US3050904A

US3050904A - Mobile toy vehicle

Info

Publication number: US3050904A
Application number: US89692A
Authority: US
Inventors: William L Morse
Original assignee: PRE CONTROLS Inc
Current assignee: PRE CONTROLS Inc; PRE-CONTROLS Inc
Priority date: 1961-02-16
Filing date: 1961-02-16
Publication date: 1962-08-28
Anticipated expiration: 1979-08-28

Description

Aug. 28, 1962 w. L. MORSE MOBILE 'roy VEHICLE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 16, 1961 INVENTOR.

Aug. 28, 1962 w. L.. MORSE MOBILE TOY VEHICLE 2 Sheets-Shec-z'l'I 2 Filed Feb. 16, 1961 IN VEN TOR. NIL l IAM L 0R55 United States Patent 3,059,904 MQBILE TOY VEHICLE William L. Morse, lmaquah, Wash., assigner to Pre-Controls, Inc., Seattle, Wash., a corporation of Washington Filed Feb. i6, 1961, Ser. No. 89,692

6 Claims. (Cl. 45-213) This invention relates to improvements in mobile toy vehicles and more particularly to a toy that simulates an automobile oil truck and which is equipped with novel means for its self propulsion and also with novel means for controlling its direction of travel while being propelled.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a toy vehicle of the character above stated wherein the power for its propulsion is derived from and by novel use of a vacuum cylinder in which a vacuum may be drawn by the retraction ,of a piston contained therein, and which piston may then be moved by the force of atmospheric air acting against it, to eiect the propulsion of the vehicle through its propelling gearing.

It is also an object of this invention to provide the toy vehicle of this invention with a steering mechanism whereby the normal forward direction of its travel may be altered so as to effect lateral turning in either direction and to various degrees or arcuate extent at selected locations along a course of travel.

Yet, another object of this invention resides in the provision of right turn and left turn indicating lamps on the vehicle and a novel means for operation of their circuit controlling switches.

Still further objects and advantages of the invention reside in the details of construction and combination of parts for powering the vehicle; in the vehicle propelling gearing and in its steering devices and their controls, as will hereinafter be rfully described.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. l is a central longitudinal section of a toy vehicle embodying the improvements of the present invention therein.

FIG. la is an enlarged fragmental detail view showing a part of the steering control means.

IFIG. 2 is an underside plan view of the vehicle shown in `FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmental sectional view, taken on line 3-3 in FIG. l, particularly illustrating the steel belt connection operatively connecting the piston of the vacuum cylinder with a power transmission or drive shaft contained in the rear end closing wall of the vacuum cylinder;

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-section of the vehicle, taken on line 4 4 in FIG. l.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of .the wheel steering direction control means as seen from its underside.

IFIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken Aon line 6-6' in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of one of the direction changing tabs or cams as applied to the wheel steering plate, indicating it in various positions of adjustment.

PIG. 8 is a longitudinal section of the vacuum cylinder wherein the piston is equipped with an alternative form of power transmission means in connection with the vehicle driving gearing.

rReferring more in detail to the drawings.

As shown ybest in FIGS. 1 and 2, the present mobile toy vehicle is designed to simulate a present day oil truck comprising a chassis or frame structure 10 mounting a cab 11 at its forward end and equipped rearwardly of the cab, ywith an elongated air tight cylinder 12 in which 3,659,9@4 Patented Aug. 28, 1962 a piston 13 is reciprocally tted. At its forward and rearward ends, the cylinder 12 is closed by

walls

14 and 15, respectively.

At its rear end the chassis is mounted on and is supported by a cross axle 18 equipped at its end with the vehicle rear supporting and driving wheels 2li-20 and at its forward end is supported by a rigidly fixed crossbar 21 equipped at its ends with the usual steering knuckles 22-22 mounting the front end steering wheels 24-24; the knuckles at opposite end of the cross-member 21 being joined by a cross-bar 25.

The rear end closure wall of the vacuum cylinder 12 is recessed as shown at 26 in lFIG. 3 and rotatably mounts a power transmission shaft therein which shaft, at its lower end, has a fixed driving connection with a power transmission gear 31 operating in driving -mesh with a relatively small gear wheel 32, see FIG. 1, that is fixed on a vertical shaft 33 which, at its lower end, mounts a bevel gear wheel 34 which is in driving mesh with a smaller bevel gear wheel 35 fixed on the cross axle 18. n

Fixed centrally to the piston 13 is one end of a thin, ribbon-like strip of spring steel 38 which, at its other, or rear end, is attached to and adapted to be wound onto the vertical transmission shaft 30, as has been illustrated in FIG. 3; this ribbon-like strip 3S -being .the means through `which the driving power is transmitted from the piston 13 to the transmission shaft 30.

