Sandglass

Abstract

In a rotary hourglass, it is an issue to simplify the rotation method of a support frame SS having a sand container for inverting the vertical positions of the sand containers. 【Solution means】 Three sand containers 3 and a support frame SS of the sand containers having a pipe for passing sand therebetween have a rotation axis parallel to the Y-axis of the XYZ three-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system. The above-mentioned support frame SS has a form having a plurality of acting points for applying a force MF in the rotation direction TD to rotate the support frame SS. In order to move the container in which the sand has fallen to the upper part, when rotating the support frame SS by 120 degrees, a certain acting point is pushed with a force MF in the rotation direction TD to rotate the support frame SS by 60 degrees. Then, by further pushing another acting point with a force MF in the rotation direction TD, the support frame SS is further rotated by 60 degrees. By these means, the container in which the sand has fallen can be moved to the upper part, time measurement can be performed, the acting points can be pushed in the same direction, and the rotation method can be simplified.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an hourglass having a rotating mechanism.

Background Art

[0002] In a rotary hourglass that reverses the upper and lower containers of the hourglass, an hourglass to be rotated is known by a rotating mechanism composed of a rotating shaft of a support frame of the hourglass and its bearing. (Japanese Utility Model Application No. Hei 8-2363)

[0003] However, when reversing the upper and lower containers, the upper part of the upper container was pushed to rotate the support frame 180 degrees in a semicircular shape.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In a conventional rotary hourglass, when reversing the upper and lower containers, the upper part of the upper container side of the support frame of the sand container is pushed to rotate 180 degrees in a semicircular shape, and the direction of the force for pushing the support frame of the sand container changes from a horizontal direction to a vertical downward direction in a semicircular shape, and then to a horizontal direction.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to simplify the rotation method by making the direction of the force for pushing the support frame of the sand container the same direction during the rotation of the rotary hourglass.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The sand container support frame SS of the hourglass of the present invention, which has three sand containers and a pipe for passing sand between them, has a rotation axis Y1 parallel to the Y-axis of the XYZ three-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system. The above-mentioned support frame SS has six action points for applying a force MF in its rotation direction TD to rotate the support frame SS.

[0008] The point where the force MF is applied in the rotation direction TD is defined as the fixed point BP. When there is an action point at this fixed point BP, by applying the force MF in the rotation direction TD, a rotation mechanism is provided that rotates the support frame SS by 60 degrees around the rotation axis Y1.

[0009] In order to move the container in which the sand has fallen to the upper part, when the support frame SS is rotated by 120 degrees, the action point at the above-mentioned fixed point BP is defined as the action point K6, and this is pushed with the force MF in the rotation direction TD to rotate the support frame SS by 60 degrees. At this time, the action point K1 located in the direction opposite to the rotation direction TD of the action point K6 moves to the fixed point BP.

[0010] Furthermore, the action point K1 at the fixed point BP is pushed with the force MF in the rotation direction TD to rotate the support frame SS by 60 degrees. By these means, the container in which the sand has fallen can be moved to the upper part, and time measurement can be performed.

Advantages of the Invention

[0011] When rotating the support frame SS of the sand container, the action point at the above-mentioned fixed point BP is pushed in the rotation direction TD to rotate the support frame SS, and another action point that has moved in the rotation direction TD is pushed in the same direction, thereby rotating the container in which the sand has fallen by 120 degrees. As a result, the container in which the sand has fallen can be moved from the lower part to the upper part, and time measurement can be performed. By these means, the starting point for pushing the support frame SS is set at one place, the direction of the force is set in the same direction, the 60-degree rotation is performed twice, and the rotation method of the rotary hourglass can be simplified. Also, by marking any place on the support frame, the time until the mark on the support frame returns to its original position is equal to the time for the sand to move from container to container three times, and can be used as a unit of time measurement.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] As a mode for carrying out the invention, Example 1 and Example 2 of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. In each drawing showing the examples, an XYZ three-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system is shown.

Example

[0014] FIG. 1 shows Example 1 of the hourglass described in Claims 1 and 2. The outer frame FR of the support frame SS and the inner surface P1 of the cylindrical rotation support TS are combined, and the support frame SS rotates in the rotation direction TD around the rotation axis Y1 parallel to the Y axis with respect to the rotation support TS. The rotation mechanism of the hourglass of the present invention has a form in which the rotation support TS is supported by the support SB and the pedestal BS. The outer frame FR is reinforced by the reinforcing frame FS.

[0015] The force on the rotation support TS due to the dynamic frictional force between the support frame SS and the rotation support TS during rotation is supported by the support SB and the pedestal BS.

