BAROMETER CLOCK

Abstract

A barometer clock includes a clock face, a clock mechanism, and a spindle located in the face and driven by the mechanism. A barometer mechanism includes a barometric sensor, drive means and drive shaft and a plurality of display members located behind the clock face, each member engaged to the drive shaft by a gear mechanism and rotatable by the shaft in response to a signal by the barometric sensor. The clock face includes an aperture, each display member being rotatable between a respective visible location wherein the display member may be observed through the aperture and a hidden location wherein the display member is concealed by the clock face. The gear mechanisms are adapted to successively move the display members between hidden and visible locations as the drive shaft rotates to provide a display characteristic of weather conditions associated with pressure conditions measured by the barometric sensor.

Claims

1. A barometer clock comprising a clock face, a clock mechanism comprises: a spindle located in the face and driven by the mechanism and rotatable hands mounted on the spindle to provide a time display; and a barometer mechanism comprising, a barometric sensor, drive means and drive shaft and a plurality of display members located behind the clock face, each member engaged to the drive shaft by a gear or pulley mechanism and rotatable by the shaft in response to a signal by the barometric sensor; wherein the clock face includes an aperture, each display member being rotatable between a respective visible location wherein the display member may be observed through the aperture and a respective hidden location wherein the display member is concealed by the clock face; wherein the gear or pulley mechanisms are adapted to successively move the display members between hidden and visible locations as the drive shaft rotates to provide a display characteristic of weather conditions associated with pressure conditions measured by the barometric sensor.

2. A barometer clock as claimed in claim 1, wherein the initial angular location and rate and direction of rotation of each display are selected so that continuous rotation of the shaft between a minimum pressure orientation and a maximum pressure orientation causes movement of the display members between successive hidden and visible locations to provide a constant variable display observable through the aperture in the clock face.

3. A barometer clock as claimed in claim 1, wherein each display member occupies a sector of the clock circumference.

4. A barometer clock as claimed in claim 1, wherein each display is annular.

5. A barometer clock as claimed in claim 1, wherein each sector has a leading edge brought into view as the display moves from a hidden to a visible location.

6. A barometer clock as claimed in claim 5, wherein the leading edge is shaped to form a silhouette of a weather feature.

7. A barometer clock as claimed in claim 1, comprising a multiplicity of displays arranged in overlying axially spaced relation on the drive shaft.

8. A barometer clock as claimed in claim 7, wherein the displays are laminar, having a decorated surface facing towards the aperture.

9. A barometer clock as claimed in claim 1, wherein the displays comprise annular portions mounted on a circular circumferential support.

10. A barometer clock as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism comprises a planetary gear arrangement for each display member.

11. A barometer clock as claimed in claim 10, wherein the gear arrangement comprises a sun gear and one or two planetary gears engaging an orbital gear located on the annular surface of the display member.

12. A barometer clock as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a microprocessor and a memory, arranged to allocate a pressure signal from the barometric sensor into one of a plurality of bands.

13. A barometer clock as claimed in claim 12, wherein the microprocessor is arranged to measure pressure of specified time internally and to calculate changes between successive pressure signals.

14. A barometer clock as claimed in claim 12, wherein the memory is arranged to store successive pressure reading for a specified plurality of time intervals and wherein the microprocessor provides a signal indicative of the rate of change of pressure.

Description

[0027] The invention is further described with means of example but not in any limitative sense with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:

[0028] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a barometer clock in accordance with this invention.

[0029] FIGS. 2 to 6 show different stages of the display;

[0030] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the display mechanism;

[0031] FIG. 8 shows the background assembly;

[0032] FIG. 9 shows the clouds display assembly;

[0033] FIG. 10 shows the rain display assembly;

[0034] FIG. 11 shows the storm display assembly; and

[0035] FIGS. 12 to 21 illustrate stages of movement of the mechanism in use.

[0036] A further embodiment of the invention is further described in FIGS. 22 to 42, with means of example but not in any limitative sense with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:

[0037] FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a barometer clock in accordance with this invention;

[0038] FIGS. 23 to 27 show different stages of the display;

[0039] FIG. 28 is an exploded view of the display mechanism;

[0040] FIG. 29 shows the background assembly;

[0041] FIG. 30 shows the clouds display assembly;

[0042] FIG. 31 shows the rain display assembly;

[0043] FIG. 32 shows the storm display assembly; and

[0044] FIGS. 33 to 42 illustrate stages of movement of the mechanism in use.

