the described embodiment, the dividing line is located, according to Figure 2, in the plane of the drawing. We could also combine this difference between the zones with an embodiment of the spherical shell in a material which reflects or diffuse light differently depending on the wavelength. In this way, we can do the area of the globe that is illuminated and represents the day area appears luminescent. That layout can be combined with the representation of the geography of the globe, including with the outline of the continents and the islands, the emerged lands being treated so as to be luminescent, yellow, ocher or green in daylight, the oceans and seas being night luminescent blue.

To solve these problems of practical realization and aesthetics, we will have recourse to lighting techniques, in particular the use of monochromatic light emitters, diodes, liquid crystals, optical conductors in the form of fibers or amorphous bodies, etc. In several of the embodiments described, the substrate contains no mechanism connected to the outside, so that it is possible to pass conductors electric or optical by the shaft.

Finally, we will come back briefly to the forms of execution already mentioned and comprising a flat arrangement of the indicating member and of the time mark. In such forms of execution, the terrestrial globe will be represented in the form of a planisphere, by example in Mercator projection, so that the meridians are then straight lines parallel to each other and perpendicular to the line of the Equator.

In accordance with the rules defined above, to achieve the goal in an execution like this, the time reference will be a fixed organ superimposed on the representation geographic and presenting time tracking elements in the form of parallel lines to the meridians. For example, the hour mark will be a transparent plate in which the time elements will be lines engraved or otherwise printed.

Different arrangements can be made for geographic representation. A particularly simple arrangement consists in mounting under the time marker a strip without end supported between two drums and carrying twice the geographic representation of the Mercator projection terrestrial globe. One of the drums, coupled to a motor, prints at the desired daytime movement. As for the annual movement viewed by the twilight line moves it can be produced through a network diodes or minilamps placed between the strands of the strip and controlled according to a program, so as to carry out the North-South or South-North movement already mentioned. The same network can also display route nodes when searching between two distant points.

However, the geographic representation of the globe can also be produced by fully electronic means, in which case the substrate takes the form of a screen, on which the world map appears and scrolls from a recording. The overlay of the twilight line on the world map presents no difficulty. The use of Mercator projection to represent the earth's surface has the advantage that meridians are parallel lines oriented north-south so that the time elements of the benchmark are also such lines. However, one can also conceive the use other projections, for example derived from a meridian projection. In this case shape of the meridians must change during the West-East course, what the projection on a screen allows.

The devices described above, for changing the date and viewing routes, can be adapted to a flat construction without any difficulty.

Claims (13)

1. Horometric device comprising on a base:

   a substrate with a visible surface bearing a geographic representation of the terrestrial globe and the marking of meridians,

   a time guide-mark graduated into hours, placed in juxtaposition with said visible surface,

   a display means able to make appear on said visible surface a crepuscular line representing the limits of the illuminated zones and the dark zones of the globe,

   a motor assembly driven by a time base and producing relative displacements, actual or simulated, on the one hand between the geographic representation and the time guide-mark with a period of 24 hours, and, on the other hand, between the imaginary plane, said crepuscular plane in which said crepuscular line lies, and the geographic representation, with a period on the order of one year, this assembly simulating the movements of the earth with respect to the sun, the said relative displacement at a period of one year comprising an oscillation with an amplitude of + / - 23.5 degrees,
   the motor assembly being arranged in such a way that the geographic representation carries out a continuous and regular movement with respect to the time guide-mark with a period of exactly 24 hours,

   characterised

   in that the geographic representation shows the time zones of the globe, and bears indicating symbols each situated on a meridian determining the local time of one of said time zones,

   in that the time guide-mark is a rigid body which comprises elongated time elements, covering said visible surface and extending in the direction of the meridians over a length sufficient to co-operate visually with the indicating symbols, one of the time elements being placed on 12 o'clock and determining with the straight line which represents the polar axis of the globe a plane called the solar plane,

   in that in said oscillation with an amplitude of ± 23.5 degrees:

   a straight line perpendicular to the crepuscular plane through the central point of the polar axis lies in the solar plane, this solar plane being stationary with respect to the base and the oscillation being produced between this straight line and the axis of the poles,

