US1760498A - Toy electric motor - Google Patents

Description

May 27, 1930. c. T. HOFFMAN 1,760,498

TOY ELECTRIC MOTOR Filed Jan. 15, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z 14 4 E" J J 6 75 5 15 7 d 1:: I I o L 15 I gwuemto'o May 27, 1930. (3,211 HQFFMAN 1,760,498

TOY ELECTRI G MOTOR Filed Jan. 15, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (9* l Qam. as 2/ o o 45 27 22 4 40 z 46 2 Patented May I 27, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES T. HOFFMAN, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,..ASSIGNOB OF ONE- HALF TO EMORY L. GEOFF, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA TOY ELECTRIC MOTOR Application filed January 15, 1930. Serial No. 421,030.

This invention relates to toys, and more particularly to a toy electro-magnet c motor. A rimary object of the invent on is to provi e a simple practical and reliable toy 6 utilizing a standard type electro-magnet-ic device in such a way as to simplify the construction and manufacture of a toy of this kind while at the same time providing a toy producing a sound incident to its operat on which simulates the elfect of a gas engine or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel commutator operated by the movement of the fly wheel or equivalent part of the toy.

A further object of the invention is to provide an assembly of parts which are relatively cheap to manufacture.

With the above and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated andclaimed.

A preferred and practical embodiment 01 the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation.

Figure 2 is a top plan view.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the other side of the toy shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the motor base.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the battery container.

Figure 6 is an elevation of the inside face of the switch.

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view of the switch shown in Fig. 6.

Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating the circuits involved in the toy.

Similar reference characters designate cor-' responding parts throughout the several figures of the drawing.

In carrying the invention into effect, it is proposed to provide a suitable base 1 preferably of metal, the same carrying in any suitable manner the frame A including the upstanding metallic walls, supporting members or side plates 2. These members may be integral with the base or separate therefrom so that if desired the toy may be furnished in a knock-down condition and set up by the user,- As shown the side walls 2-2 are connected by an end wall 2 which provides a convenient support for the base of the switch device S.

A fly wheel 3 having an axle 4 is suitably journaled in the opposite walls or side plates 22 and is provided at one end with a crank 5 connecting with a link 6 which link in turn is connected to the outer end of an actuating lever designated generally as L and which preferably includes a resilient or spring portion 7 and the armature portion 8, the latter being a part of the electro-magnetic device E.

The said electro-magnetic device E is preferably of the standard buzzer or hell ringing type modified to adapt it to the present invention. These modifications include a bearing 9 for the lever L and the grounding of the lead 10 of one of the electromagnets E to the metallic frame 11 of the electromagnetic device. The said frame 11 is secured by suitable fastenings 12 to the metallic plate or side wall 2. It will, of course, be understood that the electro-magnets E and E are in series in the usual manner and the wire 13 from the magnet E is connected to the insulated binding terminal 14 which is a part of the standard electro-magnet construction.

At any suitable point there is preferably provided an insulating binding terminal plate 15. This plate has thereon the binding terminals 16 and 17 adapted to be connected to any convenient source of electrical energy such, for instance, as the batteries 18 or an outside source C. The binding terminal 14 of the electro-magnetic device is connected by the wire 19 to the binding terminal 17 which is insulated from the metallic base 1 and side walls 2 of the frame A.

Referring to the shaft 4 of the fly wheel or its equivalent 3, it will be observed that the side thereof opposite the crank 5 is provided, with an offset portion or cam 20 which operates in conjunction with a circuit breaking or commutating lever 21. This lever is pivotally supported as at 22 preferably on a metallic bracket carried by one of the side walls 2, and one end thereof is urged toward the offset portion or cam 20 of the shaft 4 by a spring 23 while the other end s provided with a contact point 24. The tension of the spring 23 is such that the lever 21 is not placed under material stress when the cam 20 is out of contact therewith as indicated by the clearance shown in Figure 3. However, on the other hand, the tension of the spring) is suflicient to maintain a uniform pressure etween the contact 24 and a fixed contact 25 carried by the arm 26. This arm 26 is mounted on an insulated block 27 carried by one of the side plates 2, and is connected b the wires 28 and 28' through the switch with the battery 18 and the terminal 16.

In connection with the lever 21 it will be observed that the'arm on the side which connects with the spring 23 is longer than the arm between the pivot and the contact 24 so that a maximum pressure is maintained between the contacts 24 and 25 under all con ditions of use. Also, it may be pointed out that the spring 23 serves as a conductor for grounding the lever 21 in addition to its mounting on the metallic bracket carried by the frame thereby preventing excessive sparking of the commutator points by providing a path of lesser resistance to the current than through the bearings which may be greased freely without interfering with commutator operation. Furthermore, the under surface of the lever bearing on the eccentric 20 may be greased to further reduce friction without interfering with any electric action.

