GB2030880A - Toy vehicles for a toy race track - Google Patents

Abstract

A toy vehicle, for a toy race track, has an electric driving motor (3) reversible by reversing the polarity of the supply, for steering the front wheels of the vehicle to right or left depending on the direction of rotation of the motor, and a transmission from the motor to one or both rear road wheels comprising a driving pinion (6) on the rear end of the motor shaft, a panet pinion (8) meshing with the driving pinion and mounted on a carrier (7) mounted to orbit through a limited angle about the axis of the driving pinion, and a pair of coaxial driven gears (10, 11) conveniently crown wheels, connected to the driving wheels (13, 14) and mounted so that the planet pinion (8) will mesh with either driven gear when in one of its limiting positions, to drive one or each road wheel in a forward direction. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Toy vehicles for a toy racetrack The present invention relates to toy vehicles for a toy racetrack.

In order to correlate the action taking place on a toy or miniature racetrack with the traffic on normal streets, it is advantageous to provide the toy vehicle not only with speed control but also with steering capability so as to be able to effect a lane change and passing sequences.

U.S. Patent Specification No. 3813812 describes such a system. In the system described the track has two drive lanes with guides along the outer edges so that a vehicle can be caused to follow the left-hand lane by steering against the left-hand guide, or to follow the right-hand lane by steering againstthe right-hand guide. In each lane three current conducting rails are laid flush with the surface, different pairs of which are contacted by different vehicles so that the vehicles can be independently controlled from external controllers both as regards speed and steering.

The steering of the vehicle, to right or left, can be controlled by the direction of rotation of the driving motor which depends on the polarity of the supply.

The motor drives the wheels through a transmission arranged to propel the vehicle forwards whichever the direction of rotation of the motor.

An object of the present invention is to provide simpler mechanisms for effecting similar functions.

According to the present invention a miniature or toy vehicle, for a toy race track, has an electric driving motor reversible by reversing the polarity of the supply, means for steering the front wheels of the vehicle to right or left depending on the direction of rotation of the motor, and a transmission from the motor to one or both rear road wheels comprising a driving pinion on the motor shaft, a planet pinion meshing with the driving pinion and mounted on a carrier mounted to orbit through a limited angle about the axis of the driving pinion, and a pair of coaxial driven gears, connected to the driving wheels and mounted so that the planet pinion will mesh with each driven gear when in one of its limiting positions, to drive one or each road wheel in a forward direction whether the motor is rotating in one direction and the planet pinion meshing with one driven gear or whether the motor is rotating in the opposite direction and the planet pinion is meshing with the other driven gear.

Conveniently the motor is arranged with its shaft extending fore-and-aft and the steering means coupled to the front end of the shaft and the transmission coupled to the rear end of the shaft. The driven gears may be crown wheels opposed in mirrorimage relationship.

The invention provides a very simple drive construction which is constituted only of a few components and automatically assumes the reversing with a change in the direction of rotation of the propulsion motor. No freewheeling devices or releasable couplings are present. The pivoting or oscillation of the planet carrier is effected by means of the reaction moment when the planet pinion is rotated by the driving pinion.

During the reversing operation the transmission is neutral, the driving wheels being uncoupled from the driving motor, so that the latter does not exert a braking effect but allows the vehicle to coast from one lane to the other while not collecting electric current from either lane. This is achieved without the need for any freewheel gear.

In one form of the invention the rear wheels and the driven gears are all mounted on and secured to a common shaft. In an alternative arrangement each rear road wheel is mounted on and secured to one of a pair of stub shafts together with one of the driven gears. When each of the rear wheels is arranged on its own stub axle with one of the driven gears, then in each of the two directions of rotation of the shaft only one of the rear wheels is driven. This makes it possible to drive only the rear wheel of the vehicle on the outer curve or only the rear wheel of the vehicle on the inner curve.

In one arrangement the steering means for the front wheels comprise a steering bracket connected with the steerable front wheels and engaged by an arm mounted for pivotal movement on the forward end of the motor shaft and connected therewith by a release clutch so as to displace the steering bracket in one or other direction according to the direction of rotation of the shaft.

In another arrangement the steering means for the front wheels comprise a steering pinion mounted on and secured to the forward end of the motor shaft; a steering bracket connected to the steerable front wheels; a gear rack of limited length mounted on the steering bracket, so as to be engaged by the steering pinion; and spring means adapted to normally bias the steering bracket into a middle position.

Both embodiments of the steering arrangement have the effect that so long as a given direction of rotation of the motor is maintained the steering displacement effected initially remains unchanged. This is not disadvantageous since it relates to only small steering displacements wherein the vehicle, after the lane change achieved through the change of steering displacement, is held against the outer track edge against the guide means for the vehicles due to the steering displacement. This will avoid inadvertent swerving of the vehicle from the lane reached.

