US3902309A

US3902309A - Clock for simultaneously displaying different but indirectly related time cycles

Info

Publication number: US3902309A
Application number: US480602A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arthur L Torrence
Original assignee: Mechtronics Corp
Current assignee: Mechtronics Corp
Priority date: 1974-06-19
Filing date: 1974-06-19
Publication date: 1975-09-02
Anticipated expiration: 1992-09-02

Abstract

A clock for simultaneously displaying, through a single drive mechanism, different but indirectly related time cycles. This clock utilizes a single motor which drives two toothed sprockets through an advancement means which engages the teeth on the sprockets. These sprockets have equal diameters but have different numbers of teeth so that they rotate at different speeds. The first of these sprockets is arranged to display one time cycle. A pinion is associated with the other sprocket to rotate at the same speed therewith and through suitable interconnection drives a third toothed sprocket. This third sprocket is arranged to display a time cycle different from that displayed on the first sprocket. By properly choosing the gearing ratios between each of the sprockets and the pinion, conventional hour and minute time, lunar time, and solar time may, for example, be displayed by a single mechanism in an economical yet accurate manner.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Terrence [4 1 Sept. 2, 1975 CLOCK FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY DISPLAYING DIFFERENT BUT INDIRECTLY RELATED TIME CYCLES [75] Inventor: Arthur L. Torrence, Newtown,

Conn.

[73] Assignee: Mechtronics Corporation, Stamford,

Conn.

[22] Filed: June 19, 1974 21 App1.No.:480,602

[5.6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,153,492 9/1915 Hoitinga 58/3 3,721,083 3/1973 58/3 3,766,727 10/1973 58/3 3,823,544 7/1974 Torrence 58/3 Primary Examiner-Edith Simmons Jackmon Attorney, Agent, or FirmHaynes N. Johnson 5 7] ABSTRACT A clock for simultaneously displaying, through a single drive mechanism, different but indirectly related time cycles. This clock utilizes a single motor which drives two toothed sprockets through an advancement means which engages the teeth on the sprockets. These sprockets have equal diameters but have different numbers of teeth so that they rotate at different speeds. The first of these sprockets is arranged to display one time cycle. A pinion is associated with the other sprocket to rotate at the same speed therewith and through suitable interconnection drives a third toothed sprocket. This third sprocket is arranged to display a time cycle different from that displayed on the first sprocket.

By properly choosing the gearing ratios between each of the sprockets and the pinion, conventional hour and minute time, lunar time, and solar time may, for example, be displayed by a single mechanism in an economical yet accurate manner.

11 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED SEP 2l975 sum 2 [1 1 CLOCK FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY DISPLAYING DIFFERENT BUT INDIRECTLY RELATED TIME CYCLES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention It is often desirable to indicate different but indirectly related time cycles in a single display. For example, it is well known that the earth rotates on its axis once every 24 hours thus providing a basis for measure of daily, hour and minute, time. Further, the moon revolves in its orbit around the earth once in approximately 29 /2 days. This lunar motion provides a basis for measure of lunar monthly time and the movement of tides. Moreover, the earth revolves once, in its orbit, around the sun in approximately 365 /4 days. This motion of the earth provides a basis for measuring solar yearly time.

Consequently, it is often desirable to be able to ascertain the time of day, the time of lunar month, and the time of solar year simultaneously. For example, one may wish to ascertain the phase of the moon in order to conduct astronomical observations. More commonly, it is desirable to know the time of year in order to determine when certain crops should be planted and harvested. Astrologers may wish to ascertain the time of year as a guide to their astrological predictions.

A clock which simultaneously displays the time of day, lunar month, and solar year may have great utility in other areas. The integrated clock of the present invention is a means which may be adapted to provide such simultaneous time display in an economical and simple fashion yet still with a high degree of accuracy.

2. Description of the Prior Art A variety of devices are presently known for indicating the relative positions and movements of the earth, sun, and moon. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 246,061 Blair discloses an astronomical clock and US. Pat. No. 1,484,174 Divo discloses a device for indicating the relative movements of the earth, sun and moon. Such devices, however, are generally very complex and hence are not economical to construct.

