US2897770A

US2897770A - Toy electric locomotives

Info

Publication number: US2897770A
Application number: US605586A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph L Bonanno
Original assignee: Lionel Corp
Current assignee: Lionel Corp
Priority date: 1956-08-22
Filing date: 1956-08-22
Publication date: 1959-08-04
Anticipated expiration: 1976-08-04

Description

Aug. 4, 1959 J. L. BONANNO 2,897,770

TOY ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES Filed Aug. 22, 1956 n 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 *li INVENTOR (/OSEPH l. EON/MIND BY h ATTORNEY 1959 J. L. BONANNO 2,897,770

TOY ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES Filed Aui- 22, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y INVENTOR (/OSEPH LBo/vmv/vo ATTO R N EY Aug. 4,. 1959 J. BONANNO 2,897,770

v TOY ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES Filed Aug. 22 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 v .INVENTOR l/OSEPH z. Bo/va/v/vo ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,897,770 I TOY ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES Joseph L. Bonanno, South Orange, N.J., assignor to The Lionel Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application August 22, 1956, Serial No. 605,586

8 Claims. (Cl. 105-49) The present invention relates to toy electric locomotives and is more particularly directed toward the running gear and propulsion unit of such a locomotive.

The present invention contemplates an improved propulsion unit for'toy electric locomotives having a frame made out of sheet metal parts to which is permanently secured the field structure of an electric motor. The truck frame carries worm gears driven by a worm in the lower end of the armature shaft of the motor and the driving gears to the wheels.

The present invention also contemplates improved means for securing the motor truck assembly to the body of the locomotive whereby the assembly may have arcuate movement relative to the locomotive body and a small amount of lateral movement. This avoids the use of the central pivot pin for the truck-to-chassis assembly heretofore in common use.

Other and further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

The accompanying drawings show, for purposes of illustrating the present invention, several embodiments in which the invention may take form, it being understood that the drawings are illustrative of the invention, rather than limiting the same.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a toy locomotive of the diesel electric type;

Figure 2 is a horizontal, sectional view showing the propulsion motor and truck, taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan view on a large scale of the propulsion unit, parts broken away;

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a vertical, cross section taken on the broken line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a vertical, sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary side elevation of one of the truck carried side plates; and

Figure 8 is an exploded view showing the various component parts of the combined propulsion unit, the motor brush rigging wheels, axles and driving gears being omitted.

The toy locomotive has a plastic cover 10 which gives the locomotive its appearance and a platform 11 having side flanges 12. The platform supports the plastic cover and connects the trucks T and T with one another and carries the couplers. The trucks have wheels W, adapted to ride on the usual rail R.

Reference is now made to Figure 8 where the component parts will be described. These include two Identical stamped steel side plates 20. Each plate has two pans of large holes 21 adapted to receive the axle bushings. Near their ends plates 20 have vertical slots 22 and horizontal slots 23. Medially of the plates there are two pairs of square openings 24, above which are two round holes 25. A relatively large hole 26 is between the holes 25.

Near the ends the upper edges of the plates have upwardly extending tabs 27 and lands 28. At the left or rear end of the truck to be formed the plates 20 have notches 29' for cooperation with the coupler mechanism. The purposes of these elements will appear later in the description.

The frame of the'truck has a front end member 30 and a rear end member 31 which are alike except that the member 30 has a rearward extension 32 for securement to the coupler. These end members have side tabs 33 which are adapted to enter the slots 22 in the side plates and bottom tabs 34 adapted to enter the slots 23. A plastic bearing cup 35 has lugs 36 which enter the square holes 24 of the side plates. When the sideplates, bearing cup and end members are assembled together, the

tabs

33 and 34 are upset, thus securing these parts together.

A horizontal plate 37 is adapted to carry the propulsion motor or to be used as a part of the truck without the propulsion motor. It has four slots 38 adapted to receive tabs 27, slots 39 being adapted to receive the narrowed upper ends 40 of the

end pieces

30, 31. It also has fourholes 41 for the'securement of truck side members 41a (Figs. 5, 6 and 7) and holes 42 to receive motor carried posts and an opening 43 to accommodate parts of the motor.