Further features and details of the invention will be apparent from the following description of certain embodiments that will be given by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure lisa schematic top plan view of a vehicle embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 of portions of a vehicle showing the location of the drive arrangement and the steering arrangement in one direction of rotation of the shaft of the propulsion motor; Figure 3 is a schematic rear elevation of the drive arrangement in the position according to Figure 2; Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 of portions of the vehicle showing the location of the drive arrangement and the steering arrangement in the other direction of rotation of the motor;; Figure 5 is a rear elevation of the drive arrange ment in the position according to Figure 4; Figure 6 is a schematic front elevation of the steer ing arrangement of Figures 2 and 4; Figure 7 is a schematic top plan view of another embodiment of a steering arrangement; and Figure 8 is a schematic front elevation of the steering arrangement of Figure 7.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, pursuant to Figures 1,2 and 4, the chassis of the vehicle is designated by reference numeral 1, and serves as the supportfor all technical and mechanical components of the vehicle, and also receives the vehicle body (not shown). Arranged in the chassis 1 are the magnets 2 of an electric motor 3 which serve as the propulsion motor of the vehicle, whose armature rotates within the magnets 2 and which is identified by reference numeral 3a. The armature shaft, which concurrently is the shaft of the electric motor 3, is identified by reference numeral 4. The shaft is supported by bearings 5 and 5a in the chassis and with its forward and rearward ends projects beyond these bearings 5 and 5a.At the rear end of the drive shaft 4 there is mounted a pinion gear 6 restrained from rotation relative to the shaft and forming a component of the drive arrangement. This pinion gear 6 is located within a pivotable planet carrier in the form of a cage 7 which is pivotaily supported on the rear end of the drive shaft 4. Rotatably supported within this cage 7 is a planet pinion gear 8 which interengages with the pinion gear 6. Predicated upon the particular direction of rotation of the drive shaft 4, the cage 7 is rotated either towards one or another side and, in essence, acts as the reaction moment on the rotation of the pinion gear 8 through the pinion gear 6. In accordance with the direction of rotation of the drive shaft4 and, as a result, that of pinion gear 6, the cage 7 is positioned against limit stops 9 on the chassis 1 in one or another of its end positions.In these end positions, in which the cage 1 comes into contact with one of the limit stops 9, the pinion gear is presently brought into engagement with one of the cup or crown gears 10 or 11. The crown gears 10 and 11 are each fixedly arranged on the axle of the rear wheels 13 and 14, and impart rotation to the rear wheels. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, the rear wheels 13 and 14 are arranged on a common through-extending axle 12. Both crown gears 10 and 11 are fixedly mounted on this axle so that both rear wheels can be driven in unison when one of the crown gears 10 or 11 interengages with the pinion gear 8.

Figures 3 and 5 of the drawings show the position of the cage 7 in the two end positions thereof whereby through the arrows 7a, in the direction of rotation of the shaft 4 shown by arrows 4a, the pivoting or swinging of the cage 7 into the present end position thereof in contact with one of the limit stops 9 is clearly elucidated. In each of the end positions of the cage, the pinion gear8 engages either the crown gear 11 or the crown gear 10. In both instances, the crown gears, and as a result, the rear wheels, are driven in the same direction of rotation. Deviating from Figure 1, in Figures 3 and 5 the axles of the rear wheels 13 and 14 are not constructed as a common axle, but as separate axle ends or journals 12a and 12b, whose inner ends support, respectively, the crown gears 10 and 11.Consequently, in the position illustrated in Figure 3, only the rear wheel 14 and in the position illustrated in Figure 5, only the rear wheel 13 is driven, in conjunction with the hereinbelow described steered position of the rear wheel along the outer curve as illustrated in Figures 2 and 4.

In contrast with the illustrated and described embodiment in which the cage 7 moves between the crown gears 10 and 11 through a lower pivoting or oscillating range, by suitably positioning the limit stops 9 below the cage, the pivoting range of the cage 7 may also be located above. In this instance, the pinion gear 8, in the direction of rotation of the drive shaft 4 illustrated in Figure 3 by means of the arrow 4a, does not come into engagement with the crown gear 11 but with the crown gear 10. Since the direction of rotation of the drive shaft 4 should primarily determine a desired steering displacement, in combination with the hereinbelow described capabilities of the construction of such a steering arrangement, there is given each combination in the interaction of steering direction and rear wheel drive.Hereby there can be selectively driven the rear wheel along the outer curve or along the inner curve.

Pursuant to Figures 1,2 and 4 of the drawings, the forward end of the shaft 4 of the propulsion motor 3 extends to the steering arrangement which encompasses a steering bracket 20, or a functionally analogous element, which can be swung towards both sides in a known manner together with axle necks 21 a and 22a which, in turn, are pivotally articulated to the chassis 1 and which support the front wheels 21, 22. Fixedly mounted on the shaft4adja- cent to the bearing 5 of the shaft is a cylindrical member 15. At the extreme forward end of the shaft 4, a further cylindrical member 16 is fastened on the shaft. Arranged between these members is a spiral spring 17, a rotatable element 18 and a follower member 19.The follower member 19, as can be more clearly ascertained from Figure 6, is in engagement with the steering bracket 20 and projects through an aperture 20a formed in the steering bracket 20. Concurrently, the follower member 19 extends through an aperture 23 provided in the chassis 1, by means of which there is restricted the range of oscillation of the follower member 19 as defined by the arrow 24. The elements 15, 16, 17 and 18 form a release clutch for the follower member 19 so that during rotation of the shaft4 in one of the two possible directions of rotation, the follower member is presently taken along into one of the end positions defined by the aperture 23 and, simultaneously, the steering bracket is displaced in the respective direction with the steering of the front wheels 21, 22.