[0045] The barometer clock shown in FIGS. 1 and 7 comprises a casing (1), a clock mechanism (2). A back cover (3) as mountings for a central shaft (4) and right and left shafts (5, 6). An annular background member (7) is mounted in roller bearing (8) and is arranged to be rotatably driven by planetary gear system as described below. A motor gear sub-assembly (9) is connected to a stepper motor (30) to cause the background member (7) to rotate in use. The stepper motor (30) drives drive shaft (50) and drive gear (51) which in turn drives gear (52) mounted on an axial drive shaft (4). This gear arrangement increases the torque defined by the motor to the drive shaft (4).

[0046] The clock face comprises an annular plate (10) secured to the casing by bolts (11). A 90 quadrant at the lower part of the plate (10) is cut away to form an aperture segment (19) through which the background member (7) and any suitably located portions of the overlying members may be displayed.

[0047] The clock face also includes an arcuate opening (12) in an upper part of the face, to display successive words of, for example storm, dry, very dry, fair written onto the underlying storm display member (14) as the latter rotates in use as described below.

[0048] A generally quadrant-shaped frame (15) is mounted behind the opening (12) to provide a complete circumferential scale of hours and minutes for the clock face. The frame (15) also includes annular mounting (16) for the forward ends of the rotatable spindle and shafts (4, 5, 6).

[0049] Two part annular display members (17, 18) are coaxially mounted between the background display member (7) and the storm display member (14).

[0050] Each of the display members (14, 17, 18) has an annular configuration with a cut-away sector arranged to allow a user to see an underlying display through the aperture (19).

[0051] Each display member has a circular circumferential axially extending ring (20, 21, 22) upon which a multiplicity of roller bearings (23, 24, 25) are captive. In the illustrated embodiment five roller bearings are mounted on each ring. An alternative number of roller bearings, for example three or four may be employed as convenient.

[0052] Each roller bearing has forward and rear plates (26, 27) between which a pair of circumferentially spaced rollers (28, 29) are rotatably mounted on axial rods. The use of pairs of rollers allows the annular members to be coaxially located during assembly of the clock.

[0053] In a preferred embodiment the bearings share front and rear plates, so that the front plate of one member serves as the rear plate in the adjacent overlying member. In this way the display members are constrained to rotate in parallel spaced relation. Each of the display members (17, 18, 19) has an image on the front surface and a leading edge which is configured to give a silhouette of a weather feature.

[0054] FIG. 9 shows the clouds display member comprising an annular display (17) mounted in a cylindrical ring (20) supported by pairs of rollers (31) mounted in housing (23, 32).

[0055] The leading edge (34) of the clouds display is configured to represent clouds as shown in FIG. 3.

[0056] The drive mechanism for the clouds display member comprises a planetary gear arrangement to be retained by one or more clips (37). An axial sun gear (35) having 16 teeth, engages a planetary gear (36) having 76 teeth, the annulus forming an orbital gear having 168 teeth. Rotation of the sun gear (35) at 26.32 rpm causes rotation of the planetary gear (36) at 5.54 rpm and the orbital gear and hence the display is caused to rotate at 2.51 rpm.

[0057] The leading edge (38) of the rain display, shown in FIGS. 5 and 10, is configured to represent rain clouds. An axial sun gear (39) having 26 teeth is connected via a chain comprising an inner planetary gear (40) having 28 teeth and an outer planetary gear (41) having 32 teeth to the annular orbital gear having 152 teeth. Rotation of the sun gear (39) at 26.32 rpm causes the first planetary gear (40) to rotate at 24.44 rpm at the outer planetary gear (41) to rotate at 21.39 rpm, driving the orbital gear to rotate at 4.69 rpm. The direction of rotation is opposite to that of the cloud display described above.

[0058] The storm display, located forwardly of the rain display has an annular display plate (14) provided with fixing holes (13) for location of signs to display the words storm, fair, very dry, change, rain or other wording as appropriate for display through the aperture (12) in the upper part of the clock face.

[0059] The leading edge (42) has the silhouette of a storm cloud, behind which, in the direction of rotation, are representations (43) of lightning bolts.

[0060] The drive mechanism for the storm display comprises a planetary gear arrangement having a sun gear (44) with 16 teeth and a planetary gear (45) with 76 teeth engaging the annular orbital gear (47) with 168 teeth. Rotation of the sun gear at 26.32 rpm causes the planetary gear (45) to rotate at 5.54 rpm causing the orbital gear and display to rotate at 2.51 rpm. The direction of rotation is the same as for the cloud display and opposite to the direction of rotation of the rain display.

