US3562613A - Timepiece driven by nuclear energy - Google Patents

Timepiece driven by nuclear energy Download PDF

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Publication number
US3562613A
US3562613A US815356A US3562613DA US3562613A US 3562613 A US3562613 A US 3562613A US 815356 A US815356 A US 815356A US 3562613D A US3562613D A US 3562613DA US 3562613 A US3562613 A US 3562613A
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United States
Prior art keywords
timepiece according
condenser
detector
timepiece
battery
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Expired - Lifetime
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US815356A
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English (en)
Inventor
Karl Adler
Georges Ducommun
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Baumgartner Freres SA
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Baumgartner Freres SA
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04F—TIME-INTERVAL MEASURING
    • G04F5/00—Apparatus for producing preselected time intervals for use as timing standards
    • G04F5/16—Apparatus for producing preselected time intervals for use as timing standards using pulses produced by radio-isotopes
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04C—ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCKS OR WATCHES
    • G04C10/00—Arrangements of electric power supplies in time pieces
    • G04C10/02—Arrangements of electric power supplies in time pieces the power supply being a radioactive or photovoltaic source

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A timepiece driven by nuclear energy, wherein [51] Int. Cl ..H02k 33/00 the radiation of a radioactive source serves at the same time [50] Field of Search 310/3, 3A, for producing the electric power for energizing a counting cir- 3B, 3C, 3D, 119-134, 21, 22, 37, 15; 250/106, 83.3;33l/185;58/23,23C, 23AV, 123FS, 23D, 28
  • This invention relates to a timepiece driven by nuclear energy, wherein the radiation of a radioactive source acts onto an electronic element or counter for control of the advance of the timepiece.
  • a prior timepiece of this type is based on the fact that a radioactive source having a high half-life period releases an equal number of pulses in a radiation meter during each time unit, such that counting of these pulses would result in a very accurate time measurement, particularly over long periods.
  • the difficulty is that for obtaining suiiicient accuracy within shorter time intervals a very high pulse frequency would be required in order to keep down the statistic error.
  • thermoelectric radiophotovoltaic or radiovoltaic transformation
  • radiophotovoltaic radiophotovoltaic transformation
  • all prior energy sources of this type are not proper for use in a watch, particularly a wrist watch for some reason. Either, such energy sources required too strong radioactive sources, or have too low life time because some constituents are chemically changed, or their voltage and/or current is not suitable for energizing the circuits of a timepiece.
  • the timepiece broadly comprises a radioactive energy source with firadiation, a nuclear battery for direct conversion of this fi-radiation into electrical energy, a window in said battery allowing passage of a beam of B-radiation, an electric pulse detector in said beam of radiation, and a timekeeping electric circuit controlled and energized by said radioactive energy source through said detector and battery respectively.
  • a battery such as a secondary-emission battery or a directemission battery as well as an electronic element irradiated for producing a counting frequency or counting frequency suitable for control of the timepiece may properly be energized by a source of B-radiation of relatively low energy level.
  • a source of B-radiation of relatively low energy level of say .2 to l MeV.
  • the pos sibility of using a nuclear source of relatively low energy level of say .2 to l MeV. is advantageous in that neither in the battery nor in the irradiated electronic element which may be a semiconductor element, modifications of the material will occur. For this reason the system according to this invention has a very high life time.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a first embodiment
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a modified circuit for use in an embodiment as shown in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a diagram of another embodiment
  • FIGS. 4 to 6 show modified forms of electromechanical transducers.
  • the timepiece illustrated in FIG. 1 has a battery with a source 1 of radioactive radiation, for instance a suitable preparation of Ni 63 or Sr 40.
  • This source has the form of a thin disc or layer between two plates 2 and 2' of magnesium oxide or any other suitable emission medium.
  • the plates 2 and 2' of magnesium oxide have a thickness of .4 mm. as an example.
  • a collector electrode 3, 3 is provided outside each of the emission plates 2 and 2 respectively.
  • the space between plates 2 and 3 or 2 and 3' may be in the order of .03 mm.
  • the space between plates 2 and 3 and between plates 2' and 3' is evacuated.
  • the battery made of parts I to 3 may be accommodated in a sealed evacuated casing.
  • the plates 2 and 2' are connected to a common conductor 4 while plates 3 and 3 are connected to a conductor 5.
  • Plates 2 and 3 have windows 6 and 7 respectively covering each other. These windows form a duct through which the [3- radiation is emitted from the source I to a semiconductor element 8.
  • a semiconductor element having a marked recombination frequency under the action of a B-radiation is used.
  • a PN-counting element is used. It is connected in series with a coupling coil 9 between the conductors 4 and 5 of the battery. Coil 9 is coupled with the coil of an oscillating circuit l0 tuned to the recombination frequency of element 8.
