US3760581A - Electro-mechanical digital world clock - Google Patents

Electro-mechanical digital world clock Download PDF

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Publication number
US3760581A
US3760581A US00298346A US3760581DA US3760581A US 3760581 A US3760581 A US 3760581A US 00298346 A US00298346 A US 00298346A US 3760581D A US3760581D A US 3760581DA US 3760581 A US3760581 A US 3760581A
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United States
Prior art keywords
rotary body
switching means
electric bulbs
indicating
digital indicator
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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
US00298346A
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English (en)
Inventor
Y Wakabayashi
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Individual
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Individual
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    • 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
    • G04B19/22—Arrangements for indicating different local apparent times; Universal time pieces
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04G—ELECTRONIC TIME-PIECES
    • G04G9/00—Visual time or date indication means
    • G04G9/0076—Visual time or date indication means in which the time in another time-zone or in another city can be displayed at will
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04G—ELECTRONIC TIME-PIECES
    • G04G9/00—Visual time or date indication means
    • G04G9/08—Visual time or date indication means by building-up characters using a combination of indicating elements, e.g. by using multiplexing techniques
    • G04G9/10—Visual time or date indication means by building-up characters using a combination of indicating elements, e.g. by using multiplexing techniques by controlling light sources, e.g. electroluminescent diodes
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06M—COUNTING MECHANISMS; COUNTING OF OBJECTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06M1/00—Design features of general application
    • G06M1/27—Design features of general application for representing the result of count in the form of electric signals, e.g. by sensing markings on the counter drum
    • G06M1/276—Design features of general application for representing the result of count in the form of electric signals, e.g. by sensing markings on the counter drum using mechanically-actuated contacts

