EP0325893B1 - Weiche oder Kreuzung für eine Spielzeug-Fahrbahnanlage - Google Patents

Weiche oder Kreuzung für eine Spielzeug-Fahrbahnanlage Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0325893B1
EP0325893B1 EP88810895A EP88810895A EP0325893B1 EP 0325893 B1 EP0325893 B1 EP 0325893B1 EP 88810895 A EP88810895 A EP 88810895A EP 88810895 A EP88810895 A EP 88810895A EP 0325893 B1 EP0325893 B1 EP 0325893B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
actuating
track
segment
actuating element
piece
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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EP88810895A
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German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
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EP0325893A1 (de
Inventor
Peter Bolli
Philippe Kunz
Heinz Looser
Werner Tanner
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Interlego AG
Lego AS
Original Assignee
Interlego AG
Lego AS
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Interlego AG, Lego AS filed Critical Interlego AG
Priority to AT88810895T priority Critical patent/ATE66823T1/de
Publication of EP0325893A1 publication Critical patent/EP0325893A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0325893B1 publication Critical patent/EP0325893B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • A63H18/02—Construction or arrangement of the trackway
    • A63H18/023—Track control means, e.g. switches

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a soft or crossing for a toy road system.
  • the invention relates to an actuating device for mechanically changing a roadway adjustment device when driving through a roadway section by a vehicle in a certain direction of travel.
  • a switchable roadway adjustment device can be contained in a switch in a manner known per se.
  • the adjustment device then consists of a tongue device, which in the simplest embodiment is actuated by hand via a linkage to convert it.
  • the aforementioned forced operation of the switch when the switch is bluntly driven can practically no longer be achieved if the roadway has no rails as wheel guiding elements or if the roadway is provided with additional elements for the movement of a vehicle, for example with a toothed rail of a rack railway.
  • Another object of the invention is to be able to design such an actuating device for a switch so that when the switch is bluntly driven by the vehicle, it is automatically and mechanically, if necessary, converted in such a way that the vehicle has an unobstructed passage over the switch is made possible, even if the roadway system has toothed longitudinal elements, that is, a gear-wheelway system.
  • the actuating device according to the invention has the features specified in patent claim 1. Another solution to the problem is specified in the lane adjustment device according to patent claims 21.
  • the Y-switch 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 has a plate-shaped upper part 2 and a plate-shaped lower cover 3 (FIGS. 3, 4), the lower cover 3 being removed in the bottom view of FIG To make the inner parts of the upper part 2 visible.
  • the upper part 2 is provided on its inside with a plurality of hollow pins 4 (FIG. 2, 3) into which matching pins 5 (FIG. 3) formed on the lower cover 3 can be inserted.
  • the switch 1 is intended for a toy cogwheel train, the track of which has two smooth running surfaces 9 and has a central rack 10.
  • the toothed rack 10 has lateral toothings 11 on both sides.
  • Vehicles for this roadway have wheels with smooth running surfaces that roll on the smooth running surfaces 9.
  • the vehicles are provided with sliding guides which bear against the toothings 11 of the rack 10, that is to say on both sides of the rack 10.
  • a traction vehicle For locomotion of the vehicle or several vehicles, a traction vehicle is provided with a gearwheel which engages with one toothing 11 of the rack 10 when the traction vehicle is placed on the roadway and which is driven by a motor, for example via a gearbox from a controllable electric motor, is driven.
  • the end sections 6, 7 and 8 of the Y-switch 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are for connection with straight or curved lane sections formed, the lanes have the same structure, that is, two smooth driving surfaces 9 and a central rack 10.
  • the present toy rack railway or the Y-turnout 1 of FIGS. 1 to 3 as well as the lane pieces, not shown, which can be connected to it, are intended for use in a toy building system which is based on the uniform assembly of components of various types by means of coupling pins and corresponding hollow mating coupling elements.
  • the present switch 1 according to FIG.
  • the soft outer coupling pins 13 are cylindrical, while the soft inner coupling pins 14 have a cross shape in order to produce the to facilitate said coupling pin 13 in these inner areas.
  • the end faces of the end sections 6, 7, 8 are provided with projections 15 and depressions 16; Corresponding depressions or projections are formed on the end faces of the straight or curved road sections to be lined up. By the interlocking of these projections and depressions, a lateral shifting of the roadway pieces coupled to the switch 1 and thus a pushing off of the connecting tabs mentioned is avoided.
  • the projections 15 and the depressions 16 form coding elements which ensure that the switch 1 can only connect straight or curved road sections which correspond to a basic grid of coupling pins of the construction system.
  • an adjusting device 18 consists of two oppositely curved rack pieces 19 and 20 which are arranged next to one another and through three webs 21, 22 and 23 are connected to one another.
  • the webs 21, 22, 23 are guided in transverse slots 24 of the plate-shaped upper part 2 (Fig. 1, 2).
  • a lower holding plate 25, 26, 27 is formed on each web 21, 22, 23 (FIGS. 2,6, 7), which abut the underside of the upper part 2, cf. also Fig. 3.
  • the middle and wider holding plate 26 is also provided with an elongated hole 28 (Fig. 6), the function of which will be explained later.
