US2981031A

US2981031A - Automatic tie-dumping system

Info

Publication number: US2981031A
Application number: US682943A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph L Bonanno
Original assignee: Lionel Corp
Current assignee: Lionel Corp
Priority date: 1957-09-09
Filing date: 1957-09-09
Publication date: 1961-04-25
Anticipated expiration: 1978-04-25

Description

April 25, 1961 J. 1.. BONANNO AUTOMATIC TIE-DUMPING SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 9, 1957 Ticll. a}

INVENTOR Jo SEPH L. Bo/vn/v/vo BY a 04 1 #422 W J zffolmzrs April 25, 1961 J. BONANNO 2,931,031

AUTOMATIC TIE-DUMPING SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 9, 1957 INVENTOR JOSEPH L. BoMq/v/vo ATTORNEYS April 25, 1961 J. L. BQNANNO 2,981,031 AUTOMATIC TIE-DUMPING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 9, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR g4 Jos EPH LBo/vn/wvo BY w Mw, 7m #7,;

" ATTO RN EYS April 1961 J. L. BONANNO 2,981,031

AUTOMATIC TIE-DUMPING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 9, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 a H lNVENTCJ-R A5 ,4 JbssPH 1.,B0A/ANN0 BY 777M241, 77 1/12, d 7

ATTORNEYS 2,981,0Qa1 AUTOMATZC TlEeDUMPING SYSTEM Joseph L. Bonanno, South Orange, N.J., assignor to The Lrouel Corporatiou, New- YorlnNtY a corporation of New York Filed Sept. 9, 1957, Ser. No. 632,943- Cla ms- (Cl. 46-40) This. inventionrelates generally to article handling and more particularly to an automatic tie-dumping system and rail car usable therein, this invention being especially adaptable for use in toy trains, for example.

A primary object of the invention is to provide an automatic tie-dumping system for progressively depositing ties along the path oftravel of a vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic tie-dumping system of the character set forth in cluding abutment means disposed in the path of travel of a vehicle from which the ties are to be dispensed, said abutment serving as means for initiating operation of a tie-dumping assembly for progressively depositing ties carried on a vehicle laterally of the vehicle in relation to the vehicles movement along its path of travel.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in an automatic tie-dumping system a vehicle-driven tiedumping assembly mounted on a vehicle which is confined to a' restricted path of travel, the tie-dumping assembly being actuated through operating means at a predetermined point along the vehicles path of travel, and

deactuated at a point removed from the first mentioned point along the vehicles path of travel.

And yet another object of the invention is to provide in an automatic tie-dumping system of the character involved a tie-dumping assembly operable to deposit ties alternately toward opposite sides of the path of travel of a vehicle in relation to the distance traversed by the vehicle.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a toy vehicle including a chassis frame having mounted thereon a body member, and means cooperating between said chassis frame and body member permitting the body member to be retained on the chassis frame by means of a single fastener accessible through the interior of the body member.

And yet another object of the invention is to provide a toy rail car for automatically dumping ties progressively along the path of travel of the car, the car including power means operated by movement of the car and operable to operate power transmitting means operatively connected to a tie-dumping assembly through the medium of control means operated by a force transmitting lever engageable with afixed abutment at a predetermined point along the path of travel of the car.

And'a still further object of the invention is to provide a toyrail card the character set forth including selective clutch means operated by movement of the car. along a predetermined path of travel, said clutch means operating a pivotal force transmitting lever operatively connected to vertically pivotal conveyor receiving and discharging ties in relation to movement'ofthe toy car alongits predetermined path of travel.

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

In the drawing there are shown preferred embodiments ofrthe invention. In this showing-z nited States Patent Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view showing the automatic tie-dumping system;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a rail car used in the automatic tie-dumping system, with portions broken away and shown in section for clarity;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of a portion of the car of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the car showing the parts in the position assumed when the tie-dumping assembly is inoperative, portions being omitted for the purpose of clarity;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view showing portions of Fig. 4, showing the parts in the position as sumed when the tie-dumping assembly is operative;

Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken on line 66 of Fig. 3, showing the tie-dumping assembly inthe position assumed when the tie-dumping assembly is not being operated;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section showing a portion of Fig. 6, showing the tie-dumping assembly in the position assumed when the tie-dumping assembly is operated for depositing a tie. laterally of the car;

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section taken on line 88 of Fig. 5, portions being broken away for purposes of clarity;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing a portion of Fig. 6, portions being broken away and shown in section for the purpose of clarity;

Fig. 10 is a section taken on line 1ti-1ti of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is anenlarged fragmentary section taken on line 1l11 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary plan view similar to Fig. 3 on analternate embodiment of the toy rail car; and

Fig. 13 is a transverse section taken on line 13-13 of Fig. 12,. showing the manner in which ties are dispensed toward opposite sides of the rail car.

