WO2023089379A1

WO2023089379A1 - A clock dial and method for determining varying divisions in a 364-day year

Info

Publication number: WO2023089379A1
Application number: PCT/IB2022/050254
Authority: WO
Inventors: Davina DUGGAN; Luke KIRWAN-LEWIS
Original assignee: Duggan Davina; Kirwan Lewis Luke
Priority date: 2021-11-21
Filing date: 2022-01-13
Publication date: 2023-05-25
Also published as: GB202215257D0; GB2614870A; GB202116760D0

Abstract

A clock dial and method wherein the clock dial is provided with seventy-two twenty-minute indices and eighteen eighty-minute graduations, which are traversed by a single Part-indicating pointer once every 1,440-minutes; and can be used to approximately determine varying divisions of night and day, twelve months, and four seasons in a 364-day year. The seventy-two, indices are evenly spaced at 5-degree intervals on the periphery of the display. In each eighty-minute, twenty-degree Part, there are four indices, however the first index always falls on the main 20-degree part lines. In operation, a single pointer started at the first index at sunset will indicate the varying divisions of night and day when driven by a clock movement with a speed of 0.25 degrees per minute.

Description

A clock dial and method for determining varying divisions in a 364-day year

This invention relates to a clock dial and method which can be used to determine the varying divisions in a 364-day year, according to the account given in the Pseudepigraphal book of 1 Enoch.

In the Second Temple period (516 B.C.E.–70 C.E.), several texts were composed that recount heavenly visions revealed to Enoch, a patriarch briefly mentioned in Genesis 4–5. Some of these writings were compiled into a large, 108-chapter work, known today as 1 Enoch. It is a composite work, composed of distinct texts written by various authors at various times, ranging from the third century B.C.E. to the first century C.E. First Enoch is canonical neither in Judaism nor in Christianity, except in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. The work, which is preserved in its entirety only in Ge’ez (classical Ethiopic), is therefore sometimes referred to as Ethiopian Enoch.

For centuries knowledge of 1 Enoch was lost among Western scholars. The book re-emerged when James Bruce, a Scotsman who travelled in Africa during the years 1768–1773 to discover the sources of the Nile River, acquired several Ethiopian manuscripts of the work and brought them to Europe. The first modern edition of 1 Enoch was published in 1821 by Richard Laurence.

The Dead Sea Scrolls include fragments of eleven Aramaic manuscripts of Enochic books (4Q201-02; 4Q204-12). For the first time, texts of 1 Enoch in Aramaic became available. These manuscripts are the oldest extant witnesses to the books of 1 Enoch.

First Enoch falls into five major divisions; the third of which is the “Book of the Luminaries” (1 Enoch 72–82). Also known as the “Astronomical Book,” it is one of the oldest books of 1 Enoch.

The bulk of the “Book of the Luminaries” is a compilation of cosmological and astronomical knowledge. The astronomical knowledge of the book is at times quite detailed and difficult to comprehend.

First Enoch 72:2–3 provides an impression of the contents of the book: “This is the first law of the luminaries: the luminary (called) the sun has its emergence through the heavenly gates in the east and its setting through the western gates of the sky. I saw six gates through which the sun emerges and six gates through which the sun sets.”

First Enoch 72:6-33 provides a detailed explanation of the movements of the sun and the varying divisions of night and day through the days and months of a 364-day year:

“In this way he [the Sun] rises in the first month in the great portal, which is the fourth {those six portals in the cast}. And in that fourth portal from which the sun rises in the first month are twelve window-openings, from which proceed a flame when they are opened in their season. When the sun rises in the heaven, he comes forth through that fourth portal thirty mornings in succession and sets accurately in the fourth portal in the west of the heaven. And during this period the day becomes daily longer and the night nightly shorter to the thirtieth morning.

“On that day the day is longer than the night by a ninth part, and the day amounts exactly to ten parts and the night to eight parts. And the sun rises from that fourth portal and sets in the fourth and returns to the fifth portal of the east thirty mornings and rises from it and sets in the fifth portal. And then the day becomes longer by two parts and amounts to eleven parts, and the night becomes shorter and amounts to seven parts.

