US3593457A - Toy railroad - Google Patents

Toy railroad Download PDF

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Publication number
US3593457A
US3593457A US775596A US3593457DA US3593457A US 3593457 A US3593457 A US 3593457A US 775596 A US775596 A US 775596A US 3593457D A US3593457D A US 3593457DA US 3593457 A US3593457 A US 3593457A
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United States
Prior art keywords
tracks
track
power transmitting
driving power
common
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Expired - Lifetime
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US775596A
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English (en)
Inventor
Max Ernst
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Individual
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Individual
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H18/00—Highways or trackways for toys; Propulsion by special interaction between vehicle and track
    • A63H18/14—Drives arranged in the track, e.g. endless conveying means, magnets, driving-discs

Definitions

  • the tracks have at least one section in common with each other.
  • the driving power transmitting means located between the baseplate means and the upper plate means and respectively arranged in alignment with the tracks pertain to different tracks engaging each other at common sections of the tracks.
  • Control means are provided at said common sections and are operable selectively to move from a first position into a second position and vice versa to control the communication from the respective common section to the respective desired adjacent track in the direction of movement of the respective driving power transmitting means pertaining to the respective adjacent 54 TOY RAILROAD [511 lnt.Cl................
  • Driving means are drivingly connected to the driving power transmitting means pertaining to at least one of the tracks.
  • the present invention relates to a toy railroad, and more specifically, to a track therefor.
  • a track toy according to which toy vehicles without a drive which are provided with a pin extending below the track surface are driven by providing one or more closed guiding passages in the track path, which passage or passages are in the interior thereof provided with a likewise closed flexible driving body adapted by means of an electric motor and a stepdown transmission, and a gear meshing with the driving body to be moved in longitudinal direction.
  • the guiding passages have their upper side provided with centrally located narrow guiding slots through which the pin on the respective vehicle extends into a guiding passage.
  • the electric motor provided for the drive of a track may be equipped with a control and reversing device so that it will also be possible to reverse the driving direction as well as to vary the driving speed of the vehicles of a track within wide limits. If two or more of such tracks are arranged one adjacent to the other, it is also possible to build up traffic games, as for instance, toy automobile racing tracks or other racing games.
  • FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates a cutout of a trackaccording to the invention with a driving unit, a coupling station ofJtwo driving bodies and a switch tongue, as seen from the t FIG. 2'is a transverse section along the line 11-11 of FIG, 1.
  • FIG. 3' is a perspective view of a control device for a switch tongue.
  • FIG. 4 shows a driveless gear for the circle traffic at a crossing with a straight and two rectangularly extending tracks.
  • FIGS. 58 diagrammatically illustrate from above, various embodiments of tracks while employing the features accordingto the present invention.
  • The-present invention concerns a track toy with two or more closed tracks and comprises guiding passages, the top surface of which is provided with a guiding slot.
  • closed flexible driving bodies for driveless toy vehicles provided with a follower pin are displaceable in longitudinal direction.
  • the invention is characterized primarily in that at one or more places of the track installation, the tracks are moved toward each other to such an extent that the guiding passages of these tracks move together over a distance, while the driving bodies ofthe two tracks within the common guiding passage section mesh with each other, and a pointed wedge-shaped cover member either before or after the meetingof the'two guiding passages forms a switch blade or switch tonguein such a way that said cover member is pivotable about a vertical axis and selectively covers or frees one or the other guiding slot.
  • the present invention provides a track-toy which, with only a single driving unit permits the building-up of an image of the traffic at a street section with circular traffic while by operating a switch, a vehicle may be directed to move from a closed track to any other track.
  • the driving motor For purposes of imitating a track installation with right side traffic it will be sufficient to drive the driving motor in one direction only, and to provide the switch blades or switch tongues only at the exit side of the connecting portions of the driving tracks. If it is desired additionally to imitate a left-side traffic, the switch blades or tongues must be provided on both sides at the connecting portions of the driving tracks, in which instance also the direction of rotation of the driving motor must be reversed.
  • a control transformer as it is employed in connection with toy railroads may be employed for the operation of the motor.
  • a suitable control device for the motor will be used.
  • the switches may be so designed as to be operable manually or to be operable by remote control as is customary with electrical railroad installations. When larger installations are involved, it is advantageous, for purposes of operating the switch tongues to employ a suitably designed control panel.
  • the driving means As driving means, a pulled out steel wire helix or coil introduced into the corresponding guiding passage of the installation has proved particularly advantageous.
  • the said steel wire helix is formed into a closed driving body after it has been introduced into said guiding passage, by means of a relatively short connecting member especially in the form ofa yoke provided with a holding cam.
  • the driving unit is preferably formed by a small electric motor which through a transmission drives a coarse-toothed gear with inclined teeth which latter engage the steel wire helix at a suitable point of the installation and advance said steel wire helix.
  • the guiding passages of two tracks unite over a section of the tracks.
  • the driving bodies which preferably consist of a pulled out steel wire helix are arranged adjacent to each other and synchronize each other in this way while being able to move each other. Accordingly, it is not necessary to provide each driving body with a motor ofits own, so that it will suffice with a larger number of coupled driving bodies to drive only one of them by an electric motor.
  • gears or gear rings produced, for instance, of any suitable synthetic material and having a sufficiently large diameter, which by means of relatively coarse outer teeth, especially inclined teeth, engage the straight or curved flexible driving bodies of the tracks'which come together at this particular point or area, said gears or gear rings taking over the function of the flexible driving bodies.
