US2077163A

US2077163A - Control box

Info

Publication number: US2077163A
Application number: US84665A
Authority: US
Inventors: William T Bailey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1936-06-11
Filing date: 1936-06-11
Publication date: 1937-04-13
Anticipated expiration: 1954-04-13

Description

April 13, 1937.

w. 1'. BAILEY 2,077,163

CONTROL Box v Filed June` 11, 1956 ATTORNEY 1 Patented Apr. 13, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application June 11,

2 Claims.

This invention relates to control devices for toy electric trains and the like, and deals more particularly with a device for starting and stopping a train, and for controlling a special device 5 on said train such as a whistle or the like.

In toy trains, the whistle is a device which is operated by means of a direct current relay receiving its energy, when the train passes over a certain portion of track, from a rectifier placed across the A. C. line. This rectifier has been a constant source of annoyance due to its propensity to burn out.

The present invention therefore seeks to provide improved control means of the character described, in which small inexpensive dry cells are employed for supplying the current for the whistle operating relay.

The invention also contemplates the provision of means for operating a toy train whistle at any .lo portion of the track, and also contemplates means for completely silencing said whistle.

More specifically the invention contemplates the provision of a small, compact control box adapted to be connected between the source of current and the train tracks, said control box including a throw switch for initiating the operation of the train, and said switch being selective as to the automatic operation of the whistle. The control box is also provided with a 30 train stopping switch and a switch for operating the train whistle when the train is at any portion of the tracks.

With the above objects and features in mind, the invention comprises the combination and ar- 35 rangement of parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which, by way of example, is shown a preferred form of device.

In the drawing: Fig. l. is a top plan view of a control box as 40 herein contemplated.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof as viewed on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View as taken on the line 3 3 of Figs. l and 2.

#5 Fig. 4 is a similar sectional view, partly fragmentary, as taken on the line ft--fi of Figs. l and 2.

Fig. 5 is an edge View of the dry cell carrying means.

50 Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic View of the device as interconnected with a source oi electric current and a set of train tracks.

In greater detail, the box comprises a top plate IU oi dielectric material adapted to be set over 55 the open end of a receptacle or box II and to be 1936, Serial No. 84,665

(Cl. 10i-149) removably secured thereto as by means of the nuts l2. The top plate Il is preferably provided with the binding posts I3, I4, I5 and I3, the posts I3 and I6 being extended to form support means for another dielectric plate I'I and being further extended therebelow to be electrically connected to each other as by means of a bus connection I8.

In practice, the binding post I3 is connected to one side of the secondary winding I9 of a stepped-down transformer 23 in the A. C. line, and the binding post I4 is connected to the other side thereof. The posts I5 and I6 are respectively connected to the main or primary portion oi the middle rail 2l of the track and the live rail 22 thereof.

A switch arm 23, pivoted at 24, is adapted to be contacted with either of the

contact terminals

25 or 26. These two terminals are respectively connected to opposite poles of the dry cells 2l as by means of the

conductors

28 and 29 and the cell contacting means and 3l. In the present instance the negative cell contacting means 3i is designed in the form of a partial strap which forms a saddle for supporting the cells, screw means such as shown at 32 and connected to the dielectric plate I'I being employed for this purpose. One of the screws 32 is peculiarly adapted for the connection of the conductor 29.

A push button 33 is engaged with one leaf 3ft of a simple make and break switch which includes also another contact leaf 35. This switch is arranged to one side of the switch 23, and on the other side of said switch 23 there is arranged another switch comprising the

contact leaves

3B, 31 and 38 and the push button 39.

In the present instance the leaf 34 is connected to the leaf 38 as by means of a bus bar di), the leaf 35 is connected to the binding post I4 as by means of the conductor lil the leaf 31 is connected to the binding post I5 as by means of a conductor 42, and the leaf 36 is connected to the switch contact 26 as by means of the conductor 43. A connection ill is also made between the bus bar 40 and the switch contact 25. The middle rail 2| of the train tracks is provided with a secondary section which is insulated, as shown, from the main portion of the rail 2|, which is electrically connected as by means of the conductors 43 with the switch terminal 24.

The train or locomotive designated generally as T has at least one wheel W and a rail shoe S in circuit with the locomotive motor M, said wheel and shoe also being connected to the relay of a combined whistle and relay assembly designated at X.