“And it returns to the east and enters into the sixth portal and rises and sets in the sixth portal one-and-thirty mornings on account of its sign. On that day the day becomes longer than the night, and the day becomes double the night, and the day becomes twelve parts, and the night is shortened and becomes six parts.

“And the sun mounts up to make the day shorter and the night longer, and the sun returns to the east and enters into the sixth portal and rises from it and sets thirty mornings. And when thirty mornings are accomplished, the day decreases by exactly one part, and becomes eleven parts, and the night seven.

“And the sun goes forth from that sixth portal in the west and goes to the east and rises in the fifth portal for thirty mornings and sets in the west again in the fifth western portal. On that day the day decreases by two parts and amounts to ten parts and the night to eight parts.

“And the sun goes forth from that fifth portal and sets in the fifth portal of the west and rises in the fourth portal for one-and-thirty mornings on account of its sign and sets in the west. On that day the day is equalized with the night, and becomes of equal length, and the night amounts to nine parts and the day to nine parts.

“And the sun rises from that portal and sets in the west and returns to the east and rises thirty mornings in the third portal and sets in the west in the third portal. And on that day the night becomes longer than the day, and night becomes longer than night, and day shorter than day till the thirtieth morning, and the night amounts exactly to ten parts and the day to eight parts.

“And the sun rises from that third portal and sets in the third portal in the west and returns to the east, and for thirty mornings rises in the second portal in the east, and in like manner sets in the second portal in the west of the heaven. And on that day the night amounts to eleven parts and the day to seven parts.

“And the sun rises on that day from that second portal and sets in the west in the second portal and returns to the east into the first portal for one-and-thirty mornings and sets in the first portal in the west of the heaven. And on that day the night becomes longer and amounts to the double of the day: and the night amounts exactly to twelve parts and the day to six.

“And the sun has [therewith] traversed the divisions of his orbit and turns again on those divisions of his orbit and enters that portal thirty mornings and sets also in the west opposite to it. And on that night has the night decreased in length by a ninth part, and the night has become eleven parts and the day seven parts.

“And the sun has returned and entered into the second portal in the east and returns on those his divisions of his orbit for thirty mornings, rising and setting. And on that day the night decreases in length, and the night amounts to ten parts and the day to eight.

“And on that day the sun rises from that portal, and sets in the west, and returns to the east, and rises in the third portal for one-and-thirty mornings and sets in the west of the heaven. “On that day the night decreases and amounts to nine parts, and the day to nine parts, and the night is equal to the day and the year is exactly as to its days three hundred and sixty-four.”

The “Book of the Luminaries” tabulates the length of the year as 364 days (1 En. 72:32; 74:12; 82:6) and thus demonstrates a solar calendar of exactly 52 weeks. This explanation is quite detailed, difficult to understand, and is not yet depicted on a clock dial. it is important, particularly to communities following the Enochic calendar, to be able to approximately identify and monitor the progression and units of time as described. In addition, there is a need for a clock dial that provides a clear indication of this fascinating account and that can be used in quartz and mechanical clocks, watches, and other timepieces. Finally, existing inventions are based on lunisolar, or the modern Jewish, calendars that mark a year of 365-day or more. To overcome these challenges, the present invention proposes a clock dial and method wherein the clock dial is provided with a scale comprising seventy-two 20-minute indices and eighteen 80-minute graduations , which are traversed by a single Part-indicating pointer once in each 1,440-minute time period; and can be used to approximately determine varying divisions of night and day, twelve months, and four seasons in a 364-day year, according to the account given in the Pseudepigraphal book of 1 Enoch.
INTRODUCTION TO THE DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND LIST OF FIGURES

The invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

shows a front view of the clock dial.

shows a side view of the clock dial.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXAMPLE OF INVENTION

In , the Clock dial 1 has eighteen ‘Parts’ 2 (also referred to herein as segments and graduations), each of twenty degrees situated on the periphery of its circular display; these Parts are numbered from one to eighteen. The eighteen graduations 2 are traversed by one pointer 6, which can be driven by a standard 24-hr clock movement 7 in , as it moves at the required rate of 0.25 degrees per minute.