  • the adjusting device 18 can accordingly be brought into two end positions by lateral displacement, with the fixed rack piece 10 of the end section 6, in the one end position shown in FIG connected is. In the other end position, not shown in FIG. 1, which is brought about by moving the adjusting device 18 to the right in FIG. 1, the fixed rack piece 10 of the end section 6 is connected to the fixed rack piece 10 of the end section 8 via the movable rack piece 20.
  • a simultaneous shifting of the carriageway does not have to be provided here, since in the present exemplary embodiment of a toy rack railway the carriageway has smooth, non-profiled driving surfaces.
  • the present invention is therefore based on the prerequisites that the selection of the direction of travel to one of the two branches of the switch (that is, the selection of the branch) is carried out manually, but that the setting of the correct carriageway when driving on the switch comes from one of the two branches automatically, but exclusively mechanically.
  • FIG. 1 An exemplary embodiment of such an actuating device according to the invention for the previously described adjusting device 18 (FIG. 1) of a Y-switch (or symmetrical switch) is explained below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7.
  • a longitudinal slot 31 is formed in both end sections 7 and 8 of the Y-switch 1 in the rack 10 and in the upper part 2 below.
  • the longitudinal slot 31 as can be seen from FIG. 2, is delimited on the underside of the upper part 2 by lateral guide strips 32.
  • the longitudinal slot 31 is covered on its underside, as can be seen in FIG. 3, by the lower cover 3 of the switch 1.
  • a tongue-shaped actuating element 33 is inserted, on which a longitudinal plate 34 is also molded.
  • the tongue-shaped actuating element 33 is provided with a nose 35 (FIG.
  • a single actuating element 33 can also be seen in section from FIG. 4 and is shown in plan view and in side view in FIGS. 5A and 5B.
  • the actuating element 33 used is laterally both in the longitudinal slot 31 and between the guide strips 32 guided. With respect to the driving surface 9 or the top of the rack 10, the actuating element 33 has a height which is dependent on its longitudinal position in the longitudinal slot 31. As can be seen from FIG. 3, the part of the actuating element 33 opposite the nose 35 rests on the inner surface of the lower cover 3. In the end section 7, the lower cover 3 has a first outer region 37, which is closer to the upper part 2 than a second inner region 38 of the lower cover 3. If the actuating element 33 is supported on the inner region 38, it lies so deep in the longitudinal slot 31 that his nose 35 just reaches the level of the top of the rack 10, as can be seen from FIGS. 3 and 4.
  • the actuating element 33 When the actuating element 33 is displaced outwards in the longitudinal slot 31 in a manner to be described, that is to say moved towards the end of the end section 7, its part opposite the nose 35 reaches the outer region 37 of the lower cover 3 via a ramp-shaped section 39 of the lower cover 3 3. Thus, the actuating element 33 is raised during this longitudinal movement, so that in the end position at the outer end of the longitudinal slot 31 the nose 35 protrudes beyond the rack 10. Accordingly, the actuating element 33 in the longitudinal slot 31 has two different heights, in which it is either sunk with its nose 35 in the longitudinal slot 31 or projects above the upper side of the rack 10, which delimits the longitudinal slot 31 upwards.
  • the other end section 8 of the switch 1 is with respect to the longitudinal slot 31, the actuating element used therein 33 and the shape of the lower cover 3 with the outer region 37, the inner region 38 and the intermediate ramp 39 are formed exactly the same as the end section 7.
  • the actuating element 33 is located in the end section 8 in its front or outer position, in which its nose 35 protrudes beyond the top of the rack 10.
  • the two actuating elements 33 of the end sections 7 and 8 are mechanically coupled to one another with the previously described adjustment device 18 and in the sense of a reset device. These two effects, adjusting and resetting, are simultaneously achieved in a simple manner by the coupling elements explained below. Since these coupling members are arranged on the underside of the upper part 2, reference is made below to FIG. 2 and also to FIG. 3.
  • the coupling elements mentioned comprise two levers 41 and 42, a rotating element 43 in the form of a rotatably mounted disk and a biasing spring 44 for the rotating element 43.
  • the two levers 41 and 42 which are of identical design, are articulated via a corresponding hole on a pin 36 of one or the other actuating element 33.
  • the respective other pin 36 of the actuating elements 33 serves, as can be seen from FIG. 3, to support the actuating element 33 on protruding end of its plate 34 on the underside of the upper part 2.
  • Each lever 41, 42 has two indicated pins 45 and 46 or 47 and 48 in its other end region. Of these pins, only the inner pin 45 and 47 is used in both levers 41, 42, in that it is inserted into a corresponding hole in the disk-shaped rotary element 43.
  • the pin 45 and the corresponding hole of the rotating element 43 are indicated in FIG. 3 by a dashed line 49.
  • the rotating element 43 is rotatably mounted on a hollow pin 50 of the lower cover 3 (FIG. 3).
  • the rotating element 43 is provided with a pin 51 which engages in the elongated hole 28 of the holding plate 26 of the adjusting device 18 (FIGS. 2 and 6).
  • the rotating element 43 is exposed to the force of the bent wire spring 44, which is suspended with end eyelets on the one hand on a fixed pin 52 on the underside of the upper part 2 and on the other hand on a pin 53 of the rotating element 43.
