Adjustable Timer With Variable Speed Shaft
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing visual timers are limited in displaying elapsed or remaining times greater than one hour, as they typically rotate at a fixed speed, making them unsuitable for periods longer than sixty minutes, and lack flexibility for displaying times less than one hour.
Innovation Solution
A visual timer with a control module that allows the shaft to rotate at different speeds, enabling the display of elapsed or remaining times ranging from five minutes to eight hours or more, with adjustable settings via a knob and removable boards with numerical indicia for various time periods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the shaft rotates at a fixed speed for one full rotation equaling sixty minutes, then the timer can display one-hour periods accurately, but the timer cannot display time periods greater than one hour or less than one hour
Solution Approach 1:
The control module is designed with adjustable rotation speeds for the shaft, allowing it to adapt to different time period requirements. The shaft can rotate at variable speeds to accommodate time periods ranging from five minutes to eight hours or more, transforming a static system into a dynamic one that can respond to diverse timing needs
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the rotation speed parameter of the shaft to enable different time period displays. By adjusting the rotation speed, the same shaft mechanism can represent different time scales, allowing the timer to display periods both greater than and less than one hour without requiring multiple different mechanisms
2Adaptability or versatility
If the numerical indicia are printed in increments that add up to sixty minutes, then the display is simple and clear for one-hour periods, but the display cannot accommodate time periods greater than one hour
Solution Approach 1:
The numerical indicia on the display face are designed to be adjustable or changeable, allowing the timer to represent different time period increments. This dynamic configuration enables the same display mechanism to accurately represent various time scales from five minutes to eight hours or more, preventing loss of information across different time ranges
3Ease of operation
If the timer uses a single rotation speed for the shaft, then the device structure is simple, but the timer lacks flexibility for displaying various time periods
Solution Approach 1:
The control module incorporates adjustable rotation speeds, making the timer operationally flexible for different time periods while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure. The ability to adjust shaft rotation speed provides ease of operation for various time periods without dramatically increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The control module is designed to perform multiple functions by adjusting shaft rotation speed, allowing a single device to handle various time periods from five minutes to eight hours or more. This multi-functionality approach enables the timer to be versatile without requiring multiple separate devices or overly complex mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable timer teaches time in a simple manner to those having difficulty understanding the concept of time. The timer displays remaining and elapsed time. The timer may be set to rotate a shaft at different speeds. A colored disk is attached to the shaft. Boards having faces with different numerical indicia reside in a cavity and may be interchanged by a user. The exposed board face corresponds to the setting of the timer such that one full rotation of the shaft and disk corresponds to the numerical indicia of the exposed board face.