In , the pointer takes eighty minutes to move through each twenty-degree Part, therefore it takes 1,440 minutes to go three hundred and sixty degrees through all eighteen Parts - or around the clock dial 1 once.

The clock dial has seventy-two, twenty-minute indices 4, which are evenly spaced at five-degree intervals 5 also on the periphery of the display 1. In each eighty-minute, twenty-degree Part, there are four indices, however Index number seventy-two 8, (which is positioned at the end of Part eighteen and at the start of Part one) and every subsequent fourth index (Indices five, nine, thirteen, seventeen, twenty-one, twenty-five, twenty-nine, thirty-three, thirty-seven, forty-one, forty-five, forty-nine, fifty-three, fifty-seven, sixty-one, sixty-five, and sixty-nine) marks the start of one of eighteen Parts, falling on one of the main 20-degree part lines 3. A twenty-minute index, or marking, of a Part 9 will be at the first 5 degrees into each 20-degree segment. The 40-minute marking 10 should be exactly in the centre of each 20-degree segment, so at 10 degrees into each segment. The 60-minute marking 11 should be at 15 degrees into each segment. An eighty-minute marking 12 will be at 20 degrees in each 20-degree segment and will also mark the start of the next twenty-degree segment.

In operation, and with reference to the method for determining varying divisions in a 364-day year: the single pointer 6 should be set at the start of the First Part, on the seventy-second index 8, at sunset. It should then be checked at sunrise for the length of night reading. For example, if at sunrise the pointer 6 is in the Tenth Part or graduation 13, the current month is either Month Seven or Month Eleven. The months do not correspond to modern-day calendars; they are instead the months rendered in the Book of First Enoch. The pointer 6 should be checked again at sunset to confirm the length of day reading, which would be indicated by summing up the number of Parts or graduations 2 remaining after the length of night reading. Therefore, by the time the pointer 6 gets to the 18th Part or graduation 14, it should be the start of sunset again. It is possible to identify, as in the example given above, whether dial is indicating Month Seven or Eleven (which are one of five pairs of months that have the same division of night and day) by relating it to the standard appearance of seasons. In this example, if it is Autumn in the geographical location of the reader, it will be Month Seven and if it is Winter, it will be Month Eleven. Months One to Three are in Spring, Months Four to Six are in Summer, Months Seven to Nine are in Autumn and Months Ten to Twelve are in Winter.

For Month One, when at sunset the pointer 6 is set at the eighty-minute index of the eighteenth Part 8, which is also the start of the First Part; at sunrise the pointer 6 should have traversed through eight Parts until the 30th morning, leaving the daylight hours to consist of ten Parts (Parts numbered nine to eighteen) until sunset starts again.

For Month Two, when at sunset the pointer 6 is set at the eighty-minute index of the eighteenth Part, which is also the start of the first Part; at sunrise the pointer should have traversed through seven Parts until the 30th morning, leaving the daylight hours to consist of eleven Parts (Parts numbered eight to eighteen) until sunset starts again.

For Month Three, when at sunset the pointer is set at the eighty-minute index of the eighteenth Part 8, which is also the start of the first Part; at sunrise the pointer 6 should have traversed through six Parts until the 31st morning, leaving the daylight hours to consist of twelve Parts (Parts numbered seven to eighteen) until sunset starts again.

For Month Four, when at sunset the pointer 6 is set at the eighty-minute index of the eighteenth Part 8, which is also the start of the first Part; at sunrise the pointer 6 should have traversed through seven Parts until the 30th morning, leaving the daylight hours to consist of eleven Parts (Parts numbered eight to eighteen) until sunset starts again.

For Month Five, when at sunset the pointer 6 is set at the eighty-minute index of the eighteenth Part 8, which is also the start of the first Part; at sunrise the pointer 6 should have traversed through eight Parts until the 30th morning, leaving the daylight hours to consist of ten Parts (Parts numbered nine to eighteen) until sunset starts again.