[0061] FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate the rest position of the barometer display mechanism. In this position the cloud and storm displays are fully retracted in the clockwise direction and the cloud display is fully retracted in the anti-clockwise direction to provide a display as shown in FIG. 2. The positions of the various components are shown in FIG. 13. This arrangement is indicative of very dry weather conditions.

[0062] In FIGS. 14 and 15 the first stage of rotation of the displays is shown, following a first incremental rotation of the sun gears by the stepper motor in response to a signal from the barometric sensor. As shown in FIG. 3 the clouds display (18) is rotated anti-clockwise so that it is partially visible within the aperture quadrant at the lower part of the clock face. The configuration of the various components is shown in FIG. 15.

[0063] In FIG. 15 at the first stage of rotation the background (7) related to an angle of 34 24. The clouds display (18) is rotated clockwise at an angle of 27 0.8. The rain display (17) is rotated anticlockwise by an angle of 32 and the storm display (14) is rotated anticlockwise by an angle of 14 46.

[0064] FIGS. 16 and 17 show a second position wherein the clouds display (18) is fully rotated clockwise and the rain display is rotated anti-clockwise to overly the clouds display as shown in FIG. 4. This is the changeable position and the word change is displayed in the upper aperture (12) on the clock face. This second stage is reached following 3.61 revolutions of the drive motor from rest.

[0065] In FIGS. 16 and 17 the background display (7) is rotated to an angle of 77 11 in the anticlockwise direction. The clouds display (18) is rotated through 62 22 in the clockwise direction, the rain display (17) is rotated through 73 54 in the anticlockwise direction and the storm display (14) is rotated through 33 29 in the anticlockwise direction.

[0066] FIGS. 18 and 19 show a third position achieved through 5.89 revolutions of the drum rest. In this position the rain display is rotated clockwise through 117 and the clouds display is rotated anti-clockwise through 99. The storm display is rotated anti-clockwise by 53 to provide the display as shown in FIG. 5 with the word rain displayed in the aperture (12).

[0067] In the third position shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 the background display is rotated anticlockwise through 122 82, the cloud display is rotated clockwise through 99 44, and the clouds display is rotated anticlockwise through 117 53 and the storm display is rotated through 53 19.

[0068] In a final storm position illustrated in FIGS. 20 and 21 achieved by rotation of the stepper motor through 3.61 revolutions from rest, the rain display is fully rotated through 205 anti-clockwise and the clouds display is fully rotated through 173 clockwise. The storm display is fully rotated through 92 clockwise to provide the display shown in FIG. 6.

[0069] The fourth and final position shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, the background display is rotated through 213 88 in the anticlockwise direction, the cloud display is rotated through 173 57 in the clockwise direction, the rain display rotated through 205 17 in the anticlockwise direction and the storm display is rotated through 92 79 in the anticlockwise direction.

[0070] FIGS. 22 to 42 show a further embodiment of the invention.

[0071] The barometer clock shown in FIGS. 22 and 28-31 comprises a casing (101), a clock mechanism (102). A housing (103) as mountings for a central shaft (104), left shaft (105) and drive shaft (106). An annular background member (107) is mounted in housing (103) and is arranged to be visible through aperture (119) in face plate (110). A motor gear sub-assembly (109) is connected to a stepper motor (130) to cause the display members (114, 117, 118) to rotate in use. The stepper motor (130) drives drive shaft (106) and drive pulley (151) which in turn drives pulley (152) mounted on an axial central shaft (104). This pulley arrangement increases the torque defined by the motor to the drive shaft (106).

[0072] The clock face comprises an annular plate (110) secured to housing (103). A 90 quadrant at the lower part of the plate (110) is cut away to form an aperture segment (119) through which the background member (107) and any suitably located portions of the overlying members may be displayed.

[0073] The clock face also includes an arcuate opening (112) in an upper part of the face, to display successive words of, for example storm, dry, very dry, fair written onto the underlying storm display member (114) as the latter rotates in use as described below.

[0074] The clock face (110) also includes annular mounting (116) for the forward ends of the central shafts (114).

[0075] Two part annular display members (117, 118) are coaxially mounted between the background display member (107) and the storm display member (114).

[0076] Each of the display members (114, 117, 118) has an annular configuration with a cut-away sector arranged to allow a user to see an underlying display through the aperture (119).

