HK1016705B - Time zone indicator device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention is intended to meet a need which arose and develops in parallel with the intensification of communications on the entire surface of the globe. The reception at home, whether by private means, such as fax or telephone, or by public means, such as television, of information from all parts of the globe is becoming more rapid and intense. On the other hand the ease of travel over distances covering a large proportion of the earth's circumference is continually increasing. These realities now require, on the part of an ever-increasing number of people, rapid knowledge of the conditions (hours of day or night, dates, seasons, distances) which characterize a given place at a great distance from the person in which he is situated.

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Several horometric devices have already been developed, consisting of a substrate with a geographical representation of the surface of the globe, a time marker and a means of visualizing a line representing the moving line of twilight, these components being animated, from a motor assembly, by relative motions simulating the movements of the earth in relation to the sun.

Thus, the German patent application DOS 2 018 727, published in 1971, suggests using as a substrate a spherical shell supported by a coaxial shaft at the pole line and as a means of visualizing the twilight path a second shell, hemispherical, transparent or tinted, partially surrounding the substrate, rotating around an axis that is perpendicular to the pole line and passes through the centre of the globe.

The lessons in this publication, however, only partially meet the needs mentioned above: on the one hand, the clock is designed primarily as a time instrument for measuring sidereal time, not mean solar time; on the other hand, the design of the hour hand and its cooperation with the geographical representation carried by the substrate do not allow an easy reading of local time at any time in all time zones.

Another earlier document, the French patent FR 1.411.022, proposed in 1965 a similar design in which the substrate was shaped like a cylindrical body bearing a geographical representation of the globe of the Earth of the Mercator type.

In this case too the time-signal is a simple ring at the base of the substrate, which prevents easy reading of local time at any point in the geographical representation and the motor means necessary in the event that a fully automatic and regulated drive must be provided appear complicated.

The application for patent EP 0441 678 published in 1991 also concerns a globe mounted to simulate the movements of the earth in relation to the sun.

Document US-A-5,379,271 describes a timepiece containing essentially the elements of the preamble to claim 1, but the device does not allow for an easy reading of local time at each point.

It follows from this analysis that in order to meet the current needs identified at the outset, it is necessary to produce a horometric device which is of maximum quality from the following three points of view: The time system is designed to be simple to use, and to be easy to read.

The present invention is intended to achieve this objective and its subject matter is defined in general terms by claim 1.

The idea of the invention is to produce the motions of the globe in relation to the base of the device, so that when viewed from a privileged side of the clock, they appear as they would appear to a fictitious observer looking at the earth from a point on the straight line that connects the center of the earth to the center of the sun, or to a fictitious observer moving in the plane perpendicular to the ecliptic and containing that line.

It follows that the definition of the invention covers four types of achievements which comprehensively represent the simulation possibilities defined above.

However, before listing them, it is important to note that the design of the means provided for on the geographical representation of the globe and on the hour hand to enable the hour to be read immediately is also an important element of the invention.

The geographical representation will show the boundaries of time zones, which are often, at least on continents, different from the meridian lines that define time zones. In addition, the meridian that determines local time in each time zone, and whose distance from the Greenwich meridian is an integer multiple of 15 degrees, will have one or more specially marked indicator signs. For example, these signs may be marked with a colored or luminescent coating or show the substrate if it is transparent or translucent so that a means of illumination makes the interior visible.

The time-mark and its markers, which cooperate with the indicator signs, will be shown below in different possible forms of execution for this rigid organ. Since it is intended to cover at least part of the geographical representation, its covering parts will preferably be transparent, with only the time-marks themselves being visible. At its base, preferably on a collar surrounding the tree, in cases where the substrate is a three-dimensional body, or on a longitudinal band of the mark in the case of a flat or curved execution, a gradation of 0 to 24 hours will be provided, with, where appropriate, subdivisions if the dimensions allow.

The layout of the engine assembly as defined in claim 1 encompasses the four types of achievements which appear to provide the combination of advantages sought: readability of the synoptic display, clarity of simulation of real movements, simplicity of construction.

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A variant of this execution of principle is to predict that the twilight plane is fixed but that the entire base, time sign and globe with its axis performs an oscillating motion around a parallel axis but can be shifted relative to the axis of oscillation of the twilight plane in the previous execution. The fictional observer then remains placed on the earth-sun line, but tilts more or less to see on the straight axis while in reality it describes a circular translational motion in an oblique position, inclined 23.5 degrees relative to the perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic.

