FI81692B - Time display device - Google Patents

Description

81 692

Time Pointing Device

A timing device comprising a container for a medium, for example a liquid substance, made transparent on at least one side and comprising means for providing a flow into the container or comprising an electronically controlled bar display, the timing being by means of a surface of the medium or said bar display.

10 The two most common ways of indicating time at present are to use either one, two or more rotary pointers or variable numbers. In either case, a separate clock mechanism, either mechanical or electrically operated, is used to measure time per se.

15

In the earliest time measuring devices, there was no e.o. but a timing device, such as an hourglass, also acted as an indicator of the passage of time.

Behind the present invention is the idea of showing the passage of time from an hourglass using a technique known per se, i.e. the movement of a liquid or easily moving substance, but dividing the period of time to be measured into clearly distinguishable parts. The movement itself is then effected by a pump or the like. On the other hand, a technique known per se, i.e. a mechanically or electrically operated clock mechanism, can also be used to measure time 25.

The invention is characterized by what is set forth in the appended claims. r

The invention will now be illustrated by reference to the accompanying drawings, which show some embodiments of the invention.

35 Figure 1 shows a 12-hour clock Figure 2 shows the display of the clock according to Figure 1 Figure 3 shows a 12-hour clock

The timer according to Fig. 1 consists of 12 adjacent through-40 visible tube tanks 1,6,8 and 2 81 692 liquid circulating through them. The timer needs an external liquid supply, which takes place through a channel 2 connected to the first tank 1 at the bottom. When it is filled, a constant liquid flow flows along the overflow channel 3 to the next tank 6. As each tank 6 fills, the flow passes to the next tank until, after the last tank 8 is filled, an external clock device opens the bottom valves 5 of the tanks for emptying. After this, filling starts from the beginning. The constant fluid flow is naturally adapted to fill the tubular tanks in hourly cycles.

10

The indicator apparatus shown in Fig. 1 can also consist of 24 pipes, in which case the filling and emptying is 24 hours a day.

The fluid recirculation technique can also be performed in such a way that each tank is filled separately under the control of an external clock mechanism and a valve connected to each tank.

The timing on the new type of dial is as shown in Figure 2. Most preferably, the liquid used is colored so that it is clearly visible. Completely blank and full the dial shows 12 or 24 o'clock. Otherwise, the current hour is shown as a fillable tube tank and full tanks show full hours.

Figure 3 shows the structure of a simple clock device using a timer of the previous type. Adjacent tanks 1,6 and 8 and both the liquid recirculation equipment can be dimensioned for a period of 12 hours as above or just as well for a period of 60 minutes, for example. The device of the type shown in Figure 3 is designed for 30 cycles, i.e. it must be started manually at the beginning of each cycle. This is done by filling the dispensing container 10 at the desired start time. The liquid begins to flow along the channel 11 into the first tank 1. The appropriate flow resistance is determined by means of the throttle 12. The filling of the tanks 1, 6 and 8 takes place up to the same speed 35, despite the decrease in the surface height (13) of the distribution tank 10, because the volume of the tanks 1, 6 and 8 decreases with the decrease of the flow rate.

Claims (8)

A timing device comprising a container (1) for a medium, for example a liquid substance, made transparent on at least one side and comprising means (2) for providing a flow to the container (1) or an electronically controlled bar display for timing the medium (4) by means of a surface (7) or said bar display, characterized in that the timing device comprises a plurality of adjacent containers (1,6,8) transparent on at least one side, and the device comprises means (2,3) for conveying the medium (4) to adjacent containers (1,6); , 8) in succession or comprising a plurality of adjacent electronically controlled bar displays, the time display being divided into two dimensions, the horizontal of which is the number of units of unit time determined by one tank or bar display. A timing device according to claim 1, characterized in that channels (3) are provided at the tops between adjacent containers (1,6,8) and the medium (4) is arranged to be led to one, generally outermost container (1), always leaking over the next into the tank when each tank (1,6) is full. Time indicating device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the medium (4) is a liquid. 4,81692 3 81 692 The timer device can also be implemented by electronically forming the display bars and controlling the display to grow steadily under the control of an external clock. The display columns themselves can be implemented according to the prior art, e.g. by electroluminescent liquid crystal or plasma display. Time indicator device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the medium is a powdery or granular mass. A timing device according to claim 4, characterized in that the device comprises a vibrating device for causing the powdered or granular substance to behave like a liquid. A timing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the medium is coins or other solid pieces. Time indicating device according to one of Claims 2 to 5, characterized in that it comprises a distribution tank (10) for the medium (4) above the time-indicating tanks (1,6,8), and a fixed channel (11, 12) for guiding the medium to one, generally outermost and that the volumes of the tanks (1,6,8) determined by the overflow channels (3) are adapted to decrease in proportion to the change in the level (13) of the distribution tank (10) causing the flow rate of the medium (4) to decrease as the static pressure decreases. A timing device according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of electronically controlled bar displays, characterized in that the bar displays are implemented by means of electroluminescence, a liquid crystal display or a plasma display. 5 81 692