mechanical hourglass

Abstract

Title: Mechanical Hourglass The invention relates to a mechanical hourglass (1) for displaying an elapsed time T, of the type comprising: a slider (3) mechanically movable between two positions; means for driving the movable slider (3), driven by motor means at a drive speed V, characterized in that it comprises: a base (2) and at least one track (22) on the base (2), along which the movable slider (3) is intended to be moved by the drive means; means for selecting time T; means for calculating an average drive speed to be applied VA with VA = D / T; a control device for the motor means with a drive speed setpoint V equal to VA. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 1

Claims

Demands

1. A mechanical hourglass (1) intended to display an elapsed time T, of the type comprising: - a movable cursor (3); - means for driving the movable cursor (3), driven by motor means (8) at a drive speed V, characterized in that it comprises: - a base (2) and at least one track (22) carried by the base (2), the movable cursor (3) being intended to be moved on said track (22) by the drive means (5); - means for selecting the time T; - means for calculating (6) an equation VA = D / T, where VA is an average drive speed of the movable cursor (3) on the track (22), and D is a distance to be materialized by the track (22); - a control device (7) for the motor means (8) with a drive speed setpoint V substantially equal to VA.

2. Mechanical hourglass (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive means (8) comprise a stepper motor (81), the calculation means (6) being parameterized to convert the average speed to be applied VA into a number N of steps per second, the drive means (8) being controlled by the control device (7) with the number N of steps per second.

3. Mechanical hourglass (1) according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the track (22) extends between two distant movable posts (9), and in that the slider (3) is movable in contact with the track (22).

4. Mechanical hourglass (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the slider (3) takes the form of an element of revolution.

5. Mechanical hourglass (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the drive means (5) comprise a plurality of pads (51) movable between at least two positions: - an active position, in which the pads (51) protrude to the- above the track (22); - an inactive position, in which the pads (51) are retracted under the track (22), the drive means (5) further comprising a master member (52) for moving the pads (51) from the inactive position to the active position, the master member (52) being movable under the track (22) along it.

6. Mechanical hourglass (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the drive means (5) comprise a series of transverse lines of studs (51) parallel to each other and following one another along the entire length of the track (22), the studs (51) extending in longitudinal lines parallel to each other.

7. Mechanical hourglass (1) according to any one of claims 5 and 6, characterized in that the studs (51) are mounted to slide in housings (23) provided under the track (22), each housing (23) including a return spring (231) to the inactive position of the corresponding stud.

8. Mechanical hourglass (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each housing (23) incorporates a barrel (232) through which a rod (512) of the block (51) passes, the block (51) also comprising a bell (511) associated with the rod (512), the bell (511) having a peripheral rim (513) with which the return spring (231) cooperates.

9. Mechanical hourglass (1) one of claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the master member (52) has at least two bosses (521) each intended to move at least one pin (51) into active position, the two bosses (521) being separated along a longitudinal direction of the track so as to be placed on either side of the slider (3).

10. Mechanical hourglass (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the bosses (521) have a top (522) and, along a longitudinal direction of the track, a ramp upstream (523) and a ramp downstream (524) of the top (522).

11. Mechanical hourglass (1) claim 2 and any one of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that it comprises a worm screw (82) mounted under the track (22) and driven by the stepper motor (81), the master member (52) being coupled to a base (53) having a thread cooperating with the worm screw (82).

12. Mechanical hourglass (1) according to any one of claims 3 to 11, characterized in that at least one of the posts (9) has a cavity (93) suitable for receiving the cursor (3), said cavity having a bottom (94) intended to receive the cursor (3), said post (9) being movable in height relative to the base (2) between two positions: - a higher position in which the bottom (94) is located flush with or above the track (22); - a lower position in which the bottom (94) is located below the track (22).

13. Mechanical hourglass (1) according to claims 5 and 12, characterized in that the master member (52) is movable under the track (22) to a position under the movable post (9).

14. Mechanical hourglass (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that it comprises a detector of the position of the master member (52) under the movable post (9), and in that the computing means (6) are programmed to move the master member (52) following the movement of the movable post (9) from its upper position to its lower position, and vice versa.

15. Mechanical hourglass (1) according to claims 11 and 14, characterized in that the base (53) comprises at least one finger (531) and the master member (52) has a groove (525) for receiving the finger (531) of the base (53), the finger (531) being mounted to slide in the groove (525) to allow the master member (52) to be moved following the movement of the movable post (9) from its upper position to its lower position, and vice versa.

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