US3403470A - Magnetic steering mechanism for toy vehicles - Google Patents

Magnetic steering mechanism for toy vehicles Download PDF

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Publication number
US3403470A
US3403470A US513306A US51330665A US3403470A US 3403470 A US3403470 A US 3403470A US 513306 A US513306 A US 513306A US 51330665 A US51330665 A US 51330665A US 3403470 A US3403470 A US 3403470A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
strip
wheel
permanent magnetic
steering mechanism
magnetic
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US513306A
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English (en)
Inventor
Werner Willy
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
US Philips Corp
North American Philips Co Inc
Original Assignee
US Philips Corp
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by US Philips Corp filed Critical US Philips Corp
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3403470A publication Critical patent/US3403470A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H18/00—Highways or trackways for toys; Propulsion by special interaction between vehicle and track
    • A63H18/10—Highways or trackways for toys; Propulsion by special interaction between vehicle and track with magnetic means for steering

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a device for steering a toy vehicle driven by any suitable driving means along a given stretch on a driving surface without rails, the steering mechanism of the toy vehicle being provided with at least one permanent magnet which cooperates with a ferromagnetic strip which is arranged in or below the driving surface.
  • the ferromagnetic strips consist of a soft-magnetic wire, to which the permanent magnet in the toy vehicle adjusts during driving as a result of which the vehicle is steered along the wire.
  • the permanent magnet which is secured to an arm of the steering mechanism can adjust in any direction with respect to the wire, including at an angle of 90 as a result of which a correct guiding and steering of the toy vehicle is impossible.
  • Another device for steering a toy vehicle is known in which permanent magnets are used.
  • a magnet is coupled to the steering mechanism outside the vehicle and over the driving surface a few separate permanent magnets are arranged which influence the permanent magnet steering mechanism in the vehicle.
  • this device is complicated and expensive.
  • this toy vehicle loses its attractiveness since the permanent magnets for steering are arranged more or less visibly on the driving surface.
  • the above drawbacks are mitigated with a device of the above-described type in that the ferromagnetic strip, which is substantially rectangular, consists of a permanent magnetic material, preferably a permanent magnetic oxidic material, embedded in synthetic material or rubber comprising at least two pole pieces laterally disposed adjacent one another along the total length of the strip.
  • the permanent magnet for the steering mechanism is constructed as a wheel running on the driving surface above the permanent magnetic strip which has at least two pole pieces with opposite polarity arranged laterally adjacent one another over the total circumference of the wheel and opposite the pole pieces within the strip. With this construction a forced steering of the vehicle is obtained.
  • strips which consist of a permanent magnetic material, in particular barium and/or strontium hexaferrite, embedded in synthetic material or rubber, are already known and can be manufactured in a comparatively simple and cheap manner.
  • