US2096894A - Toy railway - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 26, 1937.

M. R. HALL TOY RAILWAY Filed March 7, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I 1 u I 50 76 62 765 3 254- Patented Oct. 26, 1937 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

inver ion relates to toy railways.

The inven on intended for specific application toy electric railways, and especially where the tracks may be arranged to provide a crossover, and on which are operated simultaneously more than one train. As result of such operation, two trains may simultaneously arrive at a meeting point, such, for instance, as crossover. Unless properly controlled, one train 10 be moving across the crossover when anther train will be propelled onto that cross v r Possible damage from the ensuing crash,

as well as disruption of operation, would follow.

t is an object of the invention to control 15. automatically the movement of such trains for preventing such interference between two trains upon the same section of track at the same time, as, for instance, to prevent one train from operating upon a crossover when upon that crossover there is present another train. In the case of a crossover or similar track section, it is insulated from the other sections of track comprising the railroad. Conductors leading away from the crossover are connected to a. proper central point. Such conductors may take part in effecting control of the power input for each of the several track elements of that crossover. Thus, when one train enters upon a certain track section of the crossover, automatically the other section or sections are deenergized. Such a train may then, in assured safety, continue onto, and then travel beyond, the crossover, no other train being capable of moving, under its own power, onto the crossover at that time.

Apparatus embodying certain details of the invention has been designed for operation upon that type of toy railroad in which remotely controlled locomotives are intended to be operated. In certain of such types, cutting off power for a particular locomotive causes a relay to re-set a switch in that locomotive so that thereafter, when power is again supplied to the locomotive, it will operate in a direction the reverse of that which it followed in the first instance. Where it is preferred that such locomotive should move progressively in the same direction, as in the case of pcr'ic t simulation of operation at a railroad crossover, it is an object of the invention so to operate means in conjunction with such crossover that, even with such remotely controlled apparatus, the locomotive will be caused to continue in the same, rather than in a reverse, direction.

It is an object of the invention to provide, for

v assembly with toy railroads of the character indicated, a crossover which, within itself, constitutes a unitary structure, capable, merely by a simple act of assembly with the ordinary trackage of such system, to function, and requiring no technical ability on the part of the user for 5 such assembly or its subsequent operation. For such purpose, such crossover may include, in itself, all mechanism and electrical elements requisite for properly operating trains at the crossover. Such an apparatus may include, for in- 10 stance, a signal-tower, simulating a properly controlled railroad. In such case, the signal-tower may carry certain signalling devices, cooperating with the crossover controls, which will indicate properly whether the tracks are clear, or which 15 of the tracks are not passable, at a particular point in the operation of the apparatus. Such tower may function as a casing for the different mechanism and elements of the control apparatus. 20

Other objects of this invention will hereinafter be set forth, or will be apparent from the description and the drawings, in which is illustrated an embodiment of apparatus for carrying out the invention.

The invention, however, is not intended to be restricted to any particular construction or arrangement of parts, or to any particular application of such construction, or to any specific manner of use, or to any of various details there- 30 of, herein shown and described, as the same may be modified in various particulars or be applied in many varied relations without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, the practical embodiment herein illustrated and 3r described merely being one of various forms and modifications in which the invention might be embodied.

On the drawings, in which the same reference characters refer to the same parts throughout, 40 and in which is disclosed such embodiment:

Fig. l is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention, specifically a unitary crossover and signal tower;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view, trans- 5 versely through the signal tower, and here showing only the base of the tower, certain of the parts being in elevation;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2, appearing as if the casing were reso moved from the base, and parts appearing in section;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3, as it appears from the right side thereof; and

