EP1125172B1 - Clock - Google Patents

Abstract

A clock with a twenty four hour display includes a minute hand, a second hand, a minute scale, a date display, and an hour scale on a first conchoid. The first conchoid includes an outer loop for the hours of the day from 6-18 hours and an inner loop for the hours of the day from 18-6. A crossing point of the inner and outer loops is established at the hours of 6 and 18. To achieve unambiguous indication, the hour hand is made variable in length. In a second conchoid offset by a constant amount radially inwards with respect to the first conchoid, which for instance is milled in the form of a groove in the dial, a guiding element is moved azimuthally through the inner part of the hour hand, which receives an overlay of radial movement owing to the shape of the second conchoid. The second conchoid and the guiding element may be covered by a disc joined to the inner part of the hour hand and turning with it.

Description

The present invention relates to a timepiece driven by a mechanical, electric or electronic motor having an analogue and clear 24-hour display according to the preamble of claim 1. Clocks having an analogous and clear 24-hour display are more known, as follows DE 267 810 (D1), US 5,696,740 (D2), WO 91/03774 (D3).

Both in D1 and in D2 the 24-hour uniqueness is solved with two concentric dials of 12 hours each, where the first 12-hour group is the time from 0 to 12 o'clock, the second 12-hour group from 12 to 24 o'clock includes. Always at the transition from one scale to another, the hour indicator changes its position jerkily; either it is jerked out or shortened as well.

In D3, the uniqueness of the hour display is solved so that as well as two concentric 12-hour scales are arranged on the dial, but at the same time there is a transparent disc having a revolution time of 24 hours and - in one embodiment - two semicircular Has covers that cover the non-applicable hourly values.

Other - but not considered here documents (see above) DE 33 05 414 and DE 40 376 57 ) show clocks with so-called pseudo-analogue representation, where with electronic aids, such as LEDs and liquid crystal displays a clear 24-hour display is generated.

The apparatuses for changing the length of the hour hand disclosed in D1 and D2 either require additional energy for tensioning a spring (D1) or an additional energy source (D2) from the clock motor. The solution proposed in D3 shows at all times of day and night the hours on two halves of circle with different radius. Neither the technical feasibility nor the market acceptance, these were solutions that could prevail.

Although this would be possible with the means outlined, the transition from one scale was never chosen other than at noon and at midnight.

Furthermore, watches have become known which have non-circular scales, such as in DE 196 41 885 (D4), DE 299 03 950 (D5) and DE 299 04 451 (D6). While in D4 an hour display element is moved on arbitrary curves as a guide element, in D5 the display element is guided through on cycloids by means of an additional gear and in D6 the display element moves on curves which are generated by a four-bar mechanism, although means are described here to move said display element on non-circular orbits, but a clear 24-hour display is not disclosed thereby.

Object of the present invention is therefore to move the hours marking indicator - this is the hour hand or otherwise a clear and distinctive element - on such a path, which allows a clear assignment of the position of the display element with one of the 24 hours of the day's run and so by his position causes a striking difference in the display between the day and the night hours, without the usual pointer angle positions must be changed.

Out DE 525,062 a 24-hour clock is known, the display element, here the hour hand, running on a spiral path from the outside to the inside, the display element occupies a one-unique position in 24 hours. After 24 hours, the display element returns azimuthally and radially to its original position. The radial return is effected by the fact that the hour hand can be radially extended against the force of a spring element. This extension is effected by guiding the inner end of the pointer on a spiral path, which in turn performs a rotational movement which is half as fast relative to that of the hour hand. After complete circulation of this spiral path, the hour hand returns to its original position due to the spring force built up within 24 hours.

On the one hand, it has been shown that tangential frictional forces that must be applied by the movement affect the regularity of the clock. In particular, this is the case in the return point of the pointer. There, a guide element slides almost radially inwards, thereby accelerating the movement.

The solution of the problem is reflected in the characterizing part of claim 1 in terms of their essential characteristics, in the following claims with respect to other inventive embodiments.

Reference to the accompanying drawings, the concept of the invention is explained in more detail in several embodiments.