  • the spring 44 presses the rotary element 43 into its end position, shown, as well as into another end position, to be described later.
  • the rotating element 43 is of no importance here, these serving to enable the same levers to be used unchanged in other embodiments. So that the pins 46, 48 not used here do not hit the rotating element 43 during a rotational movement of the rotating element 43 and thus cannot form an undesired stop, the rotating element 43 is of an arcuate type Slots 55 and 56 and provided with another arcuate slot 57, not of interest here.
  • the operation of the Y-switch shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 when driving through a vehicle is as follows, provided that the vehicle is provided with a projection, for example a cam, a strip or the like, on at least one of its front sides .
  • this projection should be located with its lower edge just above the top of the rack 10 and extend over the width of the rack 10.
  • the switch 1 shown in FIG. 1 is bluntly driven by the vehicle by entering the end section 8, the aforementioned projection of the vehicle abuts the nose 35 protruding in the end section 8 of the actuating element 33 there, so that the actuating element 33 when the vehicle continues to travel in the longitudinal slot 31 is pushed inwards in the longitudinal direction until it is sunk so deep in the longitudinal slot 31 in the inner region 38 of the cover 3 that its nose no longer protrudes.
  • a force with a tangential component is exerted on the rotary element 43 by the shifting actuating element 33 via the lever 42, so that the rotary element 43 rotates in the direction of arrow 58 against the restoring force of the spring 44.
  • the pin 51 of the rotary element 43 pushes the holding plate 26 of the adjusting device 18 to the left in FIG. 2 or to the right in FIG. 1, so that the curved rack piece 20 now coincides with the rack 10 of the end sections 6 and 8 brought.
  • the rotating element 43 pushes the actuating element 33 of the end section 7 outwards in the longitudinal direction, so that its nose 35 now protrudes over the top of the rack 10 in the end section 7.
  • a changeover of the switch 1 for sharp driving can of course be done as desired.
  • a desired changeover is carried out by manually shifting the adjusting device 18 (shifting the rack pieces 19 and 20) by hand.
  • other switching means are also conceivable, for example switch levers and the like.
  • the described actuating device and the described adjusting device enable an automatic and problem-free driving over the switch, for which only a few and simple, mechanical parts are required.
  • FIG. 8 Another exemplary embodiment of the actuating device according to the invention in a switch is briefly described below with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.
  • this is a right-hand switch 61, which differs from the Y-switch of FIG. 1 essentially in that it has a curved rack piece 62 and a straight rack piece 63, which are both parts of an adjusting device 64.
  • the adjustment device 64 and an upper part 65 are, apart from the outer shape, of the same design as those of the Y-switch 1 described above.
  • the curved end section 66 and in the straight end section 67 there are again the same actuating elements 33 with lugs in the longitudinal slots 31 of the relevant rack pieces 35 arranged so that a further explanation is unnecessary.
  • the coupling members are of the same design as in the switch 1 according to FIG. 2. Accordingly, the same levers 41, 42 and the same rotating element 43 are present. which is biased by the same spring 44. The only difference from FIG. 2 is the connection of one lever to the rotary element.
  • the lever 41 is connected in the same way to the rotary element 43, namely via its inner pin 45 straight end section 67 with respect to the rotating element 43 at a different angle and at a different distance than that of the second end section 8 of FIG. 2.
  • the outer pin 56 of the lever 42 is inserted into the hole 54 of the rotating element 43 (cf. also FIG . 2).
  • the coupling of the rotating element 43 with the adjusting device 64 is in turn carried out via the pin 51 of the rotating element 43, which engages in the elongated hole 28 of the holding plate 26 of the adjusting device 64.
  • the mode of operation of the switch 61 corresponds to the described mode of operation of the switch 1.
  • a left turnout would also be constructed in the same way, with the sides reversed, with different coupling locations on the rotating element 43 being obtained for the levers 41 and 42, but always using the same levers and the same rotating element.
  • the intersection 71 has four end sections 72, 73, 74 and 75 and a middle part 76 connecting these end sections.
  • the end sections 72 to 75 and the middle part 76 form two continuous smooth running surfaces 77 for a vehicle provided with smooth wheels, as has already been explained above for a Y-switch and a right-hand switch.
  • the driving surfaces 77 of the mutually opposite end sections 72, 73 and 74, 75 are separated by a straight rack piece 78 and 79, respectively, which is firmly connected to the driving surfaces 77.
  • a shorter, straight rack piece 80 is rotatably arranged in the driving surfaces 77, so that the passage of the vehicle between the end sections 74 and 76 in the position of the rack piece 80 shown in solid lines and between the end sections 72 and 73 in the dashed lines Lines shown to enable the rack piece 80 rotated by 90 °.
  • each end section 72 to 75 has a tongue-shaped actuating element 33, which is displaceably arranged in a longitudinal slot 31 of the relevant rack piece 78 or 79 and is provided with an upwardly directed nose 35, as already shown in FIG 1 and 8 is shown.
  • the actuating elements 33 of the two end sections 72 and 73 for which an adjustment of the central rack piece 80 by 90 ° is required to enable passage, are in an outer sliding position in which their lugs 35 protrude above the upper surface of the relevant rack pieces 78 .
