FR2852701A1 - Time device e.g. clock, pendulum, and watch, for indicating legal and solar time, has needle indicating legal time in external dial and mean solar time in internal dial, where dials are adjustable with respect to each other - Google Patents

Abstract

The time device (1) has an external dial (2) graduated in 24 hours in legal time and a needle (13) indicating the legal time on the external dial. An internal dial (3) is graduated in 24 hours in mean solar time, which is indicated by the needle. The external and internal dials are adjustable with respect to each other. The device also contains astronomical information e.g. rise time and set time of the sun.

Description

- 1

  "Time device for indicating the legal time" The present invention is a time device comprising a first dial graduated in twenty-four hours 5 in legal time and a hand to indicate the legal time on this first dial.

  By time device is meant a pendulum, a clock, a watch or any other equivalent object.

  By legal time or legal time is meant the local calendar hour 10 readable on conventional watches.

  By true local solar time, we mean the time indicated by a sundial, with 12hOO for noon in the sun (sun at its highest). True solar time is not uniform because the time interval between two 15 consecutive midday solar varies from 23h59min40s to 24hOOmin3Os, the maximum difference being about 16 minutes.

  this variation is represented by an equation called "equation of time". Preferably, the present invention uses the average solar time which is regular with 20 24-hour days. Thus, for a given place, the difference between the average solar time and the legal time is therefore a constant. To carry out the conversion between the average solar time and the legal time, it is necessary to carry out two corrections on the local average solar time a first correction due to the time zone of the place of use compared to Greenwich (universal time UT), and a second correction in longitude, four minutes per degree of longitude.

  Most of the current astronomical representations 30 are given in solar time and not in legal time. Now, what interests the individual today is to appreciate different natural phenomena such as sunset and sunrise, the diurnal or nocturnal period, in legal time which is the one that punctuates his days, and not in 35 hours solar. - 2

  Two people, one living in Vienna in Austria, and the other Brest in France live at the same legal time (TU + l in winter), and yet the sun rises and sets for the first lh23 before the second. These people would be interested to see the time of sunrise and sunset depending on the season and its local situation, but in local time and not solar.

  We know of documents proposing the display of astronomical information in legal time. Document 10 W00171433 describes a wristwatch with analog display over twenty-four hours by means of a needle. The watch face also has a digital display of the hour minutes and seconds over twelve hours in legal time. A variable area is further distinguished by a liquid crystal display to indicate the phases of the moon and the times of sunrise and sunset. This watch comprises computer processing means and telecommunications means for displaying celestial information as a function of data entered by the user and is updated automatically.

  Document W00077578 is also known, describing a watch operating over twenty-four hours in legal time, the central part of which includes sections indicating the hours of sunrise and sunset. The outer dial can be pivoted to adjust the time difference, for example between winter and summer.

  The object of the present invention is to propose a new time device, preferably analog, inexpensive and simple to produce.

  Another object of the invention is to propose a new time device which can be adapted to any place on the globe.

  At least one of the abovementioned objectives is achieved with a time device comprising a first graduated dial 35 in twenty-four hours in legal time and a hand 33 turning in twenty-four hours to indicate the legal time on this first dial. The time device according to the invention further comprises a second dial graduated in twenty-four hours in average solar time, said average solar time being indicated by said hand. According to the invention, the first and second dials are adjustable relative to each other.

  With the device according to the invention, the time can be read other than over 12 hours, and it can therefore be appreciated in a completely natural way, the days being well divided into 24 hours and not into 12 hours. Preferably, the indication is done analogically with an analog hand as opposed to digital watches. This presentation of the time reading is much more user-friendly and serene, and the hour hand behaves as if one saw the sun turning around the earth, for example the hand at the very top for noon in the sun, and quite vertically down in the middle of the night.

  In addition, all that is daily programming is facilitated since the device displays 24 hours and not 12 hours.

