US2975552A - Operating brakeman - Google Patents

Description

March 21, 1961 J. BONANNO 2,975,552

OPERATING BRAKEMAN Filed Aug. 50, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR (/OSEFH LBo/vn/v/vo ATTORN EYS March 21, 1961 J. BONANNO 2,975,552

OPERATING BRAKEMAN Filed Aug. 30, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR z/oszpy L.BONRNNO M Wm? w 7? J ATTORNEK:

United States Patent OPERATING BRAKEMAN Joseph L. Bonanno, South Orange, N.J., assignor to The Lionel Corporation, a corporation of New York Filed Aug. 30, 1957, Ser. No. 681,281

6 Claims. (Cl. 46-245) This invention relates to model railways and more particularly to a model railway car embodying an animated simulated brakeman which is adapted to move between an erect and a prone positionas the car approaches a tunnel.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel railway car on which a mannikin of a brakeman is mounted for movement between an erected and a prone position as the car approaches a low overhang or low tunnel to simulate an authentic action.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a solenoid operating mechanism contained within the railway car for effecting the aforementioned movement. Another object of the present invention is to provide a mechanical linkage arrangement between the electrically operated solenoid and the mannikin for alternately moving the mannikin between an erected and a prone position and between a prone and an erected position in response to sequential energization of the solenoid.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a railway car of the above type adapted for use in connection with a track mounted contact arrangement for efiecting energization of the solenoid as the car approaches a-low bridge railway signal placed adjacent to the low overhang or tunnel.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a railway car bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, has a minimum number of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture and emcient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a railway car, the car being shown in a plurality of positions relative to the trackway embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the car shown in Figure 1;

line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of certain parts of the operating mechanism shown in Figure 3,

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of certain parts of the operating mechanism shown in Figure 4; and

, Figure 8 is a transverse cross sectional view taken along line 8-'-8 of Figure 3.

In accordance with the present invention, a model railway car has been provided in which a mannikin in the form of a brakeman is pivotally mounted upon the top of the car and associated with operating means for rotating the mannikin between an erect and a prone posi- 2,975,552 Patented Mar. 21, 1961 'ice tion as the railway car approaches a low overhang or a tunnel so as to produce a novel and amusing effect.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, and particularly to Figures 1 and 2 thereof, a railway car 10 made in accordance with the present invention is shown to include a wheel truck 12 having a third rail roller 13 at one end and another wheel truck 15 having a ground contact shoe 16 for engagement with a railway signal coupling plate 17 which is secured to the track in proximity with a simulated low bridge signal device 18 The third rail roller 13 and ground contact shoe 16 are connected by leads to a solenoid 20 contained within the car. Thus, in response to movement of the car 10 over the ground plate 17 of the signal coupling, a circuit is closed through the solenoid 2% to effect energization and actuation thereof.

Energization of the solenoid 2t eifects reciprocating longitudinal movement of the associated plunger 22 which has an outwardly extending arm 23 supported thereon for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the plunger, as is more clearly shown in Figure 5. The car 10 is provided with a longitudinally extending mounting plate 26 upon which the solenoid 253 is secured. A heart shaped opening 25 is defined adjacent to the lower edge of the plate 26, into which the pivotally mounted arm 23 extends. A cam plate 28 is rotatably mounted upon the mounting plate 26 by means of a pivot pin 29 immediately adjacent to the rotatable arm 23. As is more clearly shown in Figure 3, the cam plate 28 is provided with a V-shaped cam surface 30 that is engaged by the operating arm 23 in a manner hereinafter described to effect the desired movement of the mannikin 44) which is pivotally supported adjacent to the roof 41 of the railway car.

The offset end 32 of a connecting link 31 is pivotally engaged with the cam plate 28 at a point spaced from the pivotalmounting 29 thereof. The opposite end of the link 31 is pivotally engaged with one end of an operating lever 36 which is pivoted at its mid portion upon the upper end of the mounting plate 26 at 37. The opposite end of this lever 36 provides a rigid support for the mannikin 40. The mounting plate 26 is also provided with an angularly related slot 34 which accommodates the offset portion 32 of the connecting link 31 for movement between opposite extreme portions.

The operation of the device will now be described. Normally, the mannikin 40 is in the erect position shown in Figure 3, in which position, the operating arm 23 of the solenoid is in a lowered central position relative to the opening 25. Also, in the normal position, the V- shaped cam surface 3i) is tilted so that one side thereof is exposed to the vertical upward movement of the operating arm 23. Thus, in response to the passage of the car 10 over the coupling of the signal device, the electrical circuit through the solenoid is .closed thereby energizing it. Energization of the solenoid effects the upward movement of the plunger 22 and the upward movement of the associated arm 23. However, as the arm 23 first contacts the exposed surface of the V-shaped cam, as shown in Figure 6, it is rotated slightly in a horizontal plane during its continued upward movement so as to rotate the cam plate 28 in a counter clockwise direction to the adjusted position 28a, in which position the mannikin 49 has been rotated to the prone position 441a through the associated linkage. The operating arm having been moved to the fully raised position 23a, the mannikin 4th: will remain in the prone position by its own weight which overbalances the weight of the rotated cam plate 28a which functions as a counterweight, while the operating arm will drop to the neutral position 23 after the car has passed the coupling plate and the solenoid is deenergized. However, as is shown in Figure 7, with the cam plate still in the adjusted position 28a the opposite side of the V-shaped cam is now exposed to the movement of the operating arm 23. Thus, as the car approaches the next similar signal device wherein the solenoid is agairi energized, the upward movement of the arm 23 :to the fully raised position 23a will thus effect the rotation of the cam plate 23a to the normal position 23, thereby also moving the prone mannikin 46a to the erected position 40, wherein the weight of the cam plate is operating to maintain the mannikin erect. The parts will be maintained in this position of their own volition since the offset portion of the link 31 has been moved past dead center so as to lock the parts against return movement as the solenoid is deenergized and the arm 23b drops back to its normal position 23.