Other clocks which simultaneously indicate two measures of time are disclosed in US. Pat. Nos. 2,677,928- Haynes and 3,524,313 Wood. Each patent discloses a device for indicating the time of day as well as for indicating the time of natural tidal cycles. In addition, my US. Patent No. 3,823,344 is directed to an integrated diurnal tide and time clock for continuously indicating time of day and time of tide. However, these prior art patents and my eo-pending application do not disclose an apparatus for simultaneously indicating three different but indirectly related time cycles such as the time of day, lunar month, and solar year.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The presently preferred embodiment of the clock of the present invention for simultaneously indicating different but indirectly related time cycles such as the time of day, lunar month, and solar year, that is, for simultaneously indicating time measured by the rotation of the earth, the revolution of the moon about the earth, and the revolution of the earth about the sun, includes a clock having an hour hand and a minute hand for indicating the time of day. Amain drive toothed sprocket and a lunar device toothed sprocket for indicating the time oflunar month, both having teeth about their peripheries and having the same diameter, are mounted for rotation. The main drive toothed sprocket carries 122 teeth and the lunar drive toothed sprocket carries 1 18 teeth.

A motor is mounted to operate the hands of the daytime indicating clock and a cam is mounted for rotation with the hour hand of this clock. The cam actuates a cam follower which carries an actuation spring that simultaneously engages the teeth of the main drive and lunar drive sprockets. Thus, when the cam actuates the cam follower twice in a 24 hour day, the main drive sprocket is rotationally advanced 1/61 of one complete revolution and the lunar drive sprocket is rotationally advanced 1/59 of one complete revolution.

The lunar drive sprocket forms a lunar display dial on which a scale is printed that is calibrated so that one complete revolution indicates 2 lunar montly cycles, each consisting of 29 /2 days.

A pinion is mounted for rotation at the same speed as the main drive sprocket. A solar drive sprocket which forms a solar display dial has a scale printed on its surface for indicating the time of the solar year. This solar drive sprocket is driven by the main drive sprocket through the pinion in a gearing ratio of 1/6. The scale on the solar drive sprocket is calibrated so that one complete revolution indicates one solar yearly cycle having 366 days. The pinion and the solar drive sprocket are interconnected by a bead chain which is held in firm engagement by tensioning studs.

The simple mechanical arrangement of the preferred embodiment of the present invention provides an economical clock for simultaneously displaying different but indirectly related times cycles, namely the time of day, the time oflunar month, and the time of solar year. All three displays are driven by a single motor which directly operates the day-time indicating clock. Additionally, this simple arrangement provides a highly accurate indication of the various desired times.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a unique and novel clock for simultaneously indicating different but indirectly related time cycles, namely the time of day, lunar month, and solar year. The device of the present invention is simple and economical to construct and is at the same time highly accurate.

Other objects, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will be pointed out in or will be understood from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which are briefly described below and which show the presently preferred mode of putting this invention into practice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. This Figure illustrates the displays for indicating the time of day, the time of lunar month, and the time of solar year;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view illustrating in detail the components of this clock;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of this clock taken through plane 33 in FIG. 1 looking toward the left showing in detail the components in assembled form;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken through plane 4-4 in FIG. 1 looking toward the left showing in detail the manner in which the various components are mounted; and

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view, partly broken away, of the main and lunar drive sprockets illustrating the cam, cam follower, actuation spring, and a detent spring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the preferred embodiment of the clock of the present invention for simultaneously indicating different but indirectly related time cycles such as the time of day, lunar month, and solar year comprises a cabinet 2 which includes a front face plate 4, a central mechanism support plate 6, and a rear face plate 8. The central mechanism support plate 6 and the rear face plate 8 are each supported inthe cabinet by four corner blocks 10.

FIG. 1 illustrates clock displays for indicating the time of day, time of lunar month, and time of solar year in assembled form. The display for indicating the time of day includes a face which is divided in conventional fashion into 12 parts, each representing 1 hour or 5 minutes. As illustrated, the

numbers

3, 6, 9, and 12 appear on this face 12. An hour hand 14 and a minute hand 16 indicate the time of the day by their relative positions on the day-time indicating display face.

