US2932259A - Toy train controller and telegraph system - Google Patents

Description

April 12, 1960 P. c. CRUM TOY TRAIN CONTROLLER AND TELEGRAPH SYSTEM Filed July 11, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. PAUL 6'. 6mm

ATTD RN EYS April 12, 1960 c, R M 2,932,259

TOY TRAIN CONTROLLER AND TELEGRAPH SYSTEM I Filed July 11, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR.

Biz/L C. CHI/M ATTORNEYS TOY TRAIN CONTROLLER AND TELEGRAPH SYSTEM Paul C. Crum, Chicago, Ill.

Application July 11, 1958, Serial No. 747,984

4 Claims. (Cl. 104-149) The object of the invention is to provide a means for 2,932,259 Patented Apr. 12, 1960 ice . eighth, ninth and tenth binding posts which are electricontrolling toy electric trains and various types of accessories.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means or system for controlling toy electric trains and accessories for such trains, wherein a member which resembles or simulates a telegram is used for actuating the trains or accessories.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system wherein the user of the equipment can move a telegram simulating member into such a position that movement of the trains will be controlled, or wherein various types of equipment or accessories can be readily actuated or controlled as desired. a Y

A further object of the invention is to provide a toy train controller and telegraph system which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same.

Figure l is a view illustrating schematically the wiring diagram -for'the present invention. a

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating certain .details of the present invention including the sounding mechanism.

Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating a housing which is shaped to resemble a telegraph office, and showing thestep of inserting the telegram simulating member therein for causing actuation of the assembly.

Figure 4 is a view looking at the rear of the telegram simulating member and showing the sections which have the raised and indented surfaces thereon.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, but showing the telegram simulating member in shifted or moved position.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 30 indicates the operating unit, Figure 1, and the operating unit includes first and second binding posts 31 and 32, and there is further provided spaced apart third and fourth binding posts 33 and 34. The firstand second binding posts 31 and '32 are connected to the fixed voltage windings 35 of a conventional transformer 36. The transformer 36 further includes the usual variable vo1tage windings 37 which is electrically connected to the third and forth binding posts 33 and 34. The numeral 38 indicates the primary winding of the transformer 36.

There is further provided a fifth binding post 39 which is electrically connected to a speed reducing assembly 40 that is provided with a relay or solenoid 41, and the assembly 40 is of conventional construction.

cally connected to a pair of track pressure switches 52 and 53. The numeral 5'4-indicates an eleventh binding post which is adapted to be connected to an accessory such as the stop mechanism 55 whereby a toy train traveling on the track 44 can be accurately stopped when desired.

The numerals 56 and 57 indicate twelfth and thirteenth binding posts which are adapted to be connected to accessories operated by track power. The numerals 58 and 59 indicate fourteenth and fifteenth binding posts which are adapted to housed 'for controlling accessories run from fixed voltage windings such as the windings 35 on the transformer 36.

As shown in Figure 1, there is provided a first switch mechanism 60, a second switch mechanism 61, and a third switch mechanism 62. The first switch mechanism 60. includes a movable arm 63 that has a roller 64 connected thereto. The second switch mechanism 61 includes a movable arm 65 that has a roller 66 connected thereto, and the third switch 62 includes a movable arm 67 that has a roller 68 connected thereto.

The first switch mechanism 69 further includes a first stationary contact 69, and a second contact 70 is carried by the movable arm 63, the contact 70 being mounted for movement into and out of engagement with the contact 69. Also'carried by the movable arm 63 is a third contact 71, and the contact 71 is mounted for movement into and out of electrical engagement with a fourth stationary contact 72.

The switch mechanism 61 includes a movable fifth contact 73 which is carried by the movable arm 65, and the contact 73 is mounted for movement into and out of engagement with a stationary fixed contact 74. fThe third switch mechanism 62 includes a movable contact 75 which is carried by the movable arm 67, and the seventh contact 75 is mounted for movement into and out of engagement with a stationary contact 76.

As shown in the drawings, there is further provided first, 'second and third deactivating switches which are indicated respectively by the numerals 77, 78 and 79.

As shown in the drawings, the deactivating switches 77, 78 and 79 are connected to the movable arms 63, 65 and 67 respectively.

The numeral '80 indicates a first lead which is connected to the first binding post 31, and a first conductor 81 connects the first lead 89 to the fifteenth binding post 59. A second lead *82 electrically connects the eighth contact 76 to the fourteenth binding post 58. A second conductor 83 electrically connects the first lead to the tenth binding post 51.