When the horizontal plate 37 is secured to the side plates 20-20 the frame of a non-motorized truck is assembled. When, however, the truck is to be motorized, the present invention contemplates the use of a motor field structure 45 secured to the plate 37 by shouldered posts 46 whose lower ends 46' pass through

holes

42, 42 and are upset. An upper motor end plate 47 is provided with brush rigging 48 and an upper bearing 49 for the upper end of the motor armature shaft 50. The shaft 50 carries the usual armature 51 and commutator 52 has a worm 53 near its lower end and a reduced lower end 54 which enters the bearing cup 35 and rides on ball 35'. The top plate is secured to the posts 46 by screws 55.

The

holes

21, 21 in the side plates receive bushings 60 through which pass axle shafts 61 carrying the truck wheels 62. The central holes in the side plates carry bushings 63 which receive a gear shaft 64 having a worm wheel 65 in mesh with the worm 53. The shaft 64 drives an external gear 66. The

holes

25, 25 on the left side plate carry

bushings

67, 67 which support stub shafts carrying idler gears 68 in mesh with gears 69 carried by the adjacent wheels.

When one wishes to secure the locomotive body to the truck assemblage, with or without propulsion motor, the posts 40 of the upper ends of the

end members

30 and 31 are passed up through the

arcuate slots

70, 70 in the platform plate 11 of the locomotive, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. These extensions 40 receive, as more clearly shown in Figure 4, cup-shaped washers 71, coiled springs 72, and a non-removable spring retainer 73. These serve to hold the plate 37 tightly against bumps 74 formed in plate 11. As the plate passes up between the

flanges

12, 12 of plate 11 and has slight clearance, it is obvious that the truck can turn about a vertical axis a limited amount.

Since it is obvious that the invention may be embodied in other forms and constructions within the scope of the claims, I wish it to be understood that the particular form shown herein is but one of these forms and, various modifications and changes being possible, I do not otherwise limit myself in any way with respect thereto.

What is claimed is:

1. In a toy locomotive, a platform having depending sides and two opposite coaxial arcuate slots centrally disposed with respect to the platform sides each extending laterally in an are on .each side of the locomotive longitudinal axis, a wheeled truck having a horizontal plate received between the platform sides which limit movement of the unit and also having two upwardly extending members entering the slots said members being of a size to permit movement along said slots and having widened portions, and spring means biased between the platform and the widened portions of the upwardly extending members to hold the horizontal plate against the lower surface of the platform whereby the upwardly extending members move laterally within said slots and the propulsion unit may swing about a vertical axis.

2. The toy of claim 1, wherein the wheeled truck includes side plates secured to the horizontal plate and carrying truck wheels.

3. The toy of claim 2, wherein the horizontal plate carries a propulsion motor with a worm drive and the truck carries wheel driving gears driven by said worm drive.

4. A sub-assembly for the truck of a toy locomotive comprising two parallel, vertical side plates, two end brackets, a horizontal bearing cup positioned between said side plates and end brackets at the lower portion thereof, means securing the end brackets and bearing cup between said side plate, and top plates secured to the upper edges of side plates.

5. A sub-assembly as in claim 4, wherein the top plate supports an electric motor having its armature on a vertical axis which has an armature shaft carrying a worm supported in the bearing cup.

6. The sub-assembly of claim 5, wherein the side plates support wheeled axles, and gearing supported on said sub-assembly connecting theworm to the wheels.

7. A propulsion unit for a toy comprising a platform, a substantially horizontal motor supporting member adjacent said platform, a wheel supporting member depending from said motor supporting member, wheels rotatably mounted on said wheel supporting member, motor driving means on said motor supporting member, means connected to said motor driving means and said wheels to to tate the latter, and resilient mounting means connected to each end of said horizontal motor supporting member and said platform whereby to resiliently hold said propulsion unit in operative association with said toy when operatively connected thereto.

8. A propulsion unit according to claim 7 wherein said motor means includes a substantially vertical driving shaft, and bearing and shaft supporting means held by said wheel supporting member arranged to support the lower portion of said motor shaft for rotation therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 385,053 Hunter June 26, 1888 1,020,607 Hunt Mar. 19, 1912 1,781,537 Caruso Nov; 11, 1930 1,822,015 Cowen et al. Sept. 8, 1931 1,842,021 Hanley Jan. 19, 1932 1,869,199 Koerber July 26, 1932 2,252,789 Van Dorn Aug. 19, 1941