System for determining the passage of time

Abstract

System for determining the passage of time, comprising a curve element (1) with a concave curve track (10) and a rolling element (40) for performing a rolling movement (41) on the curve track (10), wherein the curve element (1) comprises a setup device (5) with which the curve element (1) can be set up such that two endpoints (11, 12) of the curve track (10) form respective maximum points (13, 14) of the curve of the curve track (10) and a curve area between the endpoints (11, 12) forms a minimum point (17) of the curve of the curve track (10).

Description

The analog detection or determination of the passage of time in games such as board games is done, among other things, by hourglasses or mechanical egg timers. Sand timers are used to mark time intervals for breaks in meetings or turns in board games. They are often used to define periods of time measured in hours, minutes, or seconds. With sand timers, the duration of a defined time is determined by the point at which the flowing sand stops. This process can only be restarted once the sand has completely flowed from one container to another. Interrupting the process and immediately restarting it is not possible. Mechanical egg timers emit an audible signal when the set time has elapsed. Unlike an hourglass, there is no visual indication of the time remaining during the timer's operation. To end the timer prematurely, the user must manually adjust the preset timer. Egg timers are commonly used to measure time in hours and minutes. DE 10 2012 021 120 A1 discloses a device for influencing the pulse rate in humans with a mechanical vibration system having a definable vibration period, wherein the vibration system is designed as a rotationally symmetric body that rolls on a stationary flat support structure and moves periodically back and forth, and wherein the vibration frequency of the body is independent of the height of its support structure. DE 33 08 936 C1 discloses a ball-driven clock for a metal ball with a drive mechanism that returns the metal ball to its original starting height after each run, and a driven time-display mechanism that counts the ball's runs. It is proposed that, to achieve particularly high accuracy of movement, the ball's track is symmetrical to the vertical and consists of two subsections rising on either side of a lowest point, the higher ends of which represent the reversal points of the ball's direction of travel. At least one mechanical, electromechanical, or electronic sensor is provided on the ball's track to detect the ball's movement in a counting manner. The sensor is connected, either directly or indirectly, to the time-display mechanism to control it.At least one section of the ball track is designed as an energy storage device in the form of a controlled electromagnet that can be switched on and off and acts directly or indirectly on the balls. GB 1910 / 13 662 A discloses a device for operating clocks with a ball made of magnetic material, arranged to move periodically along a fixed path and, by attracting a pivotable permanent magnet at a certain point on its path, activating an electromagnet which gives the ball the impulse required to carry it through a complete operating cycle. DE 10 2012 021 122 A1 discloses a time-measuring device with a mechanical oscillation system having a definable periodic oscillation and featuring automatic temperature compensation. It consists of a movable, rotationally symmetric body and a stationary track formed by two edges that are arc-shaped in the horizontal plane. The movable body rolls along this track such that the trajectory of its center of gravity in space is a curve with a minimum point, consisting of two upward-sloping segments on either side of this minimum point. The maximum points of this trajectory are simultaneously the reversal points for the direction of motion of this movable body. The movable body is shaped such that the effects of temperature on the oscillation frequency of the mechanical system are compensated automatically and without the use of auxiliary energy. DE 31 35 859 A1 is a device for limiting the rolling speed of a rolling body on an inclined plane, comprising a rolling body containing a viscous liquid in its hollow interior, wherein visual markers for displaying the rolling process are arranged on parts of the device. The present invention is therefore based on the objective of providing a system for determining the passage of time, which can be implemented in a cost-effective manner, repeatedly and in an easily perceptible way, to inform about the passage of a defined period of time. This problem is solved by the system according to the invention for determining the passage of time according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the system for determining the passage of time are specified in dependent claims 2-8. In addition, a use of the system according to the invention for determining the passage of time in a game is provided. A first aspect of the present invention is a system for detecting the passage of time, comprising a curve element with a