RU2628713C1 - Time indication mechanism with flexible indicator element and clock containing such mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: physics.

SUBSTANCE: time indication mechanism with the flexible indicator element comprises directly a flexible indicator element itself, a stacking and feeding system of the flexible indicator element, and a wheel or a ring of indication, characterized in that the stacking and feeding system of the flexible indicator element is kinematically connected with the clock mechanism. By means of the said stacking and feeding system of the flexible indicator element, a flexible indicator element is wound on the cylindrical surface of the wheel or the ring of indication, forming a visible arc. Herewith the clock can contain one or more such indication mechanisms, which allow to display hours, minutes, days, a calendar, etc.

EFFECT: reducing the size of the clock by simplifying the design, since we do not use the standard switch system, reducing the wear of the clock mechanism elements, higher performance of the clock with such a indication mechanism due to the presence of only one easily replaceable element.

16 cl, 8 dwg

Description

Technical field

The invention relates to devices for measuring time, in particular to watch mechanisms, and can be used in the watch industry in the manufacture of both portable and stationary watches, an indication of the time period on which is carried out by a flexible element.

State of the art

As you know, the basis of the clockwork is the accumulation of mechanical energy during the watch factory and its transmission to the mechanism during the course of the clock. For this purpose, a clockwork engine is intended. At the same time, the requirement is the uniformity of energy transfer over a specified period of time, the duration of the clock, which is characterized by the constancy of torque provided by the engine on the central wheel of the mechanism.

It is also known that the standard clockwork of an analog mechanical watch has a hand switch, which is also called bill. The switch mechanism transmitting movement from the main wheel system to the arrows consists of a system of gears and tribes. The following details belong to the switch mechanism: minute tribe (minute book), clock wheel, bill wheel with bill tribe, transfer wheel. In this case, the wheels and tribes of switch gear do not have their own axles. The principle of operation of the dial mechanism in all watches is usually the same. In contrast to the clock transmission mechanism, in the switch mechanism, the leading link is the tribe, and the driven one is the wheel.

The clock mechanism serves in hours to continuously count the number of oscillations made by the regulator, and to display this account in generally accepted units of time (hour, minute) using the arrows making continuous movement.

In a normal watch with a 12-hour dial, the clock mechanism is performed with the possibility of completing the clockwise two full revolutions per day. In this case, the gear ratio between the minute tribe and the watch wheel is 12. In this case, the dial on which the time is displayed is divided into sectors, and the time (hour) digits are located in each of these sectors.

However, this kind of standard execution makes it difficult to display time for people with disabilities, for example, visually impaired.

The prior art mechanism with a "jumping" hour (Heure Sautante - FR.). This kind of watch does not have a clockwise direction, and the hour is displayed by displaying the hour digits in the aperture window at "position 12". When you move the 12-hour mark with the minute hand, the hour value in the window instantly changes. Watches with digital indications became widespread during the period of rapid development of serial production of mechanisms (second half of the 19th century). In 1885, such a watch was released by IWC.

The second hand was traditionally located below. Despite the interesting idea, such a watch design was supplanted by the usual analog. Subsequently, already in the 20th century, a watch with the so-called “mixed” digital-analog display reappeared.

There have also been attempts to get away from the well-known clockwork for watches with analogue indication. Thus, watches with a tape indication are known, the design of which is disclosed, for example, in patent document US 7845846. As conceived by the authors, the tape with the hour and minute numbers printed on it is wound around two rollers. The hour and minute indicators are fixed over the tape. A significant disadvantage of known watches is their bulkiness and inconvenience of reading information.

A watch with a flexible indicator element from patent document DE 3718835 is also known. However, this watch does not have a dial familiar to users, since the inventors decided to create a three-dimensional display scale so that the hour time display can be seen from all sides. This is achieved through the implementation of a complex drive mechanism installed in a separately installed case and hollow tubes, inside which the threads of the hour and / or minutes move. In this case, if the tubes are flexible or prefabricated, these watches can be bent and given any shape.

A disadvantage of known watches is their manufacturing complexity, the inconvenience of reading information about such time segments as minutes, seconds and hours, since there is no familiar dial.