The display for indicating the time of lunar month is superimposed on the daytime indicating display. This lunar display includes a dial 18 in the form of a disk having a suitable scale for indicating lunar monthly time on its surface. This scale is visible through an opening 20 cut in the face of the day-time indicating display. The opening is shaped to form a pointer 22. The lunar scale is shown with a symbol 24 which when aligned with the pointer 22 indicates that the moon is full. Other times in the lunar monthly cycle, that is, half moon, quarter moons, and new moon, are indicated by the relative positions of the symbol 24 and the pointer 22. The lunar clock dial 18 may be provided with scale affording greater precision in measurement of lunar monthly time merely by adding other symbols indicative of the phases of the moon at appropriate locations.

The display for indicating solar yearly time is shown having a face 26 positioned below the day-time lunartime indicatingdisplays. The solar-yearly time indicating display includes a solar dial 28 which is visible through a solar display opening 30 cut in the front face plate 4. A pointer 32 is vertically mounted across the opening 30. The solar clock dial is provided with a suitable scale for indicating solaryearly time. As illustrated, this scale is divided into 12 parts represented by various symbols 34 which indicate the signs of the Z0- diac. Alternatively, the solar clock dial may be provided with any other desired scale, for example, one indicating the months of the year, one indicating planting cycles for various crops, or one indicating the seasons of the year.

The mechanism which affords accurate indication of the time of day, the time of lunar month, and the time of solar year in a simple and economical fashion is illustrated in detail in FIGS. 2 through 5. All three'displays comprising the clock of this preferred embodiment are operated by a single synchronous motor 36 which is electrically operated. Any other suitable-clock actuation mechanism for accurately driving the minute and hour hands of the day-time indicating clock may be used. However, an electrically operated synchronous motor, such as that illustrated. is preferable since it is generally inexpensive and'yet extremely accurate. The motor 36 is mounted on the central mechanism support plate 6 by a bolt 38 which engages a motor mounting shaft 40. The synchronous motor is provided with two

concentric shafts

42 and 44 on which the hour hand 14 and minute hand 16 are respectively mounted and is geared to operate the

hands

14 and 16 at conventional speeds to properly indicate the time of day.

A cam 46 is attached to the hour hand shaft to rotate at the same speed with it. As shown in detail in FIG. 5, the cam 46 has a single lobe 48 which causes a cam follower 50 to pivot in an oscillatory manner about a point 52. A cam follower return spring 54, attached at one end to the central mechanism support plate 6 and attached at the other end to cam follower 50 is provided to insure firm contact between the cam and the follower. An actuation spring 56 is carried at the end of the cam follower 50.

The clock mechanism of the preferred embodiment of the present invention further includes a main drive toothed sprocket 58, integrally formed with a smaller pinion 60, mounted for free rotation on the hour hand shaft 42. Since the pinion and the main drive sprocket are integrally formed, both rotate at the same speed. Nylon or any other material suitable for making gears may be used to form the main drive sprocket at the pinion. Additionally, these components need not be formed together but should be'assembled so that they rotate at the same speed.

A lunar drive toothed sprocket 62 is also mounted on the hour hand shaft 42 for free rotation. A washer 64 separates the pinion and the lunar drive sprocket 62. Similarly; this lunar drive sprocket may be made from nylon or any other suitable material from which gears are usually constructed.

Both the main drive and lunar drive sprockets are provided with a plurality of gear teeth 66 about their periphery. As illustrated in exaggerated form to show detail in FIG. 5, the gear teeth 66 carried on both the main drive and lunar drive sprockets are formed and arranged to be simultaneously engaged by the actuation spring 56 carried at the end of the cam follower 50. A detent spring 68, which is not shown in FIG. 3 for purposes of clarity, is mounted on the central mechanism support plate 6 to hold the main and lunar drive sprockets in a fixed position during the period of upward pivoted travel of the cam follower and actuation spring. Since the cam is mounted for rotation with the hour hand shaft 42, the cam follower oscillates through its pivoted path twice per day. The cam is shaped and the actuation spring is dimensioned so that both the main drive and lunar drive sprockets are advanced one tooth for each oscillation of the cam follower, or are advanced two teeth per day.

