EP1525515B1 - Display device - Google Patents

Abstract

The inventive displaying device comprises a first disc (2) provided with a lunar image (20) and a second disc (3) provided with a marking (30) which is embodied in the form of a sequence of light and dark zones. Each disc is mounted on a rotatable shaft which is actuated by a set of gears (402, 204, 201, 403, 304, 301, 303). A judicious definition of said gears makes it possible to perform the high-accuracy display of the moon phases. An additional disc (4) provided with the image of the sun (40) and actuated by the same set of gears, and the marking of tides (21, 22, 41, 42) on said discs makes it possible to estimate a tidal effect for a determined region of the ocean surface.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for displaying the current lunar phase visible at a given point in the terrestrial surface as well as the amplitude of the current tide at a given location of the surface or of a seacoast.

Numerous devices for displaying lunar phases are known, in particular on a wristwatch. These devices generally consist of a disk driven in regular rotation by the movement of the watch, bearing one or more representations of a circle appearing in the moon and visible by a particular shaped opening arranged in the dial. The visible portion of the circle through the opening of the dial gives an approximate image of the current phase of the moon, as described in the document JP 60 243589 .

Since the phase of the moon, visible at a given point on the earth's surface, depends on the relative positions of the sun, the moon and the earth, as well as the position of observation on the earth, the above-mentioned device can only give a very approximate representation of the phase of the moon since it does not take into account all these parameters.

A first object of the invention is therefore to propose a device for displaying the current phase of the improved moon relative to the known devices, that is to say the representation of which takes into account the relative movements of the sun, the moon and earth, as well as the position of observation on the earth.

Another object of the invention is to propose a device for displaying the current phase of the moon, the representation of which takes into account the local time of observation.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a device for displaying the current phase of the moon whose display accuracy is improved relative to known devices.

We know, moreover, that the movement of the tides depends firstly on the relative positions of the moon and the earth, and on the relative positions of the sun and the earth. The amplitude of the tides thus depends on the relative positions between these three stars.

Another object of the invention is therefore to propose a device for displaying the amplitude of the tides.

Yet another object of the invention is to propose a device for displaying the amplitude of the tides for a given location of the surface or the sea coast.

Yet another object of the invention is to propose that one and / or the other of the above display devices is associated with a watch movement.

Yet another object of the invention is to propose that one and / or the other of the above display devices be integrated into a wristwatch.

These different objects are obtained by a display device as described in claim 1, variants and particular embodiments being described in the dependent claims.

• la figure 1 représente une vue générale d'une forme d'exécution du dispositif d'affichage selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 représente schématiquement en coupe les différents composants mobiles du dispositif d'affichage de la figure précédente,
• les figures 3A à 3C représentent 3 exemples d'affichage des phases de la lune,
• la figure 4 montre un disque portant la représentation de la lune ainsi que l'effet de la lune sur la marée,
• la figure 5 montre un disque portant la représentation du soleil ainsi que l'effet du soleil sur la marée, et
• les figures 6A, 6B et 6C représentent 3 exemples d'affichage de l'amplitude de la marée.

An embodiment of a display device according to the invention is described in more detail below, this description being to be considered with reference to the appended drawing comprising the figures in which:

• the figure 1 represents a general view of an embodiment of the display device according to the invention,
• the figure 2 schematically shows in section the various mobile components of the display device of the previous figure,
• the FIGS. 3A to 3C represent 3 examples of display of the phases of the moon,
• the figure 4 shows a disc bearing the representation of the moon as well as the effect of the moon on the tide,
• the figure 5 shows a disc bearing the representation of the sun as well as the effect of the sun on the tide, and
• the FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C represent 3 examples of display of the amplitude of the tide.