[0016] The support frame SS has, inside its outer frame FR, a container C1, a container C2, and a container C3, spaced apart about the rotation axis Y1. Between the container C1 and the container C2, there is a tube T1 for sand to pass through. Between the container C2 and the container C3, there is a tube T2 for sand to pass through. Between the container C3 and the container C1, there is a tube T3 for sand to pass through. Sand SD is shown in the container C2 of FIG. 1. The containers C1, C2, and C3 are structured to be sealed so that sand does not leak except for the parts where the sand moves. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, a structure that prevents sand from leaking is formed by lids perpendicular to both ends of the side surfaces parallel to the Y-axis direction of each container.

[0017] Figures 2 to 4 show the form of the rotation mechanism of the first embodiment.

[0018] Figure 2 shows the state before the rotation operation of the hourglass. The state is such that the sand SD has fallen from the container C1 to the container C2. K1 to K6 are examples of the acting points for applying the force MF to rotate the hourglass. The fixed point BP is the point where the force MF is applied in the rotation direction TD to the acting point of the support frame SS.

[0019] In the state of Figure 2, the acting point K6 is at the aforementioned fixed point BP. By applying the force MF in the rotation direction TD to the acting point K6, the acting point K6 shown in Figure 2 moves to the position of the acting point K6 shown in Figure 3. At this time, the support frame SS rotates by 60 degrees.

[0020] Next, the acting point K1 shown in Figure 3 is at the aforementioned fixed point BP. By applying the force MF in the rotation direction TD to the acting point K1, it is moved to the position of the acting point K1 shown in Figure 4. At this time, the support frame SS rotates by a further 60 degrees.

[0021] As a result of these operations, at the fixed point BP, in two operations of applying a force to the acting point in the rotation direction TD, the support frame SS rotates by 120 degrees. The container C2, which is in the lowest position in the Z direction shown in Figure 2, moves to the highest position in the Z direction as shown in Figure 4, and sand falls from the container C2 to the container C3, enabling time measurement.

Embodiment

[0022] Figure 5 shows the form of the hourglass described in claim 3. Inside the container C1, container C2, and container C3 described in claim 1, a cylinder T4 having a rotation axis Y1 is added, and a cylindrical rotation support TS is inserted inside this cylinder T4.

[0023] It has a form in which the outer surface P2 of the cylindrical shape of the rotation support TS and the inner surface of the cylinder T4 are combined, and the rotation support TS is supported by the support SB and the pedestal BS.

Explanation of symbols

[0024] TS Rotation support Y1 Rotation axis TD Rotation direction FR Outer frame T1 Tube for sand to pass through T2 Tube for sand to pass through T3 Tube for sand to pass through T4 Cylinder SB Support SS Support frame body BS Pedestal C1 Sand container C2 Sand container C3 Sand container MF Force SD Sand P1 Inner surface of the rotation support TS in Example 1 P2 Outer surface of the rotation support TS in Example 2 FS Reinforcement frame K1 Point of action K2 Point of action K3 Point of action K4 Point of action K5 Point of action K6 Point of action

Claims

1. An hourglass with a rotation mechanism, the rotation mechanism having a support frame (SS) that supports a container into which sand is inserted, and a rotation support (TS) that supports its rotation, the support frame (SS) and the rotation support (TS) having a rotation axis (Y1) parallel to the Y axis of an XYZ three-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system, the outer frame (FR) of the support frame (SS) having the rotation axis (Y1) at the center of its inner opening, the outer frame (FR) having a form (F1) that rotates around the rotation axis (Y1), the outer frame (FR) having a first container into which sand is inserted, a second container, and a third container spaced apart around the rotation axis (Y1), a first tube for passing sand between the first container and the second container, and a second tube for passing sand between the second container and the third container. An hourglass having a second tube, and a third tube between the third container and the first container through which sand passes, and the outer frame (FR) of the support frame (SS) has the feature that, due to the above-mentioned form (F1), it can have a plurality of points of application for applying a force MF in a rotation direction (TD) at any position on the outer frame (FR) equidistant from the rotation axis (Y1), and the rotation mechanism has a form in which, when a force (MF) in the rotation direction (TD) is applied to the point of application, the support frame (SS) rotates around the rotation axis (Y1) relative to the rotating support (TS), and the rotation mechanism has a form in which the force on the rotating support (TS) due to the kinetic friction force between the rotating support frame (SS) and the rotating support (TS) is supported by a support SB that supports the rotating support (TS) and a base BS that supports the support.

2. An hourglass in which the rotating support (TS) in claim 1 has a cylindrical shape, and the inner surface of the cylinder of the rotating support (TS) is fitted to the outer surface of the outer frame (FR) of the support frame (SS) in claim 1.

3. The hourglass has a cylindrical shape in the rotating support (TS) of claim 1, and further has a support frame (SS) of claim 1 that has a tube (T4) having a rotation axis (Y1) at the center of the outer frame (FR) inside the positions of the first container, the second container, and the third container, and the aforementioned cylindrical rotating support (TS) is inserted inside this tube (T4), and the cylindrical outer surface of the rotating support (TS) and the inner surface of the tube (T4) are aligned.

Images