DE3011667A1 - Electric clock with analog indicator - has adjusting spindle to alter hour indicator through one hour to adjust for different time zone - Google Patents

Abstract

The electric clock with an analogue time indicating system, preferably quartz controlled incorporates a device which enables the hour indicator to be advanced or retracted by an hour when changing the clock to suit a different time zone. It can be used when adjusting for e.g. summer time. The movement of the hour indicator does not affect the minute indicator. The adjustment is made by rotating a spindle (12) with a pinion (11) attached, connected by a set of gears to a large gear wheel (19) rotating about the axis of the hollow bearing spindle (16) carrying part of the gearing. This rotates a ratchet arm (22) with a finger which engages one of set three notches around a collar which moves the hour indicator by a distance corresponding to one hour.

Description

The invention relates to an electric clock according to the

Preamble of claim 1.

The purpose of the invention is, the high accuracy of such a display To preserve the clock for certain purposes.

In a number of countries it is customary from the beginning of early summer until the end of late summer, the normal time (GMT, CET, OEZ) to advance a full hour. This is supposed to allow for better customization the day and night phases of the 24-hour day to the usual daily life cycle of man can be achieved.

By introducing this one hour into an inclusion of the During the summer already bright early morning hours in people's day cycle better possible so that twilight comes later in the evening hours. This is intended to improve road safety, especially in public transport and werner ah lighting energy for households, streets and public spaces etc. can be saved.

This deviating from the respective normal time compared to this A time phase leading by one hour is generally referred to as "daylight saving time".

The public is thus forced to, in early summer and in late summer, on certain days stipulated by law, its clocks go 1 hour first to move forward and then back again.

This can be done e.g. at the beginning of the so-called summer time by turning of the minute hand happen one full turn at the end of daylight saving time the minute hand must be reset by the same amount. These Adjustment is usually made by the pointer setting means provided on the clockworks, which are usually designed as adjusting buttons attached to the minute shaft.

A particular disadvantage is that which is required twice a year Obstruction of the time display for the more and more popular ones Quartz watches, which due to the electronic control of the time display by a piezoelectric quartz have a very high accuracy, so that over long periods Periods of time, e.g. checking and correcting the pointer position over years is no longer necessary, but rather the quartz watch practically itself largely can be left to yourself.

Here now means the adjustment that is necessary twice a year the time display has a serious interference with ie the chronometric autonomy of the Quartz watch, which in relation to the very high accuracy of the watch with a the time display is burdened with a considerable uncertainty factor.

The same applies, albeit to a much lesser extent, to electrical powered clocks with conventional mechanical low frequency gear organizer, e.g. a balance wheel or a pendulum. These electrically powered clocks are from time at time to check the pointer position and, if necessary, to correct it. Here is the setting accuracy of the pointer system that can be achieved through manual setting usually even greater than the display accuracy of the clock over a longer period of time Period, although here too the one that suddenly occurs twice or is necessary Adjusting the time display by exactly one hour requires appropriate attention, especially since the adjustment measures usually mostly around early in the morning or late in the evening, in any case shortly before or shortly after sleep and therefore inevitably are subject to a certain uncertainty factor.

Similar problems arise when changing the time zone a trip from one country to another or from one continent to another, where a change from CET or another time zone to another to several Hours leading or lagging time zone can come about. With an electric Travel clock, especially a quartz clock, is the adjustment of the pointer by several Hours necessary after your return, e.g. to a country enclosed by CET Time zone that is reversible.

Here, too, the adjustment offers the risk of incorrect time setting, which is particularly the case with quartz watches due to the high degree of display accuracy that can be achieved there would be very disadvantageous. Apart from that, such a time adjustment also provides here again an intervention in the chronometric autonomy of the quartz watch.

The invention is therefore based on the object due to the legal introduction of summer time changes that become necessary twice a year the time display or for another reason, e.g. a change of the time zone, resulting change in the time display, which can be several full hours, to be carried out on a clock of the clock mentioned in the introduction so that during the adjustment on the part of the person operating the watch, little attention is required and there is only an insignificant manual adjustment even if it is adjusted by several full hours Action is required and therefore the accuracy despite the adjustments that have to be made the time display is preserved.