  Compared to existing systems, the present invention indicates both the legal time and the average solar time. In addition, the fact of having two adjustable dials makes it possible to adjust the device according to the place where the user is located. To do this, you just need to know the difference between the legal time and the local average solar time.

  According to one embodiment of the invention, one of the two dials is arranged in the central part of the other dial; and at least the dial disposed in the central part partially covers said needle. The dials can have circular shapes. The adjustment of one with respect to the other can be done by pivoting. - 4

  Advantageously, the needle can include a day symbol such as a sun, and a night symbol such as a moon or a star. The symbol of the day advantageously represents the apparent movement of the sun around the earth.

  Being able to rotate the legal hours dial, and not the hand mechanism, greatly simplifies the understanding of time settings between seasons, summer time, winter time for example.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the time device comprises a first zone whose limits indicate the hours of sunrise and sunset at the summer solstice. This first zone may be an opening, made in the form of a concave crescent, in an upper part of the device during the day, this opening revealing the symbol of the day.

  The opening can be made in the outer or central dial. The appearance of the sun in the opening can symbolize the sunrise, while its disappearance from this opening symbolizes the sunset.

  Furthermore, the device according to the invention may include a second zone, the limits of which indicate the hours of sunrise and sunset in winter solstice. This second zone can be another opening, produced in the form of a concave crescent, in a lower part of the device during the night period, this opening revealing the symbol of the night.

  According to a variant of the invention, the device may comprise, instead of, or in superposition of the crescent-shaped openings, two crowns adjustable automatically or not, giving by partial closures two zones indicating the day and night periods , and especially the times of sunrise and sunset. - 5

  Advantageously, to adjust the dials relative to each other, the device according to the invention comprises a worm screw and a precise graduated scale on one of the dials.

  Alternatively, a lateral lever and a precise graduated scale can be provided on one of the dials.

  The device according to the invention may include in its central part a symbol pivoting at the rate of the seconds, and a third dial graduated in minutes associated with a second hand rotating in one hour.

  Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description of a mode of implementation which is in no way limitative, and the appended drawings, in which: - Figure l is a schematic front view of a clock according to the invention, - Figure 2 is a schematic front view of the same clock as in the figure, but with the needle appearing in the nocturnal part, - Figure 3 is a rear view of a clock according to the invention with a worm for adjustment system of the two dials, - Figure 4 is a schematic front view of a clock according to the invention with an outer dial 25 in the shape of a regular crown, - Figure 5 illustrates manually adjustable crowns for the representation of the day and night periods; and FIG. 6 illustrates crowns with automatic adjustment for the representation of the day and night periods.

  Referring to Figures i and 2, we see a clock 1 having an outer dial 2 having numbers from "l" to "24" to indicate the legal time. It also has an interior dial 3 displaying numbers in - 6 local mean solar time. This inner dial 3 hides the background of the clock with the exception of two transparent parts or openings 4 and 7 in the form of a crescent: a first crescent 4 in the upper part revealing 5 the hour hand 13 in the daytime period , and a second crescent 7 in the lower part revealing this same hour hand 13 in the night period (see FIG. 2).

  The two ends or points 5 and 6 of the first crescent 10 correspond to the maximum sunshine at the summer solstice, and the two ends or points 8 and 9 of the second crescent 7 correspond to the minimum sunshine at the winter solstice. The outer edge of the first crescent 4 delimits the inner edge of the outer dial in the diurnal part, while the second crescent 7 is produced in the inner dial 3.

  The hour hand 13, turning in 24 hours, indicates on its outside part facing the outside dial 2 the legal time, and in its inside part 20 facing the inside or central dial 3 the average solar time . This needle supports outward a symbol of day, such as a sun 14, visible in the diurnal crescent 4, and towards the middle, a symbol of night, such as a moon 15 (Figure 2), visible in the crescent nocturnal 7.

