US3590571A - Digital clock seconds indicator - Google Patents

Digital clock seconds indicator Download PDF

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Publication number
US3590571A
US3590571A US7470A US3590571DA US3590571A US 3590571 A US3590571 A US 3590571A US 7470 A US7470 A US 7470A US 3590571D A US3590571D A US 3590571DA US 3590571 A US3590571 A US 3590571A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
motor
seconds indicator
minute
indicator
seconds
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US7470A
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English (en)
Inventor
Emil J Niznik
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Bunker Ramo Corp
Original Assignee
Bunker Ramo Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Bunker Ramo Corp filed Critical Bunker Ramo Corp
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3590571A publication Critical patent/US3590571A/en
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04C—ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCKS OR WATCHES
    • G04C3/00—Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means
    • G04C3/16—Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means incorporating an electro-dynamic continuously rotating motor
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B19/00—Indicating the time by visual means
    • G04B19/20—Indicating by numbered bands, drums, discs, or sheets
    • G04B19/21—Drums
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04D—APPARATUS OR TOOLS SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR MAKING OR MAINTAINING CLOCKS OR WATCHES
    • G04D3/00—Watchmakers' or watch-repairers' machines or tools for working materials
    • G04D3/0074—Watchmakers' or watch-repairers' machines or tools for working materials for treatment of the material, e.g. surface treatment
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06M—COUNTING MECHANISMS; COUNTING OF OBJECTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06M1/00—Design features of general application
    • G06M1/04—Design features of general application for driving the stage of lowest order
    • G06M1/06—Design features of general application for driving the stage of lowest order producing continuous revolution of the stage, e.g. with gear train
    • G06M1/062—Design features of general application for driving the stage of lowest order producing continuous revolution of the stage, e.g. with gear train for drum type indicating means