It has been found that providing the main drive sprocket with 122 teeth and the lunar drive sprocket with l 18 teeth permits them to be conveniently, simultaneously, rotationally advanced by the cam follower and actuation spring. Since the main drive sprocket 58 has 122 teeth. and is advanced two teeth per day, it completes one revolution in 61 days. Similarly, since the lunar drive sprocket has 1 18 teeth and is advanced two teeth per day, it completes one revolution in 59 days. As illustrated in FIG. 2,the lunar clock dial 18 formed bythe lunar drive sprocket is divided into two portions 7Q and 72 on each of which is printed a completelunar monthly cycle scale. Thus, one complete revolution of the lunar drive sprocket indicates 2 lunar monthly cycles of 29 /2 days each.

A solar drive sprocket 74, the face of which forms the solar display dial 28, is mounted for rotation on a fixed shaft 76 below the main and lunar drive sprockets. The shaft 76 is mounted on the central mechanism support plate 6 by a machine screw 78 and spacer sleeves 80 are provided to position the solar drive sprocket on the shaft. As shown in FIG. 2, the solar drive sprocket is interconnected to the day-time display and lunar display by a bead chain 82 which is reaved about the pinion 60. The path of the bead chain is defined by three positioning and tensioning studs 84 which are mounted on the central mechanism support plate. The solar drive sprocket is provided with 90 teeth suitably formed to engage the bead chain. The pinion is formed with teeth, also suitably formed to engaged the bead chain. As noted, the main drive sprocket, and hence, the pinion make one complete revolution in 61 days. Since the lunar drive sprocket makes 1 complete revolution for every 6 revolutions of the pinion, the solar drive sprocket makes one complete revolution in 366 days. Thus, the lunar drive sprocket indicates a lunar cycle of 29% days and the solar drive sprocket indicates a solar yearly cycle of 366 days. If it is assumed that the actual lunar cycle is 29days, 12 hours, 44 minutes, and 3 seconds, the indication of lunar time is 99.9% accurate. Similarly, if it is assumed that the actual solar yearly cycle is 365% days, the indication of solar yearly time provided by the integrated clock of the present invention is 99.8% accurate.

It is desirable to provide main drive and lunar drive sprockets having 122 and 118 teeth respectively. These configurations permit easy simultaneous operation by the cam follower and actuation spring since the teeth on each sprocket are nearly identical in size. However, any arrangement where the total number of teeth on the lunar drive sprocket is a multiple n of 59 and the total number of teeth on the main drive sprocket is also a multiple n of 61, and wherein the cam follower and cam are arranged to be cyclically operated ntimes per day is satisfactory. Additionally, other displays of different but indirectly related time cycles may be achieved by choosing appropriate gearing ratios between each of the sprockets and the pinion.

Accordingly, the integrated clock of the present invention provides a simple, economical and accurate integrated clock for indicating the different but indirectly related time cycles such as the time of day, time of lunar month, and time of solar year.

I claim:

1. A clock for simultaneously indicating different but indirectly related time cycles such as the time of day, lunar month, and solar year, that is, time the bases for measure of which are respectively the rotation of the earth, the revolution of the moon about the earth, and the revolution of the earth about the sun, comprising:

a clock having an hour and a minute hand for indicating the time of day;

a motor mounted to operate said daytime indicating clock;

a main drive sprocket, having gear teeth about its pcriphery, mounted for rotation;

a lunar drive sprocket for indicating the time of lunar month, mounted for rotation with said main drive sprocket, also having gear teeth about its periphcry, the ratio of the total number of lunar drive sprocket teeth to the total number of main drive sprocket teeth being 59/61;

single means associated with said motor for simultaneously rotationally advancing each of said main and said lunar drive sprockets a predetermined number of teeth per day to provide the appropriate indicated daily advance of lunar time; and

a solar drive sprocket for indicating the time of year, the solar drive sprocket being driven by said main drive sprocket through a predetermined rotational speed reduction ratio providing the appropriate indicated daily advance of solar time.

