EP0846990A1 - Appareil à garde-temps - Google Patents

Appareil à garde-temps Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0846990A1
EP0846990A1 EP97115643A EP97115643A EP0846990A1 EP 0846990 A1 EP0846990 A1 EP 0846990A1 EP 97115643 A EP97115643 A EP 97115643A EP 97115643 A EP97115643 A EP 97115643A EP 0846990 A1 EP0846990 A1 EP 0846990A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
time
switch
electrical apparatus
clock
arrangement
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP97115643A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Alistair D. Sivill
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Alpha Therm Ltd
Original Assignee
Alpha Therm Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Alpha Therm Ltd filed Critical Alpha Therm Ltd
Publication of EP0846990A1 publication Critical patent/EP0846990A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04G—ELECTRONIC TIME-PIECES
    • G04G15/00—Time-pieces comprising means to be operated at preselected times or after preselected time intervals
    • G04G15/006—Time-pieces comprising means to be operated at preselected times or after preselected time intervals for operating at a number of different times

Definitions

  • THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to a time clock arrangement, and more particularly relates to a time clock arrangement adapted to control the operation of electrical apparatus.
  • time clocks it has been known to provide a time clock arrangement to control the operation of electrical apparatus such as immersion heaters, storage heaters and central heating systems, electric or gas cookers, street lighting and other electrical devices. Such time clocks may also be used for a wide range of other purposes.
  • time clocks Whilst mechanical time clocks were in use for a number of years, a substantial proportion of time clocks now available are so-called digital clocks.
  • a typical time clock of this type comprises an electronic clock which is associated with a control device for turning the electrical appliance on at a pre-set time and for turning the electrical appliance off at a pre-set time.
  • the control device may comprise a micro-processor or the like which is effectively programmed by the operator of the time clock using a key-pad and a display to enter the desired times for turning the appliance on and off.
  • time clock once it has been set by the operator, is left to run for a long period of time.
  • the clock used in a time clock arrangement should be of the type that is regulated by time signals that are regularly broadcast for that purpose.
  • Clocks of this type are becoming more common-place for many uses, and have the advantage of possessing an extremely high degree of accuracy, even if the clock itself is less than perfect, since if the clock should "drift" from the correct time, the time signal will serve to re-set the clock.
  • clocks are generally accurate to within a very small tolerance of, typically, less than one second.
  • time clocks are of the type that are regulated by a broadcast time signal.
  • the problem would be one of a surge in demand for electric power at certain times during the day, and also sudden falls in the demand for electric power at other times during the day.
  • time clocks are often used to control central heating systems, which do consume electricity, but which primarily use gas as a fuel, it is envisaged that there may also be similar surges in demand and drops in demand for gas at certain times during the day.
  • the present invention seeks to provide an improved time clock.
  • a time clock arrangement comprising a clock, the clock being controlled by broadcast or transmitted timing signals, so as to exhibit a high degree of accurate time-keeping; control means and setting means provided to enable the control means to be set, and a switch controlled by the control means and adapted to be connected between a source of mains electricity and an electrical apparatus, the operation of which is to be controlled, the setting means being operable to set the time at which the electrical apparatus is to be activated, and the time at which the electrical apparatus is to be de-activated, wherein the arrangement incorporates off-set means so that the time at which the electrical apparatus is actually activated, and the time at which the electrical apparatus is actually de-activated, are off-set from the time actually set by the setting means.
  • the setting means comprise a key-pad and display.
  • control means comprises a micro-processor or the like.
  • off-set means are embodied in software or programming within the micro-processor.
  • off-set means comprise means effectively connected between the key-pad and the micro-processor.
  • the off-set means comprise a delay timer connected between the control means and said switch.
  • the switch may be an electro-mechanical switch or an electronic switch.
  • time off-sets of said times of activation and de-activation are substantially randomly distributed.
  • the invention also relates to a method of making a plurality of time switches of the type described above, the method comprising the steps of randomly or quasi-randomly selecting the time off-sets for the times of activation and de-activation.
  • a mains electric supply 1 is illustrated which is connected to a time clock arrangement 2.
  • the time clock arrangement 2 has a power outlet 3 which is connected to electrical apparatus 4.
  • the electrical apparatus 4 may comprise electrically powered apparatus or electrically controlled apparatus.
  • the time clock arrangement includes a clock 5 of the type that is regulated by broadcast time signals.
  • the clock 5 is thus, in operation, very accurate and keeps time extremely well.
  • the time clock 5 is associated with a control arrangement 6 in the form of a micro-processor or the like.
  • the micro-processor controls a switch such as a relay switch 7 which is connected between the mains supply 1 and the power outlet 3.
  • the relay switch may be of any appropriate design and may comprise an electro-mechanical switch, such as a solenoid activated relay switch, or an electronic switch, such as a power transistor switch.
  • the micro-processor 6 is programmed to set the time clock by means of setting means in the form of a key-pad 7 and an associated display 9. Connected between the key-pad 8 and the control arrangement 6 is an off-set generating device 10.
  • the off-set generating device 10 is adapted to generate an off-set which may, typically, be of between minus 60 seconds and plus 60 seconds.
  • the off-set is automatically added to or subtracted from that time.
  • the electrical apparatus 4 will actually be activated at 6.00.30 and will actually be de-activated at 10.15.30.
  • the off-sets provided by the off-set devices will, effectively, be “randomly” selected.
  • the off-set devices may be such that the off-set times may be purely “randomly” selected, or, alternatively, may be quasi-randomly selected by manufacturing a number of devices with different off-sets within the available range of off-sets.
  • an off-set by-pass is illustrated.
  • the by-pass may be controlled by a switch selectively to over-ride the effect of the off-set generating device.
  • the off-set device has been shown in Figure 1 as a separate device, it is to be understood that the function of the off-set could be incorporated within the software or programming present within the micro-processor that constitutes the control arrangement 6.
  • control arrangement is connected to the switch 7 by means of a delay timer 12.
  • the duration of the delay provided by the delay timer may be randomly or quasi-randomly selected. Thus the times utilised may each measure a time that is randomly selected. Alternatively, each delay may be determined by a number whenever the timer is activated. The delay is proportional to the random number generated.
  • the electrical apparatus will be switched on shortly after 6.00 a.m., after a delay determined by the delay timer and will be switched off a short period of time after 10.15 a.m., again in accordance with a period of time measured by the delay timer.
  • a time by-pass 13 is provided which can be selectively activated to over-ride the delay effect of the timer.
  • a time clock as described may be used with any type of electrical apparatus, or electrically controlled apparatus, that is to be turned on at a pre-set time such as, for example, a storage heater, an electric or gas oven, a gas or electric central heating system, or an electrically powered water pump.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electric Clocks (AREA)
EP97115643A 1996-12-06 1997-09-09 Appareil à garde-temps Withdrawn EP0846990A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB9625437.0A GB9625437D0 (en) 1996-12-06 1996-12-06 Improvements in or relating to a clock arrangement
GB9625437 1996-12-06

