Watch

A watch has an hour wheel (17) which can be driven in rotation around an axis of rotation (10) by a drive, and has a rotatable universal-time hour wheel (13) arranged coaxially thereto. These two hour wheels are connected to each other by a spring-loaded detent connection. The universal-time hour wheel (13) is rotatably settable stepwise relative to the hour wheel (17) by a setting element. It overcomes the spring force of the detent connection, in which connection the setting element can be coupled to the universal-time hour wheel (13) for setting the latter and can be decoupled again after the setting. The hour wheel (17) is connected to an hour hand (2), and a universal-time hour hand (3) is connected to a universal-time hour wheel (13), by which means the times of two different time zones can be indicated on a stationary dial face. The setting element is a time-zone ring (8) which is arranged concentric to the axis of rotation (10), and can be rotatably set stepwise from detent position to detent position, and by which a transmission element for resetting the universal-time hour wheel (13) can be driven.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a watch having an hour wheel which can be 
driven in rotation around an axis of rotation by a drive, and a rotatable 
universal-time hour wheel arranged coaxially thereto. The hour wheels are 
connected by a spring-loaded detent connection, having a setting element 
by which the universal-time hour wheel can be rotatably reset, stepwise 
relative to the hour wheel and overcoming the spring force of the detent 
connection. The setting element is adapted to be coupled to the 
universal-time hour wheel in order to reset the latter and to be decoupled 
from it after the setting. The watch has an hour hand connected to the 
hour wheel as well as a universal-time hour hand connected to the 
universal-time hour wheel, by which hands the times of two different time 
zones can be indicated on a fixed dial face. 
In such so-called universal-time watches the hour hand indicates the time 
within the time zone in which the wearer of the watch usually lives. The 
universal-time hour hand, however, indicates the time in another of the 
total of 24 time zones of the world. 
In order to be able to set the universal-time hour hand to a desired zone 
out of said 24 time zones relative to the hour hand, and to make it 
possible to drive the hour hand and the universal-time hour hand by a 
common drive, the two hands are connected to each other by a spring-loaded 
detent connection. By means of a setting element, a stepwise relative 
resetting of the two hands in hourly steps is possible by overcoming the 
spring force of the detent connection. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the invention to create a watch of the type described 
which has a simply constructed setting mechanism consisting of only a few 
parts for setting the universal-time hour hand. 
According to the invention, the setting element is a time-zone ring (8) 
which Is arranged concentric to the axis of rotation (10) and which can be 
rotatably reset stepwise from detent position to detent position and by 
which a transmission element for setting the universal-time hour wheel 
(13) can be driven. Only a few simply constructed parts are required in 
order to effect a resetting of the universal-time hour wheel and thus of 
the universal-time hour hand. 
In one advantageous embodiment, the time-zone ring (8) has a gear rim with 
which there engages a transmission star wheel (12) the teeth of which, 
upon the turning of the time-zone ring (8) from one detent position to the 
next detent position, can be brought into engagement with the teeth of a 
universal-time gear wheel (20) rigidly attached to the universal-time hour 
wheel (13). The universal-time hour wheel (13) can be moved by one step 
from its position at the time relative to the hour wheel (17). 
The time-zone ring (8) preferably has detent positions corresponding to the 
time zones uniformly distributed over its circumference twenty-four, and 
the universal-time hour wheel (13) can be displaced stepwise by an angle 
which corresponds to one hour, in which connection the universal-time hour 
wheel (13) can be displaced through an angle of 30 degrees per setting 
step. 
For the simple driving of the time-zone ring, the time-zone ring (8) can be 
rotatably settable by a time-zone setting drive (28) which engages into 
the gear rim of the time-zone ring (8) and which can be rotatably driven 
manually by means of a crown. 
An exact positioning and fixing of the time-zone ring in this position is 
obtained in the manner that a detent element (30) which is fixed in space 
can be moved radially under spring action into the tooth gaps (29) of the 
gear rim of the time-zone ring (8), and can rest against the facing tooth 
flanks of two adjacent teeth. 
In order to tell the wearer of the watch also to which time zone the 
universal-time hour hand has been set, the time-zone ring (8) can be 
provided with a time-zone indicator ring which bears, distributed over its 
circumference, time-zone markings which are associated with the detent 
positions and which can be aligned with a stationary identification 
marking (9). The time-zone ring thus serves not only for the resetting but 
at the same time also for the indicating of the time zone set. 
The gear rim of the time-zone ring (8) is preferably an inner gear rim 
(11). 
If the time-zone ring (8) can be driven for rotation in any direction 
around the axis of rotation (10) then the shortest resetting path can 
always be for the setting of the desired time zone. 