Definitions

  • the clock comprises a first mechanism for indicating minute unit time by a figure of0 to 9, a second mechanism for indicating ten minute unit time by a figure of 0 to 5, and a third mechanism for selectively indicating hour unit time of a selected place.
  • the third mechanism includes a two-figured digital indicator consisting of a plurality of electric bulbs, a cylindrical rotary body making a one twenty-fourth revolution at every 1 hour, a first switching means arranged on said rotary body for selectively illuminating the electric bulbs of the two-figured digital indicator for indicating hour unit time of one place, and additional switching means arranged also on the rotary body for selectively illuminating said electric bulbs of the two-figured digital indicator for indicating hour unit time of another place.
  • FIG. 1 A first figure.
  • This invention relates to electric digital clocks, and more particularly to an electro-mechanica] digital world clock capable of indicating time of various places of the world when required.
  • the present invention aims at eliminating the above noted difficulty and therefore it is the primary object of the present invention .to provide a clock capable of indicating different standard times of various places of the world when required.
  • Still another object of the present invention is to provide an electro-mechanical digital world'clock of the nature mentioned above, which is low in manufacturing cost as compared to the electronic counterparts and which is reliable in operation and simple in construction.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide an electro-mechanical digital world clock having a .mechanism whereby a standard .time of a different place may be indicated instead of the users standard time distinctly in electrically illuminated large figures by pushing a corresponding button switch.
  • an electro-mechanical digital world clock comprising: a first-mechanism having a first digital indicator consisting of a plurality of electric bulbs, and switching means arranged on a cylindrical rotary body and adapted to be operated at every 1 minute through inter mittent rotation of said rotary body for selectively illuminating said electric bulbs of said first digital indicator for indicating minute unittime by figuresof to 9 a second mechanism having a second digital indicator consisting of a plurality of electric bulbs, and switching means arranged on a cylindrical rotary body which is rotated by a predetermined rotational angle at every 10 minutes throughgear means in association with the rotation of the rotary body of the first mechanism to operate said switching means for selectively illuminating said electric bulbs of said second digital indicator for indicating 10-minute unit time by figures of 0 to 5;
  • a third mechanism having a third two-figured digital indicator consisting of a plurality of electric bulbs, a cylindrical rotary body adapted to make a one twenty-fourth rotation at every 1 hour through another gear means in association with the rotation of the rotary body of the second mechanism, a first switching means arranged on said rotary body of said third mechanism for selectively illuminating said electric bulbs of said third two-figured digital indicator for indicating hour unit time of one place, and additional switching means arranged on said rotary body of said third mechanism for selectively illuminating said electric bulbs of said third twofigured digital indicator for indicating hour unit time of another place, said additional switching means being located in a relative position on said rotary body of the third mechanism which corresponds to a time difference between said one place and another place; and
  • selection switch means for selectively connecting said first and additional switching means of said third mechanism to a power source for indicating the time of a selected place.
  • FIG. 1 is an electric circuit diagram of a first mechanism A adapted to indicate minute unit time
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view partially in section of a drum or a rotary body and its associated members forming an essential part of the first mechanism A;
  • FIG. 3 is a diagramatic view showing ten shortcircuitting elements of different configurations used in the first mechanism A;
  • FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of 24 short-circuitting members of different configurations employed in a third mechanism C which is adapted to indicate hour unit time;
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective view partially in section of a drum or a rotary body and its associated members forming an essential part of the mechanism C;
  • FIG. 6 is an electrical circuit diagram of the mechanism C
  • FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the first mechanism A, second mechanism 18 and third mechanism C integrally assembled with each other;
  • FIG. 8 is a diagramatic view showing a front side of an electro-mechanical digital world clock according to the invention.
  • FIG. 1 there is shown an electric digital indicator 8 of a first mechanism A which is adapted to indicate 'minute unit time by figures of from 0 to 9.
  • electric digital indicator consists of, for example, seven electric segment bulbs 1 to 7 which are connected in series with respective contact arms 9 to 15.
  • the contact arms 9 through 15 are connected to and disconnected from a power source by the cooperative action of a contact arm 17 and ten short-circuiting elements 19 to 28 which are arranged independently at an equal distance around the circumference of a cylindrical rotary body or a drum 18 as shown in FIG. 2.
  • the rotary body 18 is held in an intermittent rotational movement in such a manner that the contact arm 17 is shortcircuited by either one of the short-circuiting elements 19 to 28 when the rotary body is temporarily held in a stop position after every one-tenth revolution thereof.
  • the respective short-circuiting elements have different shapes or configurations so that the contact arms 9 to 15 are short-circuited in ten different combinations to enable the electric digital indicator 8 to indicate ten different figures of to 9 by selectively lighting the seven segment bulbs every time when the rotary body 18 completes a one-tenth revolution and held in a stop position.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 show a case where the rotary body 18 is held in a stop position and the contact arms 9, 11, 12, 14 and are shortcircuited by the short-circuiting element 22 to illuminate a figure of 3 on the indicator 8 by lighting the bulbs 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7.
  • the rotary body 18 is held in intermittent rotation by one-tenth revolution thereof per minute.
  • a gear member 29 is fixed to one side of the rotary body 18 in close contact therewith.
  • the gear member 29 is adapted to receive rotational movement from a small gear (not shown) held in engagement therewith.
  • the electro-mechanical digital world clock of the present invention further comprises a similar electric segmented digital indicator of a second mechanism B which is adapted to indicate 10 minute unit time by figures of O to 5.
  • the segmented digital indicator of the mechanism B is provided with a rotary body similar to the one described above in relation to the first mechanism A but the circumference of the rotary body of the mechanism B is divided into twelve equal sections or segments for illuminating successively two series of consecutive numbers of from 0 to 5 by intermittent one-twelfth revolutions of the rotary body, that is to say, the consecutive numbers of from 0 to 5 are indicated two times for every one complete revolution of the rotary body.
  • this rotary body is similar to the rotary body 18 of the first mechanism A except that the rotary body 18 is circumferencially divided into twelve equal sections for attaching l2 short-circuiting elements thereto instead of ten and that the rotary body is provided with different gear members, and thus detailed description in this connection is not given herein for the simplicity of explanation.
  • the rotary body of the second mechanism B is circumferentially divided into l2 equal sections for requirements in design, it may of course be divided into six or so.
  • FIG. 5 shows another cylindrical rotary body 55 circumferentially provided with twenty-four shortcircuiting elements 31 to 54 which are arranged at an equal spacing and have respectively different configurations as shown in FIG. 4.