As shown in Figure 1, there is further provided a triggering solenoid assembly which is indicated generally by the numeral 84, and the triggering solenoid assembly 84 includes first and second coils or windings 85 and 86. The first coil 85 is connected to the eighth binding post'49, and the second coil 86 is electrically connected to the ninth binding post 50. There is further provided a movable core 87 for coaction with the coils 85 and in this application.

The numeral 88 indicates a third conductor which serves to electrically connect the binding post 32to the second coil 86. A third lead 89 is connected to the third binding post 33. Fourth and fifth conductors 90 and 91 serve to electrically connect third lead '89 to the first and second deactivating switches 77 and 78. A sixth conductor 92 connects said third lead 89 to the first coil 85. A seventh conductor 93 connects the sixth contact 74 to the. twelfth binding post 56. An eighth conductor 94 electrically connects the fourthcontact 7 2 to the eleventh binding post 54. A fourth lead is connected'to the fourthbinding post 34, and a ninth conductor 96 connects the fourth lead 95 to the fifth bind ing post 39. A tenthconductor 97 connects the fourth lead 95 to'the thirteenth binding post 57. An eleventh conductor 98 serves to electrically connect the ninth conductor 96 to the seventh binding post 48. There is further provided a twelfth conductor 99 which'serves to connectthe sixth binding post 42 to 'the first contact '69 and also to the first deactivating switch 77.

There is further provided a body member which is indicated generally by the numeral 100, and the body member 100 is shaped to simulate or represent a telegram. Thus, one side of the telegram simulating member 100 may be provided with indicia or markings 101 and 102 thereon, as shown in Figure 3. The other side of the member 100 or theback side of the member 100 is provided with a plurality of spaced apart sections 103, 104, 105, 106, and 107. These sections are each provided with raised surfaces 108 and indented or recessed surfaces 109, Figures 4, 5 and 6. i As shown in Figures 2 and 3, there is provided a spring pressed finger piece 110 which is pivotally connected to a hollow housing 112 by means of a pivot pin 111. The upper end of the housing 112 is provided with a slotor opening 113 whereby the member 100 can be readily manually moved down through the slot 113 to actuate the control unit 30, and the control unit 30 may be arranged within the housing 112. The housing 112. may be provided with indicia such as the indicia 114 and the housing 112 may be shaped to resemble or simulate a telegraph ofiice. The numeral 115 indicates a' tension spring which is arranged in engagement with thefinger piece or lever 110, and the spring 115 serves to normally urge the finger piece 110 into the-solid line position of Figure 2. w

The numeral 116 indicatesa movable base which is adjustably or movably mounted inthe housing 112, and the base 116is provided with a plurality of teeth 117 on one side thereof. A dog 118 on the finger piece 110 is mounted for movement into and out of engagementwith the teeth 117 The movable base 116 is also provided with a toothed rack portion 119 which is arranged on the opposite side from the teeth 117. The numeral 120 indicates a shaft which has a rotary gear 121 mounted thereon, and the teeth of the gear 121 mesh with the rack portion 119 of the base 116. The numeral 122 indicates a spring member which is connected to the gear 121. Meshing with the gear 121 is a gear 123, and the gear 123 serves to rotate a collar or spool 124 which has a plurality of spaced apart lugs 125 extending therefrom. The lugs 125 serve to actuate a sounding mechanism which is indicated generally by the numeral 126, and the sounding" mechanism 126 includes a pivotally mounted bar 127 that is adapted to be engaged by the lugs 125 as the spool 124 rotates. The bar 127 carries a hammer 128 that is mounted for movement intoand out of engagement with a'base piece of stationary member 129, and a spring'130 is connected to the bar 127, the spring 130 serving to function as a return spring.

If desired, the toy telegraph sounder mayof course, be operated in a manner-other than describedabove, as for example electrically as an actual telegraph sounder is operated. It is further set forth .that as anadditional feature to make this device more realistic, a miniature.

telegraph operator seated at a desk, may be used, and a movement of his hand on a toy telegraph key be produced either independently, or simultaneously with and by the same power as the sounder mechanism, whether this be operated mechanically as described above, or by electricity or any other means.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a toy train controller and telegraph system, and

in use it will be seen that with the parts arranged as shown in the drawings, the telegram simulating member can be inserted down through the slot 113 in the housing 112 and the member 100 is constructed or arranged so that on one side thereof is the indicia or telegram simulating material 101 which may-have a message such as top train, unload coal and back up. The member 100 has on its back surface the plurality of sections 103, 104, 105, 106 and 107 and these sections are provided with prearranged indentations and'raised surfaces 109 and 108, as for example as shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6. Thus, it will be seen that when the member 100 is pushed down through the slot 113, the base 116 will be pushed downwardly and as the member 100 moves downwardly, it will engage the switches 77, 78 and 79 and then the sections 103 through 107 will engage the rollers 64, 66 and 68 so that the contacts and movable arms will be actuated whereby the assembly will be caused to operate in the predetermined manner. In other words, it is to be understood that a plurality of the members 100 are to be provided,"and these members have different arrangements of sections; 103 through 107, in order to correspond with the indicia 101 on the front surface of the member 100 so that the'various' train accessories or equipment can be made to automatically operate in a desired manner dependingupon which member 100 is inserted through the slot 113 inthe housing 112.

The present invention has several basic purposes, namely to provide a system for controlling toy electric trains and/or their accessories, and to provide certain toy telegraph equipment which will by sight, sound, and action simulate some of the mutual activities that railroading and telegraphing have engaged in for many years.-

Whilethe control partof "thesystem is not bound by any connection with telegraphy, whatsoever, and may be used without it, or even with some-other thing, such as teletype, or automation control system, or employ a .Railway Radio theme, in Whithihe'tHCSS'flge ay be'merely written on the front of member 100;and such appurtenances as antennas on top of toy buildings and pieces of railway rolling stock, microphones, handsets and the like held by miniature men, and other thingsused to create the desired atmosphere for this, the description of the present invention will proceed as it applies to a toy telegraph system.

Preferably the main operating mechanism is adapted to be housed in a toy building made to resemble a railway telegraph ofiice, as for example as indicated by the numeral 112 in Figure 3, or it may resemble a railway depot.- The main mechanism is adapted to'be powered by ,a springmotor which may be of the timer type to provide constant speed operation of the mechanism, and this spring is indicated by the numeral 122 in Figure 2. However, other types of motivation suchas an electric motor can be used. The member 100 is in the nature of a toy telegram made of any suitable material such as plastic sheet 'or other material which is printed, colored and generally shaped to resemble a telegram which contains the .controllingmessage, whichwill control the operation of the train and/oraccessories as. later described in this application. This toy telegram 100 is inserted into the device 112 by pushing it' down through a slot 113 in-the roofof the toy telegraph oflice. Pushing-this telegram 100 downward into place automatically winds-the spring motor-122 since as-the member, 100 moves down iti moves the. base 116 down Which causes asserts r the rack 119 to rotate the rotates, it winds the spring 122. In order to provide further realism, the toy telegraph station also contains a toy telegraph sounder as indicated by the numeral 126 which is also operated by the spring motor which drives gear 121, arid as gear 121" can be .operated and controlled, by supplying current when desired or interrupting it when desired to the train and/or accessories. For example, in one common type of toy train which is equipped with a counting-relay type reversing mechanism, interrupting the current to the train through the track through which it gets its power, will stop the train, and restoring the current will merely cause it to remain stopped. Once again interrupting the current to the train and restoring it will permit the train to move in a direction opposite to the original direction or back it up. A third interruption of the current to the train and its subsequent restoral will cause it to remain stopped, while the fourth interruption and restoral-of the current will permit it to go in the original direction or forward. Thus, if a reversing system is not used, interruption of the track current and its restoral would merely make the train stop and then proceed in the same direction.- v p 1 Control of accessories is generally much simpler and two general methods of supplying power are used. First, constant and uninterrupted supply for such devices as various toy conveyor systems, and secondly a short series of pulses or short periods of current supply for devices such as ice block-unloaders, milk can-unloaders, ratchettype unloading cars, car uncouplers, and (with one pulse only required for each operation), track switches.

Furthermore, speed of the train can be reduced for short periods and by activating the speed-reducing relay 40 shown in Figure 1, the speed of the train can be reduced. Furthermore, opening of the normally closed relay inserts the resistor in series with the train track and slows the train for any presumed reason such'as for a bad track.