The display device 1 visible on the figure 1 includes a series of mobile disks superimposed. The first mobile disk 2, starting from the top of the device, carries a representation of the moon 20. Immediately below the disk 2, there is a cache disk 3 bearing a marking 30 having a regular succession of dark areas and zones. clear and whose usefulness will be described below. Immediately below the cache disk 3, there is the disk 4 bearing a representation of the sun 40. The disk 4 may comprise a time scale 43, ranging from 1 to 24 in the counterclockwise direction, the 12 corresponding to the position of the sun 40 The usefulness of this graduation will be described below. This last disc 4 has a larger diameter than the diameter of the discs 2 and 3, making the representation of the sun 40 is always visible. On the other hand, the diameters of the discs 2 and 3 are preferably equal, the width of the marking 30 of the disc 3 corresponding to the diameter of the representation of the moon. This last representation preferably being constituted by a circular opening in the disc 2, we will see through this opening, according to the relative positions of the two discs 2 and 3, either a light zone, a dark zone or a partially clear zone. and partially dark, actually depicting the phases of the moon. In order to improve this display of the lunar phases, it is possible to provide illumination of the bottom of the case, which will be visible through the circular opening 20 representing the moon.

A fixed disc 5, disposed above the stack of disks 2, 3 and 4 seen above, shows a representation of the earth 50, seen from the north pole. The disc 5 is fixed, it is set in such a way that the meridian 0 °, the meridian of Greenwich 51 is aligned with the 12 o'clock position. of the hour dial, the latter dial not being shown in the figures.

The display device 1 can be completed with a rotating bezel 6, which can be provided with locking notches, mobile by the user and capable of carrying a graduation 60 of 24 hours. The mirror 61 of the device rotates with the bezel 6 and has a diametrical mark 62 wedged between the graduations of 12h and 24h. Such a tourmant bezel, with its graduation 60 and its mark 62 is generally known in the art; in the present application, it is conventionally used for time zone reports, time readings in different time zones, and readings of time differences between different time zones, this in combination with the own reading possibilities. to the display according to the invention, which will be described below.

The device 1 may be completed with a time display, shown schematically by the set of hands 7, the dial bearing or not a corresponding graduation (not shown in the figures).

The figure 2 shows schematically the rotation drive mechanism of the various mobile discs mentioned above. Clockwork 10 provides a shaft 400 with a rotational movement of 1 turn / 24 hours. This shaft 400 carries the disc 4 provided with the representation of the sun 40 and two toothed wheels 402 and 403. The first of these wheels 402 meshes with a wheel 204 of a first set of toothed wheels, driving a first shaft 200 of the first train and carrying another wheel 201. It meshes with a wheel 202, which directly carries the disc 2 bearing the representation 20 of the moon. The second wheel 403 of the shaft 400 meshes with a wheel 304 of a second gear train, driving a first shaft 300 of the second gear and carrying another wheel 301. This meshes with a wheel 303, which carries directly the disk 3 carrying the cache 30.

The fixed disc 5, the rotating bezel 6, the ice 61 and the set of needles 7 have not been shown in this figure.

• VROTN = vitesse de rotation du disque N [t/24h]
• NDn = nombre de dents de la roue dentée n

In order to determine the rotational speeds of the various elements mentioned above, the following calculation parameters are defined:

• VROTN = disc rotation speed N [t / 24h]
• NDn = number of teeth of toothed wheel n

$$\mathrm{VROT}3=\mathrm{VROT}2*\left(\mathrm{ND}403/\mathrm{ND}304\right)*\left(\mathrm{ND}301/\mathrm{ND}303\right)$$

Starting from the fact that the disk 4 as well as the gears 402 and 403 make 1 t / 24h, (VROT4 = 1) the rotational speeds of the other disks are thus established: $$\mathrm{Vrot}2=\mathrm{Vrot}4*\left(\mathrm{ND}402/\mathrm{ND}204\right)*\left(\mathrm{ND}201/\mathrm{ND}202\right)$$

$$\mathrm{Vrot}3=\mathrm{Vrot}2*\left(\mathrm{ND}403/\mathrm{ND}304\right)*\left(\mathrm{ND}301/\mathrm{ND}303\right)$$

Moreover, we know that the duration of synodic revolution of the moon around the earth takes 29.5305881 days.