In order for the resetting mechanism of the universal-time hour wheel to be 
decoupled in its position of rest in simple manner from the hour wheel and 
the universal-time hour wheel which are continuously driven by the drive, 
a tooth gap of the transmission star wheel (12) can face, when the 
time-zone ring (8) is in a detent position. The gear wheel of the 
universal-time hour wheel (13), prevents contact of the transmission star 
wheel (12) with the universal-time gear wheel (20) of the universal-time 
hour wheel (13). 
In one simple embodiment, the detent connection between the universal-time 
hour wheel (13) and the hour wheel (17) has a detent which is arranged on 
the hour wheel (17), and is radially moveable under spring action into 
detent recesses uniformly distributed over the circumference of the 
universal-time hour wheel (13). 
In order to assure an exact positioning of the universal-time hour hand 
with respect to the hour hand, the detent can be so developed that it 
moves into a concentric position of rest in the detent recess. 
This is obtained in simple manner by developing the detent in the region 
thereof extending into the detent recess as detent tooth (24) with 
ramp-like flanks (25) extending symmetrically in both directions of 
rotation. 
The detent recesses can in this connection be tooth gaps (27) of the 
universal-time hour wheel (13) developed as gear wheel with preferably 
twelve teeth. The ramp-like flanks slide easily along the flanks of the 
tooth gap until the detent tooth rests with both flanks against the flanks 
of the tooth gap. 
A small structural height is obtained in the manner that the universal-time 
hour wheel (13) and the universal-time gear wheel (20) rigidly connected 
thereto are arranged coaxially parallel alongside each other. 
If the smallest possible guide angle with which the transmission star wheel 
(12) is in engagement with the universal-time gear wheel (20) has such a 
value that the tip of the detent tooth (24) can be moved out of the region 
of a tooth gap (27) into the immediately adjoining region of an adjacent 
tooth gap of the universal-time hour wheel (13), and if the largest 
possible guide angle with which the transmission star wheel is in 
engagement with the universal-time gear wheel (20) has such a value that 
the tip of the detent tooth (24) can be moved out of the region of a tooth 
gap (24) into the region furthest away from the latter of an adjacent 
tooth gap of the universal-time hour wheel (13), then a dependable 
advancing of the universal-time hour wheel by one detent position always 
takes place independently of the position at the time of the teeth of the 
universal-time gear wheel. 
The universal-time gear wheel (20) preferably has twenty-four teeth. 
The universal-time hour hand (3) can be driven in rotation with two 
revolutions per twenty-four hours. 
If, in addition to the normal dial of the dial face, there can be rotatably 
driven by the universal-time hour wheel (13) a 24-hour indication which is 
arranged concentric to the axis of rotation (19), has an annular scale (7) 
bearing 24-hour markings and is associated with a stationary marking, then 
the time can be read off from said annular scale in 24-hour divisions of 
the day. 
As a double function, the stationary marking can in this connection, be the 
identification marking (9). 
The annular scale (7) can be provided with values which increase in the 
direction of rotation of the universal-time hour hand (3) and can be 
rotatably driveable in direction opposite the direction of rotation of the 
universal-time hour hand (3) with half the speed of rotation of the 
universal-time hour hand (3). 
For the driving of the 24-hour indication, the 24-hour indication can be 
rigidly connected to a 24-hour indicator wheel (34) which is rotatable 
around the axis of rotation (10), is developed as a gear wheel and can be 
driven via a step-down gear ring (14) by the universal-time gear wheel 
(20), the drive train from the universal-time gear wheel (20) to the 
24-hour indicator wheel (34) being inseparable. In this way, no additional 
drive is required for the 24-hour indication. 
In order to make resetting of the universal-time hour hand with respect to 
the hour hand possible without the time-zone ring also being reset 
thereby, the universal-time hour wheel (13) can, with the setting element 
decoupled, be rotatably displaceable stepwise with respect to the hour 
wheel (17), overcoming the spring force of the detent connection by a 
correcting setting device. In this way, each time zone of the watch can be 
set as the time zone in which the wearer of the watch usually resides. 
Impairment of the normal drive of the watch is avoided in the manner that 
the correction setting device can be coupled, for the correcting resetting 
of the universal-time hour wheel (13), to the latter and can be decoupled 
after the correction resetting. 
A displacement of the universal-time hour wheel is possible in the manner 
that the correction setting device (15) can rotatably drive a gear wheel 
of the drive train from the universal-time gear wheel (20) to the 24-hour 
indicating wheel, in which case the gear wheel can be an intermediate gear 
(32) of the step-down gearing (14). 
