U.S. patent number 3,682,477 [Application Number 05/134,757] was granted by the patent office on 1972-08-08 for rodent racing device.
Invention is credited to William Joseph McMahon Harkins.
United States Patent |
3,682,477 |
Harkins |
August 8, 1972 |
RODENT RACING DEVICE
Abstract
The rodent racing device comprises a circular cage having treads
or rungs mounted for rotation. A perch of semicircular form is in
the cage and a rodent such as a mouse may rest upon the perch or
move from the perch onto the cage for the purpose of climbing the
rungs of the cage to cause rotation thereof. In one adaptation the
cage and perch are supported on a wheeled vehicle having a small
electric motor and a battery for driving the motor. The motor
drives the vehicle on a path at a slow rate and means is provided
whereby the vehicle is accellerated in movement when the rodent
contacts the rungs of the cage and rotates the same. Two matched
rodent racing devices can be utilized on a circular track and are
diametrically positioned on said track. The relative speed of
movement of one vehicle over the other vehicle determines the
winner of the race.
Inventors: |
Harkins; William Joseph McMahon
(Los Angeles, CA) |
Family
ID: |
22464847 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/134,757 |
Filed: |
April 16, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
119/702;
180/65.285; 180/65.245; 463/58; 119/700; 185/17; 280/208;
446/237 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01K
15/027 (20130101); A63K 3/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A01K
15/02 (20060101); A01K 15/00 (20060101); A63K
3/00 (20060101); A63f 009/14 (); F03g 005/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;273/86R,86B
;46/243M,243LV ;185/3,17 ;180/7R,65R
;280/206,207,208,212,214,215 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Oechsle; Anton O.
Claims
I claim:
1. A rodent racing device for movement on a trackway of a marked
racing area, including: a circular cage housing the rodent, wheels
supporting the cage for movement on said trackway, a motor for
rotating said wheels at a selected speed and means for increasing
said selected speed of wheel rotation when the rodent runs in said
cage to rotate the same.
2. The device of claim 1, the cage provided with spaced apart rungs
upon which the rodent runs.
3. A rodent racing device which includes a marked racing area
provided with a trackway upon which the racing device moves,
including: a circular cage having side members between which extend
spaced rungs, an axle central of said cage and extending between
the side members thereof, a substantially semi-circular perch for
the rodent within the cage and eccentrically carried by the axle,
wheels supporting the cage and a motor for rotating the wheels at a
selected speed, movement of the rodent from the perch to the rungs
of the cage to rotate the cage increasing the speed of wheel
rotation beyond the initial selected speed.
4. A rodent racing device which includes a circular cage within
which the rodent may run to rotate the cage, supporting wheels for
the cage and a motor for rotating the supporting wheels at a
preselected speed, and means for rotating the wheels of said wheel
support independently of said motor when the rodent causes rotation
of the cage.
5. A rodent racing device, including: a circular cage having a pair
of side members and spaced rungs upon which a rodent may run
extending between said side members, a pair of wheels on opposite
sides of said side members and supporting said cage, a central axle
extending between the side members of the cage and said wheels, a
perch within said cage and an electric motor including a stator and
a rotor, the rotor of which is mounted on the axle and the stator
of which surrounds the rotor in driving relationship with the sides
of the cage, and means for electrically energizing the stator to
produce rotation of the rotor and to rotate the wheels.
6. The device as set forth in claim 5, said rodent when running on
the rungs of the cage rotating said stator to increase the speed of
rotation of the rotor, to thereby increase the speed of rotation of
the wheels.
7. The device as set forth in claim 6, and a perch for the rodent
freely mounted within the cage and the means for energizing the
stator comprising a battery carried by the perch.
8. The device of claim 7, spool members for each end of the stator,
insulation means between each spool and the axle, and electrical
switch means controlling the flow of electricity from the battery
between the two spools and the stator.