Definitions

  • a broad object of the invention is to provide a digital clock having hour and minute time-indicating drums that are ad- 'indicator drums, and power-transmitting means energized by the drive means and controlled by escapement means and operative for controlling the drive means, but also incorporating a seconds indicator which is effectively continuously operating.
  • FIG. I is a view of the clock mechanism of the invention as showing the housing in and the interior members principally in elevation;
  • FIG. 2 is a front view showing most of the internal parts of the clock and oriented substantially according to line 2-2 of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a view taken substantially at line 33 of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 4 is a view taken substantially at line 4-4 of FIG. 3;
  • FIG. 5 is a top view oriented according to line 5-5 in FIG. 3 and line 5-5 of the FIG. 4.
  • the present invention is closely related tothose disclosed in the above identified cross-referenced applications.
  • the clock construction is the same or similar in the three applications and certain of the details of the construction are disclosed in two or all of them, and additionally, the same reference numerals are applied to the common elements uniformly in the three applications.
  • the present invention is directed toward the novel feature of a seconds indicator that is continuously moving or progressing in conjunction with a digital minute-indicating apparatus, i.e., the seconds are indicated continuously while the minutes are indicated digitally, thatis, an abrupt advancement is made each minute.
  • FIG. I shows a crystal through which the time is viewed.
  • the clock is mounted such as in an automobile.
  • Attached to the crystal is a housing 12 substantially enclosing the operating parts of the clock and mounting an illuminating lamp 14.
  • Within the housing 12 is a support panel 16 anchored in place with the enclosing housing 12 with the crystal 10 by a suitable means indicated generally at I8.
  • a plurality of posts 20 supporting a pair of spaced plates 22, 24 and mounted in the latter plate 24 are another plurality of posts 26 supporting a mounting plate 28.
  • an electric motor 30 preferably of DC character in keeping with automobiles apthereon in mesh with another gear 54 on a shaft 56 having a worm 57 in mesh with a gear 58.
  • the gear 58 is mounted on shaft means 59 operatively connected with a digital time-indicating unit 60.
  • This unit 60 need not be described in detail herein but may and preferably is of the character disclosed in my copending application referred to above Ser. No. 7,469.
  • the indicating unit 60 includes a minute drum 61, a 10- minute drum 62 and an hour drum 63, advanced periodically (each minute), the first advancing the second and the second advancing the third, in a generally known manner, by the motor through the gear train identified above.
  • the drums are provided with time indicia 64 exposed through the window 65.
  • the motor 30 also is operative for driving a power-transmitting or driving unit 66 the details of which are described hereinbelow.
  • This unit 66 includes a gear 68 in mesh with the gear 52 identified above and upon operation of the motor the gear 68 is driven, actuating the unit 66.
  • an escapement means 70 of suitable and known kind including a shaft 72 which extends into and becomes a part of the unit 66.
  • FIGS. 3-5 showing the unit 66 and including the shaft 72 and the gear 68.
  • the gear 68 is rotated one complete revolution, the various gears in the gear train being dimensioned and proportioned to accomplish that purpose.
  • the gear 68 is fixedly mounted on a sleeve member 74 relatively rotatably mounted on the shaft 72.
  • the sleeve member 74 includes a hub portion 76 directly receiving the gear and also receiving a tripping mechanism or release 78 to be described in detail hereinbelow.
  • the sleeve member 74 includes an elongated sleeve element 80 on which is a torsion coil spring, or main spring, 82 having radial end elements 84, 86 reactingly engaging elements of the unit 78 as referred to again hereinbelow.
  • the unit 78 is utilized in controlling the operation of the drive motor 30 in periodic advancements, and for this purpose is directly associated with a lever 88 shown best in FIG. 3.
  • This lever is preferably L-shaped, having a first arm 90 and a second arm 92 the former-having a contact 94 cooperable with another contact 95 mounted on a fixed member 96 these contacts being connected with the conductors 32 (FIG. 1) of the motor.
  • the long arm 92 extends into the projection of the gear 68, tangent to a base circle concentric therewith and in position for tripping by the unit 78 as indicated above.
  • the lever 88 is biased in clockwise direction (FIG. 3) by a tension spring 97 toward active position in which the contacts 94, 95 are in engagement.
  • the unit 78 includes a contact platform or mounting member 98 (FIG. 4) which has a mounting element 100 in the form of a plate directly and fixedly secured to the hub element 76 in fixed relation for rotation therewith.
  • the mounting member 98 at one side includes an axially extending tab 102 engaged by the radial terminal element 84 of the spring 82.
  • the mounting member at the other side includes an axially extending element 104 preferably in the form of a plate having a radially extending terminal tab 106.
  • Fixed in the element 104 is a stud or pin I08 having a head I10 and surrounding the pin is a coil torsion spring I12 having radial end elements 114 and 1 16.
  • the end element 114 engages the tab 106 while the other end element 116 is provided reaction as explained hereinbelow.
  • the pin is positioned on an axis transverse to the axis of thespring 82.
  • a knockoff arm 118 Pivoted on the pin 108 and mounted on the element 104 is a knockoff arm 118 including an out turned radial tab 120 engageable by the end element 116 of the coil spring 112.
  • the knockoff arm I18 also includes an intumed radial tab l22.
  • the knockoff arm 118 includes an operating finger 124 directly engageable with the contact arm 92 for actuating the latter in a manner more specifically described hereinbelow.
  • the spring 112 biases the knockoff arm 118 (clockwise) toward an advanced position as shown in full lines in FIG. 5, and upon release of the finger it is moved against the spring which thereby yields.
  • the shaft 72- extends beyond the member '74 and fixedly secured on the extended end thereof is a seconds indicator 126 which may be in the form of a disc as represented, or any other desired form and mounted on this element 126 and carried therewith is a control element 128 having an axially extending knockoff tab 130 engageable with the tab 122 as described below in the operation of the apparatus.
  • the end element 86 of the spring is secured to the disc.
  • the clock mechanism may be provided with a manual-setting device indicated at 132 (FIG. 1) which includes a shank 134 having a knob 136 and a pinion 137 adapted for meshing with a gear 140 on the shank 134 means 59.-The shaft is biased to inactive position (F K]. 1), by a compression spring 142, in which the pinion 137 is out of mesh with the gear 140 and is manually movable into active position in which that pinion is in mesh with that gear, this specific device being known.
