# US 5,701,678 A · Space-time tracker > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,701,678 A - Document ID: US5701678A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/587,650 - Filed: 1996-01-17 - Granted: 1997-12-30 - Earliest claimed: 1996-01-17 - Inventors: Jen-Hu Wang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5701678A ## CPC - G04B 19/26: Clocks or watches with indicators for tides, for the phases of the moon, or the like {(planetaria G09B27/00 - G09B27/06; arrangements for table reference, e.g. menstrual tables G06C3/00)} - G09B 27/04: Star maps - G04B: MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS (spring- or weight-driven mechanisms in general F03G; electromechanical clocks or watches G04C; electromechanical clocks with attached or built-in means operating any device at pre-selected times or after predetermined time intervals G04C23/00; clocks or watches with stop devices G04F7/08) - G09B: EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS (devices for psychotechnics or for testing reaction times A61B5/16; games, sports, amusements A63; projectors, projector screens G03B) ## Abstract A space-time tracker for announcing the time and tracking the celestrial bodies on the spot of observation comprises a clock mechanism with clock hands on a dial of 24 hours and a synchronic motor for driving a star atlas and a plurality of planet driving devices which actuate a plurality of annular displays moving around a moon/star ring to periodically show an on spot planet thereon. The space-time tracker also indicates the variations or deviations of the solar calendar and the lunar calendar and the times of different time zones around the world. This disclosure is characterized in automatically and perfectly demonstrating the relationship between the time and space. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A space-time tracker for tracking the variations of the time and space comprising a circular case; a seat plate fixed to said case therein, said seat plate comprising a central aperture, a circumferential thread and a general tooth band and a star atlas tooth band concentrically disposed on the back side thereof; a moon/star ring fixed to said case adjacent said seat plate having a plurality of windows of planet signs thereon and a plurality of circular slots on the back side thereof for recceiving a plurality of planet annular displays; a transparent date/hour ring fixedly attached to said moon/star ring thereupon; a star atlas movably attached to said seat plate thereon; a transparent terrestrial map combined with a transparent fixed latitude observation chart thereon and an hour hand therein movably attached on said star atlas; a minute hand and a second hand sequentially pivoted to a spindle projected upward from the central aparture and sliding on said fixed latitude observation chart; a transparent face fixed to said case on the uppermost position; a clock mechanism with a battery cell centrally disposed on the back of said seat plate; a synchronic motor with a battery cell circumferentially disposed on the back of said seat plate; a plurality of driving devices for driving said plurality of planet annular displays circumferentially disposed on the back of said moon/star ring therearound and drove by said motor via said general tooth band; an accessary plate attached on said driving devices; a back cover closed on the back of said case on a lowermost position; whereby, said space-time tracker is synchronously driven by said clock mechanism and said synchronic motor to show simultanously the time and the locations of planets on the spot. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A space-time tracker as recited in claim 1 wherein said windows of signs on said moon/star ring include moon phases, waves, cross, arrow, ellipse and circle which respectively represent the Soon, the Mercury, the Venus, the Mars, the Jupiter and the Saturn. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A space-time tracker as recited in claim 1 wherein said date/hour ring has graduation of 24 hours, a sun symbol located at a 12 hour, and a lunar calendar disposed therearound. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) A space-time tracker as recited in claim 2, wherein said sign for Mercury repeatedly appears on said moon/star ring at positions within an angle about 24.degree. before and after said sun symbol. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) A space-time tracker as recited in claim 2, wherein said sign for Venus repeatedly appears on said moon/star ring at positions within an angle about 46.degree. before and after said sun symbol. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) A space-time tracker as recited in claim 2, wherein said signs for Mars, Jupiter and Saturn repeatedly appear on said moon/star ring and respectively align a series of concentrical circles relative to the center of said space-time tracker. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A space-time tracker as recited in claim 1, wherein said planet annular displays are in the same color as that of said moon/star ring and each has a small color band thereon. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A space-time tracker as recited in claim 7 wherein a moon phase annular display circulates once per 29.5 days. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) A space-time tracker as recited in claim 7 wherein a Mercury annular display circulates normally and inversely once upon a conjunction period of 116 days. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) A space-time tracker as recited in claim 7 wherein a Venus annular display circulates normally and inversely once upon a conjunction period of 584 days. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) A space-time tracker as recited in claim 7 wherein a Mars annular display circulates upon a conjunction period of 780 days. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) A space-time tracker as recited in claim 7 wherein a Jupiter annular display circulates once upon a conjunction period of 399 days. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) A space-time tracker as recited in claim 7 wherein a Saturn annular display circulates once upon a conjunction period of 378 days. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A space-time tracker as recited in claim 1 wherein said terrestrial map, said fixed latitude observation chart and said hour hand are drove by said clock mechanism to circulate once per 24 hours. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A space-time tracker as recited in claim 1 wherein said star atlas are drove by said motor to circulate once per 365 days. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A space-time tracker as recited in claim 1 wherein said a plurality of driving devices include a Mars driving device, a Jupiter driving device, a Saturn driving device, a Mercury driving device and a Venus driving device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A space-time tracker as recited in claim 16 wherein said Mars, Jupiter and Saturn driving devices each includes an oval eccentric internal tooth band, a circular external tooth band, a worm stem, a worm wheel, a first bevel gear, an elongate pinion and a plurality of gears meshed and rotated in concert with one another to drive their own annular displays. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A space-time tracker as recited in claim 17 wherein said elongate pinion has a first end coaxially connected with said first bevel gear and a second end meshed with said internal tooth band and pointed to the co-revolving center of the internal and external tooth bands. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) A space-time tracker as recited in claim 17 wherein said internal tooth band is in eccentric rotation and said external tooth band is in circular rotation. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) A space-time tracker as recited in claim 16 wherein said Mercury and Venus driving devices each has a pair of oval eccentric internal tooth band and a circular external tooth band, a pair of worm stems, a pair of worm wheels, a pair of first bevel gears, a pair of elongate pinions and a plurality of gears meshed and rotated in concert with one another to normally or inversely drive their own annular displays. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A space-time tracker as recited in claim 20 wherein said elongate pinions each has a first end coaxially connected with one of the first bevel gears and a second end meshed with one of the internal tooth band and pointed to the co-revolving center of a pair of said internal and external tooth bands. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) A space-time tracker as recited in claim 20 further has a clutch assembly disposed therebetween, said clutch assembly including a flexible clutch lever connected to a clutch gear, a normal course tooth plate coaxial with an inverse course tooth plate and in slightly inclined relationship with one another, a short pin on each of said tooth plate, a pair of six-leaf rotors and a pair of one-way gears rotatably disposed on the lateral sides respectively, and a push lever disposed under said one-way gear which is in turn engaged with said first gear of a normal course or inverse course driving device. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) A space-time tracker as recited in claim 1, further has a plurality of winding buttons rotatably disposed and spaced apart on the back of said accessary plate for respectively adjusting the positions of clock hands, said internal tooth band of said planet driving devices and said annular displays.