The third solution is that represented by Fig. 2 : the fictitious observer is constantly on the earth-sun line and therefore sees the twilight plane perpendicular to the direction of his gaze. The axis of the globe describes, in an oblique position, a rotation movement around a line passing through its center and perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic and the hour mark whose solar plane is constantly oriented towards the observer describes a slow, rocking motion, simulating even better than the previous executions the real movements of the earth.

Finally, the fourth solution is to transpose the geographic representation of the globe onto a flat or curved surface, this representation moving from West to East under a grid that presents a network of lines forming time elements oriented parallel to the meridians. On such a representation the twilight path is then a line having the appearance of a sinusoid that moves north or south depending on the course of the seasons.

According to the invention, the geographical representation of the globe is in fact a unique indicator organ, which can be in the form of a sphere or any other body with axial symmetry, but which can also be a flat or curved surface.

This indicator organ cooperates with a time-based reference and the display device operates in such a way as to create a periodic relative displacement between the time-based reference and the indicator organ, which implies that either one of the two organs may be fixed, while the other is mobile, or both organs may be mobile in relation to the same fixed base.

However, it is also possible to make a design in which the geographical area is fixed and the hour hand moves, but it is noted that the auxiliary indicator device which is intended to mark the twilight line on the indicator organ will have to have a more complicated absolute movement if the indicator organ is fixed than if it makes a periodic movement over a period of 24 hours, in particular a rotational movement around an axis.

To mark permanently the direction of the twilight line on the surface of the globe, the means of the auxiliary indicator must be so designed as to divide the surface of the globe into two parts according to a great circle whose plane is constantly oriented towards the sun, and is therefore perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic.The transposition of this movement and the rotation of the earth itself into a model which can be constructed in the form of a clock presents a number of difficulties. These difficulties are solved in the clocks described below by providing, between the hour hand and the indicating organ, a periodic relative displacement having a period of 24 hours, and between the auxiliary indicator medium and the hour hand, a periodic relative displacement having a normal period of 365 days and which can be corrected at the time of leap years so as to be extended to 366 days. Thus, the described clock works on the basis of a count of time referred to the second.It constantly indicates the true mean solar day, and the evolution of the usual calendar can be displayed continuously, the increase of the annual period to 366 days in leap years being automatically based on a program incorporated into the time base or at will by means of a user-accessible corrector.

One possible embodiment for the auxiliary indicator device is a circular screen with a lamp on one side. This screen is mounted inside the spherical indicator organ and cooperates with drive means that force the movement corresponding to the required function. If the globe is fixed, which results in the hour hand rotating with a period of 24 hours around the axis of the poles, then the inner screen must be driven on one side in a rotational motion identical to that of the hour hand, so as to be constantly oriented according to the plane in which the meridians are located, the local time being 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.and on the other hand according to an oscillation motion, of amplitude ± 23,5° around an axis which is perpendicular to the previous one. In the reverse case, where it is the globe which rotates around the axis of the poles and the coaxial time marker to the globe which remains oriented in a fixed direction, then the 12 o'clock time sign remains constantly oriented towards the sun and to simulate this situation, the interior screen is animated only by a sequence of movement, which is the oscillation motion described above.

The hour hand is a rigid organ with some general characteristics which should be mentioned before proceeding to the detailed description. The rigid organ will be arranged in the form of a hollow body, parts of which may be in a transparent material, in which the indicator organ representing the surface of the globe will be partially or fully engaged. The hour hand will be a body of axial symmetry, coaxial with the indicator organ.

The cap will be made of a transparent material and its shape will be adapted to that of the substrate so as to cover it tightly.

The timepiece is a flat truncated body under the Earth's globe, with a number of transparent plates arranged in a star-shaped pattern around the axis, each with a curved edge extending towards the surface of the globe according to the meridian. Four or eight plates can be used to represent the hours of 6 in 6 or 3 in 3 hours. These plates can, for example, extend to the height of the Earth's equator or even higher.