Basic to the operation of the system as previously stated, is the toy telegram indicated by the numeral 100. Actually this is a stiff sheet of plastic or other suitable material which is normally the color of an actual telegram and of a shape similar to that shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6. On its face in type similar to that usecl in actual telegrams is printed the'message as, indicated by the numeral 101, which is to be sent, and which will actually be carried out by the-device. On the back of this telegram sheet is 'placed' the number of raised sections or depressed sections, if preferred, to actuatethe contacts as later described in this application.

It is to be noted that the length of time required to carry out the operations outlined on the telegram should govern the length'of the duty cycle of the device, and the length of time required for the telegram to run upward from itsstarting position, to its stopping or ejection position. Since it is at all'tirnes, when driven by the spring motor 122, driven at a constant'speed, the length of this duty cycle is determined by how fardown into the slot 113 through the top of the toy telegraph oflice 112, thetelegram is placed. 'The distance into which the telegram may be placed down into this slot 113 is determined by the configuration of each telegram. As shown in Figures 5. and 6 for example, the bottom of the telegram is more narrow than the top, and the slot 113 is just wide enough to accommodate the width of the bottom of thetelegram, but'not wide enough to admit the top part. Thus, the ratio of the length of the slot to the body of the telegram determines the length of the duty cycle of each particular telegram. Telegrams that have to control operations that" last an appreciable time,

have a length of the bodyof the telegram greatenough to permit the telegram to run long enough to carry out the operation. Similarly, short time operations require only short length of the body of the telegram to carry out these operations and the telegram should be inserted only a short distance. This permits the operation to begin immediately, upon starting the upward movement of the telegram and to finish when its need is satisfied.

In Figure 4 there is illustrated a view of the telegram and on one side appears the printing 101. The back side of the telegram shows how the'sections 103, 104, 105, 106 and 107 are raised above the average surface 'of the telegram. The rounded shoes or rollers 64 'on the movable arms such as the arms 63, "and the rollers 66 and 68 on the arms 65 and 67 carry contacts as shown in Figure 1 so' that these contacts will be moved in such a manner as to supply and/or interrupt current to the toy train and/or accessories so as to control them according to information on the toy telegram.

Each telegram may have three channels as for example as indicated by dotted lines inFigure 4, and these three channels are indicated by the numerals 131, 132 and 133. The channel 131 can be used for control of the train itself through supplying and/ or interrupting current flow to the train track 44.

'The channel 132 can be used for control of all those accessories, such as electrically operated switches which receive their power from the train track. The channel 133 can be used for control of all those accessories which receive their power from a fixed voltage winding on a transformer. It is to be noted that channel 131 has only one track or section 103 since only one circuit is involved in train control. Channels 132 and 133 may have any reasonable number of sections or tracks in general since one track is required for each accessory desired to be connected to the controlling device at one time. One exception is channel 132 when it is used to con trol electrically operated switches. If both left and right actuation is desired, one track must be used for each one. Lower priced train outfits may not have a channel 133 or even a fixed voltage winding on a transformer to power it. Neither is channel 132 actually necessary even though it uses the regular train operating winding for power. It is to be understood that other devices besides a flat imitation telegram can be used to provide this control previously discussed such as rotating discs, strips or the like.

It is further understood that the telegram or other operating device may not use raised sections to operate contacts on movable arms, but certain portions of the surface of such telegram or. other operating device may be madeelectrically conductive, by printed circuit techniques, for instance, in sections corresponding to the raised portions mentioned earlier, and contacts sliding against these surfaces be made to make or interrupt the desired circuits. I i

Power for this device is supplied by the spring power motor or spring member 122, which is similar to the spring motors commonly called timers that are used to signal predetermined timeintervals for photography, cooking and the like. Such devices usually have an indicator that may be set to indicate some time interval, and the setting of such indicator winds the spring mechanism enough to cause it to continue to run until this time interval will have elapsed, and the elapse will have been signalled by a gong or other means, or a circuit connected to the devic'e'will have been interrupted. This motor is wound by pushing the toy telegram downward in the slot 113 in the'top of the telegraph ofiice 112. When the telegram 100 is pushed downward, gear teeth 119,

as shown on the right side of the actuating base 116 cause the gear 121 to revolve in a counterclockwise direction, so as to wind the spring power motor 122'attached to the shaft 120.

Realistic sound of a telegraph sounder is provided by amovable arm. or bar 127 on-which is mountedv apiece of metal .128 thatioscillates between and touches the base 129 which isxstationary; Irregular movements of'the arm-127 :to siniulate movements of a telegraph sounder bar-are caused by:thesend5of the;arm or bar 127 whichis urgedeagainst the dogs 125 on the. shaft driven gear 124 by means-of the spring 13.0. The metahsounder parts may be. mounted in a sounding board :box to improve the sound and loudness of athe-telegraph-sounder sound.