concave curve track and a rolling element for performing a rolling motion on the curve track, wherein the curve element includes a mounting device with which the curve element can be positioned such that two endpoints of the curve track form respective maximum points of the curve track and a curve section between the endpoints forms a minimum point of the curve track. At least one maximum point, a platform for receiving the rolling element in its rest position is arranged. The system according to the invention thus represents a timer, also known as a rolling body clock, with which the end of a time period can be indicated, optionally also by a characteristic movement behavior indicating the approaching end of a time period. The setup capability using the setup device can be realized in such a way that the curve element can be set up on a horizontal plane, so that two endpoints of the curve form respective maximum points of the curve and a curve area between the endpoints forms a minimum point of the curve. An advantageous embodiment provides that the setup device fixes the curved track in a defined curve. The rolling element can initially roll down the curve from a first maximum point or end region. The rolling element's potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, causing it to accelerate. As the rolling element passes a lower curve section, which forms a minimum point of the curve, it rolls over this lower curve section tangentially to the lower curve section due to the inertial force acting upon it and tangentially to the rotation due to the moment of inertia acting upon it. The rolling element then approaches the opposite maximum point of the curve.At least in the case of a mirror-symmetrical curve, the rolling element, due to friction losses and air resistance, does not reach the same height as the initial maximum point from which it started, but rather slightly lower, until a reversal of motion occurs. The rolling element then rolls downhill again, passing the minimum point of the curve and rolling back up the opposite side. Here, too, a reversal of motion occurs at a point lower than the point of the first reversal. These processes repeat until the position of the rolling element corresponds to the minimum point of the curve, where the pendulum motion ends and the rolling element comes to rest.The time from the start of the movement of the rolling element until its standstill is visualized and / or audibly perceptible by the described system, so that the system can be used as a timer. In addition to displaying the progress of a specific time period, the system also indicates the approaching end of the time period through the increasingly shorter movements of the rolling element between the points of reversal of movement and the associated increased frequency of the occurrence of the reversal of movement, and can thus also serve to estimate the time still available. The concave curve can, for example, run along a circular arc, or be parabolic. With a curve that is essentially two-dimensional, the entire system has a small volume requirement and can therefore be easily stored in the packaging of a board game. Due to the simple placement of the rolling element on the curved track, it is easy to stop and restart the rolling process and thus the timer. The rolling process of the element is not only visually detectable and traceable, but, depending on the surfaces of the rolling element and the curved track, varying levels of acoustic emissions can also occur during the rolling process. These emissions provide information about when the rolling process started, whether it is nearing its end, and when the rolling process, and therefore the timer, has ended. At least one maximum point is equipped with a platform to hold the rolling element in its resting position. From here, the rolling element can be manually pushed so that it enters the curved track. This design ensures equal starting conditions for all users. An advantageous embodiment of the system for determining the passage of time provides that the maximum points have the same heights. However, the system according to the invention is not limited to this embodiment; it can also have maximum points with different heights. These different heights refer to height specifications when the curve element is set up in its operating position. The curved track can have a concave cross-section in a section perpendicular to the plane of the track. Due to the concave contour, the curved track in this embodiment essentially forms two side walls or edges that serve to guide the rolling element, which in this case can be a ball or a cylinder. The concave contour can be at least partially arc-shaped, with the radius of the arc being as large as the radius of the rolling element when resting on the curved track, at least within the arc enclosed by the concave contour. In an advantageous embodiment, the concave contour extends in an imaginary circular segment whose segment height is at most half the radius of the rolling element. This means that, in this embodiment, the rolling element does not penetrate deeply into the concave