  • the resonance oscillation of recombination frequency or counting frequency in circuit 10 is amplified by a transistor I l and is applied to the input of a frequency divider or pulse divider 12 of which the output is connected'to the actuating coil 13 ofa stepping pawl 14 by which a ratchet wheel 15 is driven.
  • the hands of the timepiece or a counter is driven from the ratchet wheel through a gear in a manner well known in the art.
  • An adjustable diaphragm 16 is disposed between element 8 and window 7 for regulating the beam of radiation reaching element 8.
  • the B-radiation from source 1 entering into the emission plates 2 and 2' releases high numbers of secondary electrons of which the energy has such a level that the collector electrodes 3 and 3 are charged to a suitable voltage.
  • a radioactive source with relatively low energy level of say .2 to 1 MeV., for instance Ni 63 may be used.
  • a source of about 20 me. is sufficient.
  • the electrical energy of the battery is suitable and sufficient for energizing the semiconductor element 8, transistor 11 and the divider 12.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a modification of the timepiece of FIG. 1 with a simplified electronic circuit.
  • An RC-member I9 is a series-connected with coil 9. It may serve for regulating the frequency because by changing the capacity of the RC- member connected in series with the capacity of the element 8 a change and adjustment of the frequency is possible.
  • An armature l7 projecting into the coil 9 is suspended by means of parallelogram arms 18.
  • the stepping pawl 14 is mounted on the armature 17. Elements 10-13 of FIG. 1 are omitted in this simplified modification.
  • Parts 2 and 3 may be of cylindrical form instead of being plates as described above.
  • a radiation source in the form of a rod is accommodated in a hollow cylinder of emission material.
  • Other materials may be used as well for the radiation source as for the emission medium.
  • a semiconductor-battery with PN-junction may be used, whereby the radiation source, for instance Sr is located between two suitable doped mixed crystals of PN-type or NP- type, and wherein up to 10 pairs of electrons and holes may be produced by each B-particle having an energy in the order of .2 MeV.
  • the radiation source for instance Sr is located between two suitable doped mixed crystals of PN-type or NP- type, and wherein up to 10 pairs of electrons and holes may be produced by each B-particle having an energy in the order of .2 MeV.
  • a voltage of .2 v. and a current of 4. l()- A may be obtained.
  • a battery 20 is used wherein no secondary emission effect occurs but the collector electrode is directly charged by the B-radiation of the radioactive source in a manner well known per se. Any suitable source of radiation, preferably H3, may be used. With proper design of the battery, a voltage in the order of 300 v. is obtained. As indicated in FIG. 1, the collector electrode (not shown) of battery 20 has a window through which a beam of B-radiation is directed towards a counting tube 21.
  • tapping 22 of a potentiometer 23 is connected through a diode 24 to a condenser 25.
  • This condenser 25 may be discharged through a suitable trigger element 26, for instance a gas discharge tube or a Zener diode and a coil 27 wound onto a core 28 acting onto an armature 29 carrying a stepping pawl 30.
  • a ratchet wheel 31 may be advanced by pawl 30 in a manner explained in connection with FIG. 1 for driving the hands or a counter of the timepiece.
  • the beam of B- radiation is so adjusted that the counting tube 21 operates within a suitable frequency range.
  • counting tubes have an upper limit frequency or saturation frequency above which counting is no longer possible due to continuous ionization of the gas in the tube, this resulting in continuous short-circuiting of the tube. Practically, the counting frequency will be adjusted for instance to 100 pulses/second.
  • a condenser 25 of IO- F is charged within 1 second to about 60 volts, the charge being in the order of IO" As.
  • the ignition voltage of element 26 is adjusted to about 60 volts so that the condenser 25 is discharged at the end of each second through element 26 and coil 27.
  • a current pulse in the order of I A will produce a force on armature 29 in the order of 4 mg. at 15 Gauss and a core surface of 40 mm This force is sufficient for actuating the stepping pawl 30 and advancing the ratchet wheel 31 with the gearing of the timepiece.
  • the mechanism of the timepiece is thus advanced by one step per second.
  • the extremely low power rating of the battery is accumulated in condenser 25 during the time interval of 1 second and the accumulated energy is sufficient for advancing the mechanism of the timepiece by 1 step per second.
  • Adjustment of proper timekeeping is possible in two ways. Basically the interval between succeeding stepping pulses may be adjusted by the number of counter pulses occurring per second, that is by adjustment of the intensity of the beam of B- radiation by means of diaphragm 32. Another adjustment is possible by changing the pulse voltage transmitted to condenser 25 by adjustment of the ratio of potentiometer 23.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates a somewhat modified electromechanical transducer, similar parts having the same reference numerals as in FIG. 3.
  • the armature 29 is a leaf spring having high elasticity fixed to the one leg of the core 28 and carrying a calibrated weight 33 at its other end.
  • the resonance frequency of this spring armature is adjusted to double the pulse frequency in coil 27 or to any other multiple of this pulse frequency.
  • a mechanical oscillating system of relatively high Q-factor is used, its oscillation may properly be sustained by a pulse frequency which is substantially lower than the frequency of the mechanical oscillating system. This frequency may be in the order of 50 c/s.