In the embodiment of the steering arrangement pursuant to Figures 7 and 8, ahead of the bearing 5 on the forward end of shaft4 of the propulsion motor 3 (not shown), a pinion gear 50 is rigidly connected with the shaft 4. This pinion gear 50 interengages with a gear rack 51 which is fastened on the steering bracket 52. This bracket, in turn, is con nected with the axle arms or journals 21 a and 22a of the front wheels 21, 22. Centrally of steering bracket 52 there is fastened a spiral spring 53 whose other end is fastened in a retainer 54 in the area of the bearing 5 or on the chassis. This spring 53 causes the steering bracket 52 to be forced to assume its central position with forwardly straightened front wheels 21, 22 when the propulsion motor 3 is switched off and the shaft4 not subjected to a rotational moment.

For a running propulsion motor 3, meaning a moving vehicle, the shaft 4 of the propulsion motor is rotated in one direction. Thereby, the pinion gear 50 rotates in the same manner and, through engagement with the gear rack 51, the steering bracket is brought into one of the end positions steering the front wheels in accordance with the direction of rotation of the shaft 4. After reaching of one of these two end positions, the pinion gear 50 is disengaged from the gear rack 51 since this rack has only a limited length. At the reversing of the direction of rotation of the propulsion motor 3 and thereby of the shaft 4, the pinion gear 50 is again brought into engagement with the gear rack 51, since the spring 53 forced the steering bracket to be pulled into its middle or central position.The steering bracket 52 is brought into its opposite end position through steering of the front wheels 21,22 in the opposite direction.

It is noted that the same type of function as in the described steering arrangements can be attained when in a modification of the described and illustrated embodiment, the forward end of the shaft 4 is located below the steering bracket 20, respectively, 52. Moreover, the steering bracket 20, i.e. 52, can be located ahead of the axle journals 21 a, 22a. Assuming the same direction of rotation of the shaft 4 of the propulsion motor 3, this will presently result in a steering displacement opposite to the illustrated steered position. For the approach of the vehicles to the guides (not shown) along the outer edge of the track, the guides being constructed, for instance, in the form of guide rails, impact bars 70 and 71 may be arranged at the front and rear, but particularly at the front, on the chassis of the vehicle. The function of the impact bars 70, 71 may be also assumed by parts of the vehicle body which are mounted on the chassis and which are not illustrated herein.

Claims (11)

1. A miniature or toy vehicle, for a toy race track, having an electric driving motor reversible by reversing the polarity of the supply, means for steering the front wheels of the vehicle to right or left depending on the direction of rotation of the motor, and a transmission from the motor to one or both rear road wheels comprising a driving pinion on the motor shaft, a planet pinion meshing withthe driving pinion and mounted on a carrier mounted to orbit through a limited angle about the axis of the driving pinion, and a pair of coaxial driven gears, connected to the driving wheels and mounted so that the planet pinion will mesh with each driven gear when in one of its limiting positions, to drive one or each road wheel in a forward direction whether the motor is rotating in one direction and the planet pinion meshing with one driven gear or whether the motor is rotating in the opposite direction and the planet pinion is meshing with the other driven gear.

2. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 1 in which the motor is arranged with its shaft extending fore-andaft and the steering means coupled to the front end of the shaft and the transmission coupled to the rear end of the shaft.

3. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the driven gears are crown wheels opposed in mirror-image relationship.

4. A vehicle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the rear wheels and the driven gears are all mounted on and secured to a common shaft.

5. A vehicle as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 in which each rear road wheel is mounted on and secured to one of a pair of stub shafts together with one of the driven gears.

6. A vehicle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the means for limiting the orbital movement of the planet carrier comprises at least one limit stop on the chassis.

7. A vehicle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the pivoting range of the planet carrier extends below the plane of the axis of the rear wheels.

8. A vehicle as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6 in which the pivoting range of the planet carrier extends above the plane of the axis of the rear wheels.

9. A vehicle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the steering means for the front wheels comprise a steering bracket connected with the steerable front wheels and engaged by an arm mounted for pivotal movement on the forward end of the motor shaft and connected therewith by a release clutch so as to displace the steering bracket in one or another direction according to the direction of rotation of the shaft.

10. A vehicle as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8 in which the steering means for the front wheels comprise a steering pinion mounted on and secured to the forward end of the motor shaft; a steering bracket connected to the steerable front wheels; a gear rack of limited length mounted on the steering bracket, so as to be engaged by the said steering pinion; and spring means adapted to normally bias the steering bracket into a middle position.

11. A toy vehicle as specifically described herein with reference to Figure 1, 2 and 4 or Figures 3 and 5 in conjunction with Figures 6 or Figures 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.