  • the actuating elements of the end sections 74 and 75 for which the central rack piece 80 is already in a position allowing passage, are in their inner sliding position, in which their lugs 35 are lowered at least to the height of the upper surface of the rack pieces 79 in question .
  • the vehicle When a vehicle enters the end section 72 or 73, the vehicle accordingly shifts the respective actuating element 33 on the lug 35 inwards, the position of the lug 35 at the inner end of this sliding movement being at most on the level of the upper surface of the rack piece 78, what has already been explained.
  • the middle rack piece 80 is rotated by 90 ° so that the vehicle can drive onto the intersection 71 without problems.
  • the actuating element 33 of the opposite end section 73 or 72 is also displaced inwards, so that its nose 35 no longer protrudes beyond the rack piece 78 in question.
  • this mechanism simultaneously displaces the actuating elements of the two other, opposite end sections 74 and 75 to the outside, so that their lugs 35 then protrude beyond the relevant rack pieces 79.
  • FIGS. 11 and 12 The mechanism mentioned is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 and basically corresponds to the actuating devices of the Y-switch 1 and the right-hand switch 61 described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 9. Identical parts are accordingly the same in FIGS. 11 and 12 Reference numerals.
  • the principle is therefore based on the fact that the sliding movement caused by the vehicle of one of the four actuating elements is transmitted to the other three actuating elements in the desired manner via articulated levers and a central, spring-preloaded rotating element.
  • Each actuating element 33 is guided laterally in the manner described above through guide strips 32 of the longitudinal slot 31 and down through the cover 3 by means of a longitudinal plate 34 molded onto the actuating element 33.
  • the Cover 3 has in the area of the longitudinal slot 31 an outer area 37 and a deeper, inner area 38, these two areas 37, 38 being connected to one another via a ramp-shaped section 39 of the cover 3.
  • the actuating element 33 is thus lower in the inner region 38 than in the outer region 37.
  • the molded-on longitudinal plate 34 is in turn provided with two pins 36 at its projecting end.
  • a lever 41 is articulated to each actuating element 33 of the end sections 74 and 75 and a lever 42 is articulated to those of the end sections 72 and 73.
  • the levers 41 are inserted through corresponding holes in the upper pins 36 and the levers 42 in the lower pins 36 of the longitudinal plate of the actuating elements 33, as can be seen from FIG. 11 and with respect to the one lever 42 from FIG. 12.
  • a disk-shaped rotating element 81 is arranged rotatably between the upper part 2 and the lower cover 3.
  • the middle rack piece 80 is formed on the upper side of the rotating element 81.
  • the rotating element 81 is also subjected to the force of a preload spring 44 already mentioned above.
  • Each lever 41, 42 has in its other end region according to FIGS. 2 and 9 two pins 45 and 46 or 47 and 48 (only partially indicated in FIG. 11), of which the inner pins 45 and 47 each in a corresponding hole of the disk-shaped rotary element 81 are inserted.
  • the levers 41 on the top of the rotating element are inserted into the latter, and the levers 42 on the underside thereof.
  • the outer pins 46 and 48 of the levers 41 and 42 are not used here and are only provided so that the Y-switch of FIGS. 1 and 2, the right-hand switch of FIGS. 8 and 9 (and a corresponding left-hand switch) and the 10 and 11 the same lever 41 and 42, which are otherwise identical, can be used universally.
  • the rotary element 81 is provided with corresponding arcuate slots 55 and 56 for receiving the outer pins 46 and 48 of the levers 41 and 42, respectively.
  • the actuating device according to the invention therefore enables very simple means and without external control means to drive safely and safely onto an intersection of a track system provided with a toothed rack of a toy train.
  • the actuating device described can of course also be provided in the case of a crossing with a crossing angle other than 90 °, for which purpose only a disk-shaped rotating element with differently arranged holes for the pins of the levers 41 and 42 would have to be provided.
  • such a right switch 91 has essentially the same structure as the right switch 61 described previously with reference to FIG. 8. Accordingly, the switch 91 again contains a curved rack piece 62 and a straight rack piece 63, which parts of the rack parts a laterally displaceable adjusting device 64. Further structural details of such an adjustment device have already been described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 6 to 8.
  • rack pieces 92 and 93 are provided with the previously described longitudinal slots 31, in which tongue-shaped actuating elements 94 are also arranged to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction.
  • the actuating elements 94 have protruding lugs 95.
  • the nose 95 of the actuating element 94 which is displaced outwardly in the end section 66, projects over the upper surface of the curved rack piece 92 in question, while the nose 95 of the actuating element 94, which is displaced inwardly in the end section 67, is lowered at least to the height of the upper surface of the straight rack piece 93 in question is.
  • the fixed, straight toothed piece 96 located in front of the branching ends of the rack pieces 62 and 63 belonging to the adjusting device 64, preferably molded on the upper part 65, is also provided with a longitudinal slot 97, in which one next to the other two identical, tongue-shaped Actuators 98 and 99 with associated tabs 100 are slidably disposed.
  • the actuating elements 98 and 99 also have two end positions in the longitudinal slot 97, namely an inner and an outer end position, which are alternately assumed by the actuating elements 98, 99.