The foregoing is generally descriptive of the makeup and connections of the control device as 5 applied to a usual form of toy electric train provided with a whistle. It is understood, however, that the above described control unit is also adapted to other devices wherein a constant alternating current and both an automatic and manually controlled direct current are desired.

In operation, with the switch arm 23 set on the contact 26, the circuit for the train motor is as follows:

From the A. C. line through the transformer 20 to the terminal I3, bus I8, terminal |6, live rail 22, locomotive wheel W, locomotive motor M, shoe S, middle rail 2|, terminal I5, conductors 42,

switch leaves

31 and 38, bus 40,

switch

34 and 35, conductor 4| terminal I4 and back to the transformer 20. With this circuit the train will operate on the track. When it is desired to stop the train the push button 33 is pushed breaking the circuit between the

switch leaves

34 and 35.

The automatic whistle circuit which is also formed at this time is as follows:

Insulated rail section 45, conductor 46, switch terminal 24, switch arm 23, contact 26, conductor 28, dry cell contactors 30, dry cells 21, contactors 3|,

conductors

29 and 44, bus 40,

switch

34 and 35, conductor 4| terminal I4, through the secondary winding I9 of the transformer 2D, terminal I3, bus I8, and terminal I6 to the live rail 22. From the foregoing it will be seen that 35 as the shoe S contacts the section 45 of the middle rail 2 I, the foregoing circuit will be established through the whistle relay X and each time the locomotive passes over this section the whistle will operate.

l0 It will also be noted that the train operating circuit is not interrupted as the locomotive passes over the above mentioned insulated section, since A. C. current to the shoe S will be conducted from the bus to the

conductors

44 and 29 and thence through the dry cells to the switch contact 26 and switch 23.

When it is desired to operate the locomotive whistle at a point on the track other than at the location of the insulated section 45, the switch button 39 is depressed. When this is done the battery current from the dry cells travels as follows:

Center rail 2|, terminal I5, conductor 42,

leaves

31 and 36,

conductors

43 and 28, dry cell contactors 30, dry cells 21, contactor 3|,

conductors

29 and 44, bus 40,

switch

34 and 35, conductor 4|, terminal I4, transformer secondary winding I9, terminal I3, bus I8, terminal I6, and live rail 22. In this manner a low potential direct 60 current is superimposed on the relatively higher potential alternating current which is energizing the train motor M. These two currents are brought to the wheel W and shoe S" of the locomotive to be utilized respectively by the locomotive motor M" and the whistle and relay assembly X,

When it is desired to operate the train but to cut out the automatic whistle as the locomotive passes over the section 45, the switch arm 23 is set on the contact 25. This cuts out direct current to the insulated rail 45.

From the foregoing it can be seen that a simple, compact and inexpensive control device has been disclosed in its preferred form of embodiment. It is also obvious that immaterial changes not involving invention may be made by skilled persons, hence the invention as claimed should rather be interpreted in the light of the prior art than on the instant disclosure.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In combination, a source of alternating current, a source of direct current, a current takeoff member comprising a primary portion and a secondary portion, means, including a switch, for conducting and controlling the ow of alternating current to said primary and secondary portions, means partially co-extensive with said rstnamed means and, including another switch, for conducting and controlling the ow of direct current to said primary portion, means partially coextensve with said first and second-named means for normally conducting direct current to said secondary section, and a third switch included in said last named means, for completely interrupting the flow of the direct current only to said primary and secondary portions.

2. A control device for an alternating current operated toy train having a direct current operated audible signal comprising sources of alternating current and direct current, a current takeoff member including a primary portion and a secondary portion, means, including a switch, for conducting and controlling the flow of the alternating current to said primary and secondary portions to operate and stop the train, means partially co-extensive with said first-named means for normally conducting direct current to said secondary portion to automatically operate said signal as the train passes over said secondary portion, means partially co-extensive with said rst and second-named means and, including another switch, for conducting and controlling the flow of direct current to said primary portion to manually operate said signal as the train passes over any part 0f said primary portion, and a third switch included in said last named means, for completely interrupting the flow of the direct current to prevent the operation of said signal as the train passes over both said primary and secondary portions.

WILLIAM T. BAILEY.