contour, so that it remains easily visible during the rolling process. However, the invention is not limited to this embodiment; the radius of the circular arc of the concave contour can also be larger than the radius of the rolling element when placed on the curved track, at least in the circular arc surrounded by the concave contour. One particular embodiment provides that the clear width of the concave contour is reduced with increasing distance from a first maximum point. Another alternative embodiment provides that the curved track has a cross-section with a planar or convex contour in a section perpendicular to the plane of the track. Due to the convex contour, the curved track in this embodiment essentially forms a guide surface or guide ridge, which serves to guide the rolling element, which in this case has a cylindrical running surface with axially adjoining thickenings. If the curved track has a cross-section with a planar contour in a section perpendicular to the plane of the track, the rolling element can, for example, be cylindrical in a central area that serves for rolling on the curved track and have cylindrical or truncated conical elements at its axial end regions with diameters larger than the diameter of the central region. When using truncated conical elements arranged on both sides, the cross-section of the curved track can be designed to be complementary to the truncated conical elements or their cone angles. These thickenings, arranged on both sides, ensure the lateral guidance of the rolling element during its rolling movement on the curved track. The present system for determining the passage of time is not limited to the fact that the plane of the curve's path is essentially two-dimensional, but the plane of the curve's path can also be simply or multiply curved, so that the curve's path runs accordingly in a three-dimensional space. The rolling element can have an eccentric center of gravity relative to its axis of rotation. This means that the rolling element can have an asymmetric mass distribution. However, the rolling element can still be rotationally symmetric, at least in the section interacting with the curve, regardless of whether it has a symmetric or an asymmetric mass distribution. A special embodiment of the rolling element provides that its circumferential section interacting with the curved track is not rotationally symmetrical, but may, for example, have a flattening on its rolling surface. A surface of the rolling element and / or the curved track that serves the rolling process can be provided, at least in sections, with a roughness between Rz 10 µm and Rz 200 µm and / or a surface texture. This means that both the surface of the curved track and the surface of the rolling element that serves the rolling process can be smooth or rough and / or textured. Thus, a surface used for the rolling process can have a regular or irregular microstructure, including elevations, depressions, grooves, ribs, edges or pores with a characteristic roughness. For example, on the curved track and / or on the rolling element, a surface that is at least partially grooved with parallel or crossed line structures at a distance of 0.5 to 2 mm and / or knobs with a size of a respective radial boundary area of ​​a maximum of 1 mm2 can be used to generate characteristic acoustic emissions during oscillating rolling behavior. In this way, the rolling process is also audibly perceptible to people with impaired vision. The rolling element can be designed, at least in part, such that its axis of rotation runs, at least in part, within a cavity. For example, the rolling element can be designed to be hollow in its central area, like a tube or ring. In an advantageous embodiment, the rolling element is designed to be completely rotationally symmetrical on its surface used for the rolling process. An alternative embodiment, however, provides that the rolling element is open at its circumference. This means that the cavity of the rolling element is open to the outside of the rolling element. Furthermore, the cam track can be provided with teeth, and the rolling element can be equipped with complementary teeth, so that when the rolling element rolls along the cam track, the teeth of the respective gears mesh with each other. Accordingly, the rolling element is designed, at least in part, as or like a gear. In an advantageous embodiment, the teeth are involute teeth. The rolling element can be rotationally symmetrical in a first cross-sectional plane and elliptical in a second cross-sectional plane perpendicular to the first. Such a rolling element is designed to rotate around an axis of rotation perpendicular to the first cross-sectional plane and roll accordingly along the curved track. Furthermore, the rolling element can be rotationally symmetrical in the first cross-sectional plane and may only have a circumferential linear boundary edge on its outer circumference, which serves for rolling. The concave cross-section of the curved track can be complementarily adapted to these cross-sectional shapes in the second cross-sectional plane with regard to shape and size. The rolling