2. A clock for simultaneously indicating different but indirectly related time cycles such as the time of day, lunar month, and solar year, that is, time the bases for measure of which are respectively the rotation of the earth, the revolution of the moon about the earth, and the revolution of the earth about the sun as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

a detent spring to retard rotation of said lunar and said main drive sprockets, when not being rotationally advanced by said advancement means.

3. A clock for simultaneously indicating different but indirectly related time cycles such as the time of day, lunar month, and solar year, that is, time the bases for measure of which are respectively the rotation of the earth, the revolution of the moon about the earth, and the revolution of the earth about the sun as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for rotationally advancing said main and said lunar drive sprockets comprises:

a cam mounted with the hour hand of said day-time indicating clock for rotation at the same speed therewith;

a cam follower mounted to be actuated by said cam;

and

means carried on said cam follower for engaging said lunar and said main drive sprocket gear teeth.

4. A clock for simultaneously indicating different but indirectly related time cycles such as the time of day, lunar month, and solar year, that is, time the bases for measure of which are respectively the rotation of the earth, the revolution of the moon about the earth, and the revolution of the earth about the sun as claimed in claim 3 wherein said cam is adapted to actuate said cam follower and said engagement means 2 times per day, to rotationally advance said main and said lunar drive sprocket two teeth per day; and wherein said main drive sprocket has 122 teeth and said lunar drive sprocket has 1 18 teeth.

5. A clock for simultaneously indicating different but indirectly related time cycles such as the time of day, lunar month, and solar year, that is, time the bases for measure of which are respectively the rotation of the earth, the revolution of the moon about the earth, and the revolution of the earth about the sun as claimed in claim 4 wherein said lunar drive sprocket is calibrated so that one complete revolution indicates 2 lunar monthly cycles, each having 29 /2 days.

6. A clock for simultaneously indicating different but indirectly related time cycles such as the time of day, lunar month, and solar year, that is, time the bases for measure of which are respectively the rotation of the earth, the revolution of the moon about the earth, and the revolution of the earth about the sun as claimed in claim 4 wherein said solar indicating sprocket is calibrated so that one complete revolution indicates one solar yearly cycle, having 366 days, and wherein the speed reduction ratio between said main drive sprocket and said solar drive sprocket is 1/6.

7. A clock for simultaneously indicating different but indirectly related time cycles such as the time of day, lunar month, and solar year, that is, time the bases for measure of which are respectively the rotation of the earth, the revolution of the moon about the earth, and the revolution of the earth about the sun as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

a pinion mounted for rotation at the same speed as said main drive sprocket; and

a bead chain which interconnects said pinion and said solar drive sprocket for driving said solar indicating sprocket at l/6 the rotational speed of the pinion.

8. A clock for simultaneously indicating different but indirectly related time cycles such as the time of day, lunar month, and solar year, that is, time the bases for -measure of which are respectively the rotation of the earth, the revolution of the moon about the earth, and the revolution of the earth about the sun as claimed in claim 7 further comprising:

tensioning means for maintaining tension in said bead chain.

9. A clock for simultaneously indicating different but indirectly related time cycles such as the time of day, lunar month, and solar year, that is, time the bases for measure of which are respectively the rotation of the earth, the revolution of the moon about the earth, and the revolution of the earth about the sun comprising a display having an hour and a minute hand for indicating the time of day;

a motor mounted to operate said day-time indicating display;

a lunar display having a dial and a pointer for indicating the time of month mounted with said day-time indicating display;

a solar display having a dial and a pointer for indicating the time of year also mounted with said daytime indicating display; and

gear means for interconnecting said day-time indicating, solar, and lunar displays comprising:

main gear means;

lunar gear means for driving said lunar display pointer relative to said lunar display dial, the ratio of teeth on said lunar and main gear means being 59/61;

means associated with said motor for simultaneously rotationally advancing said main gear means l/61) of one revolution per day and for rotationally advancing said lunar gear means l/59) of one revolution per day;

pinion means mounted for rotation at the same speed as said main gear means; and

solar gear means driven by said main gear means through said pinion means for in turn driving said solar display pointer relative to said solar display dial, the gearing ratio between said pinion means and said solar gear means being l/6.