  • FIG. illustrates another modification wherein the oscillation of a tuning fork 34 is sustained by the pulses flowing in coil 27 wound on a special core 35.
  • the tuning fork 34 has a pawl 30 for advancing the ratchet wheel 31.
  • an electrostatic transducer as schematically shown in FIG. 6 may be used.
  • This transducer has two plane electrodes 36 and 37 fixed to a frame 38. At least the lower electrode 37 is a membrane of elastic material. A stepping pawl 30 engaging the ratchet wheel 31 isfixed on the lower electrode 37.
  • the electrodes 36 and 37 are equipped with contacts 39 and 40 respectively.
  • the electrostatic transducer shown in FIG. 6 may be connected into the circuit shown in FIG. 3 instead of the coil 27.
  • the transducer shown in FIG. 6 will also produce a force in the order of 4 mg., provided it has a capacity in the order of 2 X l0- F or a surface of 16 mm. and a distance between electrodes 36 and 37 of 1 mm.
  • the lower elastic electrode 37 is bent inwardly until the discharging contacts 39 and 40 touch each other whereby the condenser 25 is discharged.
  • Electrode 37 now returns into its initial position whereby the ratchet wheel 37 is advanced by one step by pawl 30.
  • the trigger element 26 may be omitted. It is obvious that with increasing charge of condenser 25 the electrode 37 would be bent more and more towards electrode 36 until contacts 39 and 40 touch each other and discharge condenser 25. Since contacts 39 and 40 would always touch each other at the same voltage, it is obvious that the transducer of FIG. 6 may replace the trigger element 26.
  • the electrostatic transducer of FIG. 6 may also be connected directly between tapping 22 of potentiometer 23 and terminal 41 of the circuit shown in FIG. 3, whereby elements 25 to 27 of that circuit would be omitted. Contacts 39 and 40 of the transducer may also be omitted.
  • the electrode 37 carrying the stepping pawl 30 now oscillates at the frequency of pulses produced by the counting tube.
  • electrodes 36 and 37 may have a surface in the order of 20 mm. and may be spaced from each other by .1 mm. With a voltage per pulse of v. a force in the order of 5 mg. at a speed of .02 cm./s would be produced.
  • the power is in the order of 5.l0 Ws or 5 X 5cmgs. This is sufficient for driving a stepping pawl and a ratchet wheel with the gearing of the timepiece.
  • a timepiece driven by nuclear energy comprising a radioactive energy source with B-radiation, a nuclear battery for direct conversion of this B-radiation into electrical energy, a window in said battery allowing passage of a beam of B- radiation, an electric pulse detector in said beam of radiation, and a timekeeping electric circuit controlled and energized by said radioactive energy source through said detector and battery respectively.
  • a timepiece according to claim 1 comprising a semiconductor detector and an electric circuit adapted for selection of the recombination frequency of said semiconductor detector.
  • a timepiece according to claim 1, comprising a radioactive energy source having an energy level of at least approxi mately .2 to l MeV.,for instance Ni 63.
  • a timepiece according to claim 1 comprising a diaphragm disposed between said window and said detector for regulating the intensity of said beam of radiation.
  • a timepiece wherein said radioactive source is a layer disposed between two plates of secondary-emission medium, and a collector electrode is associated with each of said plates of secondary-emission medium, said beam passing through windows covering each other of one of said plates of secondary-emission medium and one of said collector electrodes, a diaphragm being disposed between said windows and said semiconductor detector.
  • a timepiece according to claim 2 comprising an oscillating circuit for selection of the recombination frequency.
  • a timepiece according to claim 2 comprising a frequency divider for reduction of the recombination frequency.
  • a timepiece according to claim 2 comprising an RC- circuit series-connected with the semiconductor element.
  • a timepiece according to claim 2 comprising a coil series-connected with said semiconductor detector, said coil being adapted for driving a stepping pawl.
  • a timepiece according to claim 1, comprising a secondary-electron battery having a PN-junction, the radioactive energy source being located between mixed crystals selected from the group consisting of PN-type and NP-type crystals.
  • a timepiece comprising a highvoltage battery series connected with said pulse detector, a condenser adapted to be charged by each pulse released by said detector, said condenser being connected to the control input of a trigger, said trigger being released whenever the potential of said condenser has reached a predetermined value, whereby said condenser is discharged and a driving pulse is transmitted to an electromechanical driving system.
  • a timepiece according to claim 16 comprising a potentiometer series-connected with said detector, the tapping of said potentiometer being connected to said condenser.
  • a timepiece according to claim 17, comprising a diode connected between said tapping and said condenser.
  • a timepiece according to claim 16 comprising an electrostatic driving system having condenser plates of which at least one is displaceable and is coupled with a stepping pawl.
  • a timepiece according to claim 19, wherein said pulse detector is a counting tube series connected with said highvoltage battery and with said electrostatic driving system including a condenser, this condenser being part of a RC-circuit series-connected with the counting tube.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Electric Clocks (AREA)
  • Secondary Cells (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
US815356A 1968-04-17 1969-04-11 Timepiece driven by nuclear energy Expired - Lifetime US3562613A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH566368A CH521625A (de) 1968-04-17 1968-04-17 Mittels Kernenergie betriebener Zeitmesser