Fig. 1

die Draufsicht auf ein erstes Ausführungsbei- spiel,

Fig. 2

einen Ausschnitt aus Fig. 1, mit einem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel eines Führungselementes,

Fig. 3

einen Längsschnitt durch das Ausführungsbeispiel von Fig. 1,

Fig. 4

ein Detail aus Fig. 3 mit einem zweiten Ausfüh- rungsbeispiel eines Führungselementes

Fig. 5

ein zweites Ausführungsbeispiel in einem schema- tischen Längsschnitt

Fig. 6

das Ausführungsbeispiel von Fig. 5 in einer sche- matischen Draufsicht.

Show it:

Fig. 1

the top view of a first embodiment,

Fig. 2

a section from Fig. 1 , with a first embodiment of a guide element,

Fig. 3

a longitudinal section through the embodiment of Fig. 1 .

Fig. 4

a detail from Fig. 3 with a second embodiment of a guide element

Fig. 5

a second embodiment in a schematic longitudinal section

Fig. 6

the embodiment of Fig. 5 in a schematic plan view.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of an inventive clock. In addition to conventional and adopted here elements, such as minute hand 1, second hand 2, date display 3 and a conventional circular minute scale 4, an inventive hour display element in the form of a variable-length hour hand 5 is shown. The tip of the hour hand 5 runs on a double-loop closed curve 7 with an outer loop 8 and an inner loop 9, which have a crossing point 6. Thus, the day hours of 6 to 18 o'clock of the outer loop 8 and the night hours of 18 to 6 o'clock of the inner loop 9 are assigned. Since this assignment is only graphical in nature, it can of course be reversed. Such a double-loop closed curve is, for example, the conchoid, also called Pascal's screw (described, for example, in Karel Rektorys, Applicable Mathematics, Cambridge, Mass., USA, 1969). Dashed executed contains Fig. 1 the representation of a second Konchoide 10, which emerges from the curve 7 with an outer loop 8 and an inner loop 9 by a constant radial displacement. This second Konchoide 10 is shown in phantom, since it may be hidden by a disc 11; she is trained as a guide and together with the governing bodies in Fig. 2 , explained in more detail.

Fig. 2 is the representation of only the inventive part of the clock. The disk 11 is shown here only dashed and transparent and gives the view freely on the underlying and covered by the disk 11 Konchoide 10. The hour hand 5 is, as already out Fig. 1 visible, designed in two parts. Its outer part, occupied by the number 13, is pivotally connected to a sliding member 12; this slider 12 is located in the example, groove-shaped Konchoide 10 and follows in circulation of the inner part of the hour hand 5 of the path of these Konchoide 10. The said inner part of the hour hand 5 carries the numeral 14 and is fixedly connected to the disc 11. The disc 11 thus performs, together with the inner part 14 of the hour hand 5, one revolution in 12 hours. The sliding element 12 is crescent-shaped in this embodiment in such a way that the radius of curvature of the outer surface is smaller than the smallest radius of curvature of the outer surface of the Konchoide 10, and that of the inner surface is greater than the largest radius of curvature of the inner surface of the Konchoide 10. Die measured in the tangential direction longitudinal extent of the sliding member 12 is designed so large that at the intersection of the two loops of the conchoid 10 (which carry the numbers 15, 16), the slider 12 is guided by the outer loop 15 securely on the inner loop 16, or from the inner loop 16 securely on the outer loop 15th

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the embodiment of Fig. 1 for example at 24 h. A dial 24 serves as a non-limiting example as a mounting platform for all other mentioned and yet to be named elements. This element and referred to below dial 24 can be both factory and related to the housing. It is only important that in the operation of the clock, the reference to the actual dial is a solid. In the dial 24, the conchoid 10 is incorporated with its outer loop 15 and its inner loop 16, for example by milling. In the dial 24 is a, called hour tube 18, hollow shaft mounted, with which the disc 11 and the inner Part 14 of the hour hand 5 are firmly connected. For stability reasons, the inner part 14 of the hour hand 5, for example, still connected to a support 19 with the disc 11. The disc 11 has, parallel to the inner part 14 of the hour hand 5, a radial slot 20. In this slot 20, a guide pin 21 is movable, with which the outer part 13 of the hour hand is connected to the sliding member 12. The sliding member 12 is thus moved in the azimuthal direction through the disc 11. The guide pin 21 is fixedly connected, for example, with the sliding member 12 and rotatably supported in the outer part 13 of the hour hand 5 about its longitudinal axis. According to the invention, however, this can also be solved so that the guide pin 21 is fixedly connected to the outer part 13 of the hour hand 5 and rotatably mounted in the sliding member 12 about its longitudinal axis.