V 22 and 2d are aligned, respectively, with rails 26 V soiorth, will not,

Fig. 5 is a wiringdiagram for the apparatus. In the apparatus on the drawings, the invention has been shown embodied in the form of a crossover it intended for association with a trackage system E2, the latter being capable of taking any form desired, according to the whim of the'user. In such a. system, two wheel-carrying rails M and it are provided together with a third rail i8, from which, by means of a roller,

the locomotive (not shown) takes its power, to be returned to a suitable ground through either or both of rails i l and Hi. The crossover here shown is in the form of a unit, mounted upon a base plate 28 of insulating material. Upon such plate may be mounted. wheel-carrying rails 22 and 2 3, 2 5 and 28, 3t and 32, Stand 35. Rails and 28, but are broken at the points at which otherwise they would intersect with rails 38 and 32, and rails 3 and 3%. Rails 8!] and32 likewise are'aligned with rails 3e and 36, but are bro ken in the same manner as the other rails. Rail sections 53 3, and 3 3 may, if desired, be of insulating material so that no current may pass from them to associatedrails or rail sections. However, the sections and the rails are positioned in close enough association so that the wheels of a train, as they pass from rail to section, and in any way be in danger of derailment.

In'association with rails 22, and so forth, are.

' other section, by means of extending pins 54,

which may be of insulating material for the purposes of insulating the crossover from the rest of the system. The insulation between the crossover and the other rail sections may, if desired, be constituted in any other preferred manner.

Either as an integral part of plate 26, or, if desired, as a separate unit, there may be provided a signal-tower 56, including a housing 58, base 6% of which'may be of insulating material. In spaced apart relationship upon such base, by means of a bracket 62, are supported a pair of solenoids 5d and 55. The front ends of these solenoids may be provided with supporting guideway plates S8 and iii, through which pass, respectively, cores l2 and M, for the solenoids. Springs 18 are positioned upon each core and are engaged between the respective guideway plate and an enlarged head 'lii upon the core, tending normally to propel the core out of the solenoid. The head may be of insulating material, here shown as taking the form of a depending foot similarly'supported and constructed, for cooperation with the other core ld'has prongs 38, 5%, and H32, and a terminal post Terminal posts 94 and HM may be carried loyrespective brackets 88, and may take the form of set-screws E83, permitting adjustment to vary the tensional relationships of the several prongs, and being capable of being locked in that position.

Considering the circuit of the apparatus, power is derived from any usual source, such as the transformer generally utilized in connection with such toy railways. indicated by two leads Hi8 and lit. When no train is carried by the crossover, both cores will have been propelled against their respective jacks, closing the prongs together, as will be further discussed. also, third rail sections 36, 48, 50, and 52 all will be energized. Also, the circuits for the solenoids will be broken as will appear further.

However, lead E28 is connected to both prongs I and I02, which are separated by a flexible insulating member H2. Prong Hi2, by the pressure of the core, is in contact with terminal post 184, which, by a lead lid, is connected to terminal post 9 Against terminal post G L'by the pressure of its core, is brought prong 92, which, through a lead H5, is connected to signal-light H8. From this light the circuit may be completed through a proper ground, as, for instance, by lead Mil. Signal-light 558 may be the top light of tower 56, which may extend from housing '58 to be provided with suitable directive openings. Each of the' signal-lights may have openings such as openings i238; in the case of si nal-light H8, these openings are directed four directions. The openings may have coloring screens; in the case of light M8, screens may be made efiective to direct green light in all directions, thus to indicate all tracks to be clear. The shades l 22 for the signal light are here made to simulate the shades in customary railway practice, and may be made in any desired man- 'ner. V I 7 Now, considering that a train has moved onto the crossover wheel-carrying rails 22 and 24, a circuit willnow'be completed in the following ma.nner.' From lead H38, power will pass through a lead I25 to prong 95. Since prong 9G, by the action of its core spring, is in contact with prong 84, current is, therefore, transmitted through a lead I25, to the winding of solenoid 66. Then, by a lead l28, connected to signal-light ltd, it is conducted to rail 22, across axle 32 bridging the rails, to rail 24, then through lead i3 1 to lead I I0, and the ground.