On the device according to the invention this period of revolution, will be: $$\mathrm{DRLM}=1/1-\mathrm{Vrot}2\left[\mathrm{days}\right]$$

The error regarding the theoretical value will therefore be: $$\mathrm{EDRLM}=\left(1-\mathrm{DRLM}\right)/29.5305881\left[\%\right]$$

We can calculate the time taken by the representation of the moon to move from one cache of the disk 3 to the other: $$\mathrm{DRLC}=\left(1/\mathrm{Vrot}2-\mathrm{Vrot}3\right)/5[\mathrm{days})$$

The division by 5 comes from the fact that the disc 3 comprises 5 successive caches of the moon.

As before, the error regarding the theoretical value will be: $$\mathrm{EDRLC}=1-\left(\mathrm{DRLM}/\mathrm{DRLC}\right)\left[\%\right]$$

These different parameters were calculated for 5 different sets of gear wheels; the results of the calculations are summarized in the following tables, Table 1 showing the different sets of gear wheels while Table 2 gives the results calculated for each of these games. Table 1 Game ND402 ND204 ND201 ND202 ND403 ND304 ND301 ND303 1 64 43 37 57 91 47 55 111 2 83 27 11 35 37 38 67 68 3 83 27 11 35 54 37 94 143 4 139 143 164 165 64 49 83 113 5 103 74 59 85 83 113 64 49 Game VROT2
[T / 2.4h] VROT3
[T / 24h] DRLM
[days] EDRLM
[%] DRLC
[days] EDRLC
[%] 1 0.9661363 0.9593636 29.5301205 0.001584 29.53052967 1.38565E-05 2 0.9661376 0.9593653 29.5312500 -0.002241 29.53232146 3.6281E-05 3 0.9661376 0.9593650 29.5312500 -0.002241 29.53072675 -1.77188E-05 4 0.9661369 0.9593643 29.5306633 -0.000255 29.53068335 6.7811 E-07 5 0.9661367 0.9593643 29.5305164 0.000243 29.53141786 3.05245E-05

It can be seen from these tables that the display errors of the EDRLM and EDRLC lunar phases are very small; for example, for the game No 2 with the greatest value for EDLRC, there is an error of half a moon, ie the indication of a full moon instead of a new moon, or vice versa, after more than 1'800 years for the representation of the rotation of the moon around the dial and more than 100'000 years for the representation of the phases in relation to the cache disk 3. There is therefore considerable improvement in the accuracy of representations of the lunar phases by the cooperation of a mobile disk in rotation with the disk representing the moon, relative to the representation comprising a fixed cache.

It is obvious that for each of the sets of gears above, one can obtain the same movements of disks and errors with a set of gears bearing toothed wheels provided with the same multiple of teeth as the original game.

The following figures show some examples of display of the moon phase and their interpretation for a specific place, for example Berne.

On the FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C the user of the device has rotated the telescope 6, so as to bring the mark 62 passing directly above the place chosen for reading, for example Bern.

On the figure 3A according to the position of the graduation 43 and the reading made on the mark 62, it can be deduced that the solar time at the place of observation is a few minutes before 18h. In this same figure, a clear area of the cover 30 of the disc 3 is completely visible through the opening 20 representing the moon on the disc 2, so we are in the full moon period. The figure 3B shows another configuration where it is 20:35 (solar time) in Bern, and where the cache 30 is only partially visible through the opening 20, thus representing a moon area. In this case, seen from the observation point, we are in the presence of a decreasing moon. The figure 3C shows another possibility where only a dark area of the cache 30 is visible through the opening 20, thus indicating a new moon phase, while it is 3h20 (solar time) in Bern.