9. A rodent racing device, including: a wheeled vehicle, a circular
cage, an axle for said cage, and means for supporting the cage
between the axle and the wheeled vehicle, an electric motor and a
battery for driving the wheels of said vehicle, and a pulley
carried by the axle and a pulley secured to a wheel of the vehicle,
a continuous belt between said pulleys whereby the electric motor
drives the vehicle at a determined speed and a rodent within the
cage rotates the cage when it runs therein, to increase the speed
of the vehicle movement.
10. A rodent racing device, including: a wheeled vehicle, an
electric motor for driving the vehicle at a selected speed, a
circular cage within which the rodent is placed, an axle for said
cage and support means for the cage secured to said wheeled
vehicle, a ratchet freely carried on said axle, a pulley secured to
said ratchet and a pulley secured to a vehicle wheel, and a
continuous belt extending between said pulleys, a pawl secured to
the cage for engagement with said ratchet whereby when the rodent
runs within the cage the pawl is in driving relationship to the
ratchet to rotate the two pulleys through said continuous belt and
to increase the speed of movement of said wheeled vehicle over that
by the electrically driven motor.
11. The device as set forth in claim 5: said cage having a
segmental cut-away portion and a matching segmental door for said
cut-away portion and means securing the door to the cage.
12. The device of claim 5; and counter balancing means for the
perch.
13. A rodent racing device, comprising: a wheeled vehicle, a
circular cage having a pair of sides, a dielectric axle extending
between said sides and means of support between the axle and the
wheeled vehicle, a metal tube carried on the axle, metal contact
disks for each side of the cage and secured to the metal tube, one
contact disk provided with an insulation segment, and an electrical
contact arm for engagement with each contact disk, said wheeled
vehicle provided with an electric motor in driving engagement with
a wheel of said vehicle, and a battery for energizing said motor,
there being wire leads from each contact arm in series with the
motor and battery when both contact arms engage the metal contact
disks to complete an electrical circuit, and a resistor in series
circuit with the motor and the battery when one contact arm engages
the segmental insulation on one disk, movement of the rodent upon
the interior of the cage rotating the cage to short circuit the
resistor and direct full electric current to the motor from the
battery.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to rodent racing devices wherein the
rodent is confined in a rotary cage and movement of the rodent
within the cage to rotate the cage causes movement on a given path
of the device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
So far as the inventor is aware, there is no prior art relating to
the sport of rodent racing and wherein the racing is competitive
between the rodents. The device of the invention is not an
exerciser such as contemplated by a small cage, but the sport of
the present invention is competitive and inexpensive, as well as
interesting particularly in view of the fact that the rodents may
be trained to perform in the present device.
SUMMARY
In the several adaptations of the invention a cage having
transverse rungs is utilized, the sides of the cage being enclosed
preferably by transparent plastic disks. The cage is provided with
a door to permit access within the cage and the placement of the
rodent on a perch within the cage. The perch may be semi-circular
in form and eccentrically mounted for balance and easy access on a
central axle for the cage. Supports are provided at sides of the
cage and support the axle. In one embodiment the supports are
secured to a wheeled vehicle provided with an electric motor and a
battery. The motor drives the vehicle along a selected path and
when the rodent moves from the perch on to the cage, movement of
the wheeled vehicle is accelerated by shorting out a resistor and
allowing full battery power to drive the motor. In another
adaptation of the invention, a small wheeled vehicle is provided
with a battery and a motor which drives the vehicle at a constant
speed and, likewise, drives the cage at a certain speed of
rotation. The rodent when engaging the rungs of the cage and
running thereon will accelerate movement of the wheeled vehicle
through a ratchet and pawl arrangement. In this form the car is in
constant motion and the cage is moved by action of the rodent
running upon the rungs thereof. Another adaption utilizes a clutch
device in place of the ratchet and pawl and a third adaptation
utilizes a fixed drive from the rear axle of the car to the shaft
which is integral with the side of the cage. This is the only
adaptation in which the cage initially revolves without the
assistance of the rodent. Upon leaving the perch, the rodent will
run on the rungs of the cage to increase the speed of the vehicle.
Conversely, when the rodent returns to the perch, the vehicle will
revert to its initial speed. A fourth adaptation embodies a pair of
wheels on opposite sides of a cage with a perch within the cage.