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0846990A1 true EP0846990A1 (fr) 1998-06-10

Family

ID=10804086

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP97115643A Withdrawn EP0846990A1 (fr) 1996-12-06 1997-09-09 Appareil à garde-temps

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0846990A1 (fr)
GB (1) GB9625437D0 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN1332282C (zh) * 2004-03-02 2007-08-15 恩益禧电子股份有限公司 多层***和时钟控制方法

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4213063A (en) * 1978-04-27 1980-07-15 Jones John L Sr Room occupancy power programmer
GB2060953A (en) * 1979-10-02 1981-05-07 Central Electr Generat Board Automatic synchronizing of time- pieces, e.g. time switches, by radio
DE3202323A1 (de) * 1982-01-26 1983-07-28 Gerhard-Günter 7300 Esslingen Gaßmann Schaltung zur vermeidung hoher stossbelastungen
DE3407393A1 (de) * 1984-02-29 1985-08-29 Rainer 6072 Dreieich Bauer Schaltung fuer zwischenstecker fuer frei verlegte elektrische leitungen
EP0436163A2 (fr) * 1989-12-13 1991-07-10 Gerhard Martin Dispositif électrique de protection contre les effractions
GB2293465A (en) * 1994-09-14 1996-03-27 Smiths Industries Plc Programmable time switch

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4213063A (en) * 1978-04-27 1980-07-15 Jones John L Sr Room occupancy power programmer
GB2060953A (en) * 1979-10-02 1981-05-07 Central Electr Generat Board Automatic synchronizing of time- pieces, e.g. time switches, by radio
DE3202323A1 (de) * 1982-01-26 1983-07-28 Gerhard-Günter 7300 Esslingen Gaßmann Schaltung zur vermeidung hoher stossbelastungen
DE3407393A1 (de) * 1984-02-29 1985-08-29 Rainer 6072 Dreieich Bauer Schaltung fuer zwischenstecker fuer frei verlegte elektrische leitungen
EP0436163A2 (fr) * 1989-12-13 1991-07-10 Gerhard Martin Dispositif électrique de protection contre les effractions
GB2293465A (en) * 1994-09-14 1996-03-27 Smiths Industries Plc Programmable time switch

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN1332282C (zh) * 2004-03-02 2007-08-15 恩益禧电子股份有限公司 多层***和时钟控制方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9625437D0 (en) 1997-01-22

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