In the case where the periodic relative displacements defined above are actual displacements of solid bodies in motion relative to each other, the clock will include one or more motors. In fact, all the required movements can be produced from a single motor to which a gear reducer with two output shafts will be incorporated. This motor can be of any type, for example a stepper motor or a synchronous drive motor. It will preferably be driven by a time base, for example the quartz type, although an electric motor driven by the frequency of the network also, as the case may be, will be sufficiently reliable.

It follows from the concept of the present invention that the counting of days by addition of elapsed hours, and the display of the quantum and the month, will be derived directly from the time base, and that the display of these parameters will be dissociated from the auxiliary indicator whose function is strictly limited to marking the twilight line and indicating the direction in which the sun is, including the height of the sun above the equator line and its variations over the seasons. Thus, for the display of calendar data, the base or base of the clock will have means of displaying preferred preference of the classical type of indicator conveniently reading the hours, the month, the month, the week or any other day of the year. The display cabinet will also be able to read the hours conveniently and with a 12 minute digital time-table on a convenient display case.

The study of the functions which it was interesting to visualize showed that a medium indicator of the date change could be useful. It is known that, except for the moment when the meridian of the date change sets at 24 hours local time, the different points on the surface of the globe do not all have the same date. Those located between the meridian of date change and the one at 24 hours local time (or 0 hours) and which are located west of the meridian of date change have a date corresponding to the new current quantium,The time-switching mechanism is used to determine the time of the day, while the other points on the globe, located east of the meridian of the date change, still have the old quantum. A device can be designed to visualize this feature. It may be of an electronic type. It will then include, for example, 24 cells of the type of a luminescent diode or LCD cell spread around the globe.The fact that the meridian of the date change is shifted to local time at 24 hours will cause all cells to be immediately de-sexed, and a device with exactly the same effect, but built entirely mechanically, can easily be designed, and this according to different models.

In addition, two further improvements can be envisaged in these general considerations: a number of particular points on the surface representing the surface of the earth which are route nodes, such as the locations of certain major airports, can be identified; these route nodes will be equipped with electronic identification means and stored in a program memory with the necessary data; the programme will include a calculation and search instruction to determine the series of route nodes corresponding to certain initial conditions which can be chosen at will.For example, if a first route node designated as a starting point and then a second route node designated as a finishing point is determined, the programme could, for example, determine the fastest route, under certain general conditions, between the starting point and the finishing point, passing through a minimum number of route nodes and displaying the route thus determined by exciting the different route nodes concerned.

Finally, in embodiments in which the substrate of the geographic representation is an axially symmetric body and the 12-hour time element of the hour hand remains constantly directed to the side where the clock is intended to be viewed, it may be interesting to provide a means of easily seeing, if desired, a portion of the globe in which the local time is very different from noon. Thus, in all such embodiments, an additional mounting may be provided whereby the base is still supported by a console, or a foot, and a drive to the manual or axial motor just allows it to rotate rapidly in one direction or the other. This movement may be limited to 180 degrees.

At the same time, the indicator signs corresponding to the meridian of the local time of this time zone can be excited. This last function can also be used to show the local time shift in the time zones (winter time - summer time). Thus, for example, in the Central European area, winter time is the mean solar time of the meridian +15 degrees (passing a little east of Berlin) and summer time is the mean solar time of the meridian +30 degrees (passing near St. Petersburg).

The two particular forms of implementation which appear to be the most realistic under the present conditions, and which are shown in Figures 1 and 2 respectively, are described below as examples.

The clock in Figure 1 has an indicator organ 1 in the form of a spherical shell made of semi-transparent material, bearing a decoration representing the surface of the globe with its meridians. This shell (1) is joined to a tubular shaft (2) which is fixed to it at the location representing the south pole and which is oriented along the axis of the globe. At its lower end, this shaft (2) carries a cog wheel (3) which drives in a gear (4) mounted on an output shaft of a motor (5). The shaft (2) and the globe (1) are guided and supported by a fixed whirlpool (6) which runs through the shaft (2) along its entire length and slopes within the sponge (1) for a certain distance.The clock is equipped with external bearings (7) which guide the shaft (2). This hollow turntable is part of the framework of a base (8) solidary to the base (9) of the clock. The base (8) is cylindrical, with a vertical axis, but its upper face is inclined, the turntable (6) perpendicular to the above face being itself inclined by 23.5° with respect to the vertical.