The invention solves the problem posed in accordance with the characterization of claim 1 laid down teaching.

A number of further developments and refinements of the clock according to the Invention are enclosed in the subclaims subordinate to claim 1.

Due to the direct action provided according to the invention der'Stellvorrichtung on the hour hand and here according to a in the foreground standing embodiment of the invention by angular steps of 300 - i.e. one or more full hours - can be advanced or reset, the display remains of the minute hand unaffected, so that its exact display by the manual Effect on the adjusting device for the so-called summer time or time zone change is practically not touched. By the adjusting device according to the invention at most conditional small changes in the position of the hour hand remain on the time display without influence, since the exact position of the minute hand is determined by the arrangement the invention remains unaffected.

Due to the intended type of actuation of the actuating device, a simple and quick change of the time display by full hours on the relevant statutory deadlines or, in particular, for intercontinental travel allows without paying special attention to this purpose the clock requires manual intervention. Random misalignments of the time display, especially with line dials, e.g. caused by confusion a 5-minute line or even an hour line etc., thus remains through the direct influence on the hour hand in the adjustment process after Invention safely prevented.

The arrangement according to the invention is characterized by a simple one and thus inexpensive construction. So is practical in the illustrated embodiment an arrangement according to the invention only a part, namely the one with one Wheel-connected change drive required for the change to the inventive solution to achieve the task at hand.

The invention enables quick and easy adjustment of the analog time display, both when setting up for the first time, i.e.

when commissioning the clock, as well as when operating the clock, in particular Quartz watch, if, for example, the time display is adjusted by one or more full Hours becomes necessary; e.g. when changing from normal time to summer time and vice versa, as well as for trips abroad, in particular to Obersee or the Far East or for the corresponding return journeys.

Here the invention offers the additional possibility of an adjustment the time display can be moved forward or backward for several hours in just a few simple steps to be carried out while the display of the minute hand remains completely unaffected.

The same applies to the initial setting of the watch, especially a quartz watch during commissioning. It is sufficient to first point the minute hand to its current one Bring normal time to the corresponding minute position. Then the adjustment takes place the hour by the required number of 3o0 steps up to that of the standard time or the hour position corresponding to daylight saving time.

The additional space required by the arrangement according to the invention arises is small and usually of little importance.

The arrangement according to the invention can be used in many ways, e.g. also for alarm clocks, switch clocks and striking mechanism clocks.

The clockwork structure as such can be used in the application of an arrangement are generally retained according to the invention, so that favorable price and quantity ratios result. Only a few parts deviate from the execution of the clockworks without the arrangement according to the invention.

The arrangement according to the invention is easy to assemble, and indeed then when the assembly of the clockworks equipped with this in an automatic working manufacturing and assembly device takes place, because the for the arrangement according to the invention required parts can be designed so that an automatic Picking up and feeding the same is easily possible.

In the accompanying drawings, the invention is in one embodiment and explained in the following description.

They represent: Figure 1 is a sectional drawing through a clockwork according to the invention; FIG. 2 shows a detail of the clockwork according to FIG. 1.

In Fig. 1, the front plate 1 is shown, which the pointer mechanism of the clockwork according to the invention at least partially covered. The front plate 1 is followed by the front panel 2. The latter carries a stand 3, the one Second wave 4 leads, on which the second hand, not shown, is applied is. The second wave 4 is on the opposite side in FIG The back plate of the movement is stored and is driven by the seconds wheel via an intermediate wheel driven by - e.g. in the case of a quartz clockwork - stepper motor. Second wheel, Intermediate wheel and stepper motor are not shown in Fig. 1, since it is a. usual clockwork arrangement.

On the stand 3, the minute shaft 5 is now mounted, which the minute hand, not shown, carries. It gets its drive from the intermediate drive 6, which is connected to an intermediate wheel, not shown, which in turn is acted upon by the second drive, not shown, of the second wave.