The outer part 13 of the hour hand 5 is longitudinally displaceable relative to the inner part 14, for which arrangement several solutions not to be described here are known.

The remaining elements, such as minute tube 22 with minute hand 1 and second axis 23 with second hand 2 are known and are given only for the sake of completeness. The term dial is here to be interpreted broadly; the decision which and if any numbers are to stand on it, is purely aesthetic nature. The technical relevance of the dial 24 is in its capacity as a base plate for all the above elements in the sense of the previously said.

In Fig. 4 is a section of the Konchoide 10 shown together with another embodiment of an in Fig. 2 . 3 This consists of a support body 25 and here, for example, three in this rotatably mounted wheels 26, 27, 28. Their arrangement is chosen so that the central wheel 26 is outside, so that it touches the outer surface of the conchoid 10 can; the other two wheels 27, 28 can touch the inner surface of the conchoid 10. The arrangement of the three wheels 26, 27, 28 is further designed so that the guide member 17 both in that part of the Konchoide 10 with the largest radius of curvature, as well as in that with the smallest with radial play in the tangential direction is movable. In the region of the central wheel 26, the support body 25 carries the guide pin 21, for which the same applies, as in this Fig. 3 said. Also in Fig. 4 registered - but dashed - is a variant of the support body 25. An arm 29 of the support body 25 is designed as a bending spring 30, so that all three wheels 26, 27, 28 always touch their assigned side surface of the conchoid 10. Alternatively, both arms of the support body 25 may be designed as a bending springs 30, whereby the contact pressure of the wheels 26, 27, 28 can be better dosed on the side surfaces.

The length of the guide member 17, so the distance of the outer wheels 27, 28 is selected so that the intersection of the two loops 15, 16 of the conchoid 10 can be passed in the right direction. The number of wheels 26, 27, 28 can, of course, be chosen differently, for example greater, with the appropriate adaptations of the shape and construction of the support body 25.

The FIGS. 5 and 6 are illustrations of a second embodiment for the leadership of the top of the hour hand 5 on the proposed double-edged curve. 7 Fig. 5 is a section perpendicular to the plane of the dial 24, Fig. 6 a top view. The Fig. 5 is for the purpose of better understanding carried out so that all subsequent axes are in the same plane, which is actually never the case.

In Fig. 6 is a two-loop curve (also called Pascal's screw) 31 with an outer loop 40 and an inner loop 41 and a crossing point 42 shown in dashed lines. This corresponds functionally to the Konchoide 10 off Fig. 2 and also insofar as it represents the path of the guide pin 21 at least indirectly insofar as of course radial offset by a constant as well as variable - for example, proportional - amount are included in the inventive concept. This curve 31 is in this embodiment by the interaction of several Gears and guide arms effect as follows:

With the dial 24 - or its corresponding mounting platform - is firmly connected to a coaxial with the hour tube 18 arranged gear A with radius r (A). The hour tube 18 carries an encircling arm 32, in which an axis 36 of a second gear B with radius r (B) is mounted, where $$\mathrm{r}\left(\mathrm{B}\right)\mathrm{=}\mathrm{2}\mathrm{r}\left(\mathrm{A}\right)$$

Furthermore, these radii and the crossing point 42 of the two loops 40, 41 of the curve 31 - whose distance from the center of the hour tube is denoted by d (31) - are connected so that $$\mathrm{r}\left(\mathrm{A}\right)\mathrm{+}\mathrm{r}\left(\mathrm{B}\right)\mathrm{=}\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="31"\; label="d"\; filenames="imgf0003.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">d</figure-callout>}\left(\mathrm{31}\right)$$

