hourglass

Abstract

In a rotating hourglass, a challenge is to simplify the method of rotating the support frame SS containing the sand container in order to reverse the vertical position of the sand container. [Solution] When there are three sand containers, there is a pipe between them through which the sand passes. The support frame SS for these sand containers has a rotation axis parallel to the Y axis of the XYZ three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system. The aforementioned support frame SS has a configuration in which a force MF is applied in the rotation direction TD to rotate the support frame SS. To move the container into which the sand has fallen upwards, when rotating the support frame SS by 120 degrees, a force MF is applied to one of the points of application in the rotation direction TD to rotate the support frame SS by 60 degrees. Then, another point of application is applied to the rotation direction TD with a force MF to rotate the support frame SS by another 60 degrees. By doing this, the container into which the sand has fallen can be moved upwards, time can be measured, the points of application can be applied 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 by a rotating mechanism composed of a rotating shaft of a support frame of the hourglass and its bearing has been known. (Japanese Utility Model Application No. Hei 8-2363)

[0003] However, in the case of 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 on 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 in a semicircular shape to a downward vertical direction 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] In the hourglass of the present invention, the support frame SS of the sand container having a tube through which sand passes has a rotation axis Y1 parallel to the Y axis of the XYZ three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system. The aforementioned support frame SS has multiple points of application where a force MF is applied in the rotation direction TD to rotate the support frame SS.

[0008] The mechanism has a rotation mechanism that rotates the support frame SS around the rotation axis Y1 by applying force MF to a fixed point BP at which a force MF is applied in the rotation direction TD, when the point of application is at this fixed point BP, thereby rotating the support frame SS around the rotation axis Y1.

[0009] In the case of three sand containers, when the support frame SS is rotated 120 degrees to move the containers from which the sand has fallen to the top, the point of application of force K6, located at the aforementioned fixed point BP, is pushed with force MF in the rotational direction TD, causing the support frame SS to rotate 60 degrees. At this time, the point of application K1, which is located in the opposite direction of the rotational direction TD of point of application K6, moves to the fixed point BP.

[0010] Furthermore, a force MF is applied to the point of application K1 at the fixed point BP in the rotational direction TD, causing the support frame SS to rotate 60 degrees. By these means, the container into which the sand has fallen is moved upwards, allowing for time measurement. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] To illustrate with an example of three sand containers, when rotating the support frame SS of the sand containers, the point of application at the aforementioned fixed point BP is pushed in the direction of rotation TD, causing the support frame SS to rotate. Another point of application, which has moved to the direction of rotation TD, is then pushed in the same direction, causing the container into which the sand has fallen to rotate 120 degrees. This allows the container into which the sand has fallen to move from the bottom to the top, enabling time measurement. By doing this, the starting point for pushing the support frame SS is set to one point, the direction of the force is the same, and the rotation is completed in two 60-degree rotations, simplifying the rotation method of the rotating hourglass. Furthermore, by placing a marker at any point on the support frame, the time it takes for the marker on the support frame to return to its original position becomes the time it takes for the sand to move from container to container three times, and can be used as a single unit of time measurement. Even when there are four sand containers, similarly, by pushing the point of application at the fixed point BP in the rotational direction TD, the support frame SS is rotated, and another point of application that has moved to the rotational direction TD is pushed in the same direction, thereby rotating the containers into which the sand has fallen. As the number of containers increases, the rotation angle decreases, and moving the containers to the top becomes easier. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of the structure and rotation mechanism of the hourglass of the present invention. (Example 1) [Figure 2] Plan view: This is a plan view relating to the point of action of the rotation mechanism of the hourglass of the present invention. (Example 1) [Figure 3] Plan view: This is a plan view relating to the point of action of the rotation mechanism of the hourglass of the present invention. (Example 1) [Figure 4] Plan view: This is a plan view relating to the point of action of the rotation mechanism of the hourglass of the present invention. (Example 1) [Figure 5] This is a perspective view of the structure and rotation mechanism of the hourglass of the present invention. (Example 2) [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] Embodiments 1 and 2 of the present invention will be described based on the drawings as embodiments for carrying out the invention. Each figure showing the embodiments shows an XYZ three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system. [Examples]

[0014] Figure 1 shows an hourglass with three sand containers as described in claims 1, 2, and 4, as Example 1. A transparent lid perpendicular to the front end of the side parallel to the Y-axis is shown with diagonal lines. The outer frame FR of the support frame SS and the inner surface P1 of the cylindrical rotating support TS are joined together, and the support frame SS rotates in the rotational direction TD around a rotation axis Y1, which is parallel to the Y-axis, relative to the rotating support TS. The rotation mechanism of the hourglass of the present invention has a configuration in which the rotating support TS is supported by a support SB and a base BS. The outer frame FR is reinforced by a reinforcing frame FS.