Referring to the drawings in detail, especially Fig. 1, indicated generally at 10 is a continuous loop of track comprisingparallel inner. and

outer tracks

12 and 14 and a middle rail 16. The. loop of track is of a conventional character and although not shown, may be wired through a suitable transformer and'control facilitating the operationof electric motordriven-cars. The loop of track defines the fixed path of travel of a rail car indicated generally at 18. Disposed outwardly from the track 12 is a first'vertically. extending striker member 20 of any ous parts, a .car 18 will have disposed thereon a pluralityof longitudinally extending ties T, and after the car 18- passes the first striker 2b, the ties will be progressively deposited laterally of the path of travel of the car 18'as- Indicated at 18' is the indicated by the dotted lines. car after all of the ties have been unloaded therefrom, and indicated at 18" is the position of the car relative to the second striker 22. After the car passes the second striker 22, the automatic tie-dumping assembly will be inoperative until the car once more passes the striker 20. Ift'ne car is of a ,SllffiClfili. capacity to have loaded thereon-a greater number of ties than will be deposited along thetrack during the travel of the car 18 from the striker Zttsio the striker 22, after the car 18 passes the strike 2i} for the second time ties will again be unloaded.

The rail car 18 includes a frame or chassis indicated generally at 24 and a body member indicated generally at 26. A truck assembly indicated generally at 28 is secured centrally of the frame and a suitable coupler assembly indicated generally at 3%} extends rearwardly from the frame for connection to other cars of a, train. The rail car disclosed may comprise thev meansof'locomotion for the train, and in this instance, may include a suitable electric motor indicated generally at 32 which will be operatively connected to the wheels of the truck assembly (this connection not being shown). The body member includes thereon power transmitting means indicated generally at 34 including a clutch mechanism and vertically pivotal force transmitting lever, see Figs. 4, 5 and 11, control means indicated generally at 36, see Figs. 4, 5 and 8 and a tie-dumping assembly indicated generally at 38, see Figs. 6 through 9, said tie-dumping assembly being operatively connected with said power transmitting means and control means.

The truck assembly 28, see Figs. 2 and 6, includes opposed pairs of wheels and 42, respectively engaging the

tracks

12 and 14. The wheels 40 have formed thereon inwardly extending annular spur gears 44. The truck assembly 28 includes conventional current conducting collector roller 46 riding on rail 16. The gears 44 drivingly engage pinion gears 48 mounted. on suitable horizontally disposed shafts 50 carried by the carriage of the truck assembly 28. The gears 48 drivingly engage opposite sides of a constantly driven pinion gear 52 supported on the horizontally disposed shaft 54. The shaft 54 is constantly driven by the wheels 40 of the rail car during movement of the same, and suitably secured on the shaft 54 is an elongated pinion gear 56.

Mounted on a shaft 58 disposed in spaced parallel relationship to the shaft 54 is a constantly driven drive gear 60 engaging the pinion 56. The gear 60 is displaceable along the longitudinal axis of the shaft 58 and includes on one side an annular collar 62 forming an annular groove 64. Formed on the opposite side of the gear 60 are radially extending suitably conformed clutch dog portions 66 which may be sector shaped as seen in Fig. 11.

.Tournalled on the shaft 58 adjacent the clutch dogs 66 is a clutch disc 68 including clutch dogs 70, see Fig. 11, interengageable with the dogs 66 when the gear 60 is displaced toward the clutch disc 68. The disc 68 includes an eccentrically disposed laterally extending mounting pin 72 extending away from the shaft 58.

Extending vertically from the frame in longitudinally spaced relationship from the clutch disc 68 is a support bracket 74 supporting for vertically pivotal or oscillatory movement on a transverse pin 76 a force transmitting lever 78. One end of the lever 78 includes a longitudinally extending transverse slot 80 through which the pin 72 of the clutch disc extends. The outer end 82 of the lever 78 will be moved in an arcuate path as indicated by the arcuate direction arrow of Fig. 11 when the clutch disc 68 is rotated.