We also know that the tides are caused by the attraction of the moon as well as the sun, each point of the sea surface being subjected to a combination of these two effects of attraction. When the moon and the sun are aligned with a point of the maritime surface, the effects of the two stars are maxima and one is in the presence of a tide of very strong amplitude.

On the other hand, if one has a high tide effect for a given point of the maritime surface, it is because the point is aligned with a right connecting the center the earth to that of the star, moon or sun, because of this high tide, it was also observed that we also have a high tide effect for the point of the opposite sea surface to the point previous, that is to say located just at the antipode. This second tidal effect is of lower amplitude than the main tidal effect described first.

To account for these different effects, discs 2 and 4 are modified and carry additional markings, as shown in Figures 4 and 5 so as to allow an assessment of the amplitude of the tide at any point on the surface or the coast.

In addition to the representation of the moon 20, the disk 2 of the figure 4 comprises a first tide marking 21 such that the maximum amplitude corresponds to the alignment of the center of the moon 20 with the center of the earth represented by the center of the disk 2. At the opposite, there is the marking 22 whose amplitude is smaller than that of the marking 21 and which is aligned with the latter on the center of the earth, respectively of the disc 2. It can be assumed that the maximum amplitude of the antipodic tide effect represented by the marking 22 is approximately 90% of the amplitude of the main tidal effect represented by the marking 21.

For any meridian, such as that represented by the reference numeral 62, the amplitude of the long tide of this meridian will correspond to the thickness of the marking 21 or 22 on this mark.

The disk 2 may comprise an additional marking 23 consisting of a scale ranging from 0 to 28, in the counterclockwise direction. This graduation makes it possible to predict the next big tide, as explained below.

The figure 5 shows the markings 41 and 42 equivalent to those described above on the sun representation disk 40. In this case, the maximum amplitude of the tide due to the influence of the sun is about 50% of that due at the moon, the maximum amplitude the antipodic tide is still about 90% of that of the main tide. In order to simplify the figure, the time stamp 43 described previously has not been reported in this figure and the following ones.

The FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C show some examples of tide displays and their interpretation. In order to simplify the representation, these examples do not take account of the cache disk 3 or lunar phases respectively.

The conjunction of Moon 20 and Sun 40, as shown in Figure 6A shows that, at this given moment, there is a high tide of very high amplitude on the east coast of the USA, whose amplitude can be estimated by the addition of markings 21 and 41, another relatively high tide on the meridian , opposite, for example on the coast of BanglaDesh, shown by the addition of markings 22 and 42, while we have low tides for example on the west coast of Africa and on the east coast of Asia .

The Figure 6B shows another conjunction of the moon 20 and the sun 40 according to which, at this given instant, there is a high tide of fairly high amplitude on the east coast of the USA, but of less amplitude than in the preceding example, another important tide, more important than in the previous example on the BanglaDesh coast as well as low tides on the same coasts as in the previous example.

The Figure 6C shows yet another example of conjunction, where we have four meridians along which we have high tides of relatively low amplitude and four other meridians along which we have low tides. We have a first tide, the highest, due to the direct effect of the moon on the coast of Pakistan, that due to the antipodic effect of the moon along the meridian passing through the west coast of the US, the tide due to the direct effect of the sun acting along the meridian connecting Greenland and the Northeast of Brazil and that due to the antipodic effect of the sun exercising on the Japanese coast, while the Low tides lie along the meridians covering the west coast of Africa, the west coast of South America, Alaska and Indonesia.

Considering the marking 23 on disk 2, we see on this Figure 6C that the sun 40 is aligned on the graduation 22 of said marking. This means that the next high tide due to the direct conjugated effect of the moon and the sun, a configuration similar to that of the figure 3A along the meridian through Greenland and Northeast Brazil will occur in 22 days. Similarly, and for the same meridian, we see that in 7 days we will have a tide due to the same effect as on the figure 3B . By this graduation, it is therefore possible not only to evaluate the effect of a tide at the time of observation, but to evaluate when the next tides of strong and low amplitude will take place.