  • Each actuating element 98, 99 is lowered so far in the inner end position in the longitudinal slot 97 that its nose 100 does not protrude beyond the upper surface of the rack piece 96. In its outer end position, each actuating element 98, 99 either projects with its nose 100 over the upper surface of the rack piece 96, or it is also lowered in the longitudinal slot 97, as in its inner end position.
  • a switch lever 101 is arranged, which can be moved in the lateral direction according to the double arrow 102 and which is connected to the actuating elements 98, 99 can be mechanically engaged.
  • FIG. 14 shows the bottom view of the right switch 91 with the lower cover 103 removed, the latter being shown in the section of FIG. 15.
  • each actuating element 94 of the two end sections 66 and 67 is provided with a lateral projection 104 which slides along a guide piece 106 having a ramp 105 when the actuating element 94 is displaced longitudinally.
  • the nose 95 of the actuating element 94 in its inwardly displaced position comes to lie at most on the level of the upper surface of the rack piece 93 in question (end section 67) or in its outwardly displaced position in a position protruding beyond the upper surface of the rack piece 92 to lie (end section 66).
  • Each actuating element 94 is articulated on a lever 107 or 108, the further connections of which will be explained below.
  • a plurality of lateral guide walls 109 are formed for the longitudinal guidance of the actuating elements 94 and their articulation points on the levers 107 and 108, respectively.
  • a disc 110 is rotatably arranged between the lower cover 103 and the upper part 65.
  • the disk 110 is designed in the manner of a can which is partially open on the side and has a lower wall 111 and an upper wall 112.
  • the lower wall 111 is provided with two pins 113 and 114, into which the levers 107 and 108 are inserted by means of corresponding openings 115 and 116, respectively.
  • the upper wall 112 is provided with a tab 117, which has an elongated hole 118, in which the pin 51 of the adjusting device 64 engages, as has already been explained with reference to FIG. 9.
  • the levers 107 and 108 have lever arms 119 and 120 which are extended beyond their articulation points on the rotatable disk 110 and at whose ends the further actuating elements 98 and 99 are articulated.
  • Lateral guide walls 121 are formed on the upper part 65 for longitudinal guidance of the extended lever arms 107, 108.
  • Each actuating element 98, 99 is provided with a lateral, horizontal extension 122 or 123 which serves as a support for a ramp in order to controllably raise the actuating element 98, 99 in its outer position.
  • Ramps 124 and 125 are formed in two levers 126 and 127, which are each supported in a pin 128 and which are connected to the switch lever 101 by articulations 129. Depending on the lateral position of the switch lever 101, the ramp 124 or 125 is therefore in the displacement range of the associated actuating element 98 or 99. If this is the case, as shown in FIG. 14 for the ramp 124, then the corresponding actuating element, that is the actuating element 98, raised above the upper surface of the rack piece 96 (FIG. 13) when the actuating element 98 is moved outward by a rotation of the disk 110.
  • a tension spring 130 anchored to the upper part 65 is fastened to the walls 111, 112 of the disk 110 by means of a pin 131. It can be seen that the spring 130 can move freely in the cavity between the two walls 111, 112 of the disk 110 and can therefore pass a dead center when the disk 110 rotates.
  • the adjustment device 64 that is to say the rack pieces 62 and 63, is possibly changed in the same manner as has already been described for the right-hand switch with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.
  • the vehicle enters the end section 67 of FIGS. 13 and 14 no changeover occurs because the corresponding actuating element 94 is in its lowered position and because the straight rack piece 63 is in the position for straight passage.
  • the two further actuating elements 98 and 99 located at the tip end of the switch 91 are both sunk so that when the vehicle travels from the direction of the end section 67 the actuating elements are not touched by the vehicle. If the one actuating element 99 located in its outer position were raised by the associated ramp 125 of the lever 127 according to the corresponding position of the switch lever 101, then unhindered passage of the vehicle is also ensured in this case because, due to the rear slope of the actuating element 99, the latter is pressed down elastically by the vehicle.
  • the tip-side actuation elements 98 and 99 are also displaced, in that, according to FIG. 14, the actuation element 98 is pushed outwards and the actuation element 99 is pulled inwards.
  • the actuating element 99 which is pulled inwards, is recessed so that it is not touched by the passing vehicle.
  • the other actuating element 98 is either also sunk or - in the position of the switch lever 101 shown in FIG. 14 - raised. In the latter case, however, the actuating element 98 deflects elastically downward when the vehicle is driving over it, so that no further action occurs.
  • the direction of travel is based on the position of the switch lever 101.
  • the switch 91 is in the state of deflection for unimpeded travel over the end section 66.
  • the adjustable position of the switch lever 101 can be used to preselect the direction of travel from the respectively present position of the switch for the sharp travel of the switch.
  • the preselection device described can of course also be provided for a left-hand turnout or a Y-turnout with corresponding levers and a corresponding disk.
  • the present right switch 141 has an upper part 142, which corresponds in terms of its outer shape to the upper part 65 of the right switch 61 of FIG. 8.
  • the upper part 142 has a curved end section 143 in one of its two branches and a straight end section 144 in the other branch, and a further straight, shorter end section 145 in the switch part to be driven to a point.