The frame of the car includes an elongated longitudinal cut out portion 84 formed rearwardly of the power transmitting means 34 which accommodates therein the control means 36, see Fig. 8. Supported on a suitable pivot element such as a screw 86 beneath the frame of the car is a horizontally pivotal actuating lever 88 opposite ends of which extending laterally beyond opposite sides of the frame of the car and being progressively engageable with the

striker

20 or 22. Prior to actuation of the tie-dumping assembly 38. the lever 88 will be disposed in the position shown in Fig. 4, and movement of the car beyond the striker 20 will result in the lever 88 being disposed in the position shown in Fig. 5. The frame of the car includes a transverse cut out portion 90 having formed in the lower wall 92 thereof, an arcuate slot 94 concentric to the longitudinal axis of the element 86. Extending from a central portion of the lever 88 and through the arcuate slot 94 is a support bracket 96 engageable at opposite ends of the slot 94, thus limiting the extent of pivotal movement of the lever 88 about the element 86. Extending forwardly from the frame of the car into the recess or slot 84 is an arcuate support portion 98 providing a shoulder 100. The shoulder 100 has displaceably supported thereon, a suitably conformed porti0n'102 of aforwardly extending control lever 104.

The forward end of the lever 104 is formed as an arcuate yoke 106 extending into the groove 64 formed by the annular collar 62 on the gear 60. The lever 104 includes a depending support portion 108 receiving thereon one end of a tension spring 110 engageable at its other end with the support portion 96 extending vertically from the lever 88. The tension spring 110 provides an over-center or toggle spring arrangement, see Figs. 4 and 5, for positively engaging the dogs on the gear 60 and the clutch disc 68. When the lever 88 is disposed in the condition shown in Fig. 4, the tension spring 110 will serve through the medium of the lever 104 to urge the gear 60 away from the clutch disc 68. During this condition, the force transmitting lever 78 will not be operated as previously mentioned. However, engagement of the lever 88 with the striker 20 results in the lever 88 being disposed in the position shown in Fig. 5, and the tension spring 110 will serve to displace the lever 104 laterally, accordingly moving the gear 60 and the dogs 66 thereof into engagement with the dogs 70 of the clutch disc 68 to operate the lever 78. Continued movement of the car along the track and theresulting engagement of the lever 88 with the striker 22 once more causes the lever 104 to assume the position shown in Fig. 4 whereafter the tie-dumping assembly 38 will not be operated.

In order to prevent the rear end of the lever 104 from being displaced from the shoulder 100 of the support portion 98, notches 112 and 113 are provided in the support portion 98 onto which fit the bifurcated end portions 114 and 115 of lever 104.

The body member 26, see Figs. 6, 7 and 8, includes a downwardly opening chute including converging

sides

118 and 120 extending inwardly toward each other from opposed sides of the body member. The ties to be dispensed will be piled longitudinally of the chute as indicated at T, T and T The side 120 terminates in a step-down portion 122, most clearly seen in Fig. 7, and an intermediate portion of the step-down portion 122 is cut out as most clearly seen in Fig. 8 to facilitate movement therethrcugh of the tie-dispensing assembly 38. The ties will be gravity fed to the tie-dumping assembly as clearly illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. The side 124 of the body member 26 from which the portion 118 of the chute extends, incorporates adjacent the top 126 of the frame, a longitudinally extending discharge opening 128 for accommodating therethrough the ties which will be disposed laterally of the car as it moves along the track. Extending angularly at opposite ends of the opening 128, are ramp elements 130 which engage opposite ends of the ties as the tie-dumping assembly moves into the position shown in Fig. 7, as will subsequently be described in detail.

The tie-dumping assembly includes a pair of longitudinally spaced

support brackets

132 and 134 struck from the channel shape support '74 and extending vertically from within the slot 84 of the frame, said support 74 being secured at one end of the frame by a laterally extending mounting tab 136 and screw 138 and secured at the other end by means of screw 74a. The

brackets

132 and 134 have extending therebetween a support shaft 140, having journalled thereon, a tubular sleeve 142 integral with a centrally located rib 144 of an arcuate conveyor member 146. The conveyor member 146 is vertically pivotal about the longitudinal axis of the shaft and includes at one edge, a longitudinally extending upwardly opening tie-receiving trough 148, the bottom portion 150 of the trough 148 being disposed in planar relationship with the step-down portion 122, see Fig. 6, when the tie-dumping assembly is not being operated and disposed in the position seen in Fig. 6. The step-down portion 122 will orient the tie T, see Fig. 6, in its proper position within the trough 148. Journalled on the shaft 140 adjacent the sleeve 142, is a vertically pivotal arcuate disc element 152 including in one edge, a laterally opening notch portion 154 in which the end 82 of the force transmitting lever 78 extends, see Figs. 9 and 11, for example.v The lever 152.

i.. W W

a ainst has journalled thereon one end of an elongated force,

transmitting rod 160, including a lateral abutment shaft portion 162 engageable in the upwardly opening groove 156. A torsion spring 164 is circumposed about the shaft 158, one leg 166 of which engages beneath the trough 148 of the conveyor member146, the other leg, 168 of the spring engaging on top of the shaft 162' of the lever 160.