Extending between the sides of the cage and connected to the wheels
is an axle upon which is mounted a rotor or armature. Surrounding
the rotor is a stator and the perch carries therein a battery and a
switch leading from the battery to a contact arm engaging a contact
disk which has connection with the stator. A further contact arm
engages a disk on the opposite end of the stator and leads to the
battery. The armature or rotor is attached to the wheels through
the axle while the stator is attached to the cage. When the switch
is closed the electrical circuit is completed and the wheels will
constantly turn or rotate. When the rodent runs on the treads or
rungs of the cage, the cage is rotated, the cage otherwise being
stopped and this rotation varies the flux and causes the stator to
increase in the speed of rotation. Hence, the speed with which the
rodent causes the cage to rotate will control the acceleration and
speed of rotation of the wheels.
An object of the invention is to create a new sport; to wit, the
sport of racing rodents in separate vehicles and upon a given
path.
A further object is to provide a sport which is inexpensive and
will permit the training to race of rodents such as white mice. The
invention is adaptable to competitively small boats and to model
railroading, and flying devices fixed horizontally to a
perpendicular rod. In brief, the invention contemplates a pair of
matched vehicles each propelled by an electric motor and which move
at the same pace while minus rodents which supply the competitive
element.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a table top provided with a trackway for
the racing of devices of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, partially sectional view and in side
elevation of one form of rodent racing device;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, partially sectional view on the line 3--3
of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, partially sectional view of a cage and
perch used in the practice of the invention;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, sectional view on the line 5--5 of FIG.
4;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged, sectional view and wiring diagram
used in that form of the invention shown in FIGS. 2 to 5
inclusive;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, of a contact
member and arm used in the showing of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, of the
contact member of FIG. 7 in a moved position;
FIG. 9 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a modified form
of the invention;
FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, sectional view, on an enlarged scale, on
the line 10--10 of FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is a further modification of the invention shown in side
elevation;
FIG. 12 is a fragmentary, sectional view, on an enlarged scale;
taken on the line 12--12 of FIG. 11;
FIG. 13 is a plan view of a racing table top and a circular
trackway for accommodating a different type of vehicle for movement
in said trackway from that of FIG. 1;
FIG. 14 is a fragmentary, partly sectional, side elevation of a
modified form of the invention of the type used in the trackway of
FIG. 13;
FIG. 15 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the
line 15--15 of FIG. 14;
FIG. 16 is a fragmentary, partly sectional view, and in end
elevation of the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 14 and 15;
and,
FIG. 17 is a plan view, partly in section, and in fragment of a
clutch means which may be utilized in the practice of the invention
shown in FIG. 9.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
It may be noted to begin with the difference in operation of the
several rodent racing devices illustrated in the drawings. As an
example, the construction shown in FIGS. 2 to 8 inclusive comprises
a wheeled vehicle supporting a cage and a perch, the vehicle
provided with a source of power such as a small electric motor
driven by a battery, the motor in turn driving one of the wheels or
the axle for two wheels, In this form of the invention, the cage is
not being rotated while the vehicle is moving along a given path
such as the trackway shown in FIG. 1. When the rodent turns the
cage by climbing on the rungs thereof, movement of the vehicle is
accelerated by the electrical arrangement shown in FIG. 6. In the
form of the invention shown in FIG. 9, the cage is stopped and the
vehicle is driven by an electric motor carried by the vehicle and
rotation of the cage by the rodent, if the rotation is of a speed
greater than the speed of movement of the vehicle, brings the
ratchet and pawl into action to move a continuous belt which is
passed over a pulley carried by the axle of the vehicle. This is a
mechanical arrangement for increasing the speed of movement of the
vehicle.