  • the end sections 143, 144 and 145 are provided with a fixed, curved rack piece 146 or provided with solid, straight rack pieces 147, 148. Between these fixed rack pieces, the Switch 141 has an adjusting device 149, which contains a curved rack piece 150 and a straight rack piece 151 on the upper part 142.
  • the two rack parts 150, 151 are rigidly connected to one another by two webs 152, the rack parts 150, 151 and the connecting webs 152 preferably being designed as a single injection molded plastic part.
  • the adjusting device 149 containing the toothed rack pieces 150, 151 and the connecting webs 152 can be pivoted about an indicated pivot point 153, the connecting webs 152 partially lying in curved slots 154 of the upper part 142 and being guided therein. It can be seen that by pivoting the adjusting device 149 about the pivot point 153, one or the other rack piece 150 or 151 can be brought into the position that enables the switch 141 to be driven in the bent or in the straight direction.
  • the fixed and movable toothed rack pieces 146, 147, 148 and 150, 151 must each connect seamlessly, so to speak, which is why their end faces are beveled accordingly, as can be seen in FIG. 16 .
  • the end sections 143, 144 and 145 are essentially of the same design as those of the switch 1 according to FIG. 1 and the switch 61 according to FIG. 8.
  • these end sections with the above-described lateral coupling pins 13 and 14 and provided with the above-described projections 15 and the recesses 16 for coupling and connection with subsequent road sections.
  • the end regions of the rack pieces 146 and 147 of the end sections 143 and 144 are each provided with the above-described longitudinal slot 31, in which the actuating element 33 is slidably arranged.
  • the actuating elements 33 in turn, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, have the nose 35 (FIG. 16) and the lower longitudinal plate 34 (FIG. 17), each longitudinal plate being provided only with an inwardly projecting pin 36 , which is indicated in Fig. 17.
  • the actuating elements 33 are displaceable in the slots 31 of the rack pieces 146 and 147 not only in their longitudinal direction but also in the height direction.
  • the lower cover of the upper part 142 is provided in each end section 143, 144 with a ramp-shaped section which connects an outer region of the cover to an inner region of the cover, the two Areas and the ramp-shaped section are designed as supports for the longitudinal plates 34 of the actuating elements 33.
  • the outer region which is closer to the upper part 142 than the inner region, places an upper one Position of the actuating element 33 fixed, in which the nose 35 of the actuating element 33 protrudes over the upper surface of the relevant rack piece 146 or 147.
  • the inner area defines a lower position of the actuating element 33, in which the lug 35 of the actuating element 33 no longer projects beyond the upper surface of the relevant rack piece 146 or 147. 16 and 17, the nose 35 of the actuating element 33 projects in the end section 144 over the rack piece 147, while in the end section 143 it is lowered at least to the height of the rack piece 146.
  • the longitudinal plates 34 of the actuating elements 33 are mechanically coupled to the adjusting device 149 via a frame-shaped element 155.
  • the frame-shaped element 155 is on the one hand pivotably mounted in a pin 156 attached to the upper part 142 and located in the pivot 153 of FIG. 16, and on the other hand it is plugged onto resilient pins 157 which are formed on the two movable rack pieces 150, 151 or on their connecting webs 152 .
  • the frame-shaped element 155 is articulated on the longitudinal plates 34 of the two actuating elements 33 via their pins 36.
  • a wire-shaped spring 159 is again arranged, which is moved over a dead center when the adjusting device 149 is pivoted.
  • the present actuating device of FIGS. 16 and 17 has the advantage of requiring fewer coupling elements with approximately the same space requirement. 16 and 17, on the other hand, the force transmission ratios are more unfavorable, so that a larger force has to be applied over a smaller sliding distance of the actuating element by the vehicle driving bluntly to switch the switch.
  • the actuating device described with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17 can of course also be used with a corresponding one Left turnout are provided, for which purpose the same frame-shaped element 155 can be used in the reverse position.
  • a Y switch can also be provided with such an actuating device, which then becomes exactly symmetrical.
  • a further embodiment of switches of any kind can be based on the principle of the crossing described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 12. More specifically, such an embodiment has a rotatable disc coupled to the actuating elements of the two switch branches, on which the two different rack pieces of the switch to be moved are attached or formed.
  • the disadvantage here is that, for geometric reasons, the rack pieces protrude considerably at least with one end beyond the rotatable disk and therefore have to be connected and supported at least at these ends.
  • actuating device relate to a toy roadway system which has smooth roadways with a rack arranged in the center. It can be seen that corresponding actuating devices can also be designed for conventional carriageways of toy carriageway systems with a track consisting of two parallel rails for vehicles provided with a wheel flange. 18 to 20, such a configuration is described below using the example of a right-hand switch.
  • the right switch 161 shown in FIG. 18 in the position for straight passage and in FIG. 19 in the position for deflected passage in plan view has an upper base plate 162 which is provided with side edges 163 shown in FIG. 20.
  • a straight or curved track section consisting of two profiled rails 167 and 168, 169 and 170 as well as 171 and 172 are attached to the base plate 162.