For Month Six, when at sunset the pointer 6 is set at the eighty-minute index of the eighteenth Part 8, which is also the start of the first Part; at sunrise the pointer 6 should have traversed through nine Parts until the 31st morning, leaving the daylight hours to consist of nine Parts (Parts numbered ten to eighteen) until sunset starts again.

For Month Seven, when at sunset the pointer 6 is set at the eighty-minute index of the eighteenth Part 8, which is also the start of the first Part; at sunrise the pointer 6 should have traversed through ten Parts until the 30th morning, leaving the daylight hours to consist of eight Parts (Parts numbered eleven to eighteen) until sunset starts again.

For Month Eight, when at sunset the pointer 6 is set at the eighty-minute index of the eighteenth Part 8, which is also the start of the first Part; at sunrise the pointer 6 should have traversed through eleven Parts until the 30th morning, leaving the daylight hours to consist of seven Parts (Parts numbered twelve to eighteen) until sunset starts again.

For Month Nine, when at sunset the pointer 6 is set at the eighty-minute index of the eighteenth Part 8, which is also the start of the first Part; at sunrise the pointer 6 should have traversed through twelve Parts until the 31st morning, leaving the daylight hours to consist of six Parts (Parts numbered thirteen to eighteen) until sunset starts again.

For Month Ten, when at sunset the pointer 6 is set at the eighty-minute index of the eighteenth Part 8, which is also the start of the first Part; at sunrise the pointer 6 should have traversed through eleven Parts until the 30th morning, leaving the daylight hours to consist of seven Parts (Parts numbered twelve to eighteen) until sunset starts again.

For Month Eleven, when at sunset the pointer 6 is set at the eighty-minute index of the eighteenth Part 8, which is also the start of the first Part; at sunrise the pointer 6 should have traversed through ten Parts until the 30th morning, leaving the daylight hours to consist of eight Parts (Parts numbered eleven to eighteen) until sunset starts again.

For Month Twelve, when at sunset the pointer 6 is set at the eighty-minute index of the eighteenth Part 8, which is also the start of the first Part; at sunrise the pointer 6 should have traversed through nine Parts until the 31st morning, leaving the daylight hours to consist of nine Parts (Parts numbered ten to eighteen) until sunset starts again.

Claims

A device comprising:
A clock dial display consisting of a scale with seventy-two indices of twenty-minute durations and eighteen twenty-degree graduations;
A pointer;
A mechanism for rotating the pointer about a centre of the display at a rate of 0.25 degrees per minute, wherein the device is configured for reflecting the varying divisions of night and day as set out in an ancient 364-day solar calendar.
A display, according to claim 1, with seventy-two indices of twenty-minute durations each, at equal five-degree spacing, to reflect the varying divisions of night and day as set out in an ancient 364-day solar calendar.
A display, according to claim 1, with eighteen twenty-degree graduations, or Parts, of eighty-minute durations each to reflect the varying divisions of night and day as set out in an ancient 364-day solar calendar.
A display, according to claim 1, where the eighty-minute index of the Eighteenth Part (which is also the start of the First Part) and every subsequent fourth index (Indices 5, 9, 13,17, 21,25, 29, 33,37, 41, 45, 49, 53, 57, 61, 65, 69 and 72) mark the start of one of eighteen parts.
A display, according to claim 1, in which a single pointer set at the eighty-minute index of the Eighteenth Part at sunset – that is, the start of the first part - will indicate the varying divisions of night and day, of twelve months and of four seasons as expounded by an ancient 364-day solar calendar, when the pointer is driven by a clock movement of 0.25 degrees per minute.
A method for determining varying divisions of the night and day with reference to the device, wherein a single pointer set at the eighty-minute index of the Eighteenth Part at sunset – that is, the start of the first Part - will indicate the varying divisions of night and day, of twelve months and of four seasons as expounded by an ancient 364-day solar calendar, when the pointer is driven by a clock movement of 0.25 degrees per minute.