GB1105642A - Steering control simulator means for vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

1,105,642. Toy vehicle tracks and control means. A. E. GOLDFARB. 28 May, 1965 [1 Feb., 1965], No. 22711/65. Heading A6S. [Also in Division H2] In driving a toy, electrically operated vehicle, there is used a track means having a plurality of sections of different configuration, each section including an electrical conductor for supplying power to the vehicle, a first connection means for supplying electrical energy to the conductor of one of said track sections having a first configuration, a second connection means for supplying electrical energy to the conductor of a second track section having a second configuration, switch means for selectively connecting said first and second connection means with a power supply, this switch means including a steering wheel for operating said switch means whereby the conductor of a track section having a particular configuration is energised so as to propel the toy vehicle by rotating the steering wheel in a manner corresponding to said configuration to simulate steering the vehicle. Incorrect operation of the steering wheel will, according to one embodiment, cause the vehicle to stop on leaving the energised section. In another embodiment (Fig. 6, not shown) full power is applied to the next section so as to cause the vehicle to leave the track if the switch means is not correctly altered by the steering wheel. The switch means may comprise a simple leaf contact, or may be (Fig. 7, not shown) two discs, one rotating on the other, each being provided with the appropriate contacts. The track comprises a three line system in which the centre line comprises a conductor in a sunken groove and connected to a common negative terminal 54 of a battery 52, the said groove also acting as a guide groove. The positive terminal 56 of the battery is connected through rheostats 68, 118, to steering wheel switches 72, 122, respectively, which convey current to three track sections having different configuration, viz:-right-hand curves, left-hand curves, and straights, through three correspondingly situated contact points on the steering switch, the three different track sections being insulated from each other. Thus until the steering switch is moved to energise the track section on which a car is entering, in this embodiment, no current is available. When the switch has been moved to the correct position, speed may be controlled by the appropriate rheostat, which may be combined in a single unit with the steering switch, which unit is held in the hand of the operator. When two cars are being raced, a car may be changed by means not described, from one track to the other by means of the connecting track 172.