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

[0016] In the case of a sand container with three hourglasses, the support frame SS has, inside its outer frame FR, the containers C1, C2, and C3 into which sand is inserted, spaced apart around the rotation axis Y1. Between container C1 and container C2, there is a tube T1 through which sand passes. Between container C2 and container C3, there is a tube T2 through which sand passes. Between container C3 and container C1, there is a tube T3 through which sand passes. Sand SD is shown in container C2 of FIG. 1. Sand SD is shown in container C2 of FIG. 1. The material of containers C1, C2, and C3 is a transparent resin or glass, and the structure of the containers is sealed to the extent that sand does not leak except in the parts where sand moves. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, a structure in which sand does not leak is formed by transparent lids perpendicular to both ends of the side surfaces parallel to the Y-axis direction of each container. The material of tubes T1, T2, and T3 is glass.

[0017] FIGS. 2 to 4 show the form of the rotation mechanism of Example 1.

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

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

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

[0021] As a result of these actions, at a fixed point BP, applying force to the point of application in the rotational direction TD causes the support frame SS to rotate 120 degrees. Container C2, which is at its lowest position in the Z direction as shown in Figure 2, moves to its highest position in the Z direction as shown in Figure 4, allowing sand to fall from container C2 to container C3, enabling time measurement. [Examples]

[0022] Figure 5 shows the configuration of the hourglass with three sand containers as described in claim 3. A cylinder T4 having a rotation axis Y1 is added inside containers C1, C2, and C3 as described in claim 1, and a cylindrical rotating support TS is inserted inside this cylinder T4.

[0023] The rotating support TS has a cylindrical outer surface P2 that meets the inner surface of the cylinder T4, and the rotating support TS is supported by the support SB and the base BS. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0024] TS Rotating Support Y1 Rotation axis TD rotation direction FR outer frame T1 Pipe for passing sand T2 Pipe for passing sand T3 Pipe for passing sand T4 tube SB support SS support frame BS base C1 Sand container C2 Sand container C3 Sand container MF Power SD Sand P1 Inner surface of the rotating support TS of Example 1 P2 Outer surface of the rotating support TS of Example 2 FS Reinforcement Slots 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 having a rotation mechanism, the rotation mechanism having a support frame (SS) that supports a sand 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 a three-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system, and the outer frame (FR) of the support frame (SS) having a rotation axis (Y1) at the center of its inner opening, and the outer frame (FR) having a configuration (F1) in which it rotates around the rotation axis (Y1), The outer frame (FR) has three or four sand containers adjacent to the inside of the outer frame (FR), which rotate around a rotation axis Y1, with a space for an hourglass tube. These sand containers have openings on both sides that open in the direction of rotation, and between these sand containers is an hourglass tube that allows sand to pass through, which also opens in the direction of rotation. The sand movement path formed by these connected sand containers and each hourglass tube is such that the sand circulates and passes through as the outer frame (FR) rotates. The outer frame (FR) of the support frame (SS) has the characteristic that, in the configuration (F1) described above, it can have multiple points of application for applying a force MF in the direction of rotation (TD) at any position on the outer frame (FR) that is equidistant from the axis of rotation (Y1), and the rotation mechanism has the configuration that when a force (MF) in the direction of rotation (TD) is applied to the points of application, the support frame (SS) rotates around the axis of rotation (Y1) relative to the rotating support (TS), and the rotation mechanism has the configuration that the frictional force between the rotating support frame (SS) and the rotating support (TS) is supported by the rotating support (TS) and the support (SB) in an hourglass.

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

3. The hourglass according to claim 1, wherein the rotating support (TS) has a cylindrical shape, and further, the support frame (SS) according to claim 1 has a cylinder (T4) with a rotation axis (Y1) in the central part of the outer frame (FR) and inside the position of each sand container, and the aforementioned cylindrical rotating support (TS) is inserted inside this cylinder (T4), so that the cylindrical outer surface of the rotating support (TS) and the inner surface of the cylinder (T4) meet.

4. The sand container material according to claim 1 is a composite of resin and glass, wherein the outer material of each sand container is resin and the inner material is glass, and the inner glass layer can be formed after the outer resin of the container has been processed and formed, and the material of the hourglass tube between the aforementioned sand containers is glass.

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