10. A clock for simultaneously indicating different but indirectly related time cycles such as the time of day, lunar month, and solar year, that is, time the bases for measure of which are respectively the rotation of the earth, the revolution of the moon about the earth, and the revolution of the earth about the sun as claimed in claim 9 wherein said means for rotationally advancing said main and said lunar gear means comprises:

a cam mounted with the hour hand of said day-time indicating display for rotation at the same speed therewith;

a cam follower mounted to be actuated by said cam;

and

a means carried on said cam for engaging at least one of said main gear means and said lunar gear means.

11. In a clock having an hour and a minute hand and a motor mounted to operate the hour and minute hands to indicate the time of day, the improvement comprising a mechanism for simultaneously indicating time cycles different from the day-time cycle but indirectly related thereto, said mechanism comprising:

a main drive sprocket mounted for rotation having teeth about its periphery;

a second drive sprocket for indicating a second time cycle different from but indirectly related to the day-time cycle mounted for rotation with said main drive sprocket also having teeth about its periphery;

the main drive sprocket and second drive sprocket being coaxial and having the same diameters and about, but not exactly, the same numbers of teeth, whereby the teeth on the main and second drive sprockets are about the same size;

single means associated with said motor for simulta neously rotationally advancing said main and said second drive sprockets in one tooth increments;

a third drive sprocket, for indicating a third time cycle different from but indirectly related to the day-time and second-time cycles, driven by said main drive sprocket through said pinion.

l l l l=

Claims

1. A clock for simultaneously indicating different but indirectly related time cycles such as the time of day, lunar month, and solar year, that is, time the bases for measure of which are respectively the rotation of the earth, the revolution of the moon about the earth, and the revolution of the earth about the sun, comprising: a clock having an hour and a minute hand for indicating the time of day; a motor mounted to operate said day-time indicating clock; a main drive sprocket, having gear teeth about its periphery, mounted for rotation; a lunar drive sprocket for indicating the time of lunar month, mounted for rotation with said main drive sprocket, also having gear teeth about its periphery, the ratio of the total number of lunar drive sprocket teeth to the total number of main drive sprocket teeth being 59/61; single means associated with said motor for simultaneously rotationally advancing each of said main and said lunar drive sprockets a predetermined number of teeth per day to provide the appropriate indicated daily advance of lunar time; and a solar drive sprocket for indicating the time of year, the solar drive sprocket being driven by said main drive sprocket through a predetermined rotational speed reduction ratio providing the appropriate indicated daily advance of solar time.

2. A clock for simultaneously indicating different but indirectly related time cycles such as the time of day, lunar month, and solar year, that is, time the bases for measure of which are respectively the rotation of the earth, the revolution of the moon about the earth, and the revolution of the earth about the sun as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: a detent spring to retard rotation of said lunar and said main drive sprockets, when not being rotationally advanced by said advancement means.

3. A clock for simultaneously indicating different but indirectly related time cycles such as the time of day, lunar month, and solar year, that is, time the bases for measure of which are respectively the rotation of the earth, the revolution of the moon about the earth, and the revolution of the earth about the sun as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for rotationally advancing said main and said lunar drive sprockets comprises: a cam mounted with the hour hand of said day-time indicating clock for rotation at the same speed therewith; a cam follower mounted to be actuated by said cam; and means carried on said cam follower for engaging said lunar and said main drive sprocket gear teeth.

4. A clock for simultaneously indicating different but indirectly related time cycles such as the time of day, lunar month, and solar year, that is, time the bases for measure of which are respectively the rotation of the earth, the revolution of the moon about the earth, and the revolution of the earth about the sun as claimed in claim 3 wherein said cam is adapted to actuate said cam follower and said engagement means 2 times per day, to rotationally advance said main and said lunar drive sprocket two teeth per day; and wherein said main drive sprocket has 122 teeth and said lunar drive sprocket has 118 teeth.