The intermediate drive 6 is in meshing engagement with the one with the minute shaft 5 connected minute wheel 7.

Via the minute drive 8 of the minute shaft 5, the change gear 9 is changed lo driven, which at the same time still with the adjusting wheel 11 of the adjusting shaft 12 combs.

The actuating shaft 12 is on the one hand with its extension 13 in the front panel 1 and others stored in the back plate, not shown. Permeates you the back plate and is provided there with an adjusting button for manual operation. However, this part of the actuating shaft 12 is not shown.

The intermediate drive 6 with its intermediate gear is in a piston-shaped Form 15 mounted on one side. The other bearing of the intermediate drive 6 is located in the back plate.

The formation 15 carries on the side facing away from the intermediate drive 6 a bearing pin 16 on which the change lo through the change gear 9 by means of whose bush 17 is mounted.

Bearing pin 16 and the bearing bore of the bush 17 are shown tapered diameter at the top to allow automatic assembly of the change 10 the bearing pin 16 to facilitate.

The change gear 18 is assembled on the socket 17 of the change gear 9 mit.dem wheel 19, which both together drove a fixed unit change with wheel 20 form, initially mounted freely rotatable.

In the plane of the wheel 19, however, there is a latch in a recess 21 22 formed, which via a longer, flexible element 23 with the wheel body of the wheel 19 is connected.

The change gear with wheel 20 is expediently made of plastic in the plastic injection molding process manufactured as one part, so that the necessary elasticity of the flexible element 23 is guaranteed.

The wheel 19 has a circular recess 24 below, in which the circular extension 25 of the change wheel 9 protrudes into the plane of the latch 22. The extension 25 has locking notches 26 on its periphery, in which the locking pawl 22 is gradually locked. Each locking position by the wheel 19 and the change gear 9 formed locking clutch corresponds to a creation of the Hour tube 30 and the hour hand connected to it by an angular path of 30 ° or 1 hour. This is achieved in that the circular extension 25 has a plurality of locking notches 26 along its periphery.

The hour tube 30 is firmly connected to the hour wheel 29 and together with this on the minute shaft 5 freely rotatably mounted. The hour wheel 29 meshes with the change drive 18 of the change 10.

The translation between the minute wave 5 over the change 10 on the hour wheel 29 of the hour tube 30 is 1:12 as usual. Will be expedient here between the minute drive 8 and the change gear 9 a single translation of 1: 3 and a single transmission between the change gear 18 and the hour wheel 29 of 1: 4 provided, from which yes ~ in deS / council a complete translation of 1:12 results.

When the movement is in operation, the minute shaft 5 and the minute drive 8 -the change gear 9 is driven and driven by this via the projection 25 and the latch 22 the change gear with wheel 20 and via this the one connected to the hour tube 30 Hour wheel 29 moved.

The adjusting shaft 12 is manually adjustable in the axial direction, see above that the adjusting wheel 11, depending on the axial position of the adjusting shaft 12 either with the Toothing of the change gear 9 or that of the wheel 19 is in engagement. In the position of the adjusting shaft 12 shown in Fig. 1, this is from the change gear 9 moved with it. On the other hand, the adjusting shaft 12 is manual in the position shown rotated, then the minute shaft 5 is once the minute drive from the change gear 9 8 adjusted together with the minute hand (not shown) against the minute wheel 7. This adjustment between minute shaft 5 or minute drive 8 and the minute wheel 7 is provided by the one usually provided between minute shaft 5 and minute wheel 7 Friction 5, 7 possible.

When the change gear 9 is rotated by the adjusting shaft 12 but at the same time via locking coupling 22, 23; 25, 26 the change gear with wheel 20 moves and thereby from the change mechanism 18 the hour wheel 29 with the hour tube 30 and the adjusted on this applied hour hand.