FIG. 11 utilizes a four wheel vehicle driven by an electric motor,
together with a pulley attached to either the axle or to a wheel of
the vehicle and a pulley carried by the axle of the cage. Whether
the rodent is in the cage running or not, the cage will rotate as
the vehicle traverses a path. In the form of the invention shown in
FIGS. 14 to 16 inclusive, two wheels are used in place of a
vehicle, as shown in the figures just mentioned. The cage is
stopped while the rodent is resting on the perch while the wheels
rotate, but when the rodent is climbing the rungs of the cage,
rotation of the vehicle wheels is accelerated. Thus, to
recapitulate, the vehicle moves while the cage is stopped in the
form of the invention shown in FIG. 2, the wheels are turned while
the cage is stopped in the form of the invention shown in FIG. 14
and the cage is stopped while the vehicle moves in the form shown
in FIG. 9, while in FIG. 11 both the cage is turned and the vehicle
moved simultaneously.
Also, it is to be pointed out that the character of the cages in
the same in all forms of the rodent racing devices and the perches
are of like construction for all forms but that shown in FIGS. 14
to 16 inclusive. Accordingly, the same reference numbers will be
applied to identical cages in construction in all figures and the
same will be true of the perches, as well as to identical
vehicles.
Referring first to the construction shown in FIGS. 2 to 8
inclusive, the cage is designated as 1 and the perch as 2. The four
wheeled vehicle as 3 and a pair of supports on opposite sides of
the cage and secured to the vehicle 3, as 4 and 5.
Cage 1 is cylindrical in form having two spaced apart sides 6 and 7
which are preferably formed from transparent plastic so that the
interior of the cage may be observed. Spaced apart rungs 8
transversely extend between the sides 6 and 7. The rungs are
slightly spaced apart so that the rodent may run upon the same
without injury to cause rotation of the cage. The rungs may be
circular in cross section. An axle of dielectric material such as a
plastic rod 9, extends between the supports 4 and 5 and passes
through the center of the cage; that is, the center of the sides 6
and 7. Surrounding the axle 9 is a metal sleeve or tube 10 which
also functions as an axle and the perch 2 is freely supported on
the tubular axle 10. The vehicle 3 may be of any configuration or
form an in the present instance resembles an automobile body having
two pairs of wheels, both front and rear, as shown for one side of
the vehicle at 11 and 12.
The perch 2 is semi-circular in form having sides 13 and 14 between
which sides extend rungs 15 of the type used in the cage. The
diametric edge 16 of each side 13 and 14 is provided with a hub
portion 17 and the perch is mounted eccentrically on the metal axle
10. Thus there is a weight difference between ends of the perch
which allows the perch to normally be in the position shown in FIG.
2. In addition, counterbalances 18 are provided comprising heads 19
and arms 20, forming extensions for each perch side for normally
counterbalancing the perch and maintaining the same in the position
shown in FIG. 2.
In order to have access within the cage and the placement of a
rodent either in the cage or on the perch, the cage is provided
with a door designated generally as 21 and of segmental form. Thus,
the door has segmental sides 22 and 23 between which rungs 24
extend and when the door is closed as shown in FIG. 2, the cage is
round in appearance, the door sides 22 and 23 being flush. That is
to say, the chords of the door and the chords of the sides 6 and 7
of the remaining portion of the cage being in contact. Strap type
hinges 25 secure the door to the side 7 of the cage and a snap
catch 26 secured to the side 23 of the door engages a projection 27
on the cage side 6 to hold the door closed to the sides 6 and 7 of
the cage. The catch may take various forms, such as a hole in a
strap which engages element 27.
The rear portion of the vehicle 3 carries a small flashlight type
battery 30 and a small electric motor 31 to be driven by said
battery. The outer sides of the sides 6 and 7 of the cage 1 are
provided with metal washers or disks 32 and 33 and these disks are
secured to the metal tube or axle 10, as shown in FIG. 6 at 34 and
35. The disk 33 for the cage side 6 is provided with a small
segment of insulation material 36. Contact arms 37 and 38 are
provided for each side of the cage, the arms 37 and 38 being both
secured to the inner sides of the supports 4 and 5 as shown in FIG.
