EP0371149A1 - Rollable toy or art object - Google Patents

Abstract

This rolling body structure comprises at least two rolling or self-righting bodies (1, 3, 5) which are superimposed without any external mechanical connection. To this end, at least the lower rolling body (1) is provided with a pendulum self-aligning body (7) above which is located a first part (15') of a magnet coupling (15) which fastens the superimposed rolling or self-aligning body (3, 5).

Description

The invention relates to an art-like roll to spherical rolling body structure.

Game and art objects with which conventional principles of experience can be virtually overcome or made absurd are extremely popular and accepted.

The present invention has as its object to create such a work of art-like object in which the applicable principles of gravitation and equilibrium are virtually overcome without the mode of operation being immediately apparent to the viewer.

The object is achieved with respect to an art-like roll to spherical rolling body structure in accordance with the features specified in claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

The present invention makes it possible, for example, to arrange two, three or more rollers or balls, for example one above the other, without the respective upper balls or roller bodies falling off. Although it is naturally only a metastable state that cannot be maintained without aids, which is why the roller or spherical bodies placed on top roll down and fall immediately, the invention ensures that the natural laws are almost contrary to the each upper roller or spherical body remains on the lower roller or spherical body. The invention, on the other hand, even enables the roller or spherical body lying below to be deliberately and consciously set into a rolling movement, and that the upper roller or spherical body which is placed on it rolls virtually in opposite directions to the lower one, as it were by magic.

The essence of the invention is based on the fact that, for example, the lower rolling element is thin-walled and contains a pendulum aligning element which is quasi stable due to the gravitational forces, which remains in a practically always constant pendulum center position regardless of the rolling movement of the rolling element. This can be done, for example, by means of a heavier pendulum alignment body located eccentrically to the roll axis and mounted in the interior of the roll body via roller or rotary bearings. Coupled with this, for example, a first part of a magnetic coupling is provided pointing upwards, the second part of which is formed on the upper rolling element placed thereon. Regardless of the rolling movement of the lower one, the associated part of the magnetic coupling points always in the same direction and position, so that the attached roll body is held and carried over it.

The upper rolling element can be designed, for example, as a ferromagnet with the lowest possible weight, that is to say as a soft magnet, so that the upper rolling element is constantly correctly held and tracked via the lower permanent magnet. The upper roller body rolls on the lower one. If materials with a correspondingly high gliding ability, i.e. the lowest friction values, are used, the upper body could also slide on the lower body. In this case, it would not even have to be circular in cross section.

However, the upper rolling body can also be provided on the inside with a rolling rolling body which represents the second magnetic part of the magnetic coupling, the upper rolling body then being designed as a light ball or light roller which allows the magnetic field lines to pass through.

However, several rolling elements can also be arranged one above the other, the upper rolling element being held relative to the lower rolling element by means of a magnetic coupling. However, towards the top, the internal elements of the magnetic coupling as well as the rolling elements as a whole should be built increasingly lighter in order to reliably prevent sliding or rolling on the respective lower rolling element.

Each magnetic coupling consists of at least one permanent and one soft magnet. It would also be possible to use two permanent magnets that are correctly aligned with one another, but only if both are the magnets coupling magnetic parts are arranged in the same orientation.

An upper ball can not only turn on the lower one or, in extreme cases, even slide, but can also be kept in a slightly suspended state. Alignment is also ensured here by means of a magnetic coupling, for which purpose magnets are provided, e.g. a funnel-shaped magnetic field is built up in such a way that the uppermost alignment body, which is also preferably designed in the manner of a shape identical to the lower rolling bodies with respect to the outer shape, is centered in a tied manner.

By introducing a buoyant gas into the uppermost alignment body, which is kept in suspension, the suspension can be adjusted and reproduced even better.

Basically, in many applications, instead of permanent magnets, even electromagnets can be used, which are then preferably controlled in the interior of the rolling or aligning batteries. External light barriers or other proximity sensors in the interior of the alignment or rolling bodies can then be used to excite at least one electromagnet provided in certain areas in the magnet arrangements in such a way that a desired attraction force is reproduced.