  In the central part of the inner dial 3, there is a third dial 10 associated with a minute hand 11 to indicate the minutes. The symbol or second hand 12, in the shape of a sun or other and located in the center of the third dial 10, rotates at the rate of the seconds. The movement of the second hand guarantees the proper functioning of the device. This hour hand 13 is set once and for all in a given place so that in local average solar time at noon sun, it is vertically at the top.

  The outer dial 2 is adjustable according to the difference between the legal time and the local average solar time 5. Knowing that this difference is constant, it is calculated according to the legal time for a given place, taking into account winter and summer hours in particular, and the degree of longitude of the place in question. There is a difference of 4 minutes (or 240 seconds) per degree of difference in UT (Universal Time 10 in Greenwich), regardless of the latitude.

  Thus for a clock located in Paris, we will have respectively: Solar time 12:00 PM (noon); legal winter time: 12.51 pm The calculation is made as follows: the longitude in Paris is 2'19'E; in winter period the legal time is TU + 1, there is a difference of 9 minutes between TU + 1 and solar time (2 19 '= 139', therefore 139 * 4 = 556 ', or 9 minutes 16 seconds which will be rounded up to 9 minutes (556/60 = 9.27; 0.27 * 60 = 16)). The difference between solar time and legal time will therefore be -9 minutes (legal time: 1:00 p.m., minus 9 minutes = 12:51 p.m.).

  Thus, to make the setting in Paris: when the hand is at noon in average solar time, so on 25 the inner dial 3, we position the top of the outer dial 2 at 12.51 to indicate the legal time. In summer time, the difference will be -1 h 09 min, and the adjustment will be made at 13 h 51.

  Figure 3 illustrates a means of adjusting the two dials. We see the back of the clock 1 provided with an opening 22 giving access to the rear of the two dials. The inner dial 3 has on a top arc a series of precise graduations 26 indicating minutes and seconds.

  These graduations 26 are compared to another series of 35 graduations 25 of the same type made on an internal arc of the - 8 outer dial 2. Assuming the inner dial 3 fixed, one can adjust the outer dial 2 by rotation movement to establish the desired distance between the graduations 25 and 26. The rotational movement is obtained 5 by means of an endless screw 23 secured to the frame of the clock by fixed rods 27 and 28 or a single axis.

  This endless screw 23 meshes with the toothed rear face 24 of the outer dial 2.

  If we prefer to see the legal time indicated at noon at 10 vertical above, we can make the outer dial 2 fixed, and the inner dial 3 adjustable.

  For example, in New York, which is located at 740 west longitude, in winter time and with a legal time of TU-5 hours, it is 11:56 a.m. in legal time when the local average solar time 15 is 12:00 noon. In London, extremely close to Greenwich, in winter time, there is no difference in legal time and solar time, and in summer time, exactly 1:00 am.

  It is therefore necessary to simply know the position 20 in longitude of the place of use of the clock, as well as the legal time in Universal Time to assess the difference between legal time and average solar time.

  FIG. 4 shows a clock according to the invention with an external dial 16 in the form of a regular crown. The inner dial 17 is shaped so as to obtain a first upper opening 18 in the day part corresponding to the summer solstice and a second lower opening 20 in the night part corresponding to the winter solstice, these two openings 30 remaining almost unchanged by compared to the openings 4 and 7 of FIGS. 1 and 2. On the other hand, there is a third opening in an arc 19 to reveal the hand 13 for indicating the hours. The central part can still support a third dial 21 for indicating the minutes.

  With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, there is seen a device according to the invention for which the day part is illustrated by means of an area in the form of an unclosed crown 31 and the night part is also illustrated by a zone distinct in the form of an unclosed crown 32. On these two zones 31 and 32, two symmetrical masks 29 and 30 are superimposed and adjustable by pivoting around an axis passing through the center of zones 31 and 32. The two masks can also be superimposed to one another.

  Each mask 29, 30 has a first part 29a, 30a in the form of an unclosed crown, preferably between a quarter and a half crown, partially covering the daytime zone 31 while constantly leaving the night zone 32 visible. Each mask also includes a second Part 29b, 30b integral with the first part 29a, 30a, and able to partially cover the night zone 32 while constantly leaving the day zone 31 visible.