However, the watch of the present invention is devoid of the above disadvantages. At the same time, a fundamentally new solution to the hour indicator is proposed, which allows you to visually display on the dial the entire period of time that has passed from the start of the countdown. Moreover, in the case of a 24-hour dial, such a display of the time of the hour allows you to visually see the past fraction of the day. As follows from the foregoing, the claimed solution proposed a fundamentally new way to implement the display mechanism and the indicator itself.

Thus, the technical problem solved by the present invention and the technical result achieved by using the present invention is to create a fundamentally new mechanism for indicating any length of time (minutes, hours, days, days, etc.) using a flexible element. This embodiment allows to significantly simplify the design of the clockwork due to the significant simplification of the display system as a whole and the switch system in particular. In addition, the claimed device has higher performance, as it has only one easily replaceable subject to wear part - a flexible indicator element.

Disclosure of invention

The goal, the required and obtained by using the invention technical result is achieved by the fact that the time indication mechanism by the flexible indicator element itself contains the flexible indicator element itself, the stacking and feeding system of the flexible indicator element and the wheel or ring of indication. At the same time, the system for laying and feeding the flexible indicator element is kinematically connected with the clockwork, while through the specified system for laying and feeding the flexible indicator element on the cylindrical surface of the wheel or the ring of indication, the flexible indicator element is wound, forming a visible arc.

In addition, the system for laying and feeding the flexible indicator element includes a cochlea, to the surface of which the comb probe is pressed, which raises the comb, which in turn engages the drive wheel on the axis of which the wheel or indicator ring is mounted.

Also, the system for laying and feeding the flexible indicator element comprises a roller located next to the cylindrical surface of the wheel / display ring.

Also, the system for laying and feeding the flexible indicator element comprises a spring on which one end of the flexible indicator element is fixed.

In this case, either a thread, or a rope, or a cord, or a cable, or a chain, or a tape can be used as a flexible indicator element.

In this case, the material from which the flexible indicator element can be made can be any, for example, metals such as gold, silver, copper, aluminum, platinum, or it is possible to make a flexible element like natural polymer, for example, silk, cotton, rubber, viscose and synthetic, such as rubber, polyamide fiber.

In addition, a flexible indicator element is fixed at one end to the wheel / display ring, and the other end to the spring.

In this case, the flexible indicator element forms a visible arc on the dial from 1 ° to 360 °, corresponding to a period of time.

The goal, the required and obtained by using the invention technical result is achieved in that the watch contains a case, a dial, a means of indicating time, a clock mechanism, while the means of indicating time contains at least one time indicating mechanism.

In this case, the watch can be both mechanical and electromechanical.

At the same time, the watch can be both stationary and portable.

In addition, the watch additionally contains one or more other known time indicators, including minutes, seconds and a calendar.

In addition, by means of a time display mechanism, it is possible to display either an hour, or minutes, or an hour and minutes, or a day, or a calendar, or an hour, minutes and a calendar at the same time, or an hour, minutes and days of a week at a time.

At the same time, the indication mechanism by the flexible element is also an indicator of the power reserve of the watch.

The watch also additionally contains an analog time indicator.

The goal, the required and obtained by using the invention technical result is achieved by the fact that in the method of displaying time on the clock with a flexible indicator element, the indication is carried out using a flexible indicator element wound on a wheel or an indication ring so that a visible arc is displayed on the watch dial, which corresponds to the period of time passed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention is illustrated by drawings.

Structurally, in the preferred, but not the only mandatory embodiments shown in the drawings, the claimed hours with time indication by means of a flexible element include the following details:

1 - watch case

2 - crown

3 - strap

4 - indication wheel

5 - indicator flexible element

6 - scale

7 - indication mark

8 - axis of the clock wheel

9 - snail

10 - comb probe

11 - comb

12 - drive wheel

13 - roller

14 - spring

15 minute hand

16 - day indicator of the week

17 hour hand

18 - power reserve indicator scale

19 - an indication ring

For a better understanding of the claimed indication mechanism, an hour indication mechanism by a flexible element is considered. This example implementation of the present invention in no way limits the options for displaying any desired length of time, for example, such as minutes, days, days, etc., but is presented only for understanding by a specialist of its mechanism and operating principle.

In FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a clock with time indication by a flexible element, where the flexible element is an hour indicator, the flexible element showing the length of time that has passed since the beginning of the hour.

In FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of an indication mechanism by a flexible member.

In FIG. 3 shows the sequence of the hour indication by the flexible element.

In FIG. Figure 4 shows an embodiment of a clock with time indication by a flexible element, where the flexible element is an hour indicator and there is also a minute minute indicator.

In FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a watch with time indication by a flexible element of hours and minutes.

In FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of a clock with time indication by a flexible element, where the flexible element is an indicator of the days of the week, and also there are arrow indicators of minutes and hours.

In FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of a watch with an indication of a flexible element, where the flexible element is an indicator of the power reserve, and also there are dial indicators for minutes and hours.

In FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of a clock with time indication by a flexible element, where the flexible element is an hour indicator, the flexible element showing the length of time remaining until the end of the hour.

The implementation of the invention

The main distinguishing feature of the claimed device is the ability to display a length of time, for example, such as a minute, hour, day, week, etc. using a flexible indicator element, which, winding, forms a visible arc that displays a period of time. Moreover, for the implementation of such an indication, there is no need to use either a standard switch mechanism or a disk indication.

In the aforementioned analogue of DE 3718835, the known display mechanism with a flexible indicator has neither a minute nor a clockwise, and the hour is indicated by moving the threads inside the hollow pipe, and there is no dial as such, i.e. plate with numbers, and there is an ordinal scale applied to the hollow pipe. In contrast to the known solutions, the proposed design of the display mechanism has a fundamentally new implementation principle.

As shown in FIG. 2, the hour is indicated by a flexible indicator element 5. A snail 9 is mounted on the axis of the clock wheel of a standard clockwork, which rotates at a speed of one revolution in 12 hours. A comb probe 10 is pressed to the surface of the cochlea, which raises the comb 11. When rising, the comb 11 rotates the drive wheel with its gear portion 12. The indication wheel 4 is coaxially mounted on the axis of the drive wheel 12. One end of the flexible element 5 is fixed to the wheel 4, and when the wheel rotates of indication 4, a flexible element is wound on its cylindrical surface, thereby forming an arc visible to the user. A roller is placed next to the cylindrical surface of the wheel through which the flexible element passes. At the second end of the flexible element is a spring 14, which pulls the flexible element and when the comb falls, returns the flexible element to its original reference point.

As a flexible indicator element, a thread, a rope, a cord, a cable, a chain, a tape, etc. can be used. In this case, the material from which the flexible indicator element can be made can be any. It can be various metals, for example, such as gold, silver, copper, aluminum, platinum, etc. It is also possible to produce a flexible element both from a natural polymer, such as silk, cotton, rubber, viscose, and from a synthetic one - rubber, polyamide fiber, etc.

In this case, in the case of the implementation of the claimed indication mechanism in a watch with a 24-hour dial, a snail 9 is mounted on the axis of the diurnal wheel. Moreover, if a minute indication is required, a snail 9 is placed on the axis of the minute hand or minute wheel. If necessary, for example, power reserve indication, the axis of the wheel 4 can be mounted on the axis of the power reserve indicator of a standard mechanism with a power reserve indicator.

In FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the device, where in one watch there are simultaneously two indication mechanisms by a flexible element. In this example, hours and minutes. The specified device is implemented as follows. A snail 9 of the indication mechanism is mounted on the axis of the clock wheel in order to provide an indication of the hour, and the same snail 9 of the indication mechanism is mounted on the minute axis, but in order to enable the indication of minutes. Further, all the connections between the details of the mechanism for indicating minutes and hours are identical to those described above. On the dial, the clock display is made in the form of a rotating wheel, on the cylindrical surface of which a flexible clock display element is wound. On the outer part of the arc formed by the flexible element, a rotating display ring is arranged coaxially with the display wheel with the necessary clearance, on the cylindrical surface of which the flexible minutes display element is wound. To ensure easy rotation of the ring and the operation of the minute indication mechanism, a ball bearing (not shown in the drawing) can be used, having, for example, an internal stationary ring fixed in the mechanism and an external movable one, with one end of the flexible element being fixed to the movable bearing ring.

