Rotating Moon and Earth Displays in Timepieces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Timepieces do not effectively display the position of the sun and phases of the moon relative to the southern or northern hemisphere.
Innovation Solution
A timepiece with a central disk representing the Earth's hemisphere, surrounded by a 24-hour scale and a rotatable large moon disk, which is driven by a gear train to simulate the lunar cycle, along with a small moon disk that rotates in sync to display lunar phases, allowing for the display of sun and moon positions relative to an observer's location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a timepiece displays the position of the sun and moon relative to the Earth's hemisphere, then the accuracy of astronomical information display is improved, but the device complexity increases due to multiple rotating disks and gear mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested structure where a small moon disk is positioned on the large moon disk, both rotating around the central Earth disk. The small moon disk carries lunar phase indicators that are visible through an aperture in the large moon disk, creating a compact nested arrangement that displays multiple astronomical parameters simultaneously without requiring separate mechanisms for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The central disk serves multiple functions: it represents the Earth's hemisphere, displays the 24-hour time scale, and provides the reference frame for both sun and moon position indicators. The large moon disk simultaneously serves as a rotating indicator for lunar position and as a carrier for the small moon disk that displays lunar phases, consolidating multiple functions into single components.
2Measurement precision
If the large moon disk rotates with one revolution per synodic month and the small moon disk rotates in sync to display lunar phases, then the accuracy of lunar phase display is improved, but the device complexity increases due to synchronized rotational mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediate toothed wheel mechanism to mediate between the large moon disk rotation and the small moon disk rotation. The small moon disk is equipped with a toothed rim that engages with the stationary toothed wheel, converting the large moon disk's rotation into the appropriate rotational movement of the small moon disk to display accurate lunar phases through the aperture.
Solution Approach 2:
The small moon disk automatically rotates in synchronization with the large moon disk through the engagement of its toothed rim with the stationary toothed wheel. This self-synchronizing mechanism eliminates the need for separate drive trains or complex control systems, as the lunar phase display automatically updates as the large moon disk rotates at the synodic month rate.
3Measurement precision
If the central disk is rotatable by one revolution per 24 hours to display Earth's hemisphere, then the accuracy of time and position display is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to coupling with hour display adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the timepiece into functionally independent segments: the central disk with Earth hemisphere and 24-hour scale that rotates once per day, the large moon disk that rotates once per synodic month, and the small moon disk that displays lunar phases. Each segment can be adjusted independently through separate drive mechanisms, allowing users to set time zone information without affecting astronomical display accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements adjustable rotational speeds for the central disk, allowing it to be dynamically modified to rotate at different rates or be held stationary. This dynamic adjustability enables the central disk to serve both as an accurate astronomical reference and as a flexible time zone display, with the hour hand independently adjustable to indicate local time regardless of the central disk's rotational position.
Data Source
AI summary
A timepiece includes: a central pivot; a central disk rotatable in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction around the central pivot; a stationary 24-hour scale arranged concentric to the central pivot; a sun mark; a large moon disk, the large moon disk being rotatably drivable in the counterclockwise direction at a rate of one revolution per synodic month; a moon view aperture in the large moon disk; and a small moon disk mounted at the large moon disk so as to be rotatable around a moon pivot parallel to the central pivot, the small moon disk carrying a plurality of dark circular areas. The dark circular areas are movable successively into registration with the moon view aperture and successively out of registration with the moon view aperture by the rotational movement of the small moon disk.