3. Arm 37 is in constant contact with the contact washer or disk 32
while contact arm 38 has intermittent contact with the metal
surface of the washer or disk 33. Referring to FIG. 6, contact arm
37 connects with the positive pole of battery 30 by means of a wire
lead 40 and by lead 41 from the negative side of the battery to a
terminal of the motor 31. The opposite terminal of the motor is
connected by lead 42 with contact arm 38 and a resistor 43 has one
end connected by lead 44 with lead 40 and its opposite end is
connected to lead 42 which connects with a terminal of the motor
31. It will be observed that when contact arm 38 engages the
insulation segment 36 that no current will flow from contact arm
through metal washer or disk 33, the metal tubular axle 10 to the
metal disk 32 to the contact arm 37. When the rodent is in the
perch, contact arm 38 will normally engage the insulation 36
because of the gravitational pull on the door. When the contact arm
38 engages the insulation 36, as shown in both FIGS. 6 and 7,
current will flow from the battery to the motor through the
resistor 43 to the lead 40. Thus, the motor 31 will turn at a
reduced speed and will drive the vehicle forwardly by means of the
gearing shown in FIG. 3, it being observed that the motor shaft
carries a small gear or pinion 45 which meshes with a gear 46 and
turns pinion or gear 47 to drive a larger gear 48 on the rear
vehicle axle 49. This arrangement will rotate the wheel or wheels
of the vehicle to drive the vehicle at a reduced speed.
When the rodent moves from the perch on to the rungs of the cage,
and starts climbing the rungs to rotate the cage, the contact arm
38 moves from the insulation 36 on to the surface of the metal
washer or disk 33. Thus, the electrical circuit is completed
through the arms 37 and 38 and when this occurs the resistance is
out of the circuit and the motor will be driven directly by the
battery at increased speed. Each time the cage rotates, the contact
arm 38 will engage the insulation segment 36 so that there is an
interruption in the circuit. However, the interruption is only
momentary while the rodent is rotating the cage. It will be
observed that in the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 2 to 8
inclusive, that no mechanical power movement is utilized but that
all movement is controlled by variation of movement of the electric
motor.
The invention shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 utilizes, as before, a cage
1, a perch 2 and vehicle 3, the vehicle being provided with front
and rear pairs of wheels 11 and 12, the rear of the vehicle
carrying a battery 30 and an electric motor 31. The rear wheel axle
is driven in the same manner as described for FIG. 3, the cage and
the perch having a construction similar to that illustrated in
FIGS. 2 to 5 inclusive. Both the cage and the perch are mounted
freely upon axle 50, which axle is supported by support members
like those shown in FIG. 3 at 4 and 5. Interposed between side 6 of
the cage and the support 4 and carried freely on the axle 50 is a
ratchet 51. Integral with the ratchet is a pulley 52. Pivotally
secured to the sides 6 at 53 is a pawl arm 54, this pawl arm
engages the teeth of the ratchet 51. A backstop 55 secured to the
side 6 overlies the pawl arm so that the pawl arm will at all times
engage the ratchet teeth. The axle for wheel 12 is provided with
pulley 56 and in the showing the pulleys 52 and 56 are of identical
size. A continuous belt 57 is passed between the two pulleys. In
this type of device, the car is in constant motion, being driven by
the motor 31 which is energized by the battery 30. When the rodent
leaves the perch and starts to climb upon the rungs of the cage to
rotate the same, the pawl by its engagement with the teeth of the
ratchet will move the continuous belt 57 to either increase or
decrease the speed of movement of the vehicle. If the rodent turns
the cage very rapidly, the pulleys will be driven at an increased
speed over the normal rotation of the wheel, as driven by the
battery motor.
The form of the invention shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 utilizes, as
before the cage 1, perch 2, which cage and perch follow the
construction outlined for FIGS. 2 to 5 inclusive with the exception
that the contacts and washers of FIGS. 6 to 8 inclusive are not
utilized. FIGS. 9 9 to 12 inclusive are similar in construction in
that the vehicle 3 is driven by an electric motor and that there is
no motor control for increasing speed as described for the FIGS. 2
to 8 inclusive. Any increase in speed in the constructions of FIGS.