In this case, the indicated indication mechanism can be used both in fully mechanical and in electronic-mechanical watches.

Also, the clock and mechanism may additionally contain other well-known time indicators, including an indicator of minutes, seconds and a calendar, as well as other indicators, such as, for example, a power reserve indicator. Moreover, in one watch may also contain several indicators with a flexible element.

As follows from the description of possible implementations of the claimed invention, the proposed device for indicating time by a flexible indicator element ensures the achievement of the claimed technical result, namely the use of a new indication mechanism using a flexible indicator element in portable or stationary watches. This embodiment can significantly reduce the size of the watch due to the simplification of the design, since we do not use a standard arrow system. The wear of the elements of the clock mechanism is also reduced, as well as the higher performance of the watch with such an indication mechanism is ensured due to the presence of only one easily replaceable element.

Given the novelty of the set of essential features, the technical solution of the problem, the inventive step and the materiality of all general and particular features of the utility model, proven in the section "prior art" and "Disclosure of the invention", proven in the section "Implementation and industrial implementation of the invention" technical feasibility and industrial the applicability of the invention, the solution of the inventive tasks and the confident achievement of the required technical result in the implementation and use of Retenu, in our opinion, the claimed invention meets the requirements of patentability, requirements for inventions.

The analysis also shows that all the general and particular features of the invention are essential, since each of them is necessary, and all together they are not only sufficient to achieve the purpose of the invention, but also make it possible to realize the invention in an industrial way.

Claims (16)

1. The mechanism for indicating time by a flexible indicator element, containing directly the flexible indicator element, a system for laying and feeding a flexible indicator element and a wheel or ring of indication, characterized in that the system for laying and feeding a flexible indicator element is kinematically connected with a clock mechanism, wherein systems for laying and feeding a flexible indicator element onto a cylindrical surface of a wheel or an indication ring, a flexible indicator element is wound, forming at this is a visible arc. 2. The mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the stacking and feeding system of the flexible indicator element includes a cochlea, to the surface of which the comb probe is pressed, which lifts the comb, which in turn is engaged with the gear part on the axis of the drive, or indication ring. 3. The mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that the system for laying and feeding the flexible indicator element comprises a roller located next to the cylindrical surface of the wheel / ring of indication. 4. The mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that the system for laying and feeding the flexible indicator element comprises a spring on which one end of the flexible indicator element is fixed. 5. The mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that either a thread, or a rope, or a cord, or a cable, or a chain, or a tape can be used as a flexible indicator element. 6. The mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the material from which the flexible indicator element can be made can be any, for example metals, such as gold, silver, copper, aluminum, platinum, or it is possible to produce a flexible element as from natural polymer, for example silk, cotton, rubber, viscose, and synthetic, such as rubber, polyamide fiber. 7. The mechanism according to p. 4, characterized in that the flexible indicator element is fixed at one end to the wheel / display ring, and the other end to the spring. 8. The mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the flexible indicator element forms a visible arc on the dial from 1 ° to 360 °, corresponding to a time period. 9. A clock comprising a case, a dial, time indicating means, a clock mechanism, characterized in that the time indicating means comprises at least one time indicating mechanism according to any one of claims. 1-8. 10. A watch according to claim 9, characterized in that it can be either mechanical or electromechanical. 11. The watch according to claim 9, characterized in that it can be either stationary or portable. 12. The watch according to claim 9, characterized in that it additionally contains one or more other known time indicators, including minutes, seconds and a calendar. 13. Clocks according to Claim 9, characterized in that by means of a time indication mechanism it is possible to display either an hour, or minutes, or an hour and minutes, or a day, or a calendar, or an hour, minutes and a calendar at the same time, or an hour, minutes and days weeks at a time. 14. The watch according to claim 9, characterized in that the indication mechanism by the flexible element is also an indicator of the power reserve of the watch. 15. The watch according to claim 9, characterized in that it further comprises an analog time indicator. 16. A method of indicating the time on the watch with a flexible indicator element, in which the indication is carried out using a flexible indicator element, wound on a wheel or an indication ring so that a visible arc is displayed on the watch dial, which corresponds to the elapsed time.

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