it is further to be observed by reference'to FIGS. 1 and 2 that a shaft i0 extends lengthwise of and beneath the chassis ,and is rotatably supported near its ends and at a medial point in bearings 41 formed in parts of Ithe chassis. At its rear end, this shaft has a bevel gear pinion 42 keyed thereon meshing with the -bevel gear wheel 34. At its yforward end the shaft @il is equipped with a clutch collar 44 with which a `driving connection may be made by a crank 45 -for manually turning the shaft 40 in such direction as to effect, through the connecting train of

gears

31, 33, 34 and 42, the winding of the steel belt 33 on shaft 3th and in this way effect pulling of the piston 13 from a position at the forward end of the' cylinder 12, back to the rear end thereof and by this movement of the piston to establish a condition of vacuum' in the forward end of the cylinder 12. Provision has been made for admittance of air into the cylinder -through a hole 48 in its rear end wall 15 thus to cause atmospheric air pressure to force the piston forwardly in the cylinder and by its movement .to unwind the belt 38 from shaft 30 Ithus to cause the rotation o'f the shaft 30 and the crossshaft 1S for forward propulsion of the vehicle. Air pressure against the :piston remains constant throughout its full distance of travel.

Steering of the vehicle is effected by means well shown in FIGS. l, 2 and 5 to comprise a flat plate 5G that is disposed horizontally and longitudinally within the forward end portion of the chassis symmetrically between its opposite side limits. lt is shown in FIG. l that plate 5t) is pivotally supported at its rear end in a cross member 5l of the chassis as at '52 and at its forward end has a pivotal connection as at 53 with .the steering knuckle connecting cross-bar 25. Normally, the vehicles front steeringV wheels are held in a straight ahead steering position by a pin 54, Shown` in FIG. la to be slidably contained for endwise movement in a hole 55 in the front end supporting cross-'nember 2i of the chassis, with its pointed outer end seated in a forwardly facing V-shaped notch Soin the steering knuckle connecting cross-bar 25. A spring 57 acts yieldingly against the pin to resist itsforward movement and cause its rearend to act with camming pressure against the side walls of the tl-shaped notch to yieldingly retain the wheels 24 in straight forward steering position, but yieldable to permit turning under control of the -means now to be described: It is to be observed by reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, that the forward portion of shaft 40 is threadedas at 49', and that Ya, nut 69 is threaded thereon for travel between forward and rearward stops 61 and 62 tixed on the shaft. The .nut 6h has horizontal wings 63 and 64 extending to Opposite sides mounting rollers 65 and 66 therein.

Extending lengthwise of the plate Si) at opposite sides thereof in slightly diverging relationship in the rearward direction, are

slots

67 and 68 and mounted for adjustment to various positions along these slots are tabs or blocks 69 whereby lateral turning of the vehicle, as it isV forwardly propelled, is effected.

It has been shown in the several views that there are two tabs 6? applied to the plate slots at each of the opposite sides of shaftV di?. EachV tab is here shown to be in the form of a three armed block, see FIG. 7, that is adjustably fixed in position bya'bolt 72k that extends rotatably through the block and the plate slot 67 or 63 with which the tab is associated. The tabs may, when their bolts Yare loosened, be moved to selected positions along the plate slots and there secured by tightening their securing nuts. Also, it is to be understood that each tabrnay be rotatably adjusted to cause any one of its three armsY to become eiective in the steering'operationV to the forward end of shaft 4G and rthat it shall be turnedV in such direction as to wind the belt 38 on the transmission shaft 3i) to suchV extent thatV the piston will be pulled thereby to the rear end of cylinder 12, Then, when the vehicle is placed on the floor or surface for travel, the piston .is forced forwardly by atmospheric pressure and power for vehicle propulsion is exerted by belt 38 to turnshaft 34) and the vehicle is thus caused to travel forwardly as the shaft turns.

The rate of travel of the vehicle may be controlled by use ofa governor device lA This is shown in FIGS. 1

Y and 2 to'be driven by geared connection,-as at Si?, from shaft dit; the governor beingequipped withaspeed regu-L lating lever $2, that extends to one side of the chassis for "1.

easy adjustment.V

It is to be understood that,as the shaft 46 rotates with distance of angular swing of the plate 59 nut 69 as it approaches the pivoted end of plate 50.k

Operating in conjunction with the Vehicle steering devices is a direction signal system which utilizes righ and left turn signal lamps at front and rear ends of the vehicle. These lamps are of the usual small battery operated type and are designated in FIG. 2 at 90.-9) and 91-91.. Batteries for their lighting are designated at 92. The circuit connections for the lamps are designated by numeral 93 and are conventional. It is shown thatV the two lamps at each of the opposite sidesrare controlled individually by switches 94 and 95, mounted at opposite sides of the shaft-40 as shown best in FIG. 2. These switches are normally open, but each has a yieldable push rod 96 for closing it. Acam 97 mounted eccentrially` 96 of the switch toward which the turn is'being made thus Q to cause the lamps at that side to intermittentlyV flash. When the wheels straighten up Vfor forward travel, Vthe flashing will be discontinued by reason of the shifting of the cam 97.

lt is anticipated also Vthat instead of utilizing a governor."

' mechanism, as shown in FIGS. l and 2, to control rate of travel of the vehicle, that the admittance of atmospheric air to the cylinder might be controlied by use of or slower rate of travel.

