Motorized Shuttle Train

Abstract

A toy railroad assembly wherein the track layout includes a turntable adapted to link any one of a group of sidings to a steep track section leading to the top of an elevator tower or to a level track section leading to the base of the tower, a hopper being shiftable up or down the tower. A motorized shuttle train may be coupled to a loaded dump car resting in one of the sidings and thereafter caused to climb the steep-grade track section to the top of the tower, at which point the load is automatically dumped in the hopper, the load being thereafter retrievable at the base of the tower when the shuttle train and dump car coupled thereto goes thereto along the level track section.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

This invention relates generally to toy railroads, and more particularly to an assembly in which a motorized shuttle train may be maneuvered to carry out a variety of different functions.

In the conventional toy railroad, a motorized train or locomotive runs along a trackway under the control of an operator. In order to lend interest to this operation, the track layout usually includes switches to enable the player to direct the train to follow any one of several routes, but the play possibilities in the system are quite limited unless the track layout is relatively elaborate.

For the most part, toy railroads have their tracks all on the same level, and while in some instances, it is possible to run the locomotive up a grade, the grade cannot be made steep in that a locomotive generally has insufficient power to climb a sharp incline. Moreover, even if the necessary power is available, the locomotive has a tendency to slip down a steeply graded track.

Some toy railroads are provided with stations or operating points at which certain transfer functions are carrier out, such as the loading and unloading of dump cars. It is also known to include turntables to direct the locomotive into any one of several sidings, but in all such instances the operations are either carried out manually or by means of separate motors or other drive mechanisms located at the operating station.

In short, where the conventional toy railroad is of simple, low-cost design, its play possibilities are rudimentary and quickly exhausted by the player, but where the railroad is capable of providing highly diversified operations, it is relatively complicated, it occupies considerable space, and entails expensive components which put the system out of the reach of the average consumer.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Accordingly, the main object of this invention is to provide a toy railroad system operating in conjunction with a track layout so designed as to permit the player to maneuver the train to carry out variegated functions within a limited space, making use only of the motor borne by a motorized shuttle train as the sole source of power for the entire system.

More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide a toy railroad wherein a motorized shuttle train may be shuttled from a turntable to a loaded dump car and coupled thereto, and thereafter directed to the top or base of an elevator tower equipped with a movable hopper adapted to receive or discharge the load.

A significant feature of the invention resides in the fact that the motor incorporated in the shuttle train serves not only to drive the train, but also to operate the turntable and the hopper elevator. Another important aspect of the invention is that the direction of movement of the shuttle train may be automatically reversed.

Briefly stated, in a toy railroad assembly in accordance with the invention, the track layout includes a turntable adapted to link any one of three separate sidings to a steep-grade track section leading to the top of an elevator tower or to a level track section leading to the tower base, a hopper being movable up or down the side of the tower. A motorized shuttle train is provided with driven wheels having a pinion mounted on the axle thereof, which pinion, when train movement is arrested by a controllable stop member, engages a main drive gear disposed on the trackway and serving to operate a mechanism associated therewith. The turntable is operated by a main drive gear and an associated mechanism to cause the turntable to rotate when the train is arrested thereon, and the tower is similarly equipped to cause the hopper to go up and down when the train is arrested at the top or bottom of the tower, in both instances the shuttle train affording the motive power.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention as well as other objects and further features thereof, reference is made to the following detailed description to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a toy railroad assembly in accordance with the invention, including a track layout and a shuttle train coupled to a dump car;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the manner in which the shuttle train is coupled to the dump car;

FIG. 3 illustrates, in perspective, one of the sidings, with the shuttle train thereon coupled to a dump car;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section taken through FIG. 3, illustrating how coupling is effected between the dump car and the shuttle train;

FIG. 5 is the same as FIG. 4, except that it shows how the train is decoupled from the dump car;

FIG. 6 shows the shuttle train coupled to the dump car, departing from the siding;

FIG. 7 is a section taken through the turntable, illustrating the manner in which the pinion on the train engages the main drive gear of the turntable;

FIG. 8 shows the train and dump car departing from the turntable;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the turntable;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the turntable;

FIG. 11, in perspective, illustrates the stop and turn control mechanism for the turntable;

FIG. 12 is a side view, in section, of the upper portion of the elevator tower;

FIG. 13 is an end view, in section, of the upper portion of the elevator tower;

FIG. 14 is a plan view of the track section on top of the tower;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken through the upper portion of the tower, illustrating how the dump car discharges its load into the elevator hopper; and

FIG. 16, in a sectional view taken in the base portion of the tower, illustrates how the hopper discharges its load into the dump car.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

General Arrangement

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a toy railroad assembly in accordance with the invention, wherein a motorized shuttle train or locomotive 10, which may be coupled either to a dump car 11 or 12, is capable of being shuttled along a track layout between a turntable 13 and an elevator tower 14.