• Figur 1: ein erster Rollkörperaufbau bestehend aus drei übereinander angeordneten Kugeln im Vertikal­schnitt;
• Figur 2: eine Abwandlung zu Figur 1;
• Figur 3a: ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel mit zwei Rollkör­pern und einer Schwebekugel im Vertikalschnitt;
• Figur 3b bis 3d: Darstellung zur Erzeugung der Schwebekräfte;
• Figur 4: eine auszugsweise Darstellung der beiden obersten Rollkörper in einer Abwandlung zu Figur 3;
• Figur 5: eine schematische Seitenansicht eines weiteren ab­gewandelten Ausführungsbeispiels;
• Figur 6: eine weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel in schematischer Seitenansicht.

Further advantages, details and features of the invention result below from the exemplary embodiments illustrated with the aid of drawings. The following show in detail:

• Figure 1: a first rolling body structure consisting of three balls arranged one above the other in vertical section;
• Figure 2: a modification to Figure 1;
• Figure 3a: another embodiment with two rolling elements and a floating ball in vertical section;
• FIGS. 3b to 3d: representation for generating the levitation forces;
• Figure 4: a partial representation of the top two rolling elements in a modification to Figure 3;
• Figure 5 is a schematic side view of another modified embodiment;
• Figure 6: another embodiment in a schematic side view.

In FIG. 1, a lowermost rolling body 1, a further rolling body 3 placed thereon, and an uppermost alignment body 5, which likewise have the shape of a rolling body and can be designed in this way, can be rotated one above the other about a respective horizontal roll axis in a vertical alignment.

The rolling or aligning bodies 1 to 5 shown in cross-section in FIG. 1 can, for example, have the shape of a roller, but can more generally also be designed in the manner of balls. For example, "egg-shaped" rolling elements and other modifications are also conceivable.

The lowermost rolling body 1 is thin-walled, its jacket permitting magnetic field lines.

A pendulum alignment body 7 with an eccentric alignment weight 9 is arranged inside, which in the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 3 is designed in the form of a body corresponding to the rolling body 1, that is to say, for example, also consists of a roller aligned parallel to the rolling body 1 or of a ball.

The pendulum alignment body 7 comprises a running frame 11, which is provided with an inner bearing ring 11 'for rolling against the aligning weight 9 and an outer bearing ring 11' as a rotary or roller bearing, which runs on the inner surface of the lower roller body. The outward bearing rim 11˝ is placed approximately in the middle of the height of the alignment weight 9 designed as a roller or ball. The alignment weight 9 is said to be quite heavy. This arrangement ensures that regardless of the rolling position of the rolling element 1, the internal pendulum alignment element 7 always remains in the position shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 or even when rolling or stopping the rolling element 1 as little as possible around it Figures 1 to 3 shown middle position commutes briefly and immediately resumes.

In Fig. 1, a further rolling element 3 is arranged above it, which, for example, like the lower one, can have a rolling axis oriented perpendicular to the roller plane or, like the lower one, can also be spherical. Otherwise, the structure is similar to that of the lower rolling element 1, but with the difference that instead of the spherical or roller-shaped lower aligning weight 9 rolling inside the rolling element 3, a magnetic part 15teil with a lower mass than the lower aligning weight 9 of the lowest rolling element 1 is provided is. The function of the counterweight is not important, however. The alignment takes place here via a magnetic coupling 15, the first magnetic part 15 'is arranged on the pendulum alignment body 7 provided in the lower rolling element 1 and the second magnetic part 15' is provided in the middle rolling element 3 similar to a "counterweight 3". In the embodiment shown, the lower magnetic part 15 'is designed as a permanent magnet and the upper magnetic part 15' in the middle rolling body 3 as a soft or ferromagnet. Both magnetic parts 15 'and 15˝ are at a short distance from each other, with essentially only the outer surface of the rolling elements 1 and 3 rolling between the two parts.

The further magnetic coupling 15 between the middle rolling body 3 and the uppermost alignment body 5 is effected by further magnetic parts 15 'and 15˝, the upper of which has a roller or spherical shape corresponding to the shape of the rolling or alignment body 5 and consists of a soft magnet, which runs inside a thin-walled rolling body 3. By means of this magnetic coupling, the magnetic part 15˝ rolling upward is always held in the position shown in FIG. 1 and thus ultimately also the uppermost rolling element 5.