When this circuit is completed, core 74 of solenoid 6b is retracted, breaking the electric connection between a contact E36 carried by head 85 of core 14 and a pivoted arm itt, breaking the circuit of third rail 55, normally traced from lead I08, through lead M0, contact ltd, arm I38, lead M2, rail the locomotive, andeither of the wheel-carrying rails to the ground. Now, if any train should enter the section of the crossover defined by rails 30 and 32, it would be unable to proceed further. Signal-light E36 in the tower, through suitably arranged openings Hi l and I46, directs signals along the tracks, openings I54 directing a green light along the track including rails 22 and 24, and openings M6, a red light along the track defined by rails 3i and 32. At the same time, since core "Ed has been retracted, the electrical connection between prong H32 and terminal post I04 will be broken, thus extinguish Here such power source is,

ing signal-light I I8. This condition will continue until the last truck of the train has passed over rails 22 and 24, whereupon solenoid 66 will be deenergized, its spring will drive its core out of the solenoid, and contact will be established between contact I36 and arm I38, prongs 98 and I0, and prong I02, and terminal post I04.

On the instant of such energization, the circuit is completed from lead I08, as above described, to third rail 50. Immediately the locomotive becomes energized, and its motor operates. In the case of locomotives having reversing mechanism caused to operate by any such shut-down, the entrance of the locomotive into the deenergized area will have caused the reversing mechanism to operate. However, by reason of its presence in that deenergized area, such reversed operation will not ensue, until contact I36 and arm I38 engage. Then, for an instant, the reversed motor will be energized. But the inertia impact between arm I38 and its head I8 is sufiicient to cause that arm to fly away from head, thus again breaking the circuit connection between the contact and the arm, and causing another reversal of the reversing mechanism.

The arm is formed in the manner of a bellcrank, having a bearing portion I48 mounted upon a spindle I50 which in turn is carried in suitable bearing brackets I52. Extending from each bearing is an arm I54, carrying a weight I56 at its end. Thus, when the inertia impact has caused arm I38 to leave contact I36, sufficient inertia will be imparted to weight I56 so that it will continue its rise. However, the apparatus is balanced in a manner such that the inertia will not be sufiicient to throw the weight completely around, or suitable stops may be arranged to prevent any such result. When the weight has reached the limit of its movement, it will return arm I38 into contact with contact I36, thus again reconstituting the circuit, and almost instantaneously causing the locomotive to move forwardly. Brackets 88 may be provided with seats I58 to act as stops and rests for Weights I56 when the cores are retracted by their respective solenoids.

When, on the other hand, a train proceeds into the area defined by rails 30 and 32, before one arrives in the area defined by rails 22 and 24, a circuit is completed from lead I08, through prongs I00 and 98, lead I60, solenoid 64, lead I62, signal-light I64, lead I66, rail 30, the axle of the truck, rail 32, to lead H0, or a suitable ground. Now core I2 is retracted, breaking the circuit between post 94 and prong 92, and thus extinguishing signal-light II 0, whereas signallight I30 has been extinguished at the time the circuit of solenoid 66 was broken. Also, the circuit between arm I68 and contact I'I0 associated with core I2 is broken, deenergizing third rail 46.

Signal-light I64 operates r'eversely of signal light I30, indicating, through its openings I12 and I14, the track to be clear along rails 30 and 32, but in danger along rails 22 and 24. In the H same manner, the train then operates across the crossing from rails 30 and 32 until the last car has passed, when the circuit of solenoid 64 is broken, and the apparatus permitted to return to its normal position in which signal-light II 8 will be made operative, and the other two extinguished. The trains will have sufficient momentum, in passing from the different sections defined by rails 22 and 24, and by rails 30 and 32, to pass over the unenergized sections 38, 40, 42, and 44.

Many other changes could be eifected in the particular apparatus designed, and in the methods of operation and use set forth, and in specific details thereof, without substantially departing from the invention intended to be defined in the claims, the specific description herein being of an illustrative operative embodiment capable of carrying out the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed as new and useful is:-

1. In a toy electric railroad system, comprising a plurality of rails defining a track system, the rails being disposed to intersect so that trains passing along one pair of rails will interfere with movement along another intersecting pair of rails, said train including an electric locomotive of the remote-control reversible type, and means at the intersection for automatically deenergizing certain of the trains to prevent movement of trains along more than one of the pairs of rails at the tersection at any one time, the deenergizing ans, on completion of movement of a train over the intersection, along one pair of rails, energizing a train on another pair of rails for movement over the intersection, the last energization being eirected by twice in rapid succession closing the electric circuit for the train to be energized.