In FIG. 8, anV alternative driving connection for the wheels 3i? is shown. This view shows the piston '1.3 as

Y moved to the rear end of the cylinder l2 by atmospheric the forward travel of the vehicle, the nut 6h moves forwardly on the threaded portion 40 of the shaft 4Q and byrcamming Contact of the rollers 65 and 66 on the nut with the tabs or yblocks 69 as positioned on plate 50 that the plate is4 actuated to'one or'` the lother Vside and the steering Wheels 24 are directed accordingly to effect turning, and the extent-of turning is established by the length of contact time. "It will be understood by reference Vto FIG. 2, that as the nut 6h shifts forwardly, the rollers 65 and 66 will engage the inwardly directed arms of tabs 69 with camming action and affect the swinging of plater50 for turning Vthe steering wheels to the extent provided vfor,depending.on the location of the tabs along the plate from it, means for manually turning said drive .shaft to r effect the winding of said ybelt thereon with' the incident' In further explanation of this steering operation, it is to i be noted in FIG. 2,Y that the plate50 has a succession of graduations marked thereon by whichthe positions of tabsmay ibe judged for effecting turning' after predeter-V mined distances of vehicle travel, thus to cause the vertical to go any selectedv distance'within its limits, then to turn right, or left and to return -to starting position if such is` desired.

1Thetab 69 as shown in FIG. 7 has its arms so established in length and in contact surface, asv to provide for a right Aangle turn, a Uturn,ra 45 turn, and no trn. The forwardlyy converging relationship of the slots as observed in IFIG. 2 isto compensate for thegreater pressure. A strong wire strand itl-Ii extends forwardly i from the piston over a sheave wheel itil mounted in the front end closing wall ld then down over a sheave wheel succession of loops M5 between block 163 and a fixed pulley block M6, and at its end is anchored to and woundV about a wheel'driving shaft it?? with a geared 4driving connection as at idd, with cross-shaft 1S. This form of cable connection iii@ serves the same purpose asthe 1oeltA 3S previously described `but in the several loops 165 as provided in the cable ldd connection betweenblocks 163 and lil-4. provides for a greater length'of vehicle travel and.L has certain advantages, such as, forgexamplaritislighter cylinder being sealed against entry of atmospheric air at one end, and having an atmospheric air passage Yin'its i other end, a rotatably mounted drive shaft for-the vehicle A wheels located adjacent the last mentioned, end of the ,cyl-V' Y inder, a flexible belt connected at one end to saidpist'on,Y

and at its other end to said shaft for winding onto and pulling of theV piston away from the sealed end of the` cylinder and the establishment' of a condition of vacuum in that end whereby Vthe pressure ofatmospheric4 air Y against the piston'will cause its travel in thecylind'erand by the incidentrrotati'on of said drive shaft'withtlieun-` Y Y winding of the'belt therefrom, will cause the driving of.V

the vehicle wheels. v

2. In a wheel mounted toy the frame and fitted with a piston; said cylinderbeing comprising a frame thatis f equipped at its front and rear ends, respectively, withVr l steering and drivingwheels, a vacuum cylinder lixed in having an atmospheric air -port at its other end, a rotatably mounted drive shaft for said driving wheels, a flexible band connected at one end to said piston and at its other end to said rotatably mounted drive shaft for winding said band from and onto it, a manually operable winding shaft geared to the drive shaft and operable to effect the Winding of said lbelt thereon and the incident travel of the piston in the cylinder to establish a condition of vacuum at one side thereof; said winding shaft having a non-rotatable nut threaded for travel thereon, a steering plate pivoted at one end in the vehicle for lateral adjustment at its other end and having operative connection at said other end with means for steering control of said steering wheels, and tabs applied to said plate engageable -by said nut in its travel on said winding shaft as it rotates with travel of the vehicle to actuate the steering plate and effect steering adjustment of said steering Wheels.

3. A combination according to claim 2 wherein said non-rotating nut as threaded for travel on said winding shaft is equipped with camming rollers at opposite sides of the shaft, and wherein said steering plate, as pivotally supported at one end and operatively connected at its other end with the means for actuation of the steering wheels, horizontally overlies the winding shaft and is formed along opposite sides of the shaft with longitudinal slots and said tabs are adjustable in and along said slots and are adapted to be secured for engagement by said rollers to eiect lateral turning of the Vehicle to the extent provided for by the camming action of the nut rollers with the tabs and at predetermined points along the course of travel of the vehicle according to the location of the tabs along the threaded shaft.

4. A combination as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for manually turning said drive shaft includes a rotatably mounted winding shaft, and means at one end of said winding shaft for the functional application of a Winding crank for turning the Winding shaft.

5. A combination of parts according to claim 4 wherein said Winding shaft rotates in accordance with the rotation of said drive shaft in driving the vehicle and a governor mechanism having a driving connection with said winding shaft yand operable thereby to control travel speed of the vehicle.

6. A combination according to claim 4 wherein said winding shaft is threaded along a part thereof and a nut is threaded onto said threaded part of the winding shaft for travel therealong and wheel steering means for the vehicle actuatable by the said nut in its travel along the winding shaft to change the direction of travel of the vehicle.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 819,653 Hawke May 1, 1906 827,021 Johnston July 24, 1906 1,383,661 Raspotnik July 5, 1921