Even if the lowermost rolling element is rocked to the left or right, for example on an easily adjustable inclination surface, for example in the manner of a rail, so that the bottom roller or ball, ie. H. the lowest rolling body 1 begins to rotate, the pendulum alignment body 7 shown on the inside remains in the position shown in FIG. 1 due to the heavy alignment weight 9, regardless of the rolling movement.

Although the middle rolling body 3 then rolls in opposite directions on the lowest rolling body 1, it cannot roll down or fall from the lowest rolling body, since the magnetic coupling and the weights are coordinated and dimensioned such that the central rolling body on the lowest one has sufficient attractive forces of the magnetic coupling 15 , is held securely even during the rolling process.

The magnetic coupling is also sufficient to finally hold the uppermost roller body in the opposite direction on the middle one. At least in the topmost possibly also in the middle rolling element a negative pressure can be generated or a gas can be filled inside, which is lighter than air and thus generates certain buoyant forces to stabilize the topmost rolling ball.

Deviating from the embodiment shown, it is not necessary that the respective alignment weight 9 is rotatably supported in the lower roller or ball as a separate rolling component in the running frame 11 via the bearing ring 11 '. It is quite sufficient to arrange a pendulum aligning body 7 in the rolling element, which runs via rotary or roller bearings 11 'on the inner wall of the rolling element 1 or 3, and which is provided with an underlying center of gravity which runs eccentrically to the axis of rotation of the rolling element 1 or 3.

Finally, counterweights 16 are also shown in FIG. 1 on the pendulum alignment body 7. They serve to reduce the friction of the roles mentioned on the inner and outer bearing ring 11 'and 11˝. Especially on the upper balls of the outer bearing ring 11 'adjacent to the magnetic part 15' can be pulled down a bit more by such counterweights of the pendulum alignment body 7 overall and thus the rolling friction can be reduced.

With the help of FIG. 2 it should only be shown that instead of the rolling frame 3, which is also primarily for the central rolling element 3 shown in FIG. 1, also with a simplified magnetic coupling and with only one outer bearing ring 11 'for rolling or rotating bearing of the magnetically coupled Alignment body 7 'can be formed on the inner surface of the rolling body 3.

In the magnetic coupling 15 between the lower and middle roller ball 1 and 3 are in addition to the first and second magnetic part 15 'and 15˝ to achieve sufficient attractive forces for fixing the middle roller ball also one each surrounding the lower or the upper magnetic part to repel each other aligned ring magnet 15 ‴ provided. These ring magnets 15 ‴ have primarily the importance of reducing the force acting on the roller bearings 11˝ by the attraction of the magnetic parts 15 'and 15˝, since the ring magnets 15 ‴ are supported and thus the coefficient of friction of the bearing ring 11˝ as well as in the reduce the lower roller ball 1 and the roller ball 3. For this purpose, the oscillating magnets 15 ‴ are of course each attached and attached to the associated alignment body 7 or to the relevant moving frame 11 of the lower or middle trackball 1 or 3.

In addition, these ring magnets 15 ‴ also support the vertical holding of the middle roller ball 3. If it were tilted slightly, parts of the ring magnets would be moved close together on one side, which would have a greater impact on the repulsive forces, which would ultimately result in the middle roller ball being again attracted to it by the two Bar magnets 15 'and 15˝ would be pivoted back into their vertical starting position shown in Fig. 2. The attraction of the magnetic parts 15 'and 15˝ is much higher than the repulsive forces of the ring magnets.

A further difference from FIG. 1 is justified by the uppermost rolling element 5. In the embodiment according to FIG. 2, this is formed overall from a soft magnet with a low weight. The uppermost rolling element 5 thus also forms the upper magnetic part 15˝ of the magnetic coupling 15 at the same time.

A further modification is shown in FIG.

On the one hand, the vertical sectional view for the middle rolling element 3 is only intended to show that the running frame 11 can also have any other shapes and constructions. The main difference is that here the uppermost alignment body 5 does not roll or slide on the one below it (which is fundamentally not shown in the exemplary embodiment, but is in particular possible with the lowest coefficients of friction), but remains aligned in a floating state with respect to the rolling body 3 underneath.