The arm 32 can, as well as off Fig. 6 can be seen, in a plane parallel to those of the gears areal trained component. He wears here, firmly connected to him, a third gear C with radius r (C), which meshes with a fourth gear D1 with radius r (D1), which is supported by an axis 33. This is mounted in a second arm 34. The second arm 34 is firmly seated on the axis 36 of the second gear B and therefore rotates with this. The axis 33 of the fourth gear D1 carries - also firmly connected to it - a fifth gear D2 with radius r (D2), which meshes with a sixth gear E with radius r (E). This sixth gear E is mounted on an axle 35 which is fixed to the second arm 34 at a distance d (E) from the axle 36 and runs parallel to all previously mentioned axes. The sixth gear E carries at a distance d (F) from the axis 35 the parallel to the axes 33, 36 extending guide pin 21st

$$\mathrm{r}\left(\mathrm{E}\right)\mathrm{=}\mathrm{r}\left(\mathrm{D}\mathrm{2}\right)$$

$$\mathrm{d}\left(\mathrm{E}\right)\mathrm{=}\mathrm{d}\left(\mathrm{F}\right)$$

For the other radii and distances mentioned, the following relationships apply: $$\mathrm{r}\left(\mathrm{D}\mathrm{1}\right)\mathrm{=}\mathrm{½\; r}\left(\mathrm{C}\right)$$

$$\mathrm{r}\left(\mathrm{e}\right)\mathrm{=}\mathrm{r}\left(\mathrm{D}\mathrm{2}\right)$$

$$\mathrm{d}\left(\mathrm{e}\right)\mathrm{=}\mathrm{d}\left(\mathrm{F}\right)$$

During the crossing point 42 of the two loops 40, 41 through G1. (2) is fixed, only the Eqs. (3), (4), (5) and (6) the two loops 40, 41 themselves: $$\mathrm{d}\left(\mathrm{40}\right)\mathrm{-}\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="41"\; label="d"\; filenames="imgf0003.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">d</figure-callout>}\left(\mathrm{41}\right)\mathrm{=}\mathrm{4}\mathrm{d}\left(\mathrm{e}\right)$$

The choice of r (C) is not dependent on r (A), but purely opportunistically given by the available space, with the restriction that if the hour tube 18 is assigned the outer radius r (18) $$\mathrm{r}\left(\mathrm{C}\right)\mathrm{<}\mathrm{r}\left(\mathrm{A}\right)\mathrm{+}\mathrm{r}\left(\mathrm{B}\right)\mathrm{-}\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="18"\; label="r"\; filenames="imgf0001.png,imgf0002.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">r</figure-callout>}\left(\mathrm{18}\right)$$

Not shown in the Fig. 5, 6 are the disc 11 and the outer and inner part 13, 14 of the hour hand 5. All these elements can be arranged as shown in the first embodiment.

As a variant to this, the actual dial 24 may be at least partially transparent and arranged so that the minute and second hands 1, 2 run over it, but the hour display below. Instead of the guide pin 21, the gear E then carries a particularly highlighted by its brightness or color mark - for example, a round disk - which rotates on the double-edged curve 31. This disk then replaces the top of the hour hand 5. The latter as well as the said disk are then display elements.

For the gearbox specialist, of course, other arrangements of gears and possibly these supporting arms feasible and included in the concept of the invention, which fulfill the task to produce the desired Konchoide as a path of the display element with a guide pin 21 or a corresponding component.

