GB647284A - Improvements in or relating to miniature railways - Google Patents

Abstract

647,284. Magnetic toys. JOYCE, J. A. March 12, 1948, No. 7632. [Class 132 (iii)] A magnetic toy simulating a miniature railway set in which the vehicles are supported on a miniature track and in which the propulsion of the vehicles is effected by magnetic forces between a travelling member and a part of, or carried by a, vehicle, is characterized in that the travelling member moves beneath the supporting surface for the track and is mounted on the track support and is mechanically propelled along a fixed guide-path parallel to the track. The guide for the travelling member may comprise one or more rails or channels underneath the track support which is made of non-magnetic material. The travelling member may be a permanent or electromagnet, and mounted in a carriage driven by an electric or clockwork motor along the guide or may itself be an axle connected to wheels driven along the guide. The locomotive or a truck may be of magnetisable material or may carry a magnetisable member. Alternatively the magnet may be carried by the locomotive or truck and the travelling member be of magnetisable but non- magnetised material, or both members may be magnets. As shown two circular tracks 1, 2 are provided on a support 3 of non-magnetic material, and trains 4 and 5 are arranged to travel on these tracks in opposite directions by attraction between magnets 7 beneath the support and magnetisable parts 8 carried by the locomotives. The magnets 7 are carried on radially extending arms 9 secured to sleeves 10 rotatably mounted on a central cylindrical column 11 integral with the support. The column is concentric with the tracks and at its base broadens out into a foot 19 upon which an electric motor 18 is secured. The sleeves 10 terminate at their lower ends.in pulleys 12, 13 connected by rubber bands 14, 15 to pulleys 16, 17 secured to the driving shaft of the motor 18. These bands 14, 15 are arranged so as to cause one arm 9 to rotate in a direction opposite to that in which the other rotates. The mechanism beneath the support may be concealed by a wall if desired. The motor is controlled by a reversing switch and a variable resistance.