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US3562613A true US3562613A (en) 1971-02-09

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US815356A Expired - Lifetime US3562613A (en) 1968-04-17 1969-04-11 Timepiece driven by nuclear energy

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US (1) US3562613A (cs)
BE (1) BE731610A (cs)
CH (2) CH566368A4 (cs)
DE (2) DE1918308C3 (cs)
ES (1) ES366013A1 (cs)
FR (1) FR2007470A1 (cs)
GB (1) GB1267399A (cs)
NL (1) NL6905976A (cs)
SE (1) SE351933B (cs)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3791134A (en) * 1970-02-23 1974-02-12 Biviator Sa Timepiece having a nuclear power source
US3881309A (en) * 1973-03-13 1975-05-06 Biviator Sa Electronic timepiece
US4023088A (en) * 1975-07-23 1977-05-10 White, Letcher T. Radiation-to-a.c. converter
US4275405A (en) * 1973-01-22 1981-06-23 Mullard Limited Semiconductor timing device with radioactive material at the floating gate electrode of an insulated-gate field-effect transistor
US4835433A (en) * 1986-04-23 1989-05-30 Nucell, Inc. Apparatus for direct conversion of radioactive decay energy to electrical energy
US20090010107A1 (en) * 2005-01-18 2009-01-08 Nxp B.V. Tamper-resistant time reference and apparatus using same
CN106847353A (zh) * 2017-01-05 2017-06-13 中国原子能科学研究院 氧化镎靶件芯块制备工艺