  • the switch tongue is so adjusted that the guiding slot is covered above the flexible driving body, and that the guiding slot is freed above the teeth of the gear or gear ring so that the toy vehicle with its pin is engaged by a tooth of this gear or gear ring and advanced on a circular path. From this circular path the toy vehicle can then be moved from one track into another track in conformity with the respective position of the switch. In this way it will be possible at the crossing points of the installation to form a circular traffic which will permit changing the tracks which at this area are adjacent to each other, in any desired manner.
  • the common drive of the installation is so arranged that at least one of the gears or gear rings is operatively connected to the driving unit.
  • the latter may be provided with inner teeth.
  • the driving motor with the stepdown transmission can then, in a very favorable manner be arranged on the track within the free space of the gear ring while the last wheel of said stepdown transmission meshes with said inner teeth.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 show that for changing from one track to the other track within the track system formed by a baseplate l and partially detachable cover plate 2, 2', a gear ring 3 is rotatably mounted which by means of relatively coarse outer teeth 4 extends into the interior of a guiding passage 5 having located therein a pulled out steel wire helix 6. Above said helix 6 there is provided a guiding slot 7 for guiding a follower pin of the respective toy vehicle. A similar guiding slot 8 is also provided in the track cover 2, 2' above the pitch circle of the outer teeth 4 of the gear ring 3. The direction of movement of the steel wire helix 6 and the gear ring 3 are indicated by the arrows A and Al respectively.
  • the circular part 2' of the cover plate (a portion only being shown in FIG. 1) above the gear ring 3 has an electric motor 9 mounted on its top side. Connected to the shaft ofsaid electric motor 9, below the cover plate 2' is a pinion 10. In the space between the lower track portion 1 and the cover plate 2' there is furthermore provided a stepdown transmission comprising the interconnected gears 11 and I2 and an additional gear 13, gear 11 being in meshing engagement with the pinion 10. Gear 13 is drivingly connected to the gear 12 and to the inner teeth 14 of the gear ring 3. Gear ring 3 is centered by a downwardly extending flange 15 connected to the cover plate 2'. Cover plate 2', in its turn, is centered by means of three rectangular blocks 16 (one only being shown) which are connected to the bottom of the baseplate l of the track installation. These blocks 16 are preferably uniformly spaced from each other.
  • the pointed wedge-shaped member on the cover plate 2 forms the switch tongue 17 and is pivotable about a vertical pivot 18.
  • a connecting rod is pivotally connected to a lever arm 19 which, in its turn,-is fixedly connected to the switch tongue 17.
  • the connecting rod 20 has an adjusting knob 21.
  • a toggle lever arrangement 20' (see FIG. 3) may be connected to the connecting rod 20, said toggle lever arrangement 20' having two stable definite positions.
  • lever arm 19 which similar to the switch tongue 17 is expediently made of synthetic material and is resilient, and if the adjusting stroke of the toggle lever system slightly exceeds the stroke of the switch tongue, it will be assured that in each of the two positions of the toggle lever, the switch tongue will resiliently engage the marginal area of the cover 2, 2.
  • FIG. 4 diagrammatically illustrates a crossing point where a straight track and two curved tracks meet.
  • the three tracks are illustrated each by a steel wire helix 22, 23, and 24 respectively. All three steel wire helixes 2224 are engaged by the teeth of a gear 25.
  • switch tongues 26, 27, and 28 are provided which, as mentioned above, permit a change from one track to another.
  • Gear 25 may be connected to a drive of its own, but, if desired, it may also be driven through the intervention of one or more of the steel wire helixes 2224.
  • FIGS. 5-8 will be self-explainable in view of the above description. They illustrate the various possibilities of the invention for building up toy track installations in which it is possible at the crossing points of tracks to bring about a circular traffic.
  • two inner and one common outer track 29, 30, and 31 respectively are driven by a common disc 32.
  • Disc 32 may, in conformity with the illustration of FIG. 1, be formed by a gear ring which is driven through the intervention of inner teeth and a driving unit within the gear ring.
  • the outer track 31 is at two points driven by the disc 32.
  • toothed discs 33 and 34 are provided, each having three switches, 33a, 33b, 33c, and 34a,
  • the track system of FIG. 7 comprises one outer track and four inner tracks whereby a central and four outer crossing points are formed which comprise the central toothed disc 35 and the additional discs 36, 37, 38, and 39. All of said discs are in driving connection with the helixes of the individual tracks.
  • the central disc 35 has associated therewith four switches, while each of the outer discs 36-39 has associated therewith three switches. Also, in this instance, it will suffice to provide only the central disc 35 with a drive as is shown, for instance, in FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 8 comprises one outer track and two inner tracks.
  • the outer track forms a loop 40 and is twice drivingly connected with the toothed driving disc 41 whereby at this point it is possible to change the tracks four times.
  • a toothed disc 42 with three switches, said disc 42 not having a drive of its own.
  • a track system for motorless toys which comprises: baseplate means, upper plate means arranged above and in spaced relationship to said baseplate means and provided with at least two grooves each being closed in itself so as to form a closed track adapted to receive follower means of toys, said tracks being so arranged with regard to each other as to have at least one section in common with each other, toy-connected mechanical driving power transmitting means located within grooves between said baseplate means and said upper plate means and respectively arranged in alignment with said tracks, the driving power transmitting means respectively pertaining to difi'erent tracks engaging each other at said common sections of said tracks, control means arranged tangentially collectively in junctures at said common sections and operable selectively to move from a first position into a second position and vice versa to control the communication from the respectively common section to the respective desired adjacent track in the direction of movement of the respective driving power transmitting means pertaining to the respective adjacent tracks, and driving means drivingly connected to the driving power transmitting means pertaining to at least one of said tracks.
  • a track system in which the driving power transmitting means pertaining to different tracks mesh with each other collectively in junctures at the common section thereof, and in which one and the same driving means is drivingly connected to the driving power transmitting means sharing said common section.
  • a track system in which the driving power transmitting means sharing a common track section respectively comprise coil spring means and rotatable gear means having teeth in continuous meshing engagement with said coil spring means, and in which said driving means is drivingly connected to one of said driving power transmitting means.
  • control means is formed by a pivotably mounted wedge-shaped member operable selectively to cover the track section immediately adjacent the respective common section of two tracks and located where said common section in the direction of movement of said driving power transmitting means branches into the said two tracks.
  • said rotatable gear means includes a gear ring having outer teeth engaging said coil spring means.