[0077] Each display member has a circular circumferential axially extending ring (120,121,122) upon which a multiplicity balancing weights (123, 124) are captive and employed to offset the weight of display members axially. In the illustrated embodiment one weight is mounted on each ring. An alternative number of weights, for example three or four may be employed as convenient.

[0078] Each of the display members (114,117,118) has an image on the front surface and a leading edge which is configured to give a silhouette of a weather feature.

[0079] FIG. 30 shows the clouds display member comprising an annular display (117) mounted in a cylindrical ring (120) supported by position plate (131) mounted on central shaft (104).

[0080] The leading edge (134) of the clouds display is configured to represent clouds as shown in FIG. 24.

[0081] The drive mechanism for the clouds display member, shown in FIGS. 29 and 30, comprises a planetary gear/pulley arrangement to be retained by one or more clips (137). An axial sun pulley (152) having 72 teeth and mounted on central shaft (104), engages a planetary pulley (151) having 20 teeth mounted on drive shaft (106). Rotation of planetary pulley (151) on drive shaft (106) by stepper motor (130), causes rotation of sun pulley (152) and consequently the rotation of drive shaft (104) and the display member.

[0082] The leading edge (138) of the rain display, shown in FIGS. 24 and 31, is configured to represent rain clouds and is mounted on an axial sun gear (139). Sun gear (139) having 60 teeth is connected to the drive shaft via a chain comprising a planetary gear (140) having 32 teeth and planetary pulley (141) having 20 mounted on shaft (105) and pulley (136). Rotation of pulley (136) on drive shaft (106) rotates shaft (105) and planetary gear (140) by planetary pulley (141). Rotation of gear (140) drives rotation of sun gear (139) and the display member. The direction of rotation is opposite to that of the cloud display described above.

[0083] The storm display, shown in FIG. 32, located forwardly of the rain display has an annular display plate (114) provided with locations to display the words storm, fair, very dry, change, rain or other wording as appropriate for display through the aperture (112) in the upper part of the clock face. The display member is mounted on central shaft (104) by support plate (132).

[0084] The leading edge (142) has the silhouette of a storm cloud, behind which, in the direction of rotation, are representations (143) of lightning bolts.

[0085] The storm display utilises the same drive mechanism as the cloud display member and is rotated by rotation of central shaft as described above (104). The direction of rotation is the same as for the cloud display and opposite to the direction of rotation of the rain display.

[0086] FIGS. 33 and 34 illustrate the rest position of the barometer display mechanism. In this position the cloud and storm displays are fully retracted in the clockwise direction and the rain display is fully retracted in the anti-clockwise direction to provide a display as shown in FIG. 23. The positions of the various components are shown in FIG. 34. This arrangement is indicative of very dry weather conditions.

[0087] In FIGS. 35 and 36 the first stage of rotation of the displays is shown, following a first incremental rotation of the sun gears and pulleys by the stepper motor in response to a signal from the barometric sensor. As shown in FIG. 24 the clouds display (118) is rotated anti-clockwise so that it is partially visible within the aperture quadrant at the lower part of the clock face. The configuration of the various components is shown in FIG. 36.

[0088] In FIG. 36 at the first stage of rotation the clouds display (118) is rotated clockwise at an angle of 27 0.8. The rain display (117) is rotated anticlockwise by an angle of 32 and the storm display (114) is rotated anticlockwise by an angle of 14 46.

[0089] FIGS. 37 and 38 show a second position wherein the clouds display (118) is fully rotated clockwise and the rain display is rotated anti-clockwise to overly the clouds display as shown in FIG. 25. This is the changeable position and the word change is displayed in the upper aperture (112) on the clock face.

[0090] In FIGS. 37 and 38 the clouds display (118) is rotated through 62 22 in the clockwise direction, the rain display (117) is rotated through 73 54 in the anticlockwise direction and the storm display (114) is rotated through 33 29 in the anticlockwise direction.

[0091] FIGS. 39 and 40 show a third position. In this position the rain display (117) is rotated clockwise through 117 and the clouds display (118) is rotated anti-clockwise through 99. The storm display (114) is rotated anti-clockwise by 53 to provide the display as shown in FIG. 26 with the word rain displayed in the aperture (112).

[0092] The fourth and final position shown in FIGS. 41 and 42, the cloud display (118) is rotated through 173 57 in the clockwise direction, the rain display (117) rotated through 205 17 in the anticlockwise direction and the storm display (114) is rotated through 92 79 in the anticlockwise direction. Stormy is displayed in the aperture (112).