  • the base plate 162 and said rails 167 to 172 consist of a plastic
  • the rails 167 to 172 are advantageously molded onto the base plate 162 and form an integral component with the latter.
  • the outer end regions of the end sections 164, 165, 166 are provided with the lateral coupling pins 13, 14 and with the projections 15 and the depressions 16, which have already been described in detail with reference to FIG. 1.
  • An adjusting device 173 is arranged between the end sections 164, 165, 166 and is designed to optionally allow a straight or a deflected passage over the switch 161 in one or the other direction of travel.
  • the adjusting device 173 contains a total of four rail pieces, namely an outer straight rail piece 174, an outer curved rail piece 175, an inner straight rail piece 176 and an inner curved rail piece 177, which is connected to the inner straight rail piece 176 in a tip 178.
  • the aforementioned rail sections 174 to 177 are connected to one another in pairs by transverse webs 179, 180, 181 and 182.
  • the outer rail sections 174, 175 are each connected to one another by the crossbars 179, 180 and the inner rail sections 176, 177 by the crossbars 181, 182.
  • the crossbars 179 to 182 mentioned are shown hatched in different directions in FIGS. 18 to 20 in order to emphasize them in the drawing.
  • the crossbars 179 to 182 extend downward in the representations according to FIGS. 18 and 19 and, in the case of a plastic design, are preferably formed in one piece with the corresponding rail pieces 174, 175 or 176, 177.
  • transverse webs 179 to 182 projecting from the feet of the rail sections 174 to 177 downward (FIGS. 18, 19) and upward (FIG. 20) lie in transverse slots 183, 184, 185 and 186 of the base plate 162, which act as guide slots are designed for the crosspieces mentioned. Furthermore, there is a fifth transverse slot 187 in the base plate 162, in which a cam 188 of the inner rail pieces 176, 177 is guided in the region of their tip 178 (FIG. 20).
  • the inner rail pieces 176, 177 and, on the other hand, the outer rail pieces 174, 175 can each be displaced in pairs in the transverse direction of the roadway illustrated, in order to ensure that they fit with the fixed rail pieces 167 to 172 of the end sections 164, 165 and 166 form a continuous track in a straight direction or in a deflected direction.
  • the adjustment device 173 is primarily changed over the inner rail pieces 176, 177 which are connected to one another by the transverse webs 181, 182 and the tip 178 and are guided in the transverse slots 185, 186 and 187
  • These latter rail sections or their cross piece 182 are operatively connected to the outer rail pieces 174, 175 connected to one another by the cross pieces 179, 180 and guided in the transverse slots 183, 184.
  • the cross piece 182 has an extension 189 on both sides of its rail pieces 176, 177 or 190 on.
  • the outer rail pieces 174, 175 are each provided with a molded projection 191 and 192 lying in the transverse slot 186, which projections act as stops for the ends of the extensions 189, 190.
  • these rail sections in their last movement section thus push the rail sections 174, 175 to the right (FIG. 18) or to the left (FIG. 19) into the position corresponding to the end position of the rail sections 176, 177.
  • the same actuating device is basically provided as has already been described in detail with reference to FIG. 2.
  • the base plate 162 is provided in the end sections 165 and 166 with a longitudinal slot 31, which on the underside of the base plate 162 (FIG. 20) by side guide strips 32 and on the top of the base plate 162 (FIGS. 18, 19) by a on the height of the adjacent rail sections 169, 170 or 171, 172 projecting border 193 is limited.
  • each actuating element 33 is inserted into the longitudinal slots 31, which can be displaced along the longitudinal slot 31 and on which a longitudinal plate 34 (FIG. 20) is molded.
  • each actuating element 33 is provided with a nose 35 which lies in the uppermost region of the longitudinal slot 31.
  • the longitudinal plate 34 is also provided at its inner end with a pin 36 (see also FIG. 5B).
  • a lower cover of the base plate 162 (not shown in FIG. 20) has molded outer and inner regions opposite the longitudinal slots 31 or the actuating elements 33.
  • the actuating elements 33 rest on these areas, as has already been explained. This has the effect that an actuating element 33 located in the outer region of an end section 165, 166 extends with its nose 35 beyond the upper edge of the border 193 (cf. end section 166 in FIG. 18 or end section 165 in FIG. 19). However, if the actuating element 33 is located in the inner region of an end section 165, 166 (cf. end section 165 in FIG. 18 or end section 166 in FIG. 19), the nose 35 is lowered at least to the height of the upper edge of the border 193.
  • the mode of operation of the switch 161 shown is also the same as for the Y switch 1 of FIGS. 1, 2 and the right switch 61 of FIGS. 8, 9.
  • the switch 161 shown has the advantages of a simple construction with few, uncritical individual parts (no switch tongues and wheel guide rails), uninterrupted rail tracks in the respective direction of travel, small space requirements and an aesthetically satisfactory design that clearly shows the respective direction of travel compared to conventional, model-true rail switches.
  • a left turnout or a Y turnout can be formed using the same components in some cases.
  • the rail switches described or mentioned can also be provided with a preselection device, as has been described with reference to FIGS. 13 to 15.