element can be designed as a ball, roller or disc. The rolling element can be cylindrical, at least on its outer surface, with the curved track having a linear profile in a cross-section relative to the plane of the curved track and a boundary wall on each side of the curved track. Alternatively, the curved track or the running groove can be circular segment-shaped, parabolic, U-shaped, V-shaped, box-shaped, or slot-shaped in a cross-section relative to the plane of the curved track, and the rolling element can be a rolling body with a complementary shape, at least with a section that rolls on the curved track. Overall, the system for determining the passage of time represents a system for the analogous determination of time, whereby a rolling motion ends after a specific time due to gravity and inertia. The presented system for determining the passage of time can be designed in a visually appealing way. A complementary aspect of the present invention is the use of the described system for determining the passage of time in a game. The presented system for determining the passage of time is suitable for use in educational, playful, or physics-experimental contexts where time sequences are to be determined or running behavior is to be observed. The present invention will be explained below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 shows the system for determining the passage of time of a first embodiment in a side view. Figure 2 shows the curved track and the rolling element from Figure 1 in a cross-section. Figure 3 shows the system for determining the passage of time of a second embodiment in a side view. Figure 4 shows the system for determining the passage of time of a third embodiment in a side view. Figure 5 shows the system for determining the passage of time of the first embodiment in a top view. Figure 6 shows the system for determining the passage of time of a fourth embodiment in a top view. Figure 7 shows the system for determining the passage of time of a fifth embodiment in a top view. Figure 8 shows the system for determining the passage of time of a sixth embodiment in a top view. Figure 9 shows the system for determining the passage of time of a seventh embodiment in a top view. Figure 10 shows the system for determining the passage of time of an eighth embodiment in a top view.Fig. 11: Sectional view of the cross-section of a curved track of a first embodiment with a roller element; Fig. 12: Sectional view of the cross-section of a curved track of a second embodiment with a roller element; Fig. 13: Sectional view of the cross-section of a curved track of a third embodiment with a roller element; Fig. 14: Sectional view of the cross-section of a curved track of a fourth embodiment with a roller element; Fig. 15: Sectional view of the cross-section of a curved track of a fifth embodiment with a roller element; Fig. 16: Sectional view of the cross-section of a curved track of a sixth embodiment with a roller element; Fig. 17: Sectional view of the cross-section of a curved track of a seventh embodiment with a roller element; Fig. 18: Sectional view of the cross-section of a curved track of an eighth embodiment with a roller element; and Fig. 19: A specially shaped roller element in perspective view. Fig. 1 shows a side view of the system for determining the passage of time in a first embodiment. This system comprises a mounting device 5 for placement on a flat surface (not shown) and a curved track 10, which is fixed by the mounting device 5. In the embodiment shown here, the curved track 10 is concave and mirror-symmetrical. A rolling element 40 in the form of a ball is arranged on the curved track 10. At one end of the curve 10 is a first endpoint 11 of the curve 10, and at the opposite end of the curve 10 is a second endpoint 12 of the curve 10. These two endpoints 11 and 12 form a first maximum point 13 and a second maximum point 14 of the curve 10. In the embodiment shown here, the two maximum points 13 and 14 are at the same height. At each of the two endpoints 11 and 12, a first platform 15 and a second platform 16 are connected. The first platform 15 contains a recess 18 for the initial reception of the rolling element 40. At the lowest point of the curve trajectory 10, it forms a minimum point 17. If the rolling element 40 is rolled from one of the two platforms 15, 16, for example from the recess 18 in the first platform, it moves in the rolling motion 41 towards the second endpoint 12. However, due to friction losses, the rolling element 40 does not reach the second endpoint 12, but reverses direction beforehand and thus performs a pendulum motion around the minimum point 17. After increasingly shorter motion sequences between the reversal points, the rolling element 40 then comes to rest at the minimum point 17. The period from the start of the movement of the rolling element 40 until it comes to a standstill can thus be visually and / or acoustically illustrated by the system according to the invention. Fig. 2 shows the curved track 10 and the rolling element 40 from Fig. 1 in a cross-section, whereby it can be seen that the curved track 