US2746206A

US2746206A - Moving ball on magnetic track

Info

Publication number: US2746206A
Application number: US371491A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr John Hays Hammond
Original assignee: Jr John Hays Hammond
Priority date: 1953-07-31
Filing date: 1953-07-31
Publication date: 1956-05-22
Anticipated expiration: 1973-05-22

Description

May 22, 1956 Filed July 31, 1955 J. H. HAMMOND, JR

MOVING BALL ON MAGNETIC TRACK 2 sheets-sneer 1 i 1 QLHNUH May 22, 1956 J. H. HAMMOND, JR

MOVING BALL ON MAGNETIC TRACK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 31, 1953 INVENTOR. JOHN HAYS HAMMOND, JR.

United States Patent O 2,746,206 MOVING BALL N MAGNETIC TRACK John Hays Hammond, Jr., Gloucester, Mass. Application July 31, 1953, Serial No. 371,491 1 Claim. (Cl. 46-43) This invention relates to magnetic toys and more particularly to a device comprising a magnetic track on which rolls an iron ball under the control of a moving magnetic eld.

More specifically the device comprises a track of any desired configuration provided with a series of electromagnets which are energized consecutively by means of a commutator to provide a travelling magnetic eld for moving an iron ball along the track at any desired speed.

The invention also consists in certain new and original features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

The nature of the invention, as to its objects and advantages, the mode of its operation and the manner of its organization, may be better understood by referring to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which- Fig. 1 is a view of a device constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a commutator for operating the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of part of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawing.

In the following description parts will be identified by specific names for convenience, but they are intended to be generic in their application to similar parts.

Referring to the accompanying drawings and more particularly to Fig. 1 a base 11 is provided on which is mounted a frame 12. Secured to the frame 12 is a serpentine shaped casing 13, having a U-shaped cross-section (Fig. 4) in which is mounted a pair of rails 14 forming a track. Mounted at intervals on the rails 14 are a plurality of electromagnets 15-18, 21-25, 27, 28, etc. A large and powerful electro-magnet 29 is mounted at the head of the track.

For energizing these electro-magnets a commutator 31 is provided, Fig. 2. This commutator comprises a plurality of contacts, 32-35, 36-40, 42, 43, etc. arranged in a circle about a shaft 45, which is suitably mounted for rotation. Attached to the shaft 45 is a circular disc 46 made of insulating material on which is mounted a circular ring 47 of conducting material. Secured to the disc 46 are iive brushes 51--55 which in the position shown engage the contacts 34, 33, 32 and 43. The brush 53 is connected directly to the ring 47 while the four brushes 51-52 and 54-55 are connected to this ring thru four resistors 56-59 respectively. The resistors 56 and 59 are of higher resistance than the resistors 57 and 58.

Engaging the ring 47 is a fixed brush 61 which is connected thru a battery 62 and a switch 63 to a conductor 64 which in turn is connected to one side of all the electromagnets in the mechanism shown in Fig. 1. The other sides of all these electromagnets are connected by individual conductors to the individual contacts of the commutator 31. Thus, for example, the contacts 32-35 are connected to the magnets 29, 15, 16 and 17 respectively by conductors 66-69; the contacts 36-40 are connected to the magnets 21--25 respectively by conductors 71--75 and the contacts 42 and 43 are connected to the magnets 27 and 28 respectively by conductors 77 and 78. Secured 2,746,206 Patented May 22, 1956 to the shaft 45 is a worm wheel 81 which meshes with a worm 82 mounted on the shaft 83 of a motor 84 which is supplied with current from a battery 86. A switch 85 is provided for controlling the operation of the motor 84.

A hollow ball 88, made of magnetic material, is shown in its initial position in Fig. 1. The commutator 31 is also shown in its initial position in Fig. 2. When the switch 63 is closed, current will How from the battery 62 thru the brush 61, ring 47, brush 53, contact 32, conductor 66, magnet 29 and back along conductor 64 to the battery 62. This will cause the energization of magnet 29 which will hold the ball 88 in the position shown in Fig. 1. At the same time a reduced amount of current will ilow from the battery 62 thru the resistors 56-59, contacts 51-52 and 54-55 and magnets 28, 15 and 16. The magnetic elds of these magnets will be comparatively weak so that they will not appreciably affect the position of the ball 88.

In the operation of the mechanism, when it is desired to start the ball 88 rolling along the track the switch 85 is closed thus starting the motor 84, which by means of the worm 82 and worm wheel 81 causes the shaft 45 together with the disc 46 to rotate in a clockwise direction as shown by the arrow. As the disc 46 rotates, it will cause the brushes 51--55 to move in a clockwise direction thus engaging successively the contacts 32-35 which in turn will successively energize the magnets 15-18. As these magnets are successively energized a moving magnetic field will be produced which will cause the ball 88 to travel along the track inthe direction of the arrow.

As the commutator 31 continues to rotate this moving magnetic field will travel along the track causing the ball 88 to travel along with it, as shown by the dotted line positions of this ball. As may be seen from the drawings this ball will travel in inverted positions apparently defying the law of gravity. At certain places, as indicated at 91 and 92 the track may be twisted thus causing the ball to change from one position to another.

When the brushes 51-55 reach the elongated contact 42 they will al1 remain on this segment for a short interval of time which will cause the ball to stop in front of magnet 27 for a brief interval after which it will start moving again. When the brushes reach the elongated contact 43 the ball will stop opposite the magnet 28 until brush 53V engages contact 32 at which time the large magnet 29 will be fully energized causing the ball to jump from magnet 28 to magnet 29. The cycle of operation will then be repeated.

Although only a few of the various forms in which this invention may be embodied have been shown herein, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to any specic construction but may be embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

A toy comprising a member forming a track and having two ends spaced to form a gap to be jumped, a series of electromagnets disposed along said track and at the ends forming said gap, a ball of magnetic material movable along said track within the range of magnetic inuence of said electromagnets and held to said track thereby, at least a portion of said track being inverted whereby the ball hangs therefrom supported solely by the influence of said magnets, and means energizing said electromagnets momentarily and in sequence for causing said ball to advance along said track and to jump across said gap.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,384,769 MacLaren July 19, 1921 1,959,737 Rigsby May 22, 1934 2,218,164 Carpenter Oct. 15, 1940 2,561,377 Jones July 24, 1951