  • a manual-setting device indicated at 132 (FIG. 1) which includes a shank 134 having a knob 136 and a pinion 137 adapted for meshing with a gear 140 on the shank 134 means 59.-The shaft is biased to inactive position (F K]. 1), by a compression spring 142, in which the pinion 137 is out of mesh with the gear 140 and is manually movable into active position in which that pinion is in mesh with that gear, this specific device being known.
  • the finger 124 (FIGS. 3-5) is under the lever arm 92 holding it in raised position shown in PK]. 3 in which the contacts 94, 95 are separated. in such position, the motor is stationary and the unit 78 remains stationary, but the seconds indicator member 126 is being constantly advanced by the spring 82. Upon advancement of the latter member, as throughout a full revolution, the knockoff tab 130 encounters the tab 122 and swings the knockoff platform 118 in corresponding direction, which is counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 5. Upon this happening, the finger 124 is withdrawn from under the arm 92 to the dot-dash line position 124a represented in FIG.
  • the motor while running, in addition to rotating the gear 68, advances the A digital indicating unit 60 a corresponding amount through the described train of gears to that unit.
  • the unit is advanced an incremental amount which in the present instance is a one minute increment, and the motor does not run again until after substantially a full minute.
  • the operation of the motor requires a very small interval of time such for example as 3 --4 seconds.
  • the gear 68 upon being correspondingly advanced, tensions the coil torsion spring 82 through the radial terminal element 84 of the spring, this tension being transmitted through the spring and through the other terminal element 86 to the seconds indicator 126.
  • the spring 82 is constantly tensioned, as noted being retensioned every minute by rotation of the unit 78 and this tension is propagated through the spring and exerted on the indicator element 126, the amount of tension being generated at each revolution being dissipated in that direction to the indicator element.
  • the spring 82 is pretensioned in the construction and assembly of the device to the desired amount, and it is of such preselected operational characteristics that its range of operation is such as to provide the great latitude beyond the quantity of tensionin'g at each revolution of the unit 78, or in other words the tension of the spring is confined within such limits as to advance the seconds indicator a minute increment without retensioning.
  • FIG. 5 indicates the great range of movement of the finger 124 in its operation of engaging and raising the arm 92.
  • position 12% indicates the position in which it is just moving under the arm for raising it to its open position.
  • the finger may advance a certain amount such as for example to the position 1240 by the time the motor stops, but a great latitude is provided that even if the finger should progress to the position 124d it will still be operative for holding the contact arm in open position.
  • This amount is of course not critical, and the effective angular range may be very wide.
  • the leading edge of the finger 124 is preferably curved, providing a smooth mechanical action with a minimum of friction in releasing that finger from under the arm 92, this curvature providing effective clearance of the finger from the arm upon swinging of the member 118 in the releasing action.
  • This member is thrown to the dot-dash line position 124a of FIG. 5 by the knockoif tab as described above.
  • the element 118 has quite an angular throw as shown, and regardless of a relatively advanced position of the finger 124 relative to the arm 92, it is readily thrown clear of the arm, enabling the latter to lower or move to closed contact position.
  • the unit 78 is rotated one full rotation each minute, this rotation requiring for example 3-4 seconds, and it remains stationary between those advancements.
  • the seconds indicator 126 rotates constantly under the action of the torsion spring 82 and as it reaches a predeten mined position in that rotation it actuates the tripping mechanism 78 and the latter then is rotated again, but without interference, with the continuous rotation of the seconds indicator member 126.
  • the arm 118 is provided substantial yielding ability so as to enable considerable extent of advancement of the indicator member 126 to enable the motor 30 to commence operation and continue forward ahead of the effectiveness of the member 126, that unit proceeding at a much faster rate and continuing one rotation'as indicated above, and the member 126 progressing in its same continuous pattern.
  • the seconds indicator 126 may include the movable disc as above described and a fixed pointer 132, or a reverse arrangement.
  • the disc 126 rotates effectively continuously in contrast with the digital movement of the various members of the unit 60.
  • Clock mechanism comprising hour-minute indicating means advanceable at discrete intervals, a motor for driving the hour-minute indicating means, control means for controlling the motor and the drive thereof at intervals, said control means including an effectively continuously moving power member energized by the motor, means actuated by the power member for intermittently energizing the motor and thereby driving the hour-minute indicating means, and a seconds indicator driven by the powermember in its said effectivecontinuous-movement.
  • Clock mechanism including a gear train between. the motor and the hour-minute indicating means, and between the motor and the power member, and further including means controlled by the seconds indicator thereof for energizing the motor as stated, once in each minute interval.
  • Clock mechanism comprising hour-minute indicating means, "an electric motor, drive-transmitting means operatively interposed between the motor and the hour-minute indicating means, contacts for energizing the motor, a control means for opening the contacts and thereby stopping the motor, said control unit having a stationary position in which it holds the contacts open, a continuously operating seconds indicator, a self-contained unit for advancing the seconds indicator, means operatively interconnecting the motor and self-contained unit for energizing the latter, and means controlled by the seconds indicator for controlling the control unit the control unit having a yieldable component actuated by the seconds indicator for thereby releasing the control unit and again energizing the motor without impeding the continuous motion of the seconds indicator.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
  • Measurement Of Unknown Time Intervals (AREA)
US7470A 1970-02-02 1970-02-02 Digital clock seconds indicator Expired - Lifetime US3590571A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US747070A 1970-02-02 1970-02-02