A simple development as well as simple actuation are obtained in the manner 
that the correction setting device (15) has a pusher (16) which can be 
displaced longitudinally by hand and by which a switch pin (37) can be 
moved against spring force out of an unengaged position of rest and 
engaged into the gear wheel of the drive train, rotating it in such a 
manner that the universal-time hour wheel (13) can be rotated by one 
setting step relative to the hour wheel (17). 
If the smallest possible guide angle with which the switch pin (37) is in 
engagement with the gear wheel has such a value that the tip of the tooth 
of the gear wheel (24) can be moved out of the region of a tooth gap (27) 
into the directly adjoining region of an adjacent tooth gap of the hour 
wheel (13), and the largest possible guide angle with which the switch pin 
(37) is in engagement with the gear wheel has such a value that the tip of 
the detent tooth (24) can be moved out o( the region of a tooth gap (27) 
into the region furthest away therefrom of an adjacent tooth gap of the 
universal-time hour wheel (13), then a dependable advancing of the 
universal-time hour hand by one detent position takes place in all cases 
independently of the position at the time of the teeth of the 
universal-time gear wheel. 
In one simple embodiment, the switch pin (37) is arranged on a swing lever 
(33) which can be swung by the pusher (16) around a correcting swivel 
axis. 
In order to make a re turn of the switch pin into its position of rest 
possible without any contact with, and thus impairment of, the gear wheel 
taking place thereby, the swing lever (33) can be so guided that it can be 
moved back into the unengaged position of rest after a correction 
resetting in such a manner that the switch pin (37) moves over a path of 
movement outside the gear wheel. This is achieved in simple manner by the 
swing lever (33) being displaceable by spring force into a setting 
position after a correction setting and being swingable into the unengaged 
position of rest around a resetting swivel axis, the distance of the 
unengaged position of rest from the switch pin being less than the 
distance between the correction axis and the switch pin (37).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The dial face shown in FIG. 1 has a stationary annular inner hour scale 1 
with twelve hour markings which are moved over by an hour hand 2 and a 
universal-time hour hand 3 The hour scale 1 is surrounded by a minute 
scale 4, also stationary, which is swept over by both a minute hand 5 and 
a second hand 6. A rotatably driveable annular scale 7 of a 24-four hour 
indication with twenty-four hour markings surrounds the minute scale 4. 
The annular scale 7 is surrounded by a time-zone ring 8, which is also 
arranged in rotatable manner, and which is provided with twenty-four 
uniformly distributed names of cities which are the symbols of the 
twenty-four different time zones. 
A stationary identification marking 9 developed as arrow is arranged 
radially outside the time-zone ring 8 and is associated both with the 
time-zone ring 8 and with the annular scale 7. All scales and rings are 
arranged concentric to an axis of rotation 10 around which the hands are 
also arranged for rotation. 
FIG. 2 shows an inner gear rim 11 which is rigidly connected to the 
time-zone ring 8. The cities of the time-zone ring 8 are arranged on the 
inner gear rim 11, corresponding to twenty-four markings. Via a 
transmission star wheel 12, the inner gear rim 11 can drive a 
universal-time hour wheel 13 in rotation. Furthermore, a 24-hour 
indication (not shown) together with the annular scale 7 can be driven in 
rotation by the universal-time hour wheel 13 via a drive train which has a 
step-down gearing 14. A correcting setting device 15 engages into the 
drive train and can be actuated by a pusher 16. A more detailed 
description of the individual sub-assemblies shown in FIG. 2 will be given 
with reference to the following figures. 
In FIGS. 3 and 4, an hour wheel 17 and the universal-time hour wheel 13 are 
mounted for rotation around the axis 10. The hour wheel 17 has an hour 
pinion 18 on which the universal-time hour wheel 13 and a universal-time 
hour tube 19 are mounted for rotation. The hour hand 2 can be attached to 
the hour tube 18 and the universal-time hour hand 3 to the universal-time 
hour tube 19. 
The minute and second tubes which bear the minute hand 5 and the second 
hand 6, respectively and pass coaxially through the hour tube 18 are not 
shown. 
A 24-tooth universal-time gear wheel 20 is arranged alongside and parallel 
to the 12-tooth universal-time hour wheel 13, the universal-time gear 
wheel 20 being firmly attached to the universal-time hour tube 19. An 
intermediate disk 21 is arranged between the universal-time hour wheel 13 
and the universal-time gear wheel 20. 
An hour wheel disk 22 which is firmly attached to the hour tube 18 and 
bears a detent tooth 24 which is swingable around a shaft 23 is arranged 
axially alongside the universal-time hour wheel 13. 