Operation When the tie-dumping-assembly 38 is not operated as previously mentioned, the parts being in the position shown in Figs. 4 and 6, the tie T will extend horizontally within the trough 148. Engagement between the dogs on gear 66 and clutch disc 68, will result in vertical pivotal movement of the force transmitting lever 78. This vertical pivotal movement will result in vertical pivotal movement of the conveyor member 146 from the position shown in Fig. 6- to that of Fig. 7. The end portion 170 of the conveyor member will engage the topof the frame of the car and provide a stop to properly orient the trough 148 relative to the step-down portion 122 of the chute. The vertical pivotal movement of the lever 78 results in force being transmitted through the lever 152 to the rod 168 and pivotal movement of the conveyor member 146 will result in the trough 148 passing between the ramp elements 131 and accordingly, the tie T will be discharged in the manner shown bythe dotted lines in Fig. 7. It will be noted that the trough may engage the top of the frame 24. If the conveyor member 46 reaches the position shown in Fig. 7 and the-lever 78 still has some distance to travel, the shaft portion 162 of the rod 160 will rise slightly in the U-shaped groove156 of the lever 152, thus preventing damage to the cooperating parts. Downward movement of the lever 78 from the position shown in Fig. 7 to that of Fig. 6 will result in once more orienting the trough 148 of the conveyor member to the position shown in Fig. 6, wherein the tie T will pass from the chute portion 118, into the trough 148, see Fig. 7.

Considering Figs. 12 and 13, there is disclosed a modifled car including means for dispensing the ties alternately from opposite sides of a body member .26 during movement of the car from the striker 20 to the striker 22. Substantially all of the operating parts i.e., control means and power transmitting means are identical. A modified conveyor member 146 is provided, said conveyor member including along one edge a trough 148', the lowermost portion 150' of which being disposable in planar alignment with arcuate orienting members 172 and 174. Opposite ends of the ties T will engage the orienting member 1'72 and 174 in the manner seen in Fig. 12. The chute or hopper of the body member 26' includes a pair of converging side portions 118' and 120 through which the conveyor member 146 will pivot. The conveyor mem her 146' includes longitudinally of the edge opposite that upon which the trough 148 is formed a second similar trough 148", the lowermost portion 150 of which being disposable in planar alignment with the orienting portions 172 and 174. The ties T as seen in Fig. 13, will be alternately received and dispensed from the troughs 148 and 143" in the manner indicated in Fig. 13. The torsion spring 164 will provide a lost-motion connection in the manner previously referred to. The body member 26' of the car includes in its sides 124' and 124" adjacent the bottom thereof, longitudinally extending

elongated discharge openings

128 and 128", respectively. Disposed at opposite ends of the discharge openings just mentioned, are suitable ramp portions 130' and 130" between which the trough portions 148' and 14 respectively, pass.

Thebody'members-26 and 26' of the cars are retained.

on the frame by means of a single fastener. The frame of the car 18 includes a horizontal retaining plate 176, retained on the frame by means of suitable screws 178 and providing a rearwardly projecting lip as most clearly seen in Fig. 2. The body member 26 incorporates an integral forwardly extending lip 180, engageable beneath the lip formed by the plate 176, and the rear end wall'l82 0f the car, see Fig. 8, includes an inwardly extending flange 184. Theflange 184 is apertured and has extending therethrough a suitable screw 186- received within a tapped bore 188 of the frame of the car. The side of the chute incorporates a transverse aperture 190, through which a screw driver may be extended for engagement with the screw 186, and when the screw 186 is loosened, the body member 26 may be removed from the frame of the car. Referring to Fig. 12, the orienting.

member 174 incorporates an aperture 190 therethrough facilitating the engagement with the screw 186 for the same purpose.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention shown and described are to be taken as preferred ex amples of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of the parts may be made as do not depart from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A wheeled toy rail car for automatically dumping ties progressively along the path of travel of said car comprising a frame, means for storing ties on said frame, power means supported on said frame connected to said wheels, a tie-dumping assembly connected to said power means on said car including a movable member adjacent said tie-dumping assembly, effective to engageeach tie in succession to move the tie laterally to dump it from said car when said car moves in the path of travel of saidcar, power transmitting means on said frame connected to said power means and to said tie-dumping assembly for operating the latter, and control means'on said frame operatively connected with said power transmitting means and including a displaceable force transmitting, member transversely attached to said frame for engaging a. fixed abutment during movement of the car along its path of travel for activating said tie-dumping assembly.