In view of the fact that it is ,desirablethat the connection of =the device to'a trainlayout will not interefere in anyway with-the normal manualcontrol operation of this :layout, .it is necessary :to make some'provision-for preventing :a disruption of normal manual control operation-of the system whilethe toytelegram is being placed inits .slot. -If this were not; done, .raisedportions of the telegram passing.;=.its contactor-actuators would interrupt and/ or supply powerinsuch a way andat such a-time as to disrupt the system. To avoid this, the left end of the actuating base 116 as shown in Figure 2, is provided with a saw tooth ratchet type edge 117. When the dog 118 on the end of the switch lever 110 is in position as indicated by. the solid lines in Figure 2, it prevents the actuating base 116 from being pushed downward by the telegram and hence prevents the telegram from being in serted, the dog 118 being held in position by means of the spring 116. When theswitch 110 is moved from the 'solid line position of Figure 2 to the-dotted '1ine position of Figure 2, the' dog 118 clears the ratchet edge 117 of the actuating base 116 and permits the actuating base 116 to be pushed downward by the telegram 100- and hence permits the telegram to be inserted in-its-slot 113. The purpose of this feature is to always cause the deactivating switch 110 to disable the automatic device for the time that the telegram is being inserted and prevent the disruption'of normal service while this is being done.

In Figure 1 the numerals 77, 78and 79indicate'parts of the deactivating switch which are actuated by the member 110 so that as the member 110 is moved, all of the switch parts 77, 78 and 79 are simultancouslymoved-since these parts are ganged together. Thus, when the switch 110 is in the dotted line position of Figure 2, the following things occur as shown in the diagram of Figure l. The switchpart 77 assumes the dotted line positionso as to short out contacts 69 and 70. Switch 78 assumes the dotted line position and opens up the circuit to the arm65; Switch part 79 assumes the dotted line position and opens up the circuit to the arm 67 of theswitch 62. This results in preventing a break in continuity of the series circuit from the variable voltage Winding 37 of the transformer 36 to the track 44 and prevents undesirable application of power to accessories by the machine through the switches 78 or 79.

Referring to the drawings, the operation of the system is as follows. When it is desired to operate the train layout automatically, the operator pushes the telegram 100 with the message it is desired to execute, in the slot 113 in the top of the telegraph oflice 112, and while holding the handle 110 in the dotted line position of Figure 2, the telegram is pusheddown into the slot as far as it will go. In that position, a catch 134 on the telegram slips under the end 135 of the rod 87 of the triggering solenoid 84 which prevents the force of the spring motor, which has beenwound by .the pushing down of the telegram against the actuating base 116, from pushing the telegram upward to begin the automatically controlled operation of V the system before it is desired.

A- track pressure switch 52 which is connected in series with one winding85 of the triggering solenoid S4, and

, a winding of the power transformer, is placed under the ing' solenoid and the variable voltage winding, that is the main winding which supplies power to the train of the transformer '36. Thepressure switch 53 'is in series with winding 86 of thesame solenoid, and the fixed or accessory'winding .3591" the transformer. Thus, the pressure switch 5?. controls th'e beginning of the cycle of the track operated .eguipmengwhile the switch ,53 controls the be ginningof thecyclefor fixed .voltage'powered equipment.

- Whileoperating, when the train locomotive reaches the spoton the track where .it-activates the track pressure switches and 53, this permits current to flow through the respective windings of the triggering solenoid 84., and causes the .rodof this solenoid to move toward the left in-the drawingas indicated ,bythe arrow, and release the Catchf135 from the keeper or member .134 whichhas caused it to holdthe telegram from being forced upward. The actuating base .116, driven bythe spring motoroperated gear-.121, pushes the telegram upwardat-a low even speed.