In the particular embodiment shown in the drawings, the base 1 having the motor surmounting the same, includes the switch S and the binding terminals 16 and 17 which are adapted for connection with an outside source of electrical current as indicated by the dotted lines C in the diagram, Figure 8. Thus the device is so constructed that it may utilize an external source of power such, for example, as from a step-down trans former of the type usually used in connection with toy electric trains or the like, or it may be so constructed as to provide a self contained toy. In the latter event, the base 1 is mounted on a box or container D which may contain suitable storage batteries or cells D, D and D These dry cells may be of any conventional type readily available on the market and are preferably held in position between suitable spring clips which also serve as contacts or conductors for connecting the cells in series. As will be observed from Figure 5, the cell D is held between the terminal clip 30 at one end and the spring plate 31 at the other end, the said spring plate preferably being of metal and serving as a conductor for connecting the negative end of the cell D with the positive end of ing said cell with. the positive end of the cell D The negative end of the latter cell is in turn connected with a spring terminal plate 33 having the right angularly disposed strip or extension portion 34 which connects with a negative terminal contact When used according to the arrangement shown, the metallic base of the motor constitutes a cover for the box or receptacle D and the same may be secured in position by the screws or equivalent fastenings 36. Also, as will be observed from Figures 1 and 3, the bottom of the box or container D may be provided with suitable legs of felt, rubber or the like not only to cushion the base but to assure that the motor seats evenly on its supporting surface.

The underside of the metallic base 1 of the motor carries therewith the insulation members 1 which have mounted thereon respectively the spring contact members 29 and 36, the former connecting with the insulated wire 28 and the latter connecting with the insulated wire 37 which leads to the wire 19 which in turn connects the insulated binding post 14 of the electro-magnet E and the negative binding terminal 17. Since the battery terminal contacts 30 and 35 are spring contacts, the mere act of placing the motor base 2 carrying the insulated contacts 29 and 36 therewith onto the box D will cause the completion of the circuit from the battery 18 to the motor when the switch S is closed.

Referring more specifically to the switch S which may be conveniently mounted on the end wall 2, it will be observed that the same preferably includes an insulated base 40 secured to the wall 2 by the fastenings 41 or their equivalent, and having an insulated offset abutment flange 42 which acts as a stop to limit the movement of the shiftable switch 1 contact member 43. This member is mounted on a shaft 44 journaled in the insulated block 40 and said shaft has at its outer end a manipulating handle 45. For the purpose of maintaining the manipulating handle 45 properly in position, the shaft 44 thereof may be provided with a ferrule 46 which spaces the handle 45 from the outer face of the block 40, the said handle being held against the bushing or ferrule 46 by means of the bifurcated tensioning plate 47 carried by the inner face of the block 40. The shiftable switch contact member 43 is adapted to engage with the spring ends of the contacts 48 and 49. The contact 48 is connected by the wire 28 to the fixed contact 25 of the commutator and the contact 49 is connected by the wire 50 to the positive terminal 16 on the outer face of the box and to the wire 48.

When the electrical circuit is closed by moving the shiftable switch element 43 to the position shown in Figure 6, bridging the terminals 48 and 49, current will flow from the battery 18 through terminals 30-29 and wire 28* and 28 to the fixed commutator contact 25. As the fixed commutator contact is held in engagement wth the movable commutator contact 24, and since the latter is grounded to the frame A, being mounted on one of the metallic side walls 2, said frame is included in the circuit and the currentwill make its way through the grounded terminal 10 of the electro-magnet E thence through the electromagnet E to the wire 13 leading to the insulated binding terminal 14. From thence current will pass to the wire 37 and through contacts 36 and 35 to the negative terminal of the battery 18. If the storage batteries are not used and the terminals 16 and 17 are connected to an outside source of current C the circuit will be the same when the switch S is closed.

As shown in Figure 2 the fly wheel shaft 4 may be provided with a pulley P. This pulley is preferably keyed or fixed on the shaft in any suitable manner and may have at the inner side thereof a guard disk G for the purpose of preventing the belt carried by the pulley from running off and fouling the shaft 4 and the commutator. It will, of course, be understood that the pulley P may be placed elsewhere on the shaft or'the fly wheel 3 itself may be used to drive other toys. However, for the purpose of obtaining greater power it is preferred to have a pulley P or its equivalent.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the distinctive feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a frame including the base 1 and vertical side wall members 2, the latter serving as a support or journal for the shaft of the fly wheel and one of said walls having attached thereto an actuating motor in the form 'of the electromagnetic device E which is entirely selfcontained in the sense that it includes its own frame 11 and the electro-magnets E and E together with a removable cover of the type usually used in connection with commercial devices of this type. The frame 11 may then be secured by the fastenings 12, to the side wall 2 thus greatly facilitating the assembly of the toy and rendering the connection of the novel armature lever L with the crank 5 a simple and easy operation.