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2520603A (en) * 1948-09-25 1950-08-29 Rca Corp Method of and means for utilizing charged-particle radiation
US2720582A (en) * 1950-01-31 1955-10-11 Rca Corp Radio pulse systems utilizing radioactive materials
US2835105A (en) * 1953-06-02 1958-05-20 Ancienne Manufacture D Horloge Electrostatic balance clock
US2837666A (en) * 1953-07-24 1958-06-03 Ernest G Linder Radioactive voltage source employing a gaseous dielectric medium
US2858459A (en) * 1954-06-02 1958-10-28 Erich G K Schwarz Secondary emission type of nuclear battery
US2926268A (en) * 1954-12-29 1960-02-23 Reymond Ralph Daniel Self-powered electron discharge tube devices
US2952817A (en) * 1954-11-17 1960-09-13 Raytheon Co Semiconductor noise generators
US3204133A (en) * 1962-01-31 1965-08-31 Straumann Inst Ag Electric reciprocating drive with motion conversion
US3370414A (en) * 1965-06-22 1968-02-27 Benrus Watch Company Inc Electronic timepiece

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH327804A (fr) * 1954-03-02 1958-02-15 Ancienne Manufacture D Horloge Mouvement, notamment mouvement d'horlogerie
CH331069A (fr) * 1955-04-26 1958-06-30 Omega Brandt & Freres Sa Louis Cellule électronique amplificatrice

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2520603A (en) * 1948-09-25 1950-08-29 Rca Corp Method of and means for utilizing charged-particle radiation
US2720582A (en) * 1950-01-31 1955-10-11 Rca Corp Radio pulse systems utilizing radioactive materials
US2835105A (en) * 1953-06-02 1958-05-20 Ancienne Manufacture D Horloge Electrostatic balance clock
US2837666A (en) * 1953-07-24 1958-06-03 Ernest G Linder Radioactive voltage source employing a gaseous dielectric medium
US2858459A (en) * 1954-06-02 1958-10-28 Erich G K Schwarz Secondary emission type of nuclear battery
US2952817A (en) * 1954-11-17 1960-09-13 Raytheon Co Semiconductor noise generators
US2926268A (en) * 1954-12-29 1960-02-23 Reymond Ralph Daniel Self-powered electron discharge tube devices
US3204133A (en) * 1962-01-31 1965-08-31 Straumann Inst Ag Electric reciprocating drive with motion conversion
US3370414A (en) * 1965-06-22 1968-02-27 Benrus Watch Company Inc Electronic timepiece

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3791134A (en) * 1970-02-23 1974-02-12 Biviator Sa Timepiece having a nuclear power source
US4275405A (en) * 1973-01-22 1981-06-23 Mullard Limited Semiconductor timing device with radioactive material at the floating gate electrode of an insulated-gate field-effect transistor
US3881309A (en) * 1973-03-13 1975-05-06 Biviator Sa Electronic timepiece
US4023088A (en) * 1975-07-23 1977-05-10 White, Letcher T. Radiation-to-a.c. converter
US4835433A (en) * 1986-04-23 1989-05-30 Nucell, Inc. Apparatus for direct conversion of radioactive decay energy to electrical energy
US20090010107A1 (en) * 2005-01-18 2009-01-08 Nxp B.V. Tamper-resistant time reference and apparatus using same
CN106847353A (zh) * 2017-01-05 2017-06-13 中国原子能科学研究院 氧化镎靶件芯块制备工艺
CN106847353B (zh) * 2017-01-05 2018-07-06 中国原子能科学研究院 氧化镎靶件芯块制备工艺

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES366013A1 (es) 1972-04-01
NL6905976A (cs) 1969-10-21
FR2007470A1 (cs) 1970-01-09
DE1918308C3 (de) 1975-09-18
DE1966834A1 (de) 1974-10-31
DE1918308B2 (de) 1975-01-30
CH521625A (de) 1971-11-30
GB1267399A (en) 1972-03-15
SE351933B (cs) 1972-12-11
DE1918308A1 (de) 1969-10-23
CH566368A4 (cs) 1971-11-30
BE731610A (cs) 1969-10-01

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