It should be noted, however, that in the figure 1 the inclination of the axis of the globe by 23.5° with respect to the vertical is purely conventional, and the same could be done with a vertical axis of the globe, the minor changes being shown later.

The globe (1) is therefore driven in rotation from the motor (5) by the wheel (3) at a rate of one turn in 24 hours. It cooperates with a clock face (10) which is fixed and solidary with the base (8). This clock face has a trunk base (11) with a flat top face (12) and a lower face for fixing the face to the base (8). The body (11) is therefore coaxial to the shaft (2), the top face (12) being pierced by an opening allowing the passage of this shaft.In addition, to facilitate the reading of time, the face (12) of the hour hand (10) has a number of radial plates (14) which are placed singly on regularly spaced time divisions. Thus, in the case of the use of 8 plates (14), they will be oriented at 45° to each other and fix the position of the hours 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24.In Figure 1, the plates (14) extend to the height of the equator, but it is obvious that they could, if necessary, be of a different height.

The engine (5) driven by a time base (16) and the housing of which is fixed to the base (8) thus causes the different zones of the globe to scroll eastward in front of the hour signs (13) and the plates (14) i.e. a turn in the opposite direction of the hands of the watch, when viewed from above, in the direction of the north pole, south pole.For example, the plate (14) shown on the left in Figure 1 is chosen as the plate representing the time sign 12 o'clock. In these conditions, the means of auxiliary indication will include the following: firstly, the engine (5) is equipped with a second output shaft which, in Figure 1, is coaxial with the one carrying the gear (4), and which carries a gear (17); this gear (17) is driven by a wheel (18) which is driven so as to complete a turn on itself in 365 days under normal conditions; this wheel (18) is in solidarity with an internal shaft (19) which is driven into the gear (6) and guided by bearings (20).This shaft (19) ends just below the centre of the globe (1) and has an eccentric (21) at its end. The tourillon (6) supports a semicircular cradle (22) whose plane is oriented perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in Figure 1, and whose two branches extend along the meridians of 6:00 and 18:00 inside the globe.The two ends of the cradle (22) are used as a support for nipples, which are projected from a circular flat plate (23) made of opaque material, which is thus suspended within the globe (1) along the horizontal axis defined above. This plate is anchored in the region at the height of the eccentric (21) and has a folded tongue (24) with a slit (25) into which the beak of the eccentric is engaged (21). Thus, the plate (23) makes a double oscillating movement during each year period and the arrangement of the tongue (24) and the eccentric (21) are such that the amplitude of the oscillation movement is exactly ± 23.In the position shown in Figure 1, this circular plate, which acts as a screen, is arranged vertically and this particular arrangement is understood to correspond to the date of the summer solstice. On the date of the winter solstice, the position of the screen (23) is symmetrical with respect to the axis of the poles of the one corresponding to the summer solstice, while at the time of the equinoxes, the screen (23) is in the plane perpendicular to the drawing and containing the axis of the poles.

Since the material of the spherical shell (1) is semi-transparent, it may be sufficient for the left-facing side of the screen (23) in Figure 1 to be bright white and the other side black to give the impression on the spherical shell (1) of the twilight line dividing the illuminated and the dark areas of the globe.

In addition to the secondary indicator device (23) (26) described above, the clock in Figure 1 also has digital display devices (27) on the base (8) indicating, for example, the quantum, month and year.

However, as regards the display of the date, the date change will naturally have to be synchronized with the local time 24h00/0h00 of one of the time zones, e.g. the Central European time zone, but this indication may in some cases be insufficient if the user plans, for example, a flight to Australia or a country in the Far East.The first is that the time-scale of the earth's surface is not the same as that of the earth's surface, but is the same as that of the earth's surface. The second is that the axis (2) which supports the globe (1) has a contact element (29) which cooperates with a series of corresponding contacts (30), also placed on the body (11), for example on the reverse side of the upper flat surface of the body.The time of the earth's rotation is approximately 24 hours, and the earth's surface is at the same quantum, but immediately after that time the local time west of the meridian of the change of date reaches a date whose quantum is one unit higher than the old quantum. In synchrony with this movement, the contact (29-30) will cause the excitation of the diode (28) which corresponds to the position of the meridian of the change of date at that time.The time-of-day of the day of the change of the date will be 24 hours, and the time-of-day of the change of the day will be 24 hours, and the time-of-day of the change of the day will be 24 hours, and the time-of-day of the change of the day will be 24 hours, and the time-of-day of the change of the day will be 24 hours, and the time-of-day of the change of the day will be 24 hours, and the time-of-day of the change of the day will be 24 hours, and the time-of-day of the change of the day will be 24 hours, and the time-of-day of the change of the day will be 24 hours.