Claims (12)

1. A clock, with a mechanical, electrical or electronic motor, with an analog and unambiguous 24-hour display, with at least one indicating element for the hours, which is driven by an hour tube (18), characterised in that

   - the indicating element (5) for the hours moves around a two-loop closed curve (7, 31), called a conchoid or Pascal snail, each point of which is touched by the indicating element (5) exactly once in 24 hours, wherein the said curve (7, 31) has an outer loop (8, 40) and an inner loop (9,41) with a crossing point (42) of the two loops (8, 40; 9, 41),

   - means are present to guide the indicating element (5) along the said two-loop curve (7, 31),

   - the angular position of the indicating element (5) with regard to the zero time points at at 12.00 h and 24.00 h is the same as in known clocks.
2. A clock according to Claim 1, characterised in that

   - the means by which the indicating element is guided along the said two loop curve (7, 31) comprise the following elements,

   - a groove, at least indirectly connected to the dial (24), which is also formed as a two-loop closed curve in the shape of a conchoid (10),

   - a guiding element (12, 17), which can move along the length of the said conchoid (10) and carries a guide pin (21),

   - an element (11, 14) firmly fixed to the hour tube (18), which moves the guiding element (12, 17) in the conchoid (10) at least indirectly,

   - an indicating element (13), which is moved in a radial direction by the guide pin (21), and in the azimuthal direction by the element (11, 14) rigidly fixed to the hour tube (18).
3. A clock according to Claim 2, characterised in that

   - a variable length hour hand (5) is present with an inner part (14) and an outer part (13), wherein the inner part (14) can be connected to the element that is rigidly fixed to the hour tube (18),

   - the outer part (13) of the hour hand (5) can be displaced in a radial direction relative to the inner part (14) and is moved by said inner part in an azimuthal direction,

   - the radial movement of the outer part (13) of the hour hand (5) is caused by the guide pin (21), which is at least indirectly in engagement with the said outer part (13),

   - the indicating element is the tip of the outer part (13) of the hour hand (5).
4. A clock according to Claim 3, characterised in that the guiding element, which carries the guide pin (21), is a sickle-shaped sliding element (12), which can move azimuthally with radial play in the groove-shaped conchoid (10), wherein the outer radius of curvature of the sickle-shaped sliding element (12) is smaller than the smallest radius of curvature of the outer surface of the groove-shaped conchoid (10) and the inner radius of curvature of the sickle-shaped sliding element (12) is greater than the greatest radius of curvature of the inner surface of the groove-shaped conchoid (10).
5. A clock according to Claim 3, characterised in that

   - the guiding element, which carries the guide pin (21), is a guiding element (17) with at least three wheels (26, 27, 28) with parallel axles perpendicular to the plane of the dial (24), with two arms (29), and in addition a carrying member (25) is present, in which the three said wheels (26, 27, 28) are mounted, wherein each of the two arms (29) carries one wheel (26, 28), and the third wheel (27) is mounted between the two wheels (27, 28) in the carrying member (25),

   - the wheels (26, 27, 28) are arranged behind one another in the direction of the track of the conchoid (10), in such a manner that the outer wheels (27, 28) can touch the inner surface of the conchoid (10) and the central wheel (26) can touch the outer surface of the conchoid (10),

   - the aforesmentioned three wheels are further arranged so that sufficient radial play is present both at the position in the conchoid (10) with the greatest radius of curvature, and also at that with the smallest, so as to facilitate unconstrained azimuthal movement of the guiding element (17),

   - the guide pin (21) is arranged in the region of the central wheel (26).
6. A clock according to Claim 5, characterised in that at least one of the arms (29) between the central wheel (26) and the outer wheels (27, 28) is constructed as a flexion spring (30) working in a radial direction.
7. A clock according to Claim 1, characterised in that the means for guiding the indicating element on the said two-loop curve (7, 31) comprise gear wheels and arms to carry them where appropriate.
8. A clock according to Claim 7, characterised in that

   - the means for guiding the indicating element on the said two-loop curve (7, 31), comprise the following elements,

   - a first gear wheel (A), with radius r(A), which is arranged concentrically with the hour tube (18) with radius r(18) and rigidly connected at least indirectly to the dial (24),

   - a first arm (32) rigidly connected to the hour tube (18) and extending radially outwards, in which a first axle (36) of a second gear wheel (B) with radius r(B) is rotatably mounted,

   - the second gear wheel (B) lies in the same plane as the first gear wheel (A) and meshes with it,

   - a third gear wheel (C) with radius r(C) is present and arranged concentrically with the second gear wheel (B) and is rigidly connected to the first arm (32),