EP88810895A 1987-12-31 1988-12-23 Weiche oder Kreuzung für eine Spielzeug-Fahrbahnanlage Expired - Lifetime EP0325893B1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT88810895T ATE66823T1 (de) 1987-12-31 1988-12-23 Weiche oder kreuzung fuer eine spielzeugfahrbahnanlage.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH512787 1987-12-31
CH5127/87 1987-12-31

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0325893A1 EP0325893A1 (de) 1989-08-02
EP0325893B1 true EP0325893B1 (de) 1991-09-04

Family

ID=4288384

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP88810895A Expired - Lifetime EP0325893B1 (de) 1987-12-31 1988-12-23 Weiche oder Kreuzung für eine Spielzeug-Fahrbahnanlage

Country Status (8)

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US (1) US5087001A (ja)
EP (1) EP0325893B1 (ja)
JP (1) JP2648194B2 (ja)
AT (1) ATE66823T1 (ja)
AU (1) AU623617B2 (ja)
DE (1) DE3864675D1 (ja)
ES (1) ES2024052B3 (ja)
GR (1) GR3002862T3 (ja)

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JPH04111801A (ja) * 1990-08-31 1992-04-13 H S S T:Kk 桁式軌道用転てつ装置
US5440996A (en) * 1994-02-10 1995-08-15 Mattel, Inc. Track set with rotating intersection for toy trains
US5951356A (en) * 1997-10-27 1999-09-14 Parvia Corporation Modular lattice substructure for a toy building set having columns and foundations
US5924905A (en) * 1997-09-24 1999-07-20 Parvia Corporation Modular terrain for a toy building set
US5947787A (en) * 1997-09-24 1999-09-07 Parvia Corporation Modular lattice substructure for a toy building set
US6129605A (en) * 1997-09-24 2000-10-10 Parvia Corporation Modular base units for a toy building set
US5993283A (en) * 1997-09-30 1999-11-30 Parvia Corporation Modular buildings for a toy building set
US6007401A (en) * 1997-10-03 1999-12-28 Parvia Corporation Optoelectric remote control apparatus for guiding toy vehicles
US5865661A (en) * 1997-10-03 1999-02-02 Parvia Corporation Toy vehicular drive apparatus
US6102770A (en) * 1997-10-03 2000-08-15 Parvia Corporation Toy vehicular electromechanical guidance apparatus
EP1027119A4 (en) * 1997-10-03 2002-03-27 Parvia Corp ELECTROMAGNETIC GUIDING APPARATUS FOR TOY VEHICLES
US6012957A (en) * 1997-10-27 2000-01-11 Parvia Corporation Single beam optoelectric remote control apparatus for control of toys
US8814628B2 (en) 2010-05-28 2014-08-26 Mattel, Inc. Toy vehicle track set
JP5806649B2 (ja) * 2012-07-26 2015-11-10 株式会社丸彰 走行車周回走路自動分岐盤装置
ITMI20130308A1 (it) * 2013-02-28 2014-08-29 Rolic Internat S A R L Scambio per un impianto di trasporto a fune
CN108677626B (zh) * 2018-04-03 2023-09-22 中铁二院工程集团有限责任公司 一种齿轨覆盖钢轨道岔机构

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US1566492A (en) * 1925-12-22 London
US650092A (en) * 1899-09-18 1900-05-22 Samuel Nash Switch-actuating mechanism.
US811160A (en) * 1905-05-16 1906-01-30 Charles A Mann Railway-switch.
US988857A (en) * 1910-07-09 1911-04-04 Adolph R Brett Automatic switch for street-railways.
US1051422A (en) * 1911-10-07 1913-01-28 Albert Jay La Rue Interlocking switch.
US1265200A (en) * 1915-04-30 1918-05-07 John Brown Henniger Switch-operating means.
DE916936C (de) * 1952-12-14 1954-08-19 Siegfried Kern Einspurbahn fuer Modell- und Spieleisenbahnen
DE1007678B (de) * 1955-02-25 1957-05-02 Heinrich Mueller Weiche fuer Einbahnspielanlagen
US3316401A (en) * 1964-06-01 1967-04-25 Eldon Ind Inc Road race track switch
DE1478403A1 (de) * 1965-10-22 1969-08-07 Fleischmann Geb Antriebsvorrichtung fuer die Weichenzungen bei Spiel- und Modellbahnen
AU3022367A (en) * 1967-11-23 1969-05-29 Ideal Toy Corporation Track intersection unit
DE2204916A1 (de) * 1972-02-02 1973-08-09 Faller Gmbh Fabrik Feiner Mode Weiche fuer fahrbahnen von spielzeugautomobilen oder dergl
AR242503A1 (es) * 1986-07-21 1993-04-30 Lego As Ferrocarril a cremallera de juguete, vehiculo motriz a vias para el mismo.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU623617B2 (en) 1992-05-21
JP2648194B2 (ja) 1997-08-27
ATE66823T1 (de) 1991-09-15
ES2024052B3 (es) 1992-02-16
GR3002862T3 (en) 1993-01-25
US5087001A (en) 1992-02-11
EP0325893A1 (de) 1989-08-02
DE3864675D1 (de) 1991-10-10
JPH01303183A (ja) 1989-12-07
AU2689388A (en) 1989-07-06

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