In actual use, one such signal device 18 and associated ground plate 17 will be arranged on each side of the tunnel 50. Thus, as the car approaches the tunnel from either direction the mannikin will first be moved from the normal erect position to the prone position so that it will pass through the tunnel in the prone postion, simulating a normal motion. After leaving the tunnel, the solenoid will again be energized so as to effect the movement of the prone mannikin to the erected position as it passes the other one of the pair of signal devices. Thus, the desired movement of the mannikin is completely automatic.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A toy railway car comprising a vertically elongated object initially in an upright substantially vertical position with its major axis vertical, said object being pivotally mounted on said car and extending above the roof thereof in its upright position, said object being pivotally movable between an upright substantially vertical position with its major axis vertical to a prone substantially horizontal position with its major axis substantiallyhorizontal, operable means connected to said object and effective upon initial and subsequent alternate actuation to move said object to a prone position and upon second and subsequent alternate actuation to move said object to an upright position, said operable means including a solenoid and a plunger slidable in said solenoid upon actuation thereby, a pivotally mounted cam adjacent said plunger, means connecting said cam and said object at a location to cause the Weight of the cam to hold said object in an upright position and permit the object to rest in a prone position, said plunger being effective to move said cam to shift the position of said object.

2. A toy railway car according to claim 1 including a frame member on said car having a slot therein, an arm connected to said plunger and pivotal about the central axis thereof and having the opposite end positioned in said slot for confined movement therein, said cam including a portion extending in alignment with said slot and effective to intercept the path of movement of said arm in response to energization of said solenoid, and to confine rotation of said arm to a direction to effect movement of said cam thereby to an opposite position.

3. A toy railway car comprising a vertically. elongated object initially in a substantially upright vertical position with its major axis vertical on said car and extending above the roof thereof, said object being pivotally movable between an upright substantially vertical position to a prone substantially horizontal position, operable means including a solenoid and a plunger slidable in said solenoid upon actuation thereof, means responsive to the movement of said plunger on activation of said solenoid for moving said object from a vertical position to a horizontal position and from a horizontal position to a vertical position, said responsive means being adapted to move said object only in response to the movement of said plunger caused by the activation of said solenoid.

4. A toy comprising a frame, an elongated mannikin pivotally mounted'adjacent the top of said frame and being pivotally movable between an upright position with its major axis extending substantially vertical and with the mannikin visible above the top of said frame to a prone position with its major axis extending substantially horizontal, and electrically operable means connected to said mannikin, said last-named means including a movable member which is moved by actuation of said electrically operable means to a mannikin moving position and returned to a neutral position on the deactivation of said electrically operable means, and cam means connected to said mannikin and disposed in the path, of said movable member, said cam means being moved in one direction to raise said mannikin from a prone position to an upright position upon initial and subsequent alternate actuation of said movable member, and to move said mannikin from an upright to a prone position upon second and subsequent alternate actuation of said movable memher.

5. A toy according to claim 3 wherein said mannikin is mounted on one arm of a lever member, with said lever member being pivotally mounted on said frame, and a link connecting said arm with said cam member.

6. A toy comprising a frame, an elongated mannikin pivotally mounted adjacent the top of said frame and being pivotally movable between an upright position with its major axis extending substantially vertical and with the mannikin visible above the top of said frame to a prone position with its major axis extending substantially horizontal, and electrically operable means connected to said mannikin, said last-named means include a movable member which is moved by actuation of said electrically operable means, and cam means connected to said mannikin and disposed in the path of said movable memher, said cam means being moved in one direction to raise said mannikin from a prone position to'an upright position upon initial and subsequent alternate actuation of said movable member, and to move said mannikin from an upright to a prone position upon second and subsequent alternate actuation of said movable member, said movable member being disposed in a heart-shaped opening, said cam having a portion in alignment with said opening and presenting a surface in vertical alignment with said movable member, said cam being moved by said movable member to actuate said mannikin and to shift the position of the portion of said cam in alignment with said opening whereupon a new cam surface is presented in alignment with the path of movement of saidmovable member upon a subsequent actuation thereof to cause said cam to move in an opposite direction upon contact of said portion by said movable member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,530,227 Bourassa Mar. 17, 1925 1,742,626 Wilson Jan. 7, 1930 2,305,491 Pettit Dec. 15, 1942 2,629,339 Kovachick Feb. 24, 1953 2,632,284 McDonald Mar. 24, 1953 2,659,998 Cavannaugh Nov. 24, 1953 2,664,664 Bonanno Jan. 5, 1954

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