  • a different one of the shortcircuiting elements 31 to 53 is brought into contact at every one twenty-fourth rotation of the rotary body 55 with a selected number of electric contact arms 56 through 66 supported on a contact arm retaining member 67 and also with a number of contact arms supported on similar contact arm retaining members 68 and 69.
  • the contact arm retaining members 67, 68 and 69 are secured commonly to a mounting plate member 70 provided on one side of the rotary body 55 as shown in FIG. 5.
  • the rotary body 55 has fixed to the other side thereof a gear member 71 for receiving intermittent rotational movement from outside for making a one twenty-fourth revolution at every one hour.
  • These contact arms forming switching means are electrically connected to a power source 81 by way of a two-figured electrical segmented digital indicator 72, selection switching means such as three button switches 73, 74 and 75 and five electric lamps 76 through 80.
  • the lamp 76 is employed to indicate A.M. or ante meridiem.
  • the lamp 77 is employed to indicate P.M. or post meridiem.
  • the lamps 76 and 77 are connected in parallel, so that while the lamp 76 is on, the lamp 77 is off, and when the lamp 77 is on, the lamp 76 is off.
  • the lamps 78, 79 and 80 are lit in association with the push button switches 73, 74 and 75, which are connected between the two-figured electrical segmented digital indicator 72 and the respective contact arm members 67, 68 and 69, respectively, for indicat ing certain selected city names.
  • the time is indicated on the indicator 72 by the number of hour unit successively in the manner of 1 AM, 2 AM, 3 AM ll AM, 12 AM, 1 PM, 2 PM, 3 PM 12 PM while the rotary body 55 makes one complete revolution.
  • the 24 short-circuiting elements 31 through 54 are attached at a uniform distance around the circumference of the rotary body 55 in the manner as mentioned hereinbefore, that is to say, the short-circuiting elements are provided around the periphery of the rotary body 55 at a distance of every l 5.
  • the short-circuiting elements are provided around the periphery of the rotary body 55 at a distance of every l 5.
  • the shortcircuiting element in contact with the contact arms of the contact arm retainer 68 is held in a advanced position with respect to the short-circuiting element 41 short-circuiting the contact arms 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65 and 66 of the contact arm retaining member 67, so that the contact arms of the contact arm retainer 68 is short-circuited by the short-circuiting element 33 to indicate a time 8 hours in advance of the time indicated by the contact arms on the contact arm retainer 67. More particularly, in the arrangement shown in FIGS.
  • the contact arms supported on the contact retaining member 69 are short-circuited by the short-circuiting element 47 in such a combination as to indicate figures 5 PM.
  • the relative positions of the three contact arm retaining members in the illustrated example are applicable to a case where the contact arm retaining member 67 is required to indicate the German standard time, the contact arm retaining member 68 is required to indicate the Japanese standard time and the contact arm retaining member 69 is required to indicate the New York standard time.
  • the mechanism having the above construction is herein referred to as a third Mechanism C for the convenience of explanation.
  • the mechanisms A, B and C described hereinabove are assembled into one integral mechanism in the manner similar to the ordinary drum type counter mechanism and are driven through gear means including two outwardly engaging small gears 89 and 90 as shown in FIG. 7.
  • the thus assembled whole mechanism is received in a casing having a front panel as shown in FIG. 8 together with a synchronous motor means such as a timing motor.
  • the synchronous motor is adapted to allow the mechanism A to make a one-tenth revolution at a relatively high speed at every 1 minute for digitally indicating minute unit time from to 9.
  • the mechanism B is driven to make a one-twelfth revolution by way of the small gear 89 to indicate 10 minute time from 0 to 5.
  • the mechanism C is driven to make a one twenty-fourth revolution by way of the small gear 90 to indicate a one step higher number of hour unit time.
  • An electro-mechanical digital world clock comprising:
  • a first mechanism having a first digital indicator consisting of a plurality of electric bulbs, and switching means arranged on a cylindrical rotary body and adapted to be operated at every one minute through intermittent rotation of said rotary body for selectively illuminating said electric bulbs of said first digital indicator for indicating minute unit time by figures of 0 to 9;
  • a second mechanism having a second digital indicator consisting of a plurality of electric bulbs, and switching means arranged on a cylindrical rotary body which is rotated by a predetermined rotational angle at every 10 minutes through gear means in association with the rotation of the rotary body of the first mechanism to operate said switching means for selectively illuminating said electric bulbs of said second digital indicator for indicating 10-minute unit time by figures of 0 to 5;
  • a third mechanism having a third two-figured digital indicator consisting of a plurality of electric bulbs, a cylindrical rotary body adapted to make a one twenty-fourth rotation at every 1 hour through another gear means in association with the rotation of the rotary body of the second mechanism, a first switching means arranged on said rotary body of said third mechanism for selectively illuminating said electric bulbs of said third two-figured digital indicator for indicating hour unit time of one place, and additional switching means arranged on said rotary body of said third mechanism for selectively illuminating said electric bulbs of said third twofigured digital indicator for indicating hour unit time of another place, said additional switching means being located in a relative position on said rotary body of the third mechanism which corresponds to a time difference between said one place and another place; and
  • selection switch means for selectively connecting said first and additional switching means of said third mechanism to a power source for indicating the time of a selected place.
  • said switching means of said first mechanism comprises short-circuiting elements having different configurations and arranged at equal distances around the circumference of said rotary body, and contact arm members connected respectively to said electric bulbs and adapted to be brought into and out of contact with said short-circuiting elements for selectively illuminating said electric bulbs of said first indicator for indicating minute time by figures of 0
  • said switching means of said second mechanism comprises short-circuiting elements arranged at equal distance around the circumference of said rotary body, and contact arm members connected respectively to said segmented electric bulbs and adapted to be brought into and out of contact with said short-circuiting elements for selectively illuminating said electric bulbs of said second indicator for indicating 10 minute time by figures of to
  • said first switching means of said third mechanism comprises 24 short-circuiting elements arranged at equal distance around the circumference of said rotary body of said third mechanism and contact arm members connected respectively to said electric bulbs of said third two-figured digital indicator and adapted to be brought into and out of contact with said twenty-
  • said selection switch means includes a first button switch inserted between said electric bulbs of said third digital indicator and the respective contact arm members of said first switch means of said third mechanism, and a second button switch inserted between said electric bulbs of said third digital indicator and the respective contact arm members of said additional switch means of said third mechanism.
  • said third mechanism further comprises a further additional switching means arranged on said rotary body of said third me :hanism for selectively illuminating said electric bulbs of said third two-figured digital indicator for indicating hour unit time of a third place, said further additional switching means being located in a relative position on said rotary body of the third mechanism which corresponds to time differences-with respect to said first switching means and first additional switching means.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
  • Electric Clocks (AREA)
US00298346A 1971-10-18 1972-10-17 Electro-mechanical digital world clock Expired - Lifetime US3760581A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP46081560A JPS4847374A (de) 1971-10-18 1971-10-18