A magnetic coupling is used for this purpose, via which a magnetic funnel is generated, in which the uppermost alignment body 5 is magnetically centered and held.

This can be achieved, for example, in that two ring magnets 19 ', 19' are used, which are provided with superposed, repelling poles, that is to say each facing south or north pole of a permanent magnet. Between them are arranged in the longitudinal direction in the form of permanent magnets designed bar magnets 21 ', 21˝, the poles of which are "aligned", ie aligned with different polarity. However, the repulsive forces should be greater than the attractive forces. The ring magnets must have such a large inner diameter that the magnetic effect of the bar magnets is not impaired too much. Taking into account the dead weights of the uppermost float 5 including the magnets provided there, the magnetic force of the bar magnets 21 ', 21' and the ring magnets 19 ', 19' is to be weighed in such a way that the vertical force compensation is achieved at a predetermined mean floating distance. In the horizontal direction, the larger force of the bar magnets 21, 21 'acts as the centering force. The size dimensions are particularly well expressed in the graphical representation according to FIGS. 3b and 3c. In order to keep the levitation distance constant, the curves A shown in FIG. 3d for the increasing attraction forces between the core magnets 21 with a smaller distance and the curve B for those increasing with increasing proximity must Cut repulsive forces. This point of intersection shown in the graphic represents the average floating state around which the upper ball 5 "swings vertically". In FIG. 3d, the air gap is shown on the horizontal and the attraction force between core magnets and the repulsion force between the ring magnets are shown vertically above it. If there is still a lighter gas in the ball 5 than air or a vacuum, the stability of the ball 5 is further increased by the buoyancy force.

However, the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 4 shows improved magnet arrangements.

The magnetic coupling 15 can here consist of a lower disk magnet 25 and an upper disk magnet 27, which may have smaller external dimensions and which are aligned with one another with repulsive polarity. The lower disc magnet 25 is underlaid by an underlying ring magnet 29 in the sense of increasing the magnetic forces. The magnetic force as a whole is weakened by the further bar magnet 31 attached in the center with an opposite magnetic field line course, that is to say in opposite polarity. Since the disc magnet 25 and the ring magnet 29 aligned in the same direction increase the magnetic forces and the magnetic forces in the middle are weakened by magnets aligned in the same direction, the desired magnetic "funnel" is thereby built up, by means of which the top ball 3 is held and centered. The uppermost disc magnet 27 does not have to be fastened tiltably in the ball, so that a change in polarity on the upper magnet cannot occur due to unintentional rotation. Incidentally, in order to generate buoyancy forces, a gas having a lower density than air must be filled in the upper ball.

In addition, one-piece magnets can also be provided, it being possible to build up a "funnel-shaped magnetic field" by correspondingly "lower magnetization" or certain geometric shape.

The last-mentioned example according to FIG. 4 shows that the upper alignment body 5 does not have to have a roller or spherical shape, but can have any external contour, since it is kept in suspension and does not have to roll onto the rolling body located underneath.

In a departure from the exemplary embodiments shown, not only can three bodies each be arranged, but two or even more may also be arranged one above the other. This is possible especially in a vertical orientation.

With the help of FIG. 5, it should only be shown schematically that modifications are also possible in such a way that, for example, the pendulum alignment body 7 is equipped with two magnetic couplings 15, which are offset from one another in a side view, for example Y-shaped, above which two upper rolling bodies 3, which are offset in the circumferential direction, are seated and be held. Rolling bodies lying on top could then be placed on these, for example, if the overall weight arrangement does not become too heavy.

Finally, FIG. 6 is only intended to clarify that the uppermost rolling element can also have a cross-sectional shape that deviates from a circular area, not only when it is held floating on the lower rolling ball, but also when separate rolling elements 35, for example in the form of small rollers or balls are anchored to the upper alignment body 5, since otherwise the magnetic coupling 15, as described, is provided.