Publications (1)

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US3590571A true US3590571A (en) 1971-07-06

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US7470A Expired - Lifetime US3590571A (en) 1970-02-02 1970-02-02 Digital clock seconds indicator

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Country Link
US (1) US3590571A (fr)
DE (1) DE2104577C3 (fr)
FR (1) FR2079169B1 (fr)
GB (1) GB1346072A (fr)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3823546A (en) * 1971-03-16 1974-07-16 Kieninger & Obergfell Crystal-controlled digital clock
US3903687A (en) * 1974-01-30 1975-09-09 Robertshaw Controls Co Digital clock or the like and drive unit therefor
US3931705A (en) * 1973-06-26 1976-01-13 Jeco Kabushiki Kaisha Counter feed mechanism as used in digital clock
US4177630A (en) * 1977-10-25 1979-12-11 Bunker Ramo Corporation Sweep seconds to jump seconds conversion for clocks
US4568197A (en) * 1983-02-16 1986-02-04 Lam Philip Y T Time piece

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3492806A (en) * 1968-04-22 1970-02-03 Hamilton Watch Co High accuracy timepiece

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA808886A (en) * 1969-03-25 Konno Kiyoaki Winding-up device for the drive spring of an electric clock
US3133405A (en) * 1961-06-01 1964-05-19 Pennwood Numechron Company Time registering device
GB1000435A (en) * 1962-04-09 1965-08-04 Svenska Flaektfabriken Ab Heat exchanger

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3492806A (en) * 1968-04-22 1970-02-03 Hamilton Watch Co High accuracy timepiece

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3823546A (en) * 1971-03-16 1974-07-16 Kieninger & Obergfell Crystal-controlled digital clock
US3931705A (en) * 1973-06-26 1976-01-13 Jeco Kabushiki Kaisha Counter feed mechanism as used in digital clock
US3903687A (en) * 1974-01-30 1975-09-09 Robertshaw Controls Co Digital clock or the like and drive unit therefor
US4177630A (en) * 1977-10-25 1979-12-11 Bunker Ramo Corporation Sweep seconds to jump seconds conversion for clocks
US4568197A (en) * 1983-02-16 1986-02-04 Lam Philip Y T Time piece

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2104577B2 (de) 1980-01-17
FR2079169B1 (fr) 1977-01-28
FR2079169A1 (fr) 1971-11-12
GB1346072A (fr) 1974-02-06
DE2104577A1 (de) 1971-08-12
DE2104577C3 (de) 1980-09-18

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