Without further description it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will of course be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, with-out departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

- 1. Atoy motor including a supportin frame, a fly wheel having its shaft supporte 1n the frame, a crank and a cam on opposite ends of said shaft, an electro-magnet supported on one side of the frame, an armature member having a spring lever extension operatively connected with the crank, and a circuit breaking lever adapted to be operated by the cam.

2. A toy motor including a supporting frame, a fly wheel having its shaft supported 1n the frame, a crank and a cam on opposite ends of said shaft, an electro-magmet including a frame secured to one side of said supporting frame, an armature member pivotally mounted in the frame of the electromagnet and having a spring lever extension operatively connected with said crank, a circuit breaking lever mounted on the side of the supporting frame opposite the frame part which supports the electro-magnet, and a spring for pulling the lever against the cam.

3. A tov motor including a base, spaced walls carried by the base, a fly wheel having a shaft journaled in said spaced walls, a crank and a cam on the ends of said shaft projecting beyond said waflls, an electromagnet including the frame securedto the outer face of one of said walls and including a pivoted armature member having a spring lever extension operatively connected with said crank, a support on the outer face of the wall opposite to the wall carrying the electro-magnet, a circuit breaking lever pivotally mounted in said support, a contact block carried by the said last mentioned wall and having a contact adapted to be engaged by said circuit breaking lever, and a spring engaging said circuit breaking lever to hold the same into contact with said cam and to also maintain the contact on the circuit breaking lever and the contact mounted on the block in engagement until separated by the movement of the cam.

4. A toy motor including a supporting frame, a fly wheel having a shaft journaled in the frame, a circuit breaker mounted on one side of the frame, means on the shaft for operating the circuit breaker, an electromagnet including a metallic frame mounted on the supporting frame, said electro-magnet including a bearing member carried by its frame, an armature member pivoted in said bearing member and having a spring lever extension operatively connected with the fly wheel whereby the armature is adapted to engage with the ends of the poles of the electromagnet to produce a noise simulating the explosions of a gas engine.

5. A toy motor including a supporting frame, a fly wheel having a shaft journaled in the f rame. a circuit breaking lever mounted on the frame, a cam on the shaft of the fly wheel operatively engaging said lever, a spring for forcing said lever against the cam,

a fixed contact arranged to be en aged by the end of said lever opposite the en engaged by the spring, an electro-magnet carried by the frame, an armature having a spring lever extension pivotally mounted in the electro-inagnet and having its end opposite its pivotal mounting operatively connected With the fly Wheel.

6. A device of the class described comprising a frame including vertical side Walls, a fly Wheel journaled in said side Walls, a preconstructed motor unit consistin of a frame, electro-magnets having expose pole pieces carried by said frame, an armature having a spring extension also mounted in said last mentioned frame and adapted to engage the exposed pole pieces of the electro-magnets to produce a noise by reason of the flexing of the spring extension of the armature, fastenings for securing the frame of said motor to one of the side Walls of the first mentioned frame, and an operative connection between the free end of the spring extension of the armature and the fly Wheel.

7. A device of the class described including a supporting frame, a fly Wheel journaled in said frame, a motor for operating the fly Wheel consisting of a frame having electromagnets and an armature mounted therein, said armature having an extension operatively connecting With the fly Wheel, an insulated binding post carried by the motor frame and having one magnet terminal Wire secured thereto and the other end of the magnet Wire being grounded to the frame, fastenings for securing said frame to the motor and the supporting frame, and a cover for the motor frame.

' 8. A device of the class described including a motor, a self contained interior source of electrical energy, binding terminals adapted for connection to an external source of electrical energy and also connected with the interior source of electrical energy, and a switch common to both the interior source of electrical energy and said binding terminals.

9. A toy motor including a supporting frame. a fly Wheel having its shaft supported in the frame, a crank and a cam on said shaft, an electromagnet including a frame secured to said supporting frame, an armature member pivotally mounted in the frame of the electro-magnet and having an extension operatively connected with said crank, a circuit breaking lever also mounted on the supporting frame, and a spring for pulling the lever against the cam.

10. A device of the class described comprising a support, a fly Wheel journaled in said support, an electro-magnetic motor including a frame comprising a body and offset flanges, means for connecting the body of the frame to said support, electro-magnets carried by one of the flanges of the frame, an

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