Apart from the lowest roller ball, an alignment body 7 could also be provided in the roller balls above it, which is not provided or is provided with a center of gravity or weight that is only slightly eccentric to the roller axis. This is because the magnetic coupling 15 in each case maintains the alignment on the rolling body 3 underneath in the orientation determined thereby, once the magnetic coupling has been aligned. Finally, the lowest rolling body 1 could e.g. roll on a magnetic rail so that the so-called alignment weight 9 is not aligned by the gravitational forces but exclusively or at least additionally by the magnetic coupling forces. Likewise, this magnetically working pendulum alignment body can have a lower internal magnet 9, so that when the lowest ball or roller 1 rolls on an iron rail, the pendulum alignment body is stabilized and held in its desired position by the magnetic coupling.

Claims (11)

1. Art work-like roll-to-spherical roll body structure, characterized by a lower rollable roll body (1) and an upper roll or alignment body (3, 5) coupled to it, the lower roll body (1) being designed as a hollow body permitting thin-walled magnetic field lines the inner wall of which is supported by a roller or rotary bearing (11˝) an at least quasi-stable pendulum aligning body (7) independent of the rolling movement of the lower rolling body (1) with a lower center of gravity to the rolling axis of the rolling body (1) and / or with a magnetically effected alignment coupling , and with a magnetic coupling (15) which fixes and adjusts the respective upper rolling or aligning body (3, 5) relative to the rolling body (1, 3), one of which has a magnetic part in a virtually constant alignment position on the one in the lower rolling body (1, 3 ) housed pendulum alignment body (7) and its associated upper magnetic part (15˝) a n the upper roll Alignment body (3, 5) is provided adjacent to the lower magnetic part (15 '), so that even as the rolling movement of the lower rolling body (1, 3) progresses, the pendulum alignment body (7) and the magnetic coupling (15) held above it are aligned. the rolling or aligning body (5) arranged above it is held in a corresponding alignment position. 2. Roll body structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the respective upper rolling or aligning body (3, 5) on the respective lower rolling body (1, 3) is held so that it can roll, slide or float. 3. Roll body structure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the uppermost aligning body (5) is also designed in the manner of a rolling body. 4. Roll body structure according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the rolling or aligning body (3, 5), which is located at the top, is formed from ferromagnetic material and thus, overall or at least in the form of a hollow body, the overhead magnetic part (15˝) the magnetic coupling (15). 5. Roll body structure according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the outer jacket of the rolling or aligning body (1, 3, 5) is non-magnetic and inside the rolling or aligning body (1, 3, 5) also at progressive rolling movement in the same relative position persistent second magnetic part (15˝) is provided. 6. Roll body structure according to one of claims 1 to 3 or 5, characterized in that the uppermost aligning body (5) over the rolling body (1, 3) located underneath and hovers the upper and lower magnetic part (15˝, 15 ') of the magnetic coupling (15) consists of at least one permanent magnet, via which a funnel-shaped magnetic field for captive, floating adjustment of the respective upper rolling or aligning body (3, 5) is generated. 7. Roll body structure according to claim 6, characterized in that the funnel-shaped magnetic field over two basically oriented repulsive magnet parts (15 ', 15˝) is formed, 8. Roll body structure according to claim 6 to 7, characterized in that the funnel-shaped magnetic field over at least three magnet parts (19 ', 21', 21˝; 25,31,27) is generated, wherein the funnel-shaped weakening by an additional oppositely polarized magnets ( 31) is generated with a comparatively small radial extent. 9. Roll body structure according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that at least the uppermost rolling or aligning body (3, 5) has an internal negative pressure or a buoyant force generating filler gas with less weight than air. 10. Roll body structure according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that at least two rolling and / or aligning bodies (1, 3, 5) are arranged one above the other, at least the lower rolling bodies (1, 3) each having a pendulum aligning body (7 ) are provided inside, which are rollable on roller or pivot bearings (11˝) on the inner wall of the associated rolling element (1, 3) and via which the respective lower magnetic part (15 ') is kept aligned, and the upper rolling element (3) the pendulum alignment body (7) is aligned via the magnetic coupling 15. 11. Roll body structure according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the rolling and / or alignment body (1, 3, 5) are arranged vertically one above the other.

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