It .is'noted thatmorc than one catch 134 may be ineluded on the telegram to permit greater flexibility of operation by, for instance, stopping the upward travel of the telegramat a convenient place and permit triggering it ,at adesired time by another pressure switch to permit accurate timing of the start of some'operation to be performed later than the first. When more than one catch 134 is included on a given telegram, more than one pressure switch may be used, connected in parallel .with the first and located at .such apoint in the layout that it will trigger-telegram 100 when it is desired that telegram 100 will begin anqadditional period of travel afterhaving beenstopped by a catch 134 additional to the earlier mentioned catch 134. It is further noted that aswitch other than a track pressure switch may be used for this purpose. If for instance, it is desirable that such a switch operate when the train travels in one direction, but not in the opposite direction, a simple single pole double throw switch may be used and activated by the passage of the train and so connected that it will activate triggering solenoid assembly 84, when the train is goingin the desired direction only.

Referring again to Figure 1, the rounded shoes or rollers 64, 66 and 68, ride against the individual tracks or sections 103, 104, 105, 106, and 107 of the telegram and are caused tomove outward from the telegram when they encounter raised information sections 108 and thus acjtuategtheir respective contacts 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, and 76 respectively.

. Forexample, .if the telegrams printed message called for stopping the train, a raised information bump 108 on section 103 of channel 131, Figure 4, would cause the separation of contacts 70 and 69, so as to interrupt the current from the transformer 36 to the train track 44 and thereby stop the train.

Similarly, closure of contacts 73 and 74, or and 76 would'cause current to flow to those accessories hooked up to be controlled by these channels and such accessories to be activated. Accessories to be'controlled are connected to binding posts 56-and'57, or 58 and 59.

If accessories are to be operated by this device, after the train controlled by it will have'been stopped by it, it is necessary to provide means of stopping the controlled train quiteaccurately at a desired location. Referring to Figure l of the drawings, the upward pointing tip of the accurate stopping .mechanism 55 normally rests near the track 44 and does not interfere with the passage of a train over it. When, however, contacts 71 and 72 are caused to become in contact with each other due to a raised information section causing the contact 64 to move outward from the telegram, current is caused to flowfrom the transformer 36 through the coil 137 of the automatic stopping Imechanism so as to raise its pointed hook 136 and'catchthe truck of the car desired to :be stoppedaccurately. In short, as soon as the contacts in channel lfil' open the circuit to-the track to stop .thetrain near an Operating accessory, other contacts in this same chan- V nel will actuate the accurate stopping device 55 to stop a the car accurately and without permitting it to coast too far past the point where it must be stopped for satisfactory operation in connection with an operating accessory.

As an alternative to the above, this stopping hook 136 may be constructed so that it is normally upward to catch the bottom of the cars toprevent them from coasting. The coil of this mechanism would, in that instance, be left wired across the train track supply connections at all times, and so arranged that when the coil is energized, it will pull the hook downward and permit the train to move unobstructed. When the train current was interrupted, it would immediately spring upward to prevent cars from coasting past their desired stopping point.

In Figure 1 the triggering solenoid 84 serves to release the telegram for beginning of duty cycle. The binding posts 56 and 57 are adapted to be used to control accessories operated by track power. The binding posts 58 and 59 are for controlling accessories which run from the fixed voltage winding on the transformer. Figure 3 is a perspective view showing how the toy telegram is slipped into the top of the station and the printed side of the telegram is shown. The part with the raised operating configurations is on the back side of the telegram. The channel 131 of the telegram is always used to control the train proper. The channel 132 is used to control those accessories which are always powered from regular track power such as switches. The channel 133 is used to control those accessories which are always powered from a fixed voltage 'Winding on a transformer. Low priced transformers may not have this winding and this section 133 will not be used with them.

In Figures 5 and 6 the contacts are normally open and close only when the contact arm rides up on the raised plate on the telegram.

The sounder mechanism as shown in Figure 2 is adapted to provide an inexpensive means of making a sound similar to a telegraph sounder and a clicking sound is provided when the arm 127 drops 01? the dogs 125. In Figure 1 the parts enclosed within the. dotted lines represent the present invention, and the various binding posts to which outside devices are wired are adapted to be arranged along the outer edges of the unit. The speed reducing relay 49 is arranged so that when it is not energized, the train operates normally, and when the relay is energized, it opens these contacts and the resistor is in series with the current to the train track so as to slow the train. 'The rollers 64, 66 and 63 reduce sliding friction as the telegram moves upward and makes the action smoother. The hook 136 on the accurate stopping mechanism 55is adapted to be arranged at the center rail 45 of the tracks 44 in order to hook the cars.