10 has a cross-section with a concave contour 20 and the rolling element 40 is essentially spherical, wherein the radius rK of the circular arc of the concave contour is equal to the radius rR of the rolling element 40, so that the cross-section of the rolling element 40 is complementary to the cavity of the curved track 10. Because the rolling element 40 is surrounded on both sides in certain areas by the mounting device 5 forming the curved track 10, the mounting device 5 forms a first side edge 21 and a second side edge 22 on both sides of the rolling element 40, which guides the rolling element 40 in its rolling movement. Fig. 3 shows a side view of the system for determining the passage of time in a second embodiment. This embodiment differs from the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 in that it depicts two different variants of the roller element 40: one with a central, closed cavity 62, and the other with a central cavity 62 and a circumferential opening 63. These two different roller elements 40 are shown in Fig. 3 only to illustrate their differences. They are not intended to be used together. The platforms 15, 16, and thus also the maximum points 13, 14, have different heights. Fig. 4 shows the system for determining a time elapsed of a third embodiment in a side view, which differs from the first embodiment shown in Fig. 1 in that the cam track 10 is equipped with a cam track toothing 23, and the rolling element 40 is also equipped with a rolling element toothing 64 in a complementary manner, wherein the two toothings 23, 64 are designed such that the rolling element 40 can roll with its rolling element toothing 64 on the cam track toothing 23. Fig. 5 shows the system for determining the passage of time of the first embodiment shown in Fig. 1 in a top view, where it can be seen that the width of the curve 10 remains the same from the first endpoint 11 to the second endpoint 12, and that the curve 10 extends essentially two-dimensionally. Figures 6 and 7 show the system for detecting the passage of time in a fourth and a fifth embodiment, respectively, in top view. It can be seen that in the embodiment shown in Figure 6, the curve 10 has a simply curved path, and in the embodiment shown in Figure 7, the curve 10 has a doubly curved path. Accordingly, the curves 10 of the embodiments are shown three-dimensionally in the figures. Fig. 8 shows the system for determining a time sequence of a sixth embodiment in a top view, where it can be seen that, in contrast to the first embodiment shown in Fig. 5, the clear width 42 of the concave contour of the curve path 10 is reduced from the first endpoint 11 towards the second endpoint 12. Figures 9 and 10 show specific embodiments of the system for detecting the passage of time. Both embodiments have in common that the respective mounting device 5 and the respective curved track 10 are three-dimensional, namely in that in Figure 9 the curved track 10 is formed by a negative form of a spherical segment, and in Figure 10 the curved track 10 is formed by a negative form of an ellipsoidal segment. Both embodiments also each have a first endpoint 11, an opposite second endpoint 12, which form the respective maximum points 13 and 14, as well as a first platform 15 and a second platform 16. The minimum point 17 is formed at the lowest point of the curved track 10 in each case. Here too, a rolling element 40 performs a pendulum movement around the minimum point 17 before the rolling element 40 comes to rest here. Figures 11-18 show different cross-sectional shapes of the curved track 10 and the rolling element 40 rolling on it. Fig. 11 shows an embodiment in which the rolling element 40 has an elliptical cross-section 65 and is thus designed as an ellipsoid. Fig. 12, on the other hand, shows the embodiment of the rolling element 40 as a sphere. In both embodiments according to Fig. 11 and Fig. 12, the cam track 10 has a concave cross-section for guiding the rolling element 40. Fig. 13 shows a sectional view of the cross-section of a curved track of a third embodiment with a rolling element. Here, the curved track 10 has a linear profile 30 in cross-section. A rotationally symmetrical rolling element 40 rolls along it. To hold the rolling element 40 on the curved track 10, the curved track 10 includes a first lateral boundary wall 31 and a second lateral boundary wall 32 on either side of the rolling element 40. Figures 14 and 15 show embodiments of the cam track 10 and the roller element 40, in which the cam track 10 has a V-shaped cavity in cross-section and the roller element 40 is designed to be complementary in shape and size, so that it has a rotationally symmetrical form and comprises only a circumferential rolling edge 53 on its outer circumference, to which two frustoconical surfaces adjoin. Here, too, the cam track 10 or the mounting device 5 forms a first lateral boundary wall 31 and a second lateral boundary wall 32 on both sides of the roller element 40, with these boundary walls 31, 32 being raised higher in the embodiment shown in Figure 15 than in the embodiment shown in Figure 14. Fig. 16 shows a sectional