US3167906A - Timekeeper corrected by electric time signals - Google Patents
Timekeeper corrected by electric time signals Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3167906A US3167906A US304925A US30492563A US3167906A US 3167906 A US3167906 A US 3167906A US 304925 A US304925 A US 304925A US 30492563 A US30492563 A US 30492563A US 3167906 A US3167906 A US 3167906A
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- circuit
- oscillatory circuit
- time signal
- frequency
- resonator
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 230000003534 oscillatory effect Effects 0.000 claims description 28
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000010355 oscillation Effects 0.000 description 43
- 230000003321 amplification Effects 0.000 description 14
- 238000003199 nucleic acid amplification method Methods 0.000 description 14
- XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N Iron Chemical compound [Fe] XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 8
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 6
- 229910052742 iron Inorganic materials 0.000 description 4
- 230000000737 periodic effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000013459 approach Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000005284 excitation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000013521 mastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000035939 shock Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001360 synchronised effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G04—HOROLOGY
- G04R—RADIO-CONTROLLED TIME-PIECES
- G04R20/00—Setting the time according to the time information carried or implied by the radio signal
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a timekeeper capable of being corrected in the error of the timekeeping mechanism by electric time signals such as time signals transmitted on short, intermediate, or other electric wave, and more particularly, this invention relate to a new and improved timekceper having highly advantageous features.
- FIGURE 1 is an electrical circuit diagram showing the composition and arrangement of the embodiment
- FIGURE 2 is a schematic elevational view showing one example of the construction of a vibration element for use in the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1;
- FIGURES 3(A) and (B) are electrical equivalent circuits of the vibration element shown in FIGURE 2;
- FIGURE 4(A) is a schematic plan view showing one embodiment of a driving element for driving the hands of the timekeeper according to the invention
- FEGURE 4(B) is a schematic side view showing the permanent magnets of the driving element shown in FIG- URE 4(A);
- FTGURE 5(A) is a schematic plan view showing a modification of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 4-(A);
- FIGURE 5(3) is a schematic side view of the electromagnet and magnetic piece of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 5 (A).
- a separately excited oscillation circuit 1 for providing an electrical oscillation of a frequency and an electromechanical vibrator 2 which serves as the oscillation element for the oscillation circuit 1.
- the vibrator 2 may be, for example, one which comprises a mechanical vibrating element a and transducers b to convert electrical oscillation into mechanical vibration, as shown in FIGURE 2.
- the electromechanical vibrator 2 has an electrical equivalent circuit as indicated in FIGURE 3(A) or (13).
- an RC or LC self-excited oscillation circuit 3 which generates oscillation of a frequency f and which is coupled to the oscillation circuit 1 by an impedance element 4 for coupling which consists of a component such
- the output side of the circuit 3 is connected to a driving element 5 for driving the hour hand, the minute hand, the second hand, and any other mechanical element as necessary of a timekeeper (not shown).
- the driving element 5 consists of electromagnetic driving elements such as suitable electro- 3,167,906 Patented Feb. 2, 1965 magnets as will be described hereinafter and, in accordance with the output of the oscillation circuit 3, creates mechanical reciprocating motion, which is converted into rotational motion by suitable means to drive the hands of the timekeeper.
- the electrical system is further provided with a low frequency amplification circuit 6 which is that of, for example, a radio receiver, and a rectification and amplification circuit 7 to rectify the output of the low-frequency amplification circuit 6 and to amplify the rectified output.
- the output or the circuit 7 is supplied to a relay 8 which is thereby excited and activates a device for correcting the indications of the various timekeeper hands.
- This regulating device may be of known type and may comprise, for example, a plunger activated by the relay 3 and a cam mechanism driven by the plunger.
- a ganged changeover switch 9 which is connected as indicated in FIGURE 1, is normally positioned on the lefthand side (as viewed in FIGURE 1), thereby causing the mechanical vibrator 2 to be connected to the oscillation circuit 1, whereby its oscillation frequency is maintained accurately at h.
- this switch 9 is switched and placed in the righthand position (as viewed in the drawing) to cause the mechanical vibrator 2 to be inserted between the receiver amplification circuit 6 and the rectification and amplification circuit 7.
- the switch may be operated automatically by suitable means, for example, means comprising a time switch or timer engaged with one of the hands of the timekeeper, an electromagnet, and its circuit which is automatically maintained closed for a suitable time by the time switch or timer, whereby automatic switching operation of the switch 9 is accomplished by the attractive force of the electromagnet.
- suitable means for example, means comprising a time switch or timer engaged with one of the hands of the timekeeper, an electromagnet, and its circuit which is automatically maintained closed for a suitable time by the time switch or timer, whereby automatic switching operation of the switch 9 is accomplished by the attractive force of the electromagnet.