Turntable 13 is provided with a rotatable track section 13A and is linked to the top of tower 14 by a steep track section 15. The turntable is also joined to the base of the tower by a ground-level track section 16. Elevator tower 14 is provided with a hopper 17 which may be raised or lowered with respect to a position adjacent a base track section 21 associated with the tower base, and a position adjacent a top track section 22 associated with the tower top. Also coupled to turntable 13 are three sidings 18, 19 and 20 which fan out from the turntable.

The sidings, the rotatable track section on the turntable, the steep track section, the ground-level track section, and the base and top track sections are all formed with a pair of channel type rails adapted to receive the wheels of the train and dump cars. All of the components of the track layout may be molded of a suitable plastic material.

The basic operation of motorized shuttle train 10 entails shuttling the train from turntable 13 to a selected siding (18, 19 or 20) to bring about coupling with one of the loaded dump cars (11 or 12), and then directing the train to climb steep-grade section 15 with the loaded dump car in advance thereof until the combination arrives at the top track section 22 with the dump car adjacent hopper 17 on tower 14, the hopper being in its elevated position.

The load from the dump car is then discharged into hopper 17, the train and unloaded car thereafter returning to turntable 13 where they may be switched to ground-level track section 16 and causes to travel toward base track section 21 at the tower base, at which point the loaded hopper 17 is lowered and caused to discharge into the unloaded dump car, thereby retrieving the load, which may then be returned to one of the sidings.

The player is not required to follow the above-described sequence of operation and may choose many variant steps. He may, for example, go from siding to siding to couple or uncouple the dump cars, or he may cyclically shuttle back and forth between one siding and either the top or bottom of the tower, or he may keep the train turning on the turntable.

The Train and Dump Car

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, the train 10 and dump car 11 are shown on siding 18. Locomotive 10 is provided with a battery-operated DC motor (not shown) of standard design which acts to turn the rear wheels 23 when the battery switch is closed to energize the motor. This switch is operated by turning the smokestack 24 in a given direction. The polarity of voltage applied to the motor is determined by a reversible switch whose pivoted actuator arm 25 extends upwardly from cab 26 of the train, so that in the forward position of the arm, the train is caused to move ahead and in the reverse position of the arm, the train is caused to reverse its direction of movement.

Arm 25 is engageable by a semaphore signal 27 extending laterally from a post 28 mounted adjacent siding 18, so that when the train enters the siding to couple with dump car 11 resting in the siding, at the point coupling is effected, the arm position is shifted by the signal to cause the train to reverse direction and depart with the car coupled thereto.

It will be seen in FIG. 1, that sidings 19 and 20 also have semaphore signals associated therewith, so that when the train is facing a siding and is moving in the direction of the siding with its actuator arm in the forward position, the arm will be engaged by the signal to reverse the arm position and to cause the train to back out of the siding. It is not possible therefore for the train to fully enter the siding, but it can only go as far as is necessary to couple with a dump car therein. When a dump car, in advance of the train and coupled thereto is pushed into a siding, the car is brought to the very end of the siding before the train reverses direction.

Dump car 11 is provided with a trough 29 which is pivotally mounted offcenter between end pieces 30 and 31. As shown in FIG. 3, the load in the trough 29 may be in the form of balls 32. The trough is upset to dump the load by means of a pusher 33 having a tab 34 which projects through a slot in the bed of the car. Pivoted onto the front wheel axle of the dump car and projecting forwardly therefrom, is a hook 35 mounted on a transverse yoke 36.

When the dump car is located on the siding with its rear wheels almost against the end abutment 37, yoke 36 then rests on the foot 38 of a pivoted and spring-biased lever 39, which is mounted on a fulcrum 40 below the siding, the foot projecting above the siding track through a slot therein. The normal position of foot 38 is such that when train 10, which has an eye-catch 41 at the front end thereof, moves toward the dump car, as shown in FIG. 4, the pivoted hook 35 rides over the catch and is engaged thereby, thereby effecting coupling.

But when a coupler button 42, which is attached to the other end of lever 39, is depressed by the player, this serves to raise foot 38, as shown in FIG. 5, and thereby to elevate hook 35 to a level out of engagement with catch 41. Thus one may bring about decoupling of a dump car from the shuttle train, by moving the car into the siding while depressing button 42, so that the hook is disengaged from the catch on the train just before the train direction is reversed by the semaphore signal. Thus the train departs from the siding, leaving the dump car behind.

The Turntable

Referring now to FIGS. 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, the details of turntable 13 are shown in various views. Rotary track section 13A of the turntable operates within a ring 43 whose inner circular periphery has ratchet teeth 44 formed thereon, the various transfer points being distributed about the ring. These teeth are engaged by a pinion 45 mounted for rotation in a horizontal plane below rotary track section 13A. Intermeshing with pinion 45 is a coupling gear 46 which projects upwardly between the spaced rails of the rotary track section.