This date change indicator could also be supplemented by a double display of the quantum in the field (27), so that users are constantly aware of the indication of the two quantum in question.

The date-change indicator may also be entirely mechanical. For this purpose, a choice is made between several different construction principles. For example, the different cells (28) may be replaced by a series of circular counters arranged in a ring plate that surrounds the shaft bearing the shell.[1] A second plate placed under the first ring plate has an upper surface of a certain color that appears in all counters at the time when all the diodes in the case of the electronic device are switched off.A pulling finger, solid to the globe shaft, hangs a split ring-shaped piece, which is placed under the second fixed plate, but overflows on it to the right of the 24-hour sign through a slot. This split ring will be held by a spring. During the 24-hour period beginning with the hanging of the split ring, the latter, whose surface may be coloured in a light colour, will be dragged gradually under the silk windows that, as it advances, the colour visible through them will for example change from dark to light.At the end of the turn, a clicker will release the split ring, which, when pulled back by its spring, will instantly return to its original position and the cycle can begin again.

A series of swings can also be arranged around the time sign, rotating around axes along the date-shifting device. These swings cooperate with elastic arms of a ring spring plate, so as to present two stable positions in which one of the light part of the swings appears in the corresponding window, while in the other position it is the other, dark part of the swings which is visible through the windows.

Thus, the clock described can be designed to be entirely mechanical, without any external source of energy.

In a variant of this first embodiment, already mentioned above, the means of actuation can be simplified while improving the quality of simulation of real movements. Returning to Fig. 1, this variant consists in replacing the actuation mechanism (18), (19), (21), (24) of the screen (23) with a simple suspension with a counterweight, so that the screen naturally settles into a position of balance in which it is vertical or possibly inclined.The engine (5) may remain in conjunction with the base, instead of the output gear (17) it will have a line of axis parallel to the two axes mentioned above. The base will have a fixed crown, or even a toothed sector in which the gear replacing the gear will be generated (17). This output axis of the engine will be controlled in this way to swing the base and all the mechanisms it carries with an amplitude of 47 degrees and a period of 365 times 24 hours, which can be changed to 366 times 24 hours once every 4 years.

It should be noted that with this variant the quality of the motion simulation is better than with the construction of Figure 1. Indeed, if the tilt of the axis of the poles was 23.5 degrees in the example chosen, this value was arbitrary and the variations in the apparent tilt of the axis of the poles were not simulated, whereas it is with the variant with two parallel axes of oscillation just described.

It is important to note that the use of a circular screen, the edge of which follows the inner surface of the substrate and a lamp on one side of the screen, is not the only possible solution to the geographical representation of the twilight line. Using one or more lamps of a different type than incandescent lamps, directed beams or waves of light can be produced without the need for physical screens.

The form of the clock, which we now consider, differs from the first in the principle of transposing it into a concrete model from astronomical reality, but has the same advantages for synoptic reading of time in the different time zones. Here the elements of the clock are enclosed within a cabinet (40) which has been given a cylindrical shape with a top part rounded into a semisphere. Apart from the base (41), this cabinet comprises a cylindrical-hemispherical envelope entirely in a transparent material.

A screen (42) consisting of a flat, transparent, circular arc plate, with a different colour on both sides, i.e. a light colour on the side where the sunlight is coming from and a dark colour on the other side, is fixed inside the cabinet (40). An outdoor globe lamp may also be provided to illuminate the globe in order to mark the twilight line on its surface. However, the screen (42) with the different colours on its two sides may be sufficient to represent at least approximately this marking. The mobiles of the clock move in a complex motion, which will be described below, within the outline of the screen (42).