- Electric power for the transistors and other components in the circuits 1, 3, 6 and 7 is supplied by a power source 19.
- FIG. 4- is shown one specific embodiment composing the attire-mentioned driving element 5 for driving the hands of the timekeeper, said embodiment comprising an electromagnet 11, and iron piece 12 which is, in normal state, maintained at a position apart from the magnetic pole of said electromagnet 11 by means of a spring (not shown), a balance wheel 13 having a rotary shaft 14, a projection 15 provided at a part of the balance wheel 13, a permanent magnet 16 attached to a part of the balance wheel 13, and another permanent magnet 17 having a fork-shaped section so adapted, as shown in FIG. 4(B), that its poles are disposed on either side of a part of the balance wheel 13, the magnetic poles of said magnet 17 being of the same polarities as those of the permanent magnet 16.
- the coil of the electromagnet 11 is supplied with a half-wave rectified current of the output power of the oscillator 3 or with a rectangular current or triangular current which is synchronized with the output power of the oscillation circuit 3.
- the iron piece 12 upon application of a rectified current converted from the output current of the oscillation circuit 3 to the electromagnet 11, the iron piece 12 is attracted by the said electromagnet 11 against the spring force, whereby the projection 15 is pushed by the end of the iron piece 12, thus rotating the balance wheel 13 in the clockwise direction.
- the balance wheel 13 is made to rotate counterclockwise by the repulsion force between the permanent magnets 16 and 17.
- the oscillation period of the output current of the oscillation circuit 3 is suitably selected, periodic attraction and retraction of the iron piece 12 can be effectively accomplished by periodic excitation of the electromagnet 11, whereby the balance wheel 13 is alternately rotated in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions. Accordingly, a unidirectional torque can be taken out by combination of the balance wheel with a mechanism such as a ratchet wheel, escape wheel or angle piece and the hands of the timekecper can be driven through a suitable gear train by said unidirectional torque.
- a mechanism such as a ratchet wheel, escape wheel or angle piece
- the element 5 for driving hands of the timepiece by means of the output power of the oscillation circuit 3 the element such as illustrated in FIG. 5 may be utilized in the place of the element illustrated in FIG. 4.
- the element of FIG. 5 comprises a balance wheel 13 having a rotary shaft 14, permanent magnets 16 and 17, a magnetic piece 18 provided on a part of the balance wheel 13, and an electromagnet 19 provided with a core having a forkshaped section, said members 13, 14, 1d and 17 being the same as those in the element of FIG. 4.
- the output of the oscillation circuit 3 is applied to the driving element 5, thereby imparting thereto a reciprocating motion in accordance with the oscillation frequency.
- this reciprocating motion is converted by suitable means into rotational motion which is utilized to drive the hands of the timekeeper.
- a mechanism such as a gear train of suitable gear ratios between the aforesaid means for conversion of reciprocating motion into rotational motion and the timekeeper hands, it is possible to drive the hands with substantial accuracy.
- the changeover switch 9 is switched to the righthand side (as viewed in FIGURE 1).
- the mechanical vibrator Z is connected between the receiver amplification circuit 6 and the rectification and amplification circuit 7, and, at the same time, the power source it) is connected to both amplification circuits. Therefore, if the resonance frequency of the mechanical vibrator 2 is selected to coincide with the time signal frequency or to have a narrow band with the time signal frequency as a central frequency, only the time signal which has undergone low-frequency amplification in the receiver amplification circuit 6 is applied, through the vibrator 2, to the amplification circuit 7, where it is rectified and amplified to excite the relay 8.
- the relay 8 so excited drives a suitable means such as a plunger, whereby the hands of the timekeeper are corrected to the correct time.
- the switch 9 is switched back to its normal position, and the vibrator Z is again connected to the oscillation circuit 1, which is thereby caused to produce an oscillation output of accurate, constant frequency.
- the low-frequency oscillation circuit 1 ceases to oscillate, and the driving of the timekeeper hands is accomplished by the output of the CR or LC oscillation circuit 3. Consequently, during this interval, since the oscillation frequency of the oscillation circuit 3 is subject to slight fluctuation as compared with that of the oscillation circuit 1, the driving of the timekeeper hands may become relatively inaccurate. However, since this interval is very short, and, moreover, since the correction by a time signal is accomplished during this interval, the error arising during this interval is of negligible magnitude.
- the foregoing description has concerned the case wherein the same frequency is utilized for both uses of the mechanical vibrator 2 that is, as an oscillation element of the oscillation circuit 1 and as an interstage selecting filter between the amplification circuits 6 and 7.
- the mechanical vibrator 2 that is, as an oscillation element of the oscillation circuit 1 and as an interstage selecting filter between the amplification circuits 6 and 7.