   or, the crepuscular plane being fixed with respect to the base and the perpendicular to this plane through the central point being contained in the solar plane, this solar plane oscillates about this straight line and the axis of the poles turns about a straight line of the crepuscular plane.
2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the first relative displacement between the geographic representation and the crepuscular line is normally regular with a period of 365 times 24 hours, and in that this period can be modified to 366 times 24 hours every four years.
3. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the substrate is a rigid body having an axially symmetrical shape, integral with a drive arbour oriented along the polar axis of the geographic representation,

   the time guide-mark is another rigid body, coaxial to the substrate, mounted on said arbour in such a way as to be able to turn with respect thereto,

   said arbour is guided by a socle mounted on the base and supporting the time guide-mark,

   and the display means for the crepuscular line as well as the display means for said indicating symbols, both functioning by light emission, are mounted inside the substrate.
4. Device according to claim 3, characterised in that

   the time guide-mark is integral with the socle,

   the latter is mounted pivoting with respect to the base about an axis perpendicular to said solar plane, with said period of one year,

   and the means of displaying the crepuscular line is a light source equipped on one side with a screen, the source supported freely on the inside of the substrate about an axis likewise perpendicular to the solar plane, and equipped with a counterweight which keeps this equipment in a fixed orientation with respect to the base when the socle oscillates about its own axis.
5. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the substrate is a rigid body having an axially symmetrical shape, integral with a drive arbour oriented along the polar axis of the geographic representation,

   the time guide-mark is another rigid body, coaxial to the substrate, mounted on said arbour so as to be able to turn with respect thereto,

   said arbour is guided by a socle mounted on the base and supporting the time guide-mark,

   the socle is driven in rotation with respect to the base about a vertical axis, and guides the arbour of the substrate at an angle of 23.5 degrees with respect to said vertical axis, the axis of rotation of the socle cutting through the axis of the arbour at the central point of the substrate,

   the means to display the crepuscular line is fixed with respect to the base, and the time guide-mark is guided in such a way that the horizontal line perpendicular to the crepuscular plane and passing through the centre of the globe is continuously contained in the solar plane.
6. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the visible surface of the substrate is flat or curved, the geographic representation is such that the meridians are straight, parallel lines, the time guide-mark is fixed and comprises rectilinear time elements, parallel and superimposed on the meridians, the means of display of the crepuscular line is constituted by a network of cells able to take on an excited state and a non-excited state, these cells being sunk into the geographic representation and controlled by a program.
7. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the substrate is a rigid body having an axially symmetrical shape, integral with the drive arbour oriented according to the polar axis of the geographic representation, and the time guide-mark is formed by a collar surrounding said arbour and by a predetermined number of transparent plates placed on edge and radially on the collar, the plates oriented in regularly selected directions around the arbour, the edges of said plates situated facing the outer surface of the substrate forming said time elements and the collar having a 24-hour time graduation with which said time elements correspond.
8. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the substrate is a rigid body having an axially symmetrical shape, integral with the drive arbour oriented according to the polar axis of the geographic representation, and the time guide-mark is another rigid body comprising a shell of transparent material having the shape of a part of said axially symmetrical rigid body, the shell engaged on this body in such a way as to be able to turn about said arbour, and a collar coaxial to the shell, the latter having visible lines which form said time elements and the collar having a 24-hour time graduation with which said time elements correspond.
9. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the display assembly further comprises a means to indicate the change of date differentiating, with regard to the indicating symbols, the time zones which have passed over to the new date with respect to those which are still at the old date.
10. Device according to claim 9, characterised in that the date change indicator means comprises a series of differentiating elements each of which undergoes a visible change of state at the moment where the local time of a given time zone passes the 24/0 hour element, all the said differentiating elements undergoing the reverse change of state at the moment where the time zone containing the date change meridian passes the 24/0 hour element.
11. Device according to claim 10, characterised in that the said differentiating elements are distributed on the time guide-mark, on a socle supporting the time guide-mark or on said visible surface of the substrate.
12. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the display means associated with the substrate include means of selective activation responding to a command, the means being capable of exciting predetermined points on the said geographic representation thus making a route appear.
13. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a supplementary displacement means allowing the base to rotate and the components mounted thereon in a joint movement about a vertical axis with respect to a foot which is fixed, it being possible to command this movement by hand or by a motor, and its amplitude being variable at will.

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