5. A clock for simultaneously indicating different but indirectly related time cycles such as the time of day, lunar month, and solar year, that is, time the bases for measure of which are respectively the rotation of the earth, the revolution of the moon about the earth, and the revolution of the earth about the sun as claimed in claim 4 wherein said lunar drive sprocket is calibrated so that one complete revolution indicates 2 lunar monthly cycles, each having 29 1/2 days.

7. A clock for simultaneously indicating different but indirectly related time cycles such as the time of day, lunar month, and solar year, that is, time the bases for measure of which are respectively the rotation of the earth, the revolution of the moon about the earth, and the revolution of the earth about the sun as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: a pinion mounted for rotation at the same speed as said main drive sprocket; and a bead chain which interconnects said pinion and said solar drive sprocket for driving said solar indicating sprocket at 1/6 the rotational speed of the pinion.

8. A clock for simultaneously indicating different but indirectly related time cycles such as the time of day, lunar month, and solar year, that is, time the bases for measure of which are respectively the rotation of the earth, the revolution of the moon about the earth, and the revolution of the earth about the sun as claimed in claim 7 further comprising: tensioning means for maintaining tension in said bead chain.

9. A clock for simultaneously indicating different but indirectly related time cycles such as the time of day, lunar month, and solar year, that is, time the bases for measure of which are respectively the rotation of the earth, the revolution of the moon about the earth, and the revolution of the earth about the sun comprising a display having an hour and a minute hand for indicating the time of day; a motor mounted to operate said day-time indicating display; a lunar display having a dial and a pointer for indicating the time of month mounted with said day-time indicating display; a solar display having a diAl and a pointer for indicating the time of year also mounted with said day-time indicating display; and gear means for interconnecting said day-time indicating, solar, and lunar displays comprising: main gear means; lunar gear means for driving said lunar display pointer relative to said lunar display dial, the ratio of teeth on said lunar and main gear means being 59/61; means associated with said motor for simultaneously rotationally advancing said main gear means (1/61) of one revolution per day and for rotationally advancing said lunar gear means (1/59) of one revolution per day; pinion means mounted for rotation at the same speed as said main gear means; and solar gear means driven by said main gear means through said pinion means for in turn driving said solar display pointer relative to said solar display dial, the gearing ratio between said pinion means and said solar gear means being 1/6.

10. A clock for simultaneously indicating different but indirectly related time cycles such as the time of day, lunar month, and solar year, that is, time the bases for measure of which are respectively the rotation of the earth, the revolution of the moon about the earth, and the revolution of the earth about the sun as claimed in claim 9 wherein said means for rotationally advancing said main and said lunar gear means comprises: a cam mounted with the hour hand of said day-time indicating display for rotation at the same speed therewith; a cam follower mounted to be actuated by said cam; and a means carried on said cam for engaging at least one of said main gear means and said lunar gear means.

11. In a clock having an hour and a minute hand and a motor mounted to operate the hour and minute hands to indicate the time of day, the improvement comprising a mechanism for simultaneously indicating time cycles different from the day-time cycle but indirectly related thereto, said mechanism comprising: a main drive sprocket mounted for rotation having teeth about its periphery; a second drive sprocket for indicating a second time cycle different from but indirectly related to the day-time cycle mounted for rotation with said main drive sprocket also having teeth about its periphery; the main drive sprocket and second drive sprocket being coaxial and having the same diameters and about, but not exactly, the same numbers of teeth, whereby the teeth on the main and second drive sprockets are about the same size; single means associated with said motor for simultaneously rotationally advancing said main and said second drive sprockets in one tooth increments; a pinion mounted for rotation at the same speed as said main drive sprocket; and a third drive sprocket, for indicating a third time cycle different from but indirectly related to the day-time and second-time cycles, driven by said main drive sprocket through said pinion.