The upper face of the base (41) has a guiding organ (43), such as a slide, rail, pebble track, etc., the outline of which is circular, horizontal and centred on the vertical axis of the clock. This means of guiding allows the base (44), whose general shape is recognized as analogous to that of the base (8) of the first form of execution, to make rotational movements around that axis. This movable base comprises, on a circular base plate (45), an eccentric cylindrical case (46), the upper face (47) of which is inclined. While the circular edge of the plate (45) cooperates with the guiding face (43), the upper middle (47) is solid with a rotor (48) externally fixed and 50 vertically tilted vertices (49 and 58) in the center of the clock's center. As in the case of the first axis (48), the rotor and the clock's axis are not symmetrical, and the dimensions of the elements, which correspond to the center of the clock's turn, are not inclined by 23°.

An engine (51) with its stem fixed in the housing (46) of the base (44) has an output shaft fitted with a piston (52) which drives in a fixed circular rack (53) in conjunction with the base (41). This circular rack is also centred on the central vertical axis of the clock, so that the rotation of the piston (52) in the rack (53) causes a rotation of the base (44) on the guide (43), i.e. a rotation around the central vertical axis of the clock. It is conceived that the speed of this rotation will normally be 1 to 365 times in 24 hours, so that the rotating axis, during this period, operates as a complete rotation, the corner of which is at a conical angle of 47° and the central vertical axis of which is at the apex of the clock.

In Figure 2, the reference figure (54) refers to a spherical shell made of a rigid material, which may be opaque or transparent, and which has on its outer surface a representation of the surface of the globe. The centre of this shell naturally coincides with the central point of the clock designated above. This shell is supported by a shaft (55) engaged inside the hollow turn (48) and guided by the two bearings (49) arranged inside this turn. At its lower end, the shaft (55) has a rounded tooth pore (56) which is connected to a pignon (57), forming a second output shaft of the engine (51).The rotation rate of the drive organs (57 & 56) will be such that the sphere (54) completes a complete rotation on itself in 24 hours. As in the first form of execution, the sphere (54) functions as a synoptic indicator organ, in cooperation with a clock face which is worn by the partner (44) and which is coaxial to the hollow turntable (48). This clock face has a truncated body (58), the lateral surface of which bears the hour signs 1 to 24 designated by (59).12h00/24h00, 03h00/15h00, etc. In the drawing, we see the plate (60) corresponding to the divisions 6h00/18h00 of the day and notice that this plate forms a complete ring. In the position represented in Figure 2, it is coplanar with the screen (42), the outer edge of this plate following the inner edge of the screen, while the inner edge of the plate extends at a short distance from a great circle of the globe (54), passing through the north and south poles.

To ensure the functions which the hour hand is to perform, a final arrangement has been made in which two portions of arc at the outer edge of the organ (60), designated by (61 & 62), are fitted in their slices with a groove to which a rigid point (63) corresponds, respectively (64), sunk into the plate of the display (42), extending horizontally to the height of the central point of the clock. The ends of these rigid rods enter the grooves (61 & 62). Thus, while allowing the hour hand to rotate around the turntable (48), in the annual rotation of the base (44) around the vertical central axis of the clock, the main rotors (63 & 64), which are sunk into the screen plate (42), will draw a fixed orientation, for example, perpendicular to the perpendicular plane of the clock, in order to take a horizontal motion, for example, in the direction of the perpendicular oscillating plane (63 & 64), in order to rotate the clock face (63 & 64), in order to take a perpendicular motion, for example, in the direction of the perpendicular plane of the central plane, in order to take an oscillating motion perpendicular to the plane of the perpendicular.

In fact, the operation just described can also be obtained by printing on the hour hand (58,59,60) a rotational motion around its axis, relative to the base (46), the speed of this motion being equal and opposite to the movement of the base around the crown (53).

It should be noted, furthermore, that, as regards the direction of rotation, given the arrangement shown in Figure 2, if the sun is assumed to be in front of the drawing, then the relative position of the elements corresponds to the spring equinox. The direction of rotation of the globe around its axis being the direction of the west around the east, i.e. the direction opposite to that of the hands of the clock as seen from the north pole to the south pole, the rotation of the base (44) will also be in the direction opposite to the hands of the clock as seen from the top down, so that, from the position shown in the drawing, a rotation of one quarter of a turn of the partner (44) brings the edge of the box (46) back from the drawing plane, and the northern front of the screen is in the position opposite to the ground (42), which corresponds to the position of the summer.

The additional mounting of the base on a console, mentioned above, would here involve a vertical axis of rotation, which could be parallel and not confused with the axis of the crown (53) and thus reproduce the orbital motion of the globe.