2. In a toy electric railroad system, comprising a plurality of rails defining a track system, the rails being disposed to intersect, the rails at the intersection forming a crossover so that trains passing along one pair of rails will interfere with passage of trains along other rails of the crossover; and means made effective by the presence of a train on one of the pairs of rails for automatically deenergizing certain of the rails of the crossover to prevent movement of trains along more than one of the pairs of rails at the crossover at any one time, the means including a pair of solenoids, each of which has a movable core, means normally to project the cores from the solenoids, the solenoids acting to withdraw the cores, a switch associated with each core and normally closed by the projection of the core, and a signal-light placed in circuit by the projection of both cores.

3. In a toy electric railroad system, comprising a plurality of rails defining a track system, the rails being disposed to intersect, the rails at the intersection forming a crossover so that trains passing along one pair of rails will interfere with passage of trains along other rails of the crossover, each pair of rails on the crossover having an individual energizing circuit for trains passing over such pair of rails; and means to deenergize the circuits of all other rails when a train is moving along one of the pairs of rails, the means including a solenoid associated with each of the energizing circuits, each solenoid having a core, means normally to project the core from the solenoid, the solenoid acting to withdraw the core, a switch associated with each core and adapted to be closed when the core is projected, a signal-light to indicate the projection of all cores, a contact carried by each core, and a pivoted arm for making electrical connection with the contact, arm and contact forming a part of an energizing circuit other than that with which the solenoid is associated.

4. In a toy electric railroad system, comprising a plurality of rails defining a track system, the rails being disposed to intersect, the rails at the intersection forming a crossover so that trains passing along one pair of rails will interfere with passage of trains along other rails of the crossover, each pair of rails on the crossover having an individual energizing circuit for trains passing over such pair of rails, and means to deenergize all other circuits when a train is moving along one of the pairs of rails at the crossover to prevent movement of trains along more than one of the pairs of rails at the crossover at any one time, the deenergizing means including a pair of monitor circuits, the spaced apart rails of a pair constituting a break in one of the monitor circuits, so that the passage of a train will complete the particular'monitor circuit associated with a particular pair of rails, and means associated with each monitor circuit for breaking the energizing circuit of other rails.

5. In a toy electric railroad system, comprising a plurality of rails defining a track system, the

, rails being disposed to intersect, the rails at the intersection forming a crossover so that trains passing along pairs of rails will interfere with passage of trains along other rails of the crossover, each pair of rails on the crossover having an individual energizing circuit for trains passing over such pair of rails, and means to deenergize all other circuits when a train is moving along one of the pairs of rails at the crossover to prevent movement of trains along more than one of the pairs of rails at the crossover at any one time, the deenergizing means including a pair of monitor circuits, the spaced apart rails of a pair constituting a break in one of the monitor circuits, so that the passage of a train will complete the particular monitor circuit associated with a particular pair of rails, means associated with each monitor circuit for breaking the energizing circuit of other rails, and means in each monitor circuit for signalling the availability of the sections of the track system for the passage of a train. 7

6. In a toy electric railroad system, including an electric locomotive of the remote-control reversible type, comprising a plurality of rails defining'a track system, the rails being disposed to form a junction, and deenergizing means automatically efiective upon the advent of one train upon'the junction to prevent movement of trains contact arm for making electrical connection "with the contact, the arm being weighted so that,

on propulsion of the core by the projecting means, the arm will make connection with the contact,

'be thrown clear of the contact, and then fall into electrical'connection with the contact, each arm and contact forming part of energizing means for movement of a train along one pair ofrails.

7. In a toy electric railroad system, comprising a plurality of rails defining sections of a continuous track system, the rails being disposed to intersect, the rails at the intersection forming a crossover so that the trains passing along one pair of rails will interfere with passage of trains along other rails of said crossover, and deenergizing means automatically made effective upon the advent of a train upon a section to prevent movement of more than one train onto the same track section at any one time, said means comprising solenoids, each associated with a section, each; of the solenoids having a movable core, means normally projecting'the core from the, solenoid, the a solenoid acting to withdraw the core, a switch,

associated with each core and closed when the core is projected, a signal-light energized by the projection of all the cores, and individual signallights energized on the retraction of the individual cores.

MELVIN R. HALL.

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