US1725417A - Electromagnetic signal - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 20, 1929. R. v. PHILLIPS ELEc'rRouAGm-:Txc smNAL (TOY) Filed March 8, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet.

BY W@ .A1-forum! Aug. 20, 1929. R. v. PHILLIPS ELECTROMAGNETIC SIGNAL (TOY) 2 Sheets-Sheetr 2 Filed March 8, 1927 vJHHH i Rd, BY Kf/ZNZV-w, QW MATroRNEY Patented Aug. 20, `1929.

y UNITED ASTATES RA'Y V. PHILLIPS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

ELECTROMAGNETIC SIGNAL (TOY).

Application led March 8, 1927. Serial No. 178,653.

This Vinvention relates to improvements in electro-magnetic signals' and more particularly to such signals for use on toy railroads, and the like.

An object of the present invention is to simplify and cheapen the construction of such devices, so as to place the same within reach of the general public.

Heretofore, it has been the ractice of toy manufacturers, particularly tlpiose interested in the production and sale of electrical toys, such as railways and their accompanying accessories, to utilize structures of more or less complication which necessarily increased the sale price to such an extent as to render the sale o f the articles practically prohibited Y to the man of ordinary means.

It is, therefore, Yanother object of the invention to reduce the cost of manufacture,

yet retain the essential elements of the articles so as to popularize and increase the utility of accessories of the nature above described.

A feature of the present invention is the unitary structure of the device which adapts it for use equall as well in the operation of gates or semap ores, so that no alteration by the manufacturer is required to adapt the electrical unit for operating either type of accessory.

Another feature of the invention is the unitary structure of the electro-magnet enclosing shell with the standard for supporting the signal so that the fewest possible number of parts are involved and the least amount of handling required to assemble the entire device.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts,

which will be fully set Vforth in the following specification, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a toy rail- -way gate equipped with this improved unit,

Figure 2 is a side View thereof showing portions in section to more clearlyillustrate the details of construction,

Figure 3 is ra. transverse sectional view taken on line 3`3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a top plan view ofl the unit applied to a toy semaphore, and

Figure 5 is a side view of Figure 4 showing portions broken away so as to more clearly illustrate the details of construction. Referring to the drawings in detail, the solenoid core constituting a tubular body 10 of insulating material is provided at one end with a cylindrical extension 11. Secured to the core adjacent opposite ends are heads 12 of insulating material, and wound on said core between the heads is a winding 13 of an electrical conductor, the layers of which are insulated over each other, asy is common practice. The terminals of, the conductor 65 extend outward through one of the heads 12 and are carried to binding posts mounted on a suitable base, which will be more fully hereinafter described. Surrounding the winding 13 is a tubular metallic shell 14 70 formed from a metal sheet provided with flange extensions 15 which lie next to each other when the sheet is bent into cylindrical form to provide aA standard on which the signal is pivotally mounted. Tongues 16 are formed on one of the flanges 15, and as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 are bent over the opposite flange to hold the parts in assembled position and thereby forma complete standard. The upper ends of the flanges project above the body of the cylinder 14 and are pierced to receive a pivot pin 17 upon which signal is pivotally supported. The signal 18, which in F igmres 1 and 2 is illustrative of the customary railway 85 crossing gate, comprises anY arm 19, pierced to receive the pivot pin 17 and provided with an opening to receive the pivot pin 20 of the movable solenoid armature 21, the opposite end of which is disposed within the tubular core 10, so that when the coil 13 is energized the armature 21 will be drawn into the core10, as indicated in thevdotted line positions of Figures 1 and 5. In order to limit the movement of the arm 19 toward the coil 13, a stop 22 is formed on one edge thereof and 'engages against'the armature 21 when the arm has reached its full limit of movement in one direction. Movement in the opposite direction is limited by engagement of one wall of the notch 23 against the tongue 24 formed above the upper edge of the tubular shell on one of the flanges 15 which serves to bind the flanges together near the pivot 17.