The display device as described above according to a first embodiment where there is only a representation of the phases of the moon and according to a second embodiment or there is in addition a representation of the amplitude of the tide is very simple execution, since consists essentially of a series of superimposed discs driven by sets of gear wheels. Such a device is generally associated with a clockwork movement responsible for providing the axis 400 seen above a rotational movement of 1t / 24h. Given the simplicity of execution of the device, it can be integrated into a timepiece, including a wristwatch.

A simplified embodiment of a moon phase display device may comprise only the discs 2 and 3, excluding the disc 4 bearing the representation of the sun 40.

Embodiments of larger dimensions may be provided, either for a didactic representation of the lunar phases, or, for the embodiment with display of the tide, in the form of a display instrument set on a determined location of a seacoast and showing the magnitude of the local tide.

As far as the construction of the display device is concerned, a description of the sequence of different toothed gear trains has only been proposed as an example of possible embodiment, this proposal being supported by five different variants of sets of toothed wheels. It is understood that other sets of toothed gear trains, carrying more or fewer gears than the proposal made here, each gear carrying gears with a number of teeth different from the proposals made, can be envisaged.

Furthermore, the following display discs and their marking are described above only by way of example, the succession of discs on the display device may be different than that mentioned, the number of light or dark areas of the disc marking 3 may be different from five.

Likewise, the fixed disc 5 has been described as bearing a graphical representation of the terrestrial surface as seen from the north pole; it is obvious that for an inhabitant of the southern hemisphere, the geographical representation could be a view of the South Pole. The graphical representation of the Earth's surface could be replaced by a graduation of the meridians or time zones or by a list of cities or countries judiciously distributed, so that by superimposing the mark 62 on the chosen indication, can read the display of the phase of the moon and / or the tide at this location.

Claims (13)

1. A device (1) for displaying the Moon's phase comprising:

   - a first disc (2) bearing a representation of the Moon (20) laid out so as to be set into rotation at a first speed by a first train of toothed wheels (402, 204, 201, 202),

   - a second disc (3) bearing a marking (30) having a regular succession of dark areas and of pale areas, laid out so as to be set into rotation at a second speed different from said first speed, by a second train of toothed wheels (403, 304, 301, 303),
   both discs being laid out so as to rotate around a common axis of rotation, the representation of the Moon (20) superposed to the dark or pale areas of the marking (30) of said second disc giving a representation of the present phase of the Moon

   - a third disc (4) bearing a representation of the Sun (40), said disc being mounted on a shaft (400) laid out so as to be set into rotation by a clockwork at a speed of one revolution/24 hours,

   characterized in that the shaft (400) bearing the third disc (4) also bears the first toothed wheel (402, 403) of said first and second trains of toothed wheels.
2. The display device according to claim 1, characterized in that
   the first train of toothed wheels comprises a first train first toothed wheel (402) meshing with a first train second toothed wheel (204) mounted with a first train third toothed wheel (201) on a first train shaft (200), said first train third toothed wheel (201) meshing with a first train fourth toothed wheel (202) mounted on the same shaft as said first disc (2) bearing a representation of the Moon (20), and in that
   the second train of toothed wheels comprises a second train first toothed wheel (403) meshing with a second train second toothed wheel (304) mounted with a second train third toothed wheel (301) on a second train shaft (300), said second train third toothed wheel (301) meshing with a second train fourth toothed wheel (303) mounted on the same shaft as said second disc (3) bearing a marking (30).
3. The display device according to claim 2, characterized in that both gear trains are formed as follows:

   the first train first toothed wheel (402) comprises 64 teeth,

   the first train second toothed wheel (204) comprises 43 teeth,

   the first train third toothed wheel (201) comprises 37 teeth,

   the first train fourth toothed wheel (202) comprises 57 teeth,

   the second train first toothed wheel (403) comprises 91 teeth,

   the second train second toothed wheel (304) comprises 47 teeth,

   the second train third toothed wheel (301) comprises 55 teeth,

   the second train fourth toothed wheel (303) comprises 111 teeth.
4. The display device according to claim 2, characterized in that both gear trains are formed as follows:

   the first train first toothed wheel (402) comprises 83 teeth,

   the first train second toothed wheel (204) comprises 27 teeth,

   the first train third toothed wheel (201) comprises 11 teeth,

   the first train fourth toothed wheel (202) comprises 35 teeth,

   the second train first toothed wheel (403) comprises 37 teeth,

   the second train second toothed wheel (304) comprises 38 teeth,

   the second train third toothed wheel (301) comprises 67 teeth,

   the second train fourth toothed wheel (303) comprises 68 teeth.
5. The display device according to claim 2, characterized in that both gear trains are formed as follows:

   the first train first toothed wheel (402) comprises 83 teeth,

   the first train second toothed wheel (204) comprises 27 teeth,

   the first train third toothed wheel (201) comprises 11 teeth,

   the first train fourth toothed wheel (202) comprises 35 teeth,

   the second train first toothed wheel (403) comprises 54 teeth,

   the second train second toothed wheel (304) comprises 37 teeth,

   the second train third toothed wheel (301) comprises 94 teeth,

   the second train fourth toothed wheel (303) comprises 143 teeth.
6. The display device according to claim 2, characterized in that both gear trains are formed as follows:

   the first train first toothed wheel (402) comprises 139 teeth,

   the first train second toothed wheel (204) comprises 143 teeth,

   the first train third toothed wheel (201) comprises 164 teeth,

   the first train fourth toothed wheel (202) comprises 165 teeth,

   the second train first toothed wheel (403) comprises 64 teeth,

   the second train second toothed wheel (304) comprises 49 teeth,

   the second train third toothed wheel (301) comprises 83 teeth,

   the second train fourth toothed wheel (303) comprises 113 teeth.
7. The display device according to claim 2, characterized in that both gear trains are formed as follows:

   the first train first toothed wheel (402) comprises 103 teeth,

   the first train second toothed wheel (204) comprises 74 teeth,

   the first train third toothed wheel (201) comprises 59 teeth,

   the first train fourth toothed wheel (202) comprises 85 teeth,

   the second train first toothed wheel (403) comprises 83 teeth,

   the second train second toothed wheel (304) comprises 113 teeth,

   the second train third toothed wheel (301) comprises 64 teeth,

   the second train fourth toothed wheel (303) comprises 49 teeth.
8. The display device according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that both gear trains comprise toothed wheels, each having a same multiple of the number of teeth mentioned in the relevant claim.
9. The display device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is completed with a fixed central disc (5) bearing one or more geographical indications as well as with a rotating telescope (6) bearing a mark (62), the central disc (5) as well as the mark (62) being laid down so that by superposing said mark on a determined geographical indication, a representation of the Moon's phase as well as of the position of the Sun is obtained at this instant and for this determined location.
10. The display device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first disc (2) bearing the representation of the Moon (20) as well as the third disc (4) bearing the representation of the Sun, each bear a first additional marking (21, 41) representing the amplitude variation of the tide due to the direct attraction of the relevant heavenly body (20, 40) as well as a second additional marking (22, 42) representing the amplitude variation of the tide on the other side of the world.
11. The display device according to claim 10, characterized in that an estimation of the amplitude of the tide in a determined point of the maritime surface is accomplished by positioning the mark (62) above the geographical indication of said determined point, and then by adding the thicknesses of the markings (21, 22, 41, 42) of the variation of the tides along this mark.
12. The display device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is associated with a timepiece.
13. The display device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that it is associated with a wristwatch.

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