Shuttle train 10, as best seen in FIG. 7, is provided with a power transmission pinion 47 which is mounted at an intermediate position on the axle of the rear drive wheels 23, and rotates therewith. Power transmission pinion 47, when the train is arrested on rotary track section 13A, is then positioned to engage coupling gear 46 thereon. Since the rear wheels of the arrested train continue to rotate, power transmission pinion 47 acts to operate the turntable and to cause track section 13A to revolve within ring 43.

In the course of rotation, track section 13A is brought successively into registration with the various transfer points; i.e., steep track section 15, sidings 20, 19 and 18, and finally with level track section 16, the cycle then being repeated as long as the section rotates.

When, therefore, train 10 enters track section 13 rearwards, from say, steep track section 15, it rides therealong until actuator arm 25 raised above the cab strikes a signal bridge 48 mounted across the end of the section, causing the train to reverse direction. However, a transverse block 49 positioned on the undercarriage of the train, as best seen in FIG. 7, in advance of the front wheels thereof, is then engaged by pivoted stop fingers 50 positioned between the rails, which serve to prevent further movement of the train. Fingers 50 extend upwardly from the end of an arm 51 disposed below the track section, the arm being urged upwardly by a spring 52 and being depressible to cause the fingers to clear transverse block 49 to free the train.

When train 10 is so arrested, power transmission pinion 47 engages coupling gear 46, which in turn intermeshes with rack pinion 45 to cause track section 13A to turn within the turntable ring 43. Whether track section 13A is permitted to turn or to stop to register with one of the sidings or with the steep or level track section linked to the turntable, is determined by "stop" and "turn" control buttons 53 and 54 mounted on a control box extending from one side of the turntable.

Buttons 53 and 54 cooperate with a central hub 55 on which track section 13A is mounted by a screw 56, as best seen in FIG. 11. Hub 55 is provided at its lower circular edge with a series of notches 57 whose spacing is related to the angular positions of the transfer points on the turntable ring so as to cause the turntable track section to stop in registration therewith.

Receivable within notches 57 is a tab 58 projecting from one end of a retractable strip 59, the other end having stop button 53 attached thereto. Retractable strip 59 is suspended from a fulcrum 60 and is so arranged that when stop button 53 is pressed while the track section is in rotation, tab 58 enters the first notch to arrive to arrest further movement of the turntable, at which point track section 13A is in line with the related siding or external track section linked to the turntable.

To release the turntable, the player presses "turn" button 54, mounted on one end of a pivoted lever 61 which, when lowered by the button, swings a crank 62 which engages a sidepiece 63 on the retractable arm 59 to lift the arm and to cause withdrawal of tab 58 from whichever notch 57 is active, thereby permitting the turntable track section to resume movement if the train is operatively coupled thereto.

When "stop" button 53 is pressed to arrest the turntable track section 13, this prevents rotation of the coupling gear 46, so that power transmission pinion 47 as shown in FIG. 7, is no longer able to drive gear 46 and instead rides thereover to push the train ahead, as in FIG. 8. The transverse block 49 of the train then overrides stop fingers 50, which are spring-biased and hence yieldable, thereby permitting the train to ride out of track section 13A of the turntable and to enter whatever siding or external track section is in registration therewith.

Thus, in operation, one may permit the turntable, as it is being operated by the train thereon, to turn until it approaches registration with a selected siding or an external track section, and to then press the stop button to cause the turntable to halt at the selected transfer point, the train, when the turntable is stopped, automatically exiting therefrom.

The Elevator Tower Associated Track Sections

Referring now to FIGS. 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16, the elevator tower and the steep and level track sections associated therewith are illustrated in detail. Steep track section 15 is provided with a central longitudinally extending rack 64 which is engaged by the power transmission pinion 47 on the train, thereby affording a gripping action to assist the train up the sharply inclined grade. The sidewalls of the steep track section are provided with flanges which engage projecting portions on the axle of the front wheels to prevent the train from jumping the track.

In operation, as shown in FIG. 1, train 10 goes up the grade with dump car 11 coupled thereto and in advance thereof, so that when the train and dump car arrive at top section 22 of elevator tower 14, actuator arm 25 on the train strikes a semaphore signal 65 at a point where the power transmission pinion 47 on the train engages an upper coupling gear 66. Arm 25 is shifted by this signal to cause train 10 to reverse direction, but the train is prevented from going down the steep track section 15 by a hook-finger 67 which engages transverse block 49 on the undercarriage of the train.

It will be appreciated that the various semaphore signals and the signal bridge on the track layout, while not signals in the usual sense, nevertheless function as such for they result in a change of train direction.