view of the cross-section of a curved track of a sixth embodiment with a roller element, which is designed similarly to the embodiment shown in Fig. 13, with the difference that the roller element 40 has rounded edges and the running surface of the curved track 10 is also rounded to complement this, and that the boundary walls 31, 32 are raised higher in the embodiment shown in Fig. 16 than in the embodiment shown in Fig. 13. Fig. 17 shows a sectional view of the cross-section of a curved track of a seventh embodiment with a rolling element, and Fig. 18 shows a sectional view of the cross-section of a curved track of an eighth embodiment with a rolling element. Both embodiments shown in Figs. 17 and 18 have in common that the curved track 10 forms a linear profile 30 in cross-section, at least in sections, on which a central cylindrical section 50 of the rolling element 40 rolls. Thickenings are arranged on both sides of the cylindrical section 50, namely cylindrical elements 51 in Fig. 17 and truncated conical elements 52 in Fig. 18. These cylindrical elements 51 and truncated conical elements 52, respectively, guide the rolling element 40 on the curved track 10 during its rolling motion. Fig. 17 also shows an exemplary special embodiment of the rolling element 40, in which it is indicated that the center of gravity 60 is located outside the axis of rotation 43. Fig. 19 shows a specially shaped roller element in perspective view. This roller element 40 has a flattened section 61. Reference symbol list 1 Curved element 5 Mounting device 10 Curved track 11 First endpoint 12 Second endpoint 13 First maximum point 14 Second maximum point 15 First platform 16 Second platform 17 Minimum point 18 Trough 20 Cross-section with concave contour 21 First side edge 22 Second side edge 23 Curved track toothing 30 Linear profile in cross-section 31 First lateral boundary wall 32 Second lateral boundary wall 40 Roller element 41 Rolling motion 42 Clear width of the concave contour 43 Axis of rotation 50 Central cylindrical area 51 Cylindrical element 52 Truncated cone element 53 Rolling edge 60 Center of gravity 61 Flattening 62 Cavity 63 Circumferential opening 64 Roller element toothing 65 Elliptical cross-section rK Radius of the circular arc of the concave contour rR Radius of the roller element

Claims

System for determining the passage of time, comprising a curve element (1) with a concave curve track (10) and a rolling element (40) for performing a rolling movement (41) on the curve track (10), wherein the curve element (1) comprises a mounting device (5) with which the curve element (1) can be mounted such that two endpoints (11, 12) of the curve track (10) form respective maximum points (13, 14) of the curve of the curve track (10) and a curve section between the endpoints (11, 12) forms a minimum point (17) of the curve of the curve track (10), characterized in that a platform (15, 16) for receiving the rolling element (40) in a rest position is arranged at at least one maximum point (13, 14). System for determining a time sequence according to claim 1, characterized in that the maximum points (13, 14) have the same heights. System for determining a time sequence according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the curved track (10) has a cross-section with a concave contour (20) in a section perpendicular to the plane of the track. System for determining a time sequence according to claim 3, characterized in that the concave contour (20) is at least partially circular arc-shaped, wherein the radius (rK) of the circular arc of the concave contour (20) is as large as the radius (rR) of the rolling element (40) when resting on the curved track (10) at least in the circular arc surrounded by the concave contour (20). System for determining a time sequence according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rolling element (40) has an eccentric center of gravity (60) with respect to its axis of rotation (43). System for determining a time sequence according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a surface of the rolling element (40) and / or the curved track (10) serving the rolling process is provided at least sectionally with a roughness between Rz 10 µm and Rz 200 µm and / or a surface structuring. System for determining a time sequence according to one of claims 1 to 3 and 5 and 6, characterized in that the rolling element (40) is rotationally symmetrical in a first cross-sectional plane and is elliptically shaped in a second cross-sectional plane perpendicular to the first cross-sectional plane. System for determining a time sequence according to one of claims 1, 2, 5 and 6, characterized in that the rolling element (40) is cylindrical at least on its outer side, and the curved track (10) has a linear profile (30) in a cross-section to the plane of the course of the curved track (10) and has a boundary wall (31, 32) on each side of the curved track (10). Use of the system for determining the passage of time according to any one of claims 1 to 8 for determining the passage of time in a game.

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