In the gate structure illustrated in Fig- 19 terminates in the stop ure 1, the arm 19 is projected as at 25 past the pivot 17 and couiiterweiglited as at 26,

so as to normally hold the blade 27 in eley i with the gate, such as illustrated in Figures land 2,7the cylindrical extension 11 is en- 4Htered into, a suitable base 30 carrying binding posts 31 to which terminals of the winding 13l are connected. 1While the fiic'tional contact between the cylindrical extension 1 1 and the wall of the opening into which it extendsr is ordinarily sufficient to retain the be found desirable device in proper position on the base, it may to form the shell 14 and Y fthe lower end of the flanges 15 with out- Y wardly extending ears 32 and 33 respectivesecured to the base in the which may be are not an manner illustrated. Such ears absolute essential, but are provided to insure Y' stability.

Gl l

In the structure illustrated in Figures 4* and 5, the cylindrical extension 11 projectsV into the `upper end of tubular column 34 which may in turn be supported in anyM suitable manner and the terminals of the f coil-13conveyed through the column as illustrated 'to suitable binding posts (not shown). f From the foregoing, it will be ap- I parent that a unit is provided which is caj `p'able of practical universal application wherever an electro-magnetically operated apparatus or mechanism is employed which is particularly adapted for electrical toys 'and the same unit equally applicable to the` operation of crossing gate as to a semaphore signal. This unit may be easily and cheaply constructed and readily assembled at a minimum of labor and expense, so thatV a toyV i manufacturer may readily adapt the device for the production of many and varied accessories.

"-Wliile in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred einbodii ment of this invention,.it is to be understood that minor changes in the details and construction, combination 'and arrangement of parts, may be resorted to Without depart-- ing from the'spirit and scope of the inven- `tionas claimed. Y

What is claimed is V1. As a new articleof manufacture, an electro-magnetic control unit -for signals,

blade 28 which is of compiising a magnet winding, supporting means therefor, a sheet of material bent to form a cylinder embracing the winding and having engaged flangesV on one side of the cylinder extending radially therefrom, and extensions on the flanges projecting beyond one end of the cylinder, said flange extensions forming a standard in xed definite relation to the longitudinal axis of the magnet winding.

2. A new article of manufacture comprising a tubular core having means at one end for connection to a base, a'magnet winding supported on said core, a cylinder enclosing the winding and having radially extending opposed flanges and tongues on one ofthe flanges overlying the other flange to bind the saine together and forni a standard, said standard projecting beyond the end of the cylinder.

3. An electro-magnetic operating unit for signals comprising a magnet coil, a sheet metal band enclosing said coil and having its end portions radially extended to form flanges constituting a supporting standard for a movable signal member, and one of said flanges having parts engaged with the other flange to secure said flanges upon each other and retain said band in close encircling engagement upon said coil.

' 4. As a new article of manufacture, an

electro-magnetic operating unit for signals comprising a base, a tubular core, a winding =on said core, a sheet-metal band enclosing erating unit including a coil, va, cylinder embracing and holding said coil and having a flange extensionY projecting longitudinallyv beyond one end of said cylinder to constitute a supporting` standard, an arm pivotally mounted on said standard and counterybalanced to normal position in obliquely inclined relation to said standard, and an armaturev associated with said magnet coil `and connected with said arm to move the latter Yfrom its normal position upon energization of the coil. Y

6. In combination, an electro-magnetic operating unit including a coil, a cylinder of sheetv material embracing and holding said coil, the ends of the sheet being laterally extended to Vform flanges, and said flanges projecting longitudinally beyond one end of the magnet armature associated with said coil coil to constitute a supporting standard, and connected with the arm to move the means for'securing said flanges to each other, latter from its normal position upon ener- 10 an arm pivotally mounted between and upon gization of the coil.

5 the ends of said flanges and oounterbalanced In testimony7 that I claim the foregoing as to a normal position 1n obliquely inclined remy invention, I have signed my name hereto. lation to said standard, and an electro- RAY V. PHILLIPS.

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