The calendar and date-change devices described in the first form of execution are not shown in Figure 2. It is understood that the clock may also contain all these devices in one or other of the various forms of execution mentioned.

The arrangement in Figure 2 has an advantageous feature: the relative positions of the two points representing the centre of the globe on the one hand and the sun on the other are fixed. In other words, the twilight line is a fixed circle on the spherical shell representing the globe, so that the two halves of the globe, representing the day zone and the night zone respectively, are constantly in the same places in relation to the base and the clock case.The difference between the two zones could also be combined with a spherical shell in a material which reflects or diffuses light differently according to the wavelength. In this way, luminescence can be produced according to the area of the globe which is illuminated and represents the daytime zone.This arrangement can be combined with the representation of the geography of the globe, particularly with the contours of continents and islands, with the land being treated to be luminescent, yellow, ochre or green by day, and the oceans and seas being blue luminescent by night.

To solve these practical and aesthetic problems, lighting techniques will be used, including monochromatic light emitters, diodes, liquid crystals, optical conductors in the form of fibres or amorphous bodies, etc. In many of the forms of executions described, the substrate contains no mechanism connected to the outside, so that it is possible to pass electrical or optical conductors through the shaft.

Finally, we shall briefly return to the forms of execution already mentioned and involving a flat arrangement of the indicator organ and the hour hand. In such forms of execution, the globe will be represented in the form of a planisphere, for example in Mercator projection, so that the meridians are then straight lines parallel to each other and perpendicular to the equator.

In accordance with the rules defined above, in order to achieve the purpose of such a design, the time sign shall be a fixed body superimposed on the geographical representation and shall have time sign elements in the form of lines parallel to the meridians.

A particularly simple arrangement is to mount under the hour mark an endless band supported between two drums and carrying twice the geographical representation of the globe in Mercator projection. One of the drums, coupled to a motor, prints to the band the desired diurnal movement. As for the annual movement visualized by the movements of the twilight line, it can be produced by means of a network of diodes or minilamps placed between the band strands and commanded according to a program, so as to perform the North-South or South-North movement already mentioned.

However, the geographical representation of the Earth's globe can also be produced by fully electronic means, in which case the substrate takes the form of a screen, on which the world map appears and scrolls from a recording. The superposition of the twilight line onto the world map presents no difficulty. The advantage of using the Mercator projection to represent the Earth's surface is that the meridians are parallel north-south lines so that the time elements of the landmark are also such lines.

The above-described date-changing and route-visualization devices can be adapted to a flat construction without any difficulty.

Claims (13)

1. Horometric device comprising on a base:

   • a substrate with a visible surface bearing a geographic representation of the terrestrial globe and the marking of meridians,

   • a time guide-mark graduated into hours, placed in juxtaposition with said visible surface,

   • a display means able to make appear on said visible surface a crepuscular line representing the limits of the illuminated zones and the dark zones of the globe,

   • a motor assembly driven by a time base and producing relative displacements, actual or simulated, on the one hand between the geographic representation and the time guide-mark with a period of 24 hours, and, on the other hand, between the imaginary plane, said crepuscular plane in which said crepuscular line lies, and the geographic representation, with a period on the order of one year, this assembly simulating the movements of the earth with respect to the sun, the said relative displacement at a period of one year comprising an oscillation with an amplitude of + / - 23.5 degrees, the motor assembly being arranged in such a way that the geographic representation carries out a continuous and regular movement with respect to the time guide-mark with a period of exactly 24 hours,

   characterised

   • in that the geographic representation shows the time zones of the globe, and bears indicating symbols each situated on a meridian determining the local time of one of said time zones,

   • in that the time guide-mark is a rigid body which comprises elongated time elements, covering said visible surface and extending in the direction of the meridians over a length sufficient to co-operate visually with the indicating symbols, one of the time elements being placed on 12 o'clock and determining with the straight line which represents the polar axis of the globe a plane called the solar plane,

   • in that in said oscillation with an amplitude of ± 23.5 degrees:

   - a straight line perpendicular to the crepuscular plane through the central point of the polar axis lies in the solar plane, this solar plane being stationary with respect to the base and the oscillation being produced between this straight line and the axis of the poles,