- the spurious frequency of the vibrator may be utilized, and when the vibrator is used as a selecting filter, the fundamental frequency or a harmonic frequency thereof may be utilized.
- the output of an oscillation circuit provided with a mechanical vibrator as an oscillation element is used as above described for driving the timekeeper hands in an accurate manner. Accordingly, the mechanical parts of the apparatus have high mechanical strength compared with conventional apparatus wherein parts such as balances are used. As a result, there is little possibility of damaging the driving mechanism even when the timekeeper hands are subjected to impact stress at the time of correction by a time signal, wherefore the timekeeper according to this invention is highly durable and stable over a considerable length of time.
- the timekeeper of this invention can be manufactured easily and cheaply.
- a timekeeping device corrected by an electric time signal comprising, a first oscillatory circuit, a second oscillatory circuit frequency locked with said first oscillatory circuit to supply driving power for driving said device, said second oscillatory circuit comprising a self-exciting oscillatory circuit, a time signal receiving circuit, a resonator normally connected to sad first oscillatory circuit to control the frequency thereof, means to switch over said resonator to connect it to function as a signal selecting wave filter in said time signal receiving circuit during a selected interval of time just before and after arrival of said time signal, a driving element to receive the output of the said self-excited second oscillatory circuit during all the intervals when said resonator functions to control the frequency of said first oscillatory circuit and as said filter, an automatic switching means to actuate said switchover means to operably connect said resonator to said first oscillatory circuit and to operably connect said resonator during a few seconds just before and after said time signal is received in an operative condition to function as said filter of the time signal receiving circuit,
- a timekeeping device corrected by an electric time signal comprising, a first oscillatory circuit, a second oscillatory circuit frequency locked with said oscillatory circuit to supply driving power for driving said device, said second oscillatory circuit comprising a self-exciting oscillatory circuit, a time signal receiving circuit, an electromechanical resonator normally connected to said first oscillatory circuit to control the frequency thereof, means to switch over said resonator to operably connect it to function as a signal-selecting wave filter of said time signal receiving circuit during a selected interval of time just before and after arrival of said time signal, a driving element to receive the output of the said self-excited second oscillatory circuit during all the intervals when said electromechanical resonator functions to control the frequency of said first oscillatory circuit and as said filter, automatic switching means to actuate said switch over means to operably connect said electromechanical resonator to said first oscillatory circuit and to operably connect said electromechanical resonator to said first oscillatory circuit and to operably connect said electromechanical resonator during
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- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Electric Clocks (AREA)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP3709562 | 1962-08-31 | ||
| JP3709662 | 1962-08-31 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| US3167906A true US3167906A (en) | 1965-02-02 |
Family
ID=26376194
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| US304925A Expired - Lifetime US3167906A (en) | 1962-08-31 | 1963-08-27 | Timekeeper corrected by electric time signals |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US3167906A (fr) |
| CH (2) | CH1073163A4 (fr) |
| GB (1) | GB1033884A (fr) |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3462939A (en) * | 1965-02-12 | 1969-08-26 | Tokei Kk | Mechanical vibrator for timepiece |
| US3631669A (en) * | 1968-11-05 | 1972-01-04 | Centre Electron Horloger | Synchronizable clock |
| US3699762A (en) * | 1971-04-05 | 1972-10-24 | Timex Corp | Synchronized contact watch |
Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2614383A (en) * | 1945-09-27 | 1952-10-21 | Pfeffer Vaclav | Method and device for wireless control of master clocks |
| FR1090564A (fr) * | 1953-09-17 | 1955-03-31 | Hatot Leon Ets | Perfectionnements apportés aux mécanismes horaires et aux appareils analogues |
-
1963
- 1963-08-27 US US304925A patent/US3167906A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1963-08-28 GB GB34078/63A patent/GB1033884A/en not_active Expired
- 1963-08-30 CH CH1073163D patent/CH1073163A4/xx unknown
- 1963-08-30 CH CH1073163A patent/CH405172A/fr unknown
Patent Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2614383A (en) * | 1945-09-27 | 1952-10-21 | Pfeffer Vaclav | Method and device for wireless control of master clocks |
| FR1090564A (fr) * | 1953-09-17 | 1955-03-31 | Hatot Leon Ets | Perfectionnements apportés aux mécanismes horaires et aux appareils analogues |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3462939A (en) * | 1965-02-12 | 1969-08-26 | Tokei Kk | Mechanical vibrator for timepiece |
| US3631669A (en) * | 1968-11-05 | 1972-01-04 | Centre Electron Horloger | Synchronizable clock |
| US3699762A (en) * | 1971-04-05 | 1972-10-24 | Timex Corp | Synchronized contact watch |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CH405172A (fr) | 1965-09-15 |
| GB1033884A (en) | 1966-06-22 |
| CH1073163A4 (fr) | 1965-09-15 |
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