Publications (1)

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US3760581A true US3760581A (en) 1973-09-25

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US00298346A Expired - Lifetime US3760581A (en) 1971-10-18 1972-10-17 Electro-mechanical digital world clock

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US (1) US3760581A (de)
JP (1) JPS4847374A (de)
BE (1) BE790217A (de)
CA (1) CA984161A (de)
DE (1) DE2251113C3 (de)
GB (1) GB1383007A (de)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3925775A (en) * 1973-10-26 1975-12-09 Ncr Co Multiple digit display employing single digit readout
US4290131A (en) * 1978-04-06 1981-09-15 Citizen Watch Company Limited Electronic timepiece

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1220109A (en) * 1916-09-15 1917-03-20 Heiny Electric Co Electric display system.
US3015094A (en) * 1957-09-06 1961-12-26 Gen Time Corp Lighted numerical time display clock
US3410082A (en) * 1966-02-07 1968-11-12 Olive M. Taylor Time indicating devices
US3613352A (en) * 1969-06-09 1971-10-19 Werner Giersiepen Indicating device

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1220109A (en) * 1916-09-15 1917-03-20 Heiny Electric Co Electric display system.
US3015094A (en) * 1957-09-06 1961-12-26 Gen Time Corp Lighted numerical time display clock
US3410082A (en) * 1966-02-07 1968-11-12 Olive M. Taylor Time indicating devices
US3613352A (en) * 1969-06-09 1971-10-19 Werner Giersiepen Indicating device

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3925775A (en) * 1973-10-26 1975-12-09 Ncr Co Multiple digit display employing single digit readout
US4290131A (en) * 1978-04-06 1981-09-15 Citizen Watch Company Limited Electronic timepiece

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2251113C3 (de) 1975-10-23
BE790217A (fr) 1973-02-15
JPS4847374A (de) 1973-07-05
CA984161A (en) 1976-02-24
DE2251113A1 (de) 1973-04-26
DE2251113B2 (de) 1975-03-20
GB1383007A (en) 1975-02-05

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