  For a given mask, in the high adjustment position (that shown in FIG. 5), the second part 29b, 20 30b reveals the maximum of the night zone 32; and in the low adjustment position, the first start 29a, 30a reveals the maximum of the daytime zone 31.

  The dimensions of the masks are such that these masks are able to occupy different positions between the maximum daytime period (minimum night period) and the minimum daytime period (maximum night period).

  The operation of each mask is such that when it is moved by rotation downwards, it reveals a larger daytime zone (therefore increasing the duration of the day) while obstructing in the same proportions a greater nighttime zone ( therefore by decreasing the duration of the night), and conversely, when it is moved upwards by rotation, reveals a larger nocturnal zone (therefore increases the duration of the night - 10) while obstructing in the same proportions a greater large daytime area (thus reducing the length of the day).

  This embodiment can be activated by a manual system as seen in FIG. 5, or by an automatic system as seen in FIG. 6.

  The manual system of FIG. 5 includes a lever 33 or 34 allowing the mask 29, respectively 30 to be adjusted, depending on the duration of the day, once a fortnight or per month for example, by positioning it on the name of the 10 corresponding month indicated on the fixed dial 35.

  On the automatic system of FIG. 6, an endless screw 36, actuated by a stepping motor 37 managed by a programmer not shown, makes it possible to adjust once a day (from 1 / 365th of length of an arc of circle of 60 15 for example) the mask 29 to which gear elements 38 have been added. To avoid the installation of a second motor and worm for the mask 30, a gear between the two symmetrical masks 29 and 30 can allow the mask 29 to actuate the mask 30 in the opposite direction.

  Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described and numerous modifications can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention, it can in particular be envisaged that the openings 4 and 7 are automated over 365 days in order to enlarge the diurnal surface when one goes towards the summer solstice, and to decrease it when one goes towards the winter solstice, and conversely to increase the nocturnal surface when one goes towards the solstice d winter, and decrease it when you go to the summer solstice.

  You can also adapt an alarm that could sound at one or more times of the day because the display is in 24 hours. We can also consider integrating a digital date, giving the day of the week and the month.

Claims (12)

- il1REVENDICATIONS   1. Time device comprising a first dial graduated in twenty-four hours in legal time and a hand 5 rotating in twenty-four hours to indicate the legal time on said first dial, characterized in that it further comprises a second dial graduated in twenty-four hours in average solar time, said average solar time being indicated by said hand; and in that the first and second dials are adjustable relative to each other.   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that one of the two dials is arranged in the central part of the other dial; and in that at least the dial disposed in the central part partially covers said needle.   3. Device according to claim i or 2, characterized in that said needle comprises a symbol of the day such as a sun, and a symbol of the night such as a moon.   4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a first zone the limits of which indicate the hours of sunrise and sunset in the summer solstice.   5. Device according to claims 3 and 4, characterized in that said first zone is an opening, produced in the form of a concave crescent, in an upper part of the device during the day, said opening revealing the symbol of the day.   6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 35 5, characterized in that it comprises a second zone of which - 12 the limits indicate the hours of sunrise and sunset in winter solstice.   7. Device according to claims 3 and 6, characterized 5 in that said second zone is an opening, produced in the form of a concave crescent, in a lower part of the device during the night period, said opening revealing the symbol of the night .   8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises two crowns adjustable automatically or not, giving by partial obturations two zones indicating the day and night periods, and in particular the times of getting up and sunset.   9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, to adjust the dials relative to one another, it comprises a lateral lever and a precise graduated scale on one of the dials.   10. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, in order to adjust the dials relative to one another, it comprises an endless screw and a precise graduated scale on one of the dials.   11. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises in its central part a symbol pivoting at the rate of the seconds.   12. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises in its central part a third dial graduated in minutes 35 associated with a second hand rotating in one hour.