The switch parts 77, 78 and 79 actuated by the member 110 serve to prevent the telegram, for the brief period while it is being inserted into its slot, from affecting the operation of the train manually while it is being set up for automatic telegraph operation. To accomplish this, the following would be necessary. Short out contacts 69 and 70 to prevent interrupting the flow of current to the train track. Open the line to contacts 73 and 74 to prevent application of power to accessories powcred from the train track. Open the line to contacts 75 and 76 to prevent application of power to accessories powered from the fixed voltage winding of a train transformer. p

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to inactual practice, if desired.

I claim:

1. In a toy train controller and telegraph system, an operating unit comprising first and second binding posts sa as-ta adapted to be connected to a fixed voltage winding of to be connected-to a variable voltage winding, 11 fifth binding post adapted to be. connected to a speed reduc ing assembly, a sixth binding post adapted to be connected to a rail of a track, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth binding. posts adapted to be connected to a pair of track pressure switches, an eleventh binding post adapted to be connected to a stop mechanism, twelfth and thirteenth binding posts adapted to be connected to accessories operated by track power, fourteenth and fif teenth binding posts for controlling accessories run'from the fixed voltage Winding of a transformer, a first switch mechanism, a second switch mechanism and a third switch mechanism, each of said switch mechanisms comprising a movable arm, a roller connected to each movable arm, said first switch mechanism comprising a first stationary contact, a second contact carried by said movable arm and mounted for movement into and out of engagement with said first contact, a third contact carried by one of said movable arms, a stationary fourth contact adapted to have said third contact moved into and out of engagement therewith, a fifth contact carried by the movable arm of said second switch mechanism, a stationary sixth contact adapted to be selectively engaged by said fifth contact, a seventh contact carried by the movable arm of the third switch mechanism, an eighth contact adapted to be engaged by said seventh contact; first, second and third deactivating switches; a first lead connected to said first binding post, said deactivating switches being electrically connected respectively to the movable arms of said first, secondand third switch mechanisms, a first conductor connecting said first lead to said fifteenth binding post, a second lead connecting said eighth contact to said fourteenth binding post, a second conductor connecting said first lead to said tenth binding post; a triggering solenoid assembly including first and second coils, said first coil being connected to said eighth binding post, said second coil being connected to said ninth binding post, a movable core for coaction with said first and second coils; a third conductor connecting said second binding'post to said second coil, a third lead connected to said third binding post, fourth and fifth conductors connecting said third lead to said first and second deactivating switches, a sixth conductor connecting said third lead to said first coil, a seventh conductor connecting said sixth contact to said twelfth binding post, an eighth conductor connecting said fourth contact to said eleventh binding post,

a fourth'lead connected to said fourth binding post, a ninth conductor connecting said fourth lead to said fifth binding post, a tenth conductorconnecting said fourth lead to said thirteenth binding post, an eleventh conductor connecting said ninth conductor to said seventh binding post, and a twelfth conductor connecting said sixth binding post to said first contact and also to said first deactivating switch.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1, and further including a telegram simulating body member provided with spaced apart sections having raised and indented surfaces for actuating said rollers and switches.

3. The structure as defined in claim '1, and further including a spring pressed finger engaging member for simultaneously moving said first, second and third deactivating switches. I

4. The structure as defined in claim 1, and further including a telegram simulating programming body member of a generally flat configuration provided with sections having raised and indented surfaces for actuating said rollers, a spring pressed finger engaging member for simultaneously moving said first, second and third deactivating switches, a housing simulating a telegraph office and said housing having said finger engaging member pivotally connected thereto, there being a slot in the upper portion of said housing for receiving said a telegram simulating body member, a base movably arranged in said housing and said base adapted to be engaged by the telegram simulatingibody member, said vided with a plurality of spaced apart lugs, and a soundb'ase'havm'g' a'plurality of teeth on one sidethereof, 'a ing mechanism selectively actuated by said' lugs andd'og onsatid "finger engaging member 'for engagement operatively connected to saidlugs.

with said-teeth, a-toothed rackportion on the other side I ofthe base, a spring wound gear engaging said rack 5 References'Cited in the file ofthis patent pprtiomithe telegraph simulating body member in its downward movement engaging 'thebase and pushing the UNITED STATES PATENTS base 'dcwrrto wind the spring wound :gea'r, the-base 2 ;058;523 Stearns "0'et, 27,-1936 adapted to'be selectively raised by the spring action, a 2,7 ,9 idd ..'Feb. 14, 1956 rotary' spool driven 'by' said gear, said spoofbeingjpro 10 2762952 'Bruderlin Sept. '11, 1956

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