   - a second arm (34) is present and also fastened on the same axle (36) as the second gear wheel (B),

   - a fourth gear wheel with radius r(D1) is present, which lies in the same plane as the third gear wheel (C) and meshes with it,

   - the fourth gear wheel (D1) is fastened on an axle (33) extending parallel to the axle (36) of the second gear wheel (B), which is mounted rotatably in the second arm (34),

   - the second arm (34) carries an axle (35) at a distance d(E) from the axle (36), to which it is fastened, and extending parallel thereto,

   - a fifth gear wheel (E) is present, which can rotate about the last named axle (35) and which carries the guide pin (21) at a distance d(F) from said axle and arranged parallel thereto,

   - a sixth gear wheel (D2) with radius r(D2) is present, which is arranged in the same plane as the fifth gear wheel (E) and meshes with it, wherein the sixth gear wheel (D2) is fastened on the same axle (33) as the fourth gear wheel (D1), coaxial with it,

   - the following relationships apply to the radii r(A), r(B), r(c), r(D1), r(D2): $$\mathrm{r}\left(\mathrm{B}\right)\mathrm{=}\mathrm{2}\mathrm{r}\left(\mathrm{A}\right)$$

   

   $$\mathrm{r}\left(\mathrm{C}\right)\mathrm{=}\mathrm{2}\mathrm{r}\left(\mathrm{D}\mathrm{1}\right)$$

   

   $$\mathrm{r}\left(\mathrm{E}\right)\mathrm{=}\mathrm{r}\left(\mathrm{D}\mathrm{2}\right)\mathrm{.}$$

   
9. A clock according to Claim 8, characterised in that

   - the crossing point (42) of the two loops (40, 41) of the two-loop curve (31) is at a distance d(31) from the centre of the hour tube (18), wherein $$\mathrm{r}\left(\mathrm{A}\right)\mathrm{+}\mathrm{r}\left(\mathrm{B}\right)\mathrm{=}\mathrm{d}\left(\mathrm{31}\right)$$

   

   
   applies,

   - the greatest radial distance of each of the two loops (40, 41) of the two loop curve (31) amounts to d(40) or d(41) respectively and is related to the distances d(E) and d(F) in accordance with the following equations: $$\mathrm{d}\left(\mathrm{E}\right)\mathrm{=}\mathrm{d}\left(\mathrm{F}\right)$$

   

   $$\mathrm{d}\left(\mathrm{40}\right)\mathrm{-}\mathrm{d}\left(\mathrm{41}\right)\mathrm{=}\mathrm{4}\mathrm{d}\left(\mathrm{E}\right),$$

   

   - the hour tube (18) has an outer radius r(18), which together with r(A), r(B), and r(C) defines the constraint that $$\mathrm{r}\left(\mathrm{C}\right)\mathrm{<}\mathrm{r}\left(\mathrm{A}\right)\mathrm{+}\mathrm{r}\left(\mathrm{B}\right)\mathrm{-}\mathrm{r}\left(\mathrm{18}\right)\mathrm{.}$$

   
10. A clock according to Claim 3 and Claim 7, characterised in that

    - the element rigidly connected to the hour tube (18) is a disc (11) arranged concentrically thereto,

    - a variable length hour hand (5) is present with an inner part (14) and an outer part (13), wherein the inner part (14) can be connected to the disc (11),

    - the outer part (13) of the hour hand (5) can be displaced in relation to the inner part (14) in a radial direction,

    - the radial movement of the outer part (13) of the hour hand (5) is caused by the guide pin (21), which is, at least indirectly, in engagement with the said outer part (13),

    - the indicating element is the tip of the outer part (13) of the hour hand (5),

    - the disc (11) is designed such that it can cover the components for the guidance of the indicating element (5) lying beneath it.
11. A clock according to Claim 10, characterised in that the disc (11) has a radially extending slot for the guide pin (21).
12. A clock according to Claim 9, characterised in that

    - instead of the the guide pin (21), the indicating element is a marker applied to the gear wheel (E),

    - the two-loop curve (31) that describes the track of the guide pin (21) is as large as the two-loop closed curve (7) of the path of the indicating element.

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