The detent tooth 24 has ramp-like flanks 25 which extend symmetrically in 
both directions of rotation, and by which it can be moved radially into 
the tooth gaps 27 of the universal-time hour wheel 13 which is developed 
with twelve teeth. The detent tooth 24 is provided with a spring arm 26 
which rests under initial stress against the hour wheel disk 22 and urges 
the detent tooth 24 under spring action into the tooth gap 27. Upon its 
movement into the tooth gap 27, the flanks 25 of the detent tooth 24 slide 
along the flanks of the tooth gap 27 until the detent tooth 24 extends 
centrally into the tooth gap 27, resting against both tooth flanks of the 
latter. 
The detent tooth 24 which has engaged into the tooth gap 27 forms a detent 
connection between the universal-time hour wheel 13 and the hour wheel 17 
which is driven by a drive (not shown) at two revolutions per twenty-four 
hours. By the action of force, the universal-time hour wheel 13 can be 
turned relative to the hour wheel 17. In such case, the detent tooth 24 is 
pulled out of its tooth gap 27 and engages again into the adjacent tooth 
gap. In this way, the universal-time hour hand 3 is shifted one hour with 
respect to the hour hand 2 The identification marking 9 then points to 
that city the time zone of which now corresponds to the time indicated by 
the universal-time hour hand 3. 
Such a shifting of the universal-time hour hand 3 by one hour with respect 
to the hour hand 2 takes place due to the fact that the gear wheel of a 
time-zone setting drive 28 is so turned by means of a crown (not shown) 
that a stationary detent element 30, which is urged radially by a spring 
31 into one of the twenty-four tooth gaps 29 of the inner gear rim 11 of 
the time-zone ring 8, is pushed out of its tooth gap 29 and engages again 
into the tooth gap adjacent thereto (FIG. 5). In this way, the 
transmission star wheel 12, the teeth of which engage into the tooth gaps 
29 of the inner gear rim 11, is simultaneously turned by the inner gear 
rim. 
As shown in FIG. 6, the clearance for movement of the transmission star 
wheel 12 relative to the inner gear rim 11 when the detent element 30 is 
engaged is such that no contacting of the universal-time gear wheel 20 by 
the transmission star wheel 12 is possible. 
Upon turning the time-zone ring 8, however, one tooth of the transmission 
star wheel 12 comes into engagement with the universal-time gear wheel 20 
and turns the latter, and thereby also the universal-time hour wheel 13, 
to such an extent that the detent tooth 24 is lifted out of its tooth gap 
27 and comes into the region of the adjacent tooth gap into which it 
engages. 
Since the universal-time gear wheel 20 is continuously moved by the drive 
of the watch via the hour wheel 17 attached to it, the teeth of the 
universal-time gear wheel 20 can be in a different position with respect 
to the teeth of the transmission star wheel 12. Depending on this 
position, an engagement of the transmission star wheel 12 into the 
universal-time gear wheel 20 therefore takes place between a largest 
possible guide angle (FIG. 7) and a smallest possible guide angle (FIG. 
8). 
Upon engagement with the largest possible guide angle, the universal-time 
gear wheel 20 is turned to such an extent that the detent tooth 24 moves 
out of its tooth gap 27 at the time until the tip of its tooth is located 
in the region of the adjacent tooth gap of the universal-time hour wheel 
13 which is furthest away from said tooth gap 27. 
Upon engagement with the smallest possible angle, the universal-time gear 
wheel 20 is moved to such an extent that the detent tooth 24 moves out of 
its tooth gap 27 at the time until the tip of its tooth is located in that 
region of the adjacent tooth gap of the universal-time hour wheel 13 which 
directly adjoins said tooth gap 27. 
Since the detent tooth 24 is urged by spring force into the new tooth gap, 
it strives, after disengagement of transmission star wheel 12 and 
universal-time gear wheel 20, to achieve, by sliding with its flanks 25 on 
the flanks of the new tooth gap, the central position in this tooth gap, 
so that a correct positional relationship between hour wheel 17 and 
universal-time hour wheel 13 is again present. The universal-time hour 
wheel 13 has thus been turned exactly one hour with respect to the hour 
wheel 17. Depending on the direction of rotation of the time-zone setting 
drive 28, this resetting has taken place forward or backward. 
As shown in FIG. 9, an intermediate wheel 32 of the step-down gearing 14 
also engages into the 24-tooth universal-time gear wheel 20. Driving in 
rotation of a 24-hour indicator wheel 34 having eighty teeth takes place 
via the step-down gearing. The step-down gearing 14 is of such a nature 
that the 24-hour indicator wheel 34 is driven counterclockwise by the 
universal-time gear wheel 20 with one turn per twenty-four hours. A 
decoupling of the drive train from the universal-time gear wheel 20 to the 
24-hour indicator wheel 33 is not possible, so that continuous driving of 
the 24-hour indicator wheel 34 by the drive of the watch takes place. 