   - or, the crepuscular plane being fixed with respect to the base and the perpendicular to this plane through the central point being contained in the solar plane, this solar plane oscillates about this straight line and the axis of the poles turns about a straight line of the crepuscular plane.
2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the first relative displacement between the geographic representation and the crepuscular line is normally regular with a period of 365 times 24 hours, and in that this period can be modified to 366 times 24 hours every four years.
3. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the substrate is a rigid body having an axially symmetrical shape, integral with a drive arbour oriented along the polar axis of the geographic representation,

   • the time guide-mark is another rigid body, coaxial to the substrate, mounted on said arbour in such a way as to be able to turn with respect thereto,

   • said arbour is guided by a socle mounted on the base and supporting the time guide-mark,

   • and the display means for the crepuscular line as well as the display means for said indicating symbols, both functioning by light emission, are mounted inside the substrate.
4. Device according to claim 3, characterised in that

   • the time guide-mark is integral with the socle,

   • the latter is mounted pivoting with respect to the base about an axis perpendicular to said solar plane, with said period of one year,

   • and the means of displaying the crepuscular line is a light source equipped on one side with a screen, the source supported freely on the inside of the substrate about an axis likewise perpendicular to the solar plane, and equipped with a counterweight which keeps this equipment in a fixed orientation with respect to the base when the socle oscillates about its own axis.
5. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the substrate is a rigid body having an axially symmetrical shape, integral with a drive arbour oriented along the polar axis of the geographic representation,

   • the time guide-mark is another rigid body, coaxial to the substrate, mounted on said arbour so as to be able to turn with respect thereto,

   • said arbour is guided by a socle mounted on the base and supporting the time guide-mark,

   • the socle is driven in rotation with respect to the base about a vertical axis, and guides the arbour of the substrate at an angle of 23.5 degrees with respect to said vertical axis, the axis of rotation of the socle cutting through the axis of the arbour at the central point of the substrate,

   • the means to display the crepuscular line is fixed with respect to the base, and the time guide-mark is guided in such a way that the horizontal line perpendicular to the crepuscular plane and passing through the centre of the globe is continuously contained in the solar plane.
6. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the visible surface of the substrate is flat or curved, the geographic representation is such that the meridians are straight, parallel lines, the time guide-mark is fixed and comprises rectilinear time elements, parallel and superimposed on the meridians, the means of display of the crepuscular line is constituted by a network of cells able to take on an excited state and a non-excited state, these cells being sunk into the geographic representation and controlled by a program.
7. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the substrate is a rigid body having an axially symmetrical shape, integral with the drive arbour oriented according to the polar axis of the geographic representation, and the time guide-mark is formed by a collar surrounding said arbour and by a predetermined number of transparent plates placed on edge and radially on the collar, the plates oriented in regularly selected directions around the arbour, the edges of said plates situated facing the outer surface of the substrate forming said time elements and the collar having a 24-hour time graduation with which said time elements correspond.
8. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the substrate is a rigid body having an axially symmetrical shape, integral with the drive arbour oriented according to the polar axis of the geographic representation, and the time guide-mark is another rigid body comprising a shell of transparent material having the shape of a part of said axially symmetrical rigid body, the shell engaged on this body in such a way as to be able to turn about said arbour, and a collar coaxial to the shell, the latter having visible lines which form said time elements and the collar having a 24-hour time graduation with which said time elements correspond.
9. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the display assembly further comprises a means to indicate the change of date differentiating, with regard to the indicating symbols, the time zones which have passed over to the new date with respect to those which are still at the old date.
10. Device according to claim 9, characterised in that the date change indicator means comprises a series of differentiating elements each of which undergoes a visible change of state at the moment where the local time of a given time zone passes the 24/0 hour element, all the said differentiating elements undergoing the reverse change of state at the moment where the time zone containing the date change meridian passes the 24/0 hour element.
11. Device according to claim 10, characterised in that the said differentiating elements are distributed on the time guide-mark, on a socle supporting the time guide-mark or on said visible surface of the substrate.
12. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the display means associated with the substrate include means of selective activation responding to a command, the means being capable of exciting predetermined points on the said geographic representation thus making a route appear.
13. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a supplementary displacement means allowing the base to rotate and the components mounted thereon in a joint movement about a vertical axis with respect to a foot which is fixed, it being possible to command this movement by hand or by a motor, and its amplitude being variable at will.