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  • Toys (AREA)
US775596A 1967-11-15 1968-11-14 Toy railroad Expired - Lifetime US3593457A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DEE0035174 1967-11-15

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3593457A true US3593457A (en) 1971-07-20

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ID=7077219

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US775596A Expired - Lifetime US3593457A (en) 1967-11-15 1968-11-14 Toy railroad

Country Status (9)

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US (1) US3593457A (da)
AT (1) AT311222B (da)
BE (1) BE723828A (da)
DE (1) DE1603284A1 (da)
DK (1) DK122032B (da)
ES (1) ES359930A2 (da)
NL (1) NL6815584A (da)
SE (1) SE334838B (da)
YU (1) YU32391B (da)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3699711A (en) * 1972-02-03 1972-10-24 Francis T Coffey Sr Tracked vehicle toy

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2786680A (en) * 1953-11-24 1957-03-26 John K Northrop Racing games
CA1029649A (en) * 1973-08-21 1978-04-18 Jury S. Oseredko Method of pumping liquid gas

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2786680A (en) * 1953-11-24 1957-03-26 John K Northrop Racing games
CA1029649A (en) * 1973-08-21 1978-04-18 Jury S. Oseredko Method of pumping liquid gas

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3699711A (en) * 1972-02-03 1972-10-24 Francis T Coffey Sr Tracked vehicle toy

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES359930A2 (es) 1970-06-16
DE1603284A1 (de) 1971-06-09
YU249468A (en) 1974-04-30
YU32391B (en) 1974-10-31
SE334838B (da) 1971-05-03
DK122032B (da) 1972-01-10
AT311222B (de) 1973-11-12
BE723828A (da) 1969-04-16
NL6815584A (da) 1969-05-19

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