The annular scale 7, which is provided with 24-hour markings, is firmly 
attached to the 24-hour indicator wheel 34. The identification marking 9 
always points to the hour marking on the annular scale 7 that corresponds 
to the time indicated by the universal-time hour hand 3 on the hour scale 
1. However, since the annular scale 7 bears 24-hour markings, one can 
immediately determine here whether the time is before noon or afternoon. 
FIGS. 10 to 14 show a correction setting device 15 which can be brought 
into engagement with the intermediate wheel 32 of the step-down gearing 14 
and by which the universal-time hour wheel 13 can be turned, overcoming 
the detent connection, with respect to the hour wheel 17. This is 
necessary in order to set the watch for a given time zone which is to be 
that time zone in which the wearer of the watch normally lives. For this 
purpose, the universal-time hour hand 3 is aligned with the hour hand 2 by 
means of the correction setting device 15, in which case the time-zone 
ring 8 must be in such a position that the identification marking 9 
indicates the time zone in which the wearer of the watch normally lives. 
After this calibration, the watch can be adjusted by means of the time-zone 
setting drive 28 for any other time zone, the time of which will then be 
indicated by the universal-time hour hand 3 while the hour hand 2 
indicates the time in the time zone in which the wearer of the watch 
normally lives. 
The correction setting device 15 is provided with the pusher 16 which can 
be manually displaced radial to the rotating shaft 10 and which is 
moveable against the force of a spring 35 acting on a swing lever 33, 
swinging the latter into the resetting position (FIG. 10). Upon movement 
out of a disengaged position of rest into the resetting position, the 
swing lever 33 can be swung around a correcting swivel axis, which is 
formed by a fixed pivot pin 36 which extends through a slot 38 in the 
swing lever 33. By acting on the swing lever 33 by means of the pusher 16, 
the end which bears a switch pin 37 and which is opposite the pivot pin 36 
is swung in such a manner that the switch pin 37 comes into approximately 
tangential engagement with the intermediate wheel 32, drives the latter 
along over a certain distance and turns it before it is disengaged again 
from the intermediate wheel 32 and reaches its maximum deflection (FIG. 
11). 
Upon the subsequent movement of the swing lever out of the maximum 
deflection into the disengaged position of rest (FIG. 12), the spring 35 
first of all displaces the swing lever 33 in such a manner that the pivot 
pin 36 assumes a different position in the slot 38 and now forms a 
restoring swivel axis, the distance of which from the switch pin 37 is 
less than the distance of the correction axis from the switch pin 37. 
During this movement of the swing lever 33 out of the maximum deflection 
into the disengaged position of rest, the swing lever 33 is acted on, in 
addition, by a guide spring 39 in the direction of disengagement of the 
switch pin 37 from the intermediate wheel 32. The guide spring 39, which 
is developed as leaf spring, rests in this connection against a stop pin 
40 of the swing lever 33 which slides along the guide spring 39 during the 
restoring movement. 
Due to the displacement of the swing lever 33 and the actuation and guiding 
by the guide spring 39, the switch pin 37 moves from the maximum 
deflection into the disengaged position of rest on a path of movement 
outside the intermediate wheel 32. 
Shortly before reaching the disengaged position of rest, the swing lever 33 
is also again displaced by the spring 35 into the position in which the 
pivot pin 36 again forms the correction swivel axis. 
Since the intermediate wheel 32 turns continuously, the position of its 
teeth with respect to the switch pin 37 is different. As a result thereof, 
the intermediate wheel 32 is displaced by the switch pin 37 between a 
smallest possible guide angle and a largest possible guide angle in which 
the switch pin 37 is in engagement with the intermediate wheel 32. 
The largest possible guide angle (FIG. 13) has, in this connection, such a 
value that the tip of the detent tooth 24 can be moved out of the region 
of a tooth gap 27 into the region of a tooth gap of the universal-time 
hour wheel 13 adjacent thereto which is furthest away from said tooth gap 
27. The smallest possible guide angle (FIG. 14) has such a value that the 
tip of the detent tooth 24 can be moved out of the region of a tooth gap 
27 into the region of a tooth gap of the universal-time hour wheel 13 
adjacent thereto which directly adjoins the tooth gap 27. A subsequent 
alignment of the universal-time hour wheel 13 with respect to the hour 
wheel 17 takes place by the detent tooth 24 in the manner already 
described.