Hopper 17 is mounted on a slide plate 68 which is movable along the vertical front beams of tower 14, the plate having a rear platform 69 which projects between the beams. Hopper 17 is raised and lowered by means of a cable 70, one end of which is attached to the upper face of platform 69, the cable from that point running over a tower sheave 71, and from there over a pulley 72 mounted on the axle of the coupling gear 66.

The cable from this point runs over an idler pulley 73 and goes down to the lower track section 21 of the tower, where it is received by a pulley 74 from which it passes on to a pulley 75 mounted on the axle of a lower coupling gear 76. From pulley 75, cable 70 runs back to the bottom elevator sheave 77, and from there to a spring 78 coupled to the underface of platform 69.

Thus, when coupling gear 66 on top track section 22 is engaged by the power pinion of the train, the gear turns pulley 72 to cause the cable 70 to pull hopper 17 to the top of the tower. As the top of the tower is approached, platform 69 first strikes an actuator rod 79 which is axially shiftable to engage tab 34 operating pusher 33 on the dump car, to upset the trough of the dump car and to cause it to dump its load into hopper 17.

Platform 69 then strikes a pivoted extension handle 80 for hook 67, causing the hook to retract and to release train 10, whereby the train then goes down the steep ramp. Thus in operation, when the train goes up the ramp and is arrested on the top track section, it discharges its load into the hopper and then departs, all actions occurring automatically.

A similar arrangement exists at the lower tower track section 21, where a semaphore signal 81 is provided, which signal engages the actuator arm 25 of the train to cause it to reverse direction, movement of the train out of the track section being temporarily arrested by a pivoted hook 82.

When lower coupling gear 76 is engaged by power transmission pinion 47 on train 10, cable 70 is driven and hopper 17 is now caused to move down the tower from its upper position. Hopper 17 is provided at its bottom with a pivoted door 83 which is normally held closed by a pivoted locking device 84, which is upwardly biased by a spring 85, as shown in FIG. 15. However, at the bottom of the tower, locking device 84 strikes a bar, causing the device to pull back from the door, which then flaps open, as shown in FIG. 16, to discharge the load into the dump car.

Hook 82 is operated by an axially movable pin 87 which is contacted by a stud 88 extending from the slide plate 68, such that when the hopper has dumped its load and is at the bottom of the tower, the hook is retracted to release the train, which then departs from the tower.

While there has been shown and described a preferred embodiment of motorized shuttle train in accordance with the invention, it will be appreciated that many changes and modifications may be made therein without, however, departing from the essential spirit of the invention.

Claims

What I claim is:

1. A toy railroad assembly comprising:

a. a turntable having a track section rotatable within a ring to effect alignment with a plurality of transfer points distributed on said ring,

b. a group of track sidings linked to some of said transfer points,

c. an elevator tower having a top track section and a bottom track section and a hopper which may be raised or lowered on this tower with respect thereto,

d. a steep track section linking one of said transfer points to said top track section,

e. a level track section linking another of said transfer points to the bottom track section,

f. a motorized train adapted to travel along said track sections and sidings, said train having driven wheels mounted on an axle and a power transmission pinion mounted on the same axle, to rotate with said wheels, and

g. means including a coupling gear mounted on said rotatable track section to engage said pinion when said train is arrested thereon and to cause said section to rotate about said ring, whereby said train may be directed to said sidings on to said steep or level track sections.

2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said turntable includes control means to stop said rotatable track section at a position in registration with any one of said transfer points.

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said control means includes a hub attached to said rotatable track section, said hub having notches in the edge thereof adapted to receive a tab to prevent rotation.

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said train includes a reversible electric motor and a pivoted actuator arm extending upwardly from the train, the arm operating a control switch which in one position of the arm causes the train to move in one direction and in the other position of the arm causes the train to reverse direction.

5. An assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein said turntable is provided with a bridge mounted on said rotatable track section to engage said arm to reverse train direction.

6. An assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein said sidings each have semaphore signals adapted to engage said arm to cause said train to reverse direction.

7. An assembly as set forth in claim 1, further including a dump car having a pivoted coupling hook adapted to engage a catch on the front end of said train, and control means on each siding to effect coupling or decoupling of said car and train, said control means including a retractable finger to raise the hook relative to the catch to prevent engagement therebetween.

8. An assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said bottom and top track sections are each provided with a coupling gear adapted to engage said power transmission pinion, which gears are linked by a cable to said hopper to move the hopper in the upward direction when the top gear is engaged, and in the downward direction when the bottom gear is engaged.

9. An assembly as set forth in claim 8, further including a dump car coupled to said train and having a pivoted through for carrying a load, and means to upset said trough to dump its load into said hopper when said hopper reaches the top of said tower.

10. An assembly as set forth in claim 9, further including means to cause said hopper to discharge its load into said trough when said hopper reaches the bottom of the tower.