2. A toy rail car as set forth in claim 1, in which said tie-dumping assembly includes an oscillating conveyor member longitudinally attached to said frame for depositing ties toward only one side of said car.

3. A toy rail car as set forth in claim 1, in which said force transmitting member is a horizontally pivotal actuating member transversely extending beyond opposite sides of said frame operable to activate and deactivate said power transmitting means upon engaging said abutment.

4. A toy rail car as set forth in claim 1, in which said power means comprises a power shaft positively driven during movement of said car, said power transmitting means including clutch means drivingly engaging one end of a vertically pivotal force transmitting lever, the other end of said lever operatively engaging said tie-dumping assembly, said force transmitting member comprising a horizontally pivotal lever and including an operating portion extending laterally of said frame for engaging a fixed abutment separate from said car and selectively operating said clutch means, a laterally displaceable clutch control lever operatively connected between said horizontally pivotal lever and clutch means, and biasing means urging said clutch control lever toward a control position.

5. A toy rail car as set forth in claim 1, including a body member on said frame, said body member including a downwardly-opening chute overlying said tie-dumping assembly and extending longitudinally of said body member, at least one tie-discharge portion at one side of said body member and below said chute for receiving ties therethrough, said tie-dumping assembly including a vertically pivotal conveyor oscillated by said power transmitting means and including a tie-receiving portion alternately alignable with said chute and discharge portion for receiving a tie and subsequently discharging the same.

6. A toy rail car as set forth in claim 5, in'which said tie-receiving portion of said conveyor includes an up wardly-opening open-ended trough for receiving an intermediate portion of a tie longitudinally therein, said chute including longitudinally spaced supports including a surface portion alignable with the lower surface of said trough for orienting individual ties in said trough, said conveyor being movable between said supports.

7. A toy rail car as set forth in claim 6, including a ramp extending angularly toward said tie-discharge portion, said ramp comprising longitudinally spaced portions between and beneath which said open-ended trough portion passes for lifting a tie from said trough portion during its movement toward said tie-discharge portion.

8. A toy rail car as set forth in claim 1, including a body member on said frame, said body member including a downwardly-opening chute overlying said tie-dumping assembly and extending longitudinally of said body member, a pair of tie-discharge portions at opposite sides of said body member and below said chute for receiving ties therethrough, said tie-dumping assembly including a vertically pivotal conveyor oscillated by said power transmitting means and including tie-receiving portions alternately alignable with said chute and discharge portions for re ceiving a tie and subsequently discharging the same.

9. A toy rail car as set forth in claim 1, including impositive drive means interposed between said power transmitting means and tie-dumping assembly to accommodate for excessive force from said power transmitting means, a torsion spring connected at one end to said tie-dumping assembly, a vertically pivotal lever operatively connected to said force transmitting means, a second lever having a U-shaped groove axially supporting said tie-dumping assembly located on the other end of said torsion spring and said vertically pivotal lever to'allow said tie-dumping assembly to rise in said U-shaped groove thus preventing damage to said tie-dumping assembly.

10. A toy electric train including, in combination, a

car body, a wheel assembly mounted on said car body, a-

current conducting collector roller engaging the power rail of a track to electrically power said wheel assembly to move said train, the invention comprising a constantly driven gear driven by said wheel assembly, a stationary shaft supporting said gear, a radially extending clutch dog portion axially attached to said gear, other clutch dog portions freely rotatable and axially spaced from said clutch dog portion supported by said shaft, a clutch plate axially attached to said other clutch dog portion, a laterally extending mounting pin eccentrically disposed on the other side of said clutch plate, a lever pivotal in a vertical plane about its central portion having in one end a longitudinally extending slot engaging said laterally extending mounting pin, an arcuate disc member pivotal in a vertical plane having a lateral opening notch on one 'side to receive the other end of said lever, an oscillatable segment member having a pocket cut into its periphery movably attached to said arcuate disc, means to axially move said clutch dog portion attached to said gear to engage the dog portion attached to said plate for moving said oscillatable segment member to progressively deposit ties carried in said pocket along the sides of the track as the toy electric train moves along its path of travel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,729,600 Surdarn Sept. 24, 1929 1,908,673 Getaz May 9, 1933 2,072,374 Manoil Mar. 2, 1937 2,194,144 Gill Mar. 19, 1940 2,277,455 Rexford Mar. 24, 1942 2,290,844 Smith July 21, 1942 2,380,174 Haselton July 10, 1945 2,581,201 Pettit Jan. 1, 1952 2,608,938 Hardgrove Sept. 2, 1952 2,844,911 Smith July 29, 1958