9 to 12 is mechanical. However, the vehicles are driven at a
constant speed by an electric motor. An axle 60 is provided for the
cage and the perch, the axle passing through both sides of the cage
in the manner shown in FIG. 12 for one side. A pulley 61 is mounted
on the axle between one side 6 of the cage and a support 4 and
secured to side 6 of the cage. The rear wheel axle or the rear
wheel 12 of the vehicle is provided with a pulley 62 of smaller
diameter than the pulley 61 and a continuous belt 63 extends
between the two pulleys 61 and 62 respectively. In the construction
shown, when the car moves forwardly being driven by the electric
motor, pulley 62 is rotated, which in turn rotates pulley 61
through the medium of the continuous belt 63 so that the cage is in
motion while the car is in motion. When the rodent moves from the
perch on to the rungs of the cage, the cage is driven at a faster
or similar speed dependent upon the running ability of the rodent.
In FIG. 11 the rodent on the rungs of the cage must accelerate the
vehicle or be forced back on to the perch. The rodent cannot retard
the forward speed either of the cage or of the vehicle in any of
the applications as the perch is so balanced as to prevent the
rodent from running on the back side of the cage.
The device shown in FIGS. 14 to 16 inclusive differs from the
devices previously described in that the devices previously
described all utilize a vehicle having two pairs of wheels, the
vehicle carrying a source of power such as a small battery and an
electric motor for driving the wheels. The device of FIG. 14 to 16
inclusive, utilizes a pair of wheels 70 and 71 on opposite sides of
the cage and of a greater diameter than the cage so that the cage
and associated elements, to be described, are held elevated above
the treads of said wheels. The wheels are of identical construction
and include in both instances an annular rim 72, a hub 73 and
radial spokes 74 extending from the hub to the annular rim. In the
present instance three spokes are utilized, the separation being
120.degree. each. The cage 1 follows the construction previously
described in that it has sides 6 and 7 with rungs or treads
extending between the sides and spaced apart, the one difference in
cage construction being that the access door 75 is of a different
construction from the access door 21 shown for the previous cage
constructions. Thus, the door of FIG. 14, as shown in FIG. 16
includes two segmental members 76 and 77 between which rungs 78
extend, each segmental member being notched at each end thereof, as
shown at 79 and 80, and functioning as clips for snap engagement
with pins 81 and 82 carried interially of both sides 6 and 7 of the
cage. Thus, the door is easily removed from the cage proper by
being lifted upwardly and on by replacing the door for snap
engagement with the clips. Thus the cage and its door presents a
smooth periphery of circular form.
The perch for the rodent is designated as 83 and differs in
construction from the perches previously described for the other
forms of the invention. The spaced sides 84 and 85 of the perch are
sectors of substantially 260.degree. in the showing of FIG. 14.
However, other degrees of sector may be utilized. The perch from
the upper back end thereof 86 has an arcuate floor extending from
the rear end of the perch forwardly for a given degree of arc. This
portion of the arcuate flooring is provided with transverse slats
87 which act as foot holds for the rodent. At the termination of
the forward slat the arcuate sides of the perch are open
therebetween. That is, they are not provided with either rungs,
slats, or an arcuate flooring. The sides of this forward portion
indicated at 88 acts as counter weights to balance the perch and
hold the perch in substantially the position shown in FIG. 14 with
the rodent resting upon the perch in the position shown in said
Figure.
Extending between and secured to the hubs 73 of the wheels 70 and
71, is an axle 90. Mounted upon the axle is a rotor or armature 91
of a small electric motor, and surrounding the rotor or armature is
a stator 92, this stator is carried at its ends by a pair of metal
spool members 93 and 94. The metal spools are of identical
construction and the spool 93 will be described. The spool includes
a tubular part 95 provided at each end with an annular flange or
washer 96 and 97. Positioned within each tubular portion of the
spool members and surrounding the axle are tubular gaskets 98. Thus
the shaft or axle is insulated from the metallic spool members at
each end of the stator and as the wheels are spaced from the sides
of the cage, there is no electrical connection therebetween. Within
the perch and positioned between the sides thereof, at the end of
the perch opposite the counter weight portion is an electric
battery 100. A contact arm 101 is connected by a lead 102 with one
terminal 103 of the battery. The opposite terminal 104 of the
battery is connected by a lead 105 with a switch 106 having a
contact arm 107, contact arm 101 being in wiping contact with the
metal disk or washer 97 while contact arm 107 is wiping contact
with a like washer on the opposite spool as indicated at 108. As
shown in FIG. 14, the switch 106 includes, in addition to the
contact arm 107, an arm 109 at an angle to the contact arm and
which is pivoted at 110 to one side of the perch. As shown in FIGS.