Here is the ratio of the adjustment speed between the Minute shaft 5 and the hour tube 30 as usual 1:12. A loosening or an adjustment the locking coupling 22, 23; 25,26tei this adjustment process on the control shaft 12 occurs not a, because the adjustment of the hour wheel 29 with the hour tube 30 and the Hour hand without significant mechanical resistance in this area of the movement going on.

If, however, with a manual actuation of the actuating shaft 12 this axially displaced in the direction of the front plate 1, so that the adjusting wheel 12 is in engagement arrives with the wheel 19, the locking clutch 22, 23 is released; 25.26 and it happens a relative adjustment of the change gear with wheel 20 against the change wheel 9 and this is accompanied by an adjustment of the hour wheel 29 with the hour tube 30 and the hour hand, regardless of the minute shaft 5 and thus of the minute hand.

Due to the sequence of locking notches 26 on the periphery of the Latch 22 scannable, circular extension 25 -it are on this at the Transmission ratios set above 3 locking notches 26 evenly divided The hour wheel 29 is provided with the hour tube 30 on the hour hand Steps of 30 ° each - so can be advanced by one hour.

The release of the locking coupling 22,23; 25.26 when the Wheel 19 through the adjusting shaft 12 is therefore without influencing the position of the minute hand, which incidentally during the adjustment process of the hour tube 30 and the hour hand, its normal advancement by the Stepper motor is subject, possible because the torque from which the locking clutch 22.23; 25.26 is releasable, is selected to be lower than the torque, which is at the Wheel 19 of the adjusting shaft 12 would be exercised to retroactively reduce the friction 5, 7 between the minute shaft 5 and the minute wheel 7 or turn the minute shaft 5.

When the locking clutch 22,23; 25.26 by the control shaft 12, the torque to be used to release the locking clutch is retroactive transferred to the gear and the minute shaft 5 and thus represents an application the friction 5, 7 arranged between the minute shaft 5 and the minute wheel 7 represents, which in turn also represents a non-positive coupling. Is namely the to mLö sen the locking coupling 22,23; 25 required to be applied by the actuating shaft 12 Torque too high, in addition to adjusting the hour tube 30 and the hour hand also an adjustment of the minute shaft 5 and the minute hand occur, which Of course, when the wheel 19 is acted upon by the actuating shaft 12 in its axially displaced position is undesirable.

It is therefore necessary to release the locking clutch 22,23; 25.26 necessary torque to be selected so that an - undesired - adjustment of the Minute hand when adjusting the hour tube 30 or the hour hand alone remains safely prevented.

Similar considerations also apply to cases in which a Minute wheel friction 5, iTrocht is provided, e.g.

with clockworks that are advanced by the minute and have the minute wheel driven directly by the rotor of the stepper motor in minute increments will. A minute friction 5, 7 is not required there.

This is also the case with such an embodiment of the clockwork make sure that this is the case when the hour hand adjustment is operated, i.e. when a Acting on the wheel 19 by the axially displaced actuating shaft 12 for loosening the non-positive locking coupling 22,23; 25.26 required torque certainly smaller is, as the torque, which retroactively to an adjustment of the rotor in its permanent field and thus the minute shaft 5 or the minute hand would. L e r s e i t e

Claims (16)