14 and 15, the perch sides are carried upon the tubular members of
each spool, the perch sides being provided with holes for this
purpose.
Contact arm 101 which is in wiping engagement with washer 97 is in
electrical connection with the coil of the stator while the contact
arm 107 only has wiping contact with the washer or flange of the
opposite spool when it is moved to such contact by actuation of the
arm 109 which actuation of the arm is accomplished by means of an
elongated stick such as shown in FIG. 14 at 110. The stick is
passed between the rungs of the cage, as shown. The stick has a
hook end whereby the arm may be engaged to move the same and
disengage the contact arm 107 from the washer or flange 97. When
the battery is energizing the stator by the switch contact arm
being closed, the rotor is turned and drives the wheels so that the
device moves in a given path in accordance with a trackway, as
shown in FIG. 13. When the rodent moves from the perch, as shown in
FIG. 14, and starts climbing the rungs of the cage, the stator is
rotated which varies the flux in the rotor or armature and
increases its speed of rotation so that the wheels move the device
at a greater speed. The flux, of course, is varied in accordance
with the rotated speed of the cage.
To protect the rodent from injury, a shield is provided at 115
which surrounds the hub portion of the perch and extends rearwardly
to protect the switch mechanism and the battery as shown at
116.
The device shown in FIG. 17 is a clutch arrangement which may be
used in place of the ratchet and pawl of FIG. 9. Member 120 is
provided on its edge with spaced apart segmental slots 121, the
member 120 being confined within an annulus 122. Rollers 123 are
within the several segmental slots 121. In the showing, the member
120 is secured to a pulley such as shown at 52 in FIG. 9. It is
assumed that the continuous belt 57 is passed around said pulley
and the pulley 56. The annulus 122 is secured to a side of the
cage. Thus, while the vehicle is being driven forwardly, by the
electric motor, the cage is stopped as the rollers are free within
the segmental slots. When the rodent starts climbing the cage
rungs, the rollers will move within the segmental slots to grip the
annulus with the result that the cage is rotated and if the cage is
rotated faster than the electric motor initially drives the same,
acceleration of the vehicle will result.
Attention is directed to FIGS. 1 and 13 which illustrate a flat top
member 130 which is provided with a circular raceway or track 131
in the form of a circular groove having a width to accommodate the
wheel track width of the vehicle 3. Areas of this top may be
colored in the manner shown in FIG. 1 at and by way of illustration
at 132, 133, 134 and 135. The colored areas are each of triangular
form and the same construction and coloring is followed with racing
groove in FIG. 13. The device of FIG. 13 is shown to accommodate
the device of FIGS. 14 to 16 inclusive. The wheels 70 and 71
running within the confines of the concave groove 140.
As an example of the use of this particular device, the vehicle is
of the form shown in FIG. 2, for instance. Two of the vehicles of
the form shown in FIG. 2 are diametrically positioned within the
groove 131 and as both vehicles are so constructed as to travel at
the same speed, the diametric position will be maintained
throughout track movement. However, if one rodent leaps from the
perch on to the rungs of the cage to rotate the cage, the speed of
the vehicle will be increased and thereby catch up with the other
vehicle, if the rodent has not jumped from the perch on to the
rungs of the other cage. On the other hand, both rodents may be
driving their respective cages but one rodent may be revolving the
cage at a faster rate than the other rodent. The vehicle that
catches up behind the slower moving vehicle is, of course, the
winner, and this can be determined by the colored triangles on the
top. This arrangement also applies to FIG. 14 and its racing top
and groove 140.
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