Additional patent application (addition to A 327) Electric clock with analog Time display Patent claims Electric clock with analog time display, preferably by minute and hour hands, especially with a time-keeping element higher Accuracy, preferably an electronic quartz; with a gear element of the pointer mechanism acting on, manually operable adjusting device, thereby characterized in that in the hand mechanism (5, 8, 9, 18, 29, 30) between the minute hand carrying minute shaft (5) and the hour tube carrying the hour hand (30) a mechanical clutch (9, 25, 22, 23, 19, 18) is provided that the manual actuatable adjusting device is designed as an adjusting shaft (12) through which one between the clutch and the hour hand horizontal gear element (19, 18, 29, 30) of the pointer mechanism can be driven, whereby the hour hand carrying hour tube (30) independent of the minute shaft carrying the minute hand (5) is adjustable, and that the mechanical coupling (9, 25, 22, 23, 19, 18) during the loading of the gear element (19, 18, 29, 30) by the adjusting shaft (12) is resolved. 2.) Electric clock according to claim 1, characterized in that by the control shaft (12) optionally: either one between the minute shaft (5) and the Coupling (9, 25, 22, 23, 19, 18) located gear element (5, 8, 9) of the pointer mechanism (5, 8, 9, 18, 29, 30) is drivable, whereby the minute shaft (5) with the minute hand and the hour tube (30) are adjustable together with the hour hand, or one between the mechanical clutch (9, 25, 22, 23, 19, 18) and the hour hand located gear element (1.9, 18, 29, 30) of the pointer mechanism can be driven, whereby the hour tube (30) carrying the hour hand independently of that of the minute hand bearing minute shaft (5) is adjustable. 3.) Electric clock according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that that the mechanical coupling (9, 25, 22, 23, 19, 18) as a non-positive coupling is trained. 4.) Electric clock according to claim 3, characterized in that the frictional coupling is designed as a latching coupling (9, 25, 22, 23, 19, 18). 5.) Electric clock according to claim 4, characterized in that the Locking coupling (9, 25, 22, 23, 19, 18) is designed such that a locking Adjustment of the hour tube (30) carrying the hour hand by steps of each 300 is possible. 6.) Electric clock according to claim 1-5, characterized in that the locking clutch alternating (lo) of the pointer mechanism (5, 8, 9, 18, 19, 30) between the change gear (19) and the change drive (18) is provided and that the control shaft (12) alternatively with one of these gear elements (9, 19) of the change (lo) in operative connection can be brought. 7.) Electric clock according to claim 6, characterized in that the change gear (18) has a wheel (19) firmly connected to it and that the The control shaft (12) can alternatively be connected to this wheel (19) or to the change wheel (9) is. 8.) Electric clock according to claim 7, characterized in that the Adjusting shaft (12) is axially displaceable and in the one-axial position with the the change gear (18) connected wheel (19) and in the other axial position with the change gear (9) can be brought into meshing engagement. 9.) Electric clock according to claim 8, characterized in that the with the change gear (18) firmly connected wheel (19) and the change gear (9) the same Have toothing data and that the adjusting shaft (12) has a toothing (11). lo.) Electric clock according to claim 9, characterized in that the change gear (18) with a notch (26) carrying a circular shoulder (25) and a bearing serving bush (17) is provided. 11.) Electric clock according to claim 1o, characterized in that the change gear (18) and the wheel (19) firmly connected to it on the socket (17) of the change wheel (9) are mounted and that at least one with the wheel (19) of the change drive (18) connected latch (22) with the provided with latching notches (26) circular extension (25) of the change gear (9) isr positively coupled. 12.) Electric clock according to claim 7 - io, characterized in that that the change gear (9) and the change drive (18) with the wheel connected to it (19) are made by plastic injection molding and that the at least one latch (22) is formed in the plastic injection molding process with and together with a die Latching force generating, the latching pawl (22) carrying the flexible web (23) with the Change drive (18) and its wheel (19) form a part. 13.) Electric clock according to claim 12, characterized in that the change drive with wheel (20) and the change wheel (9) on a bearing pin (16) by Mounted on top of each other and in this arrangement between Parts (1, 15) of the clockwork are supported in the axial direction. 14.) Electric clock according to claim 9, characterized in that the actuating shaft (12) in a first axial position by an axially acting actuating force is fixed and by manual action against this actuating force in the second axial position can be brought. 15.) Electric clock according to claim 14, characterized in that in the first axial position the control shaft (12) with the wheel (19) of the change gear (18) is connected. 16.) Electric clock according to one of claims 3 - 5, characterized by-such a choice of the von ore adjusting shaft (12) for loosening the non-positive Coupling (9, 25, 22, 23, 19, 18) on this to be transmitted torque that the Value of when the force-fit coupling is released during manual action transferred the control shaft (12) backwards in the direction of the minute shaft (5) Torque is significantly lower, than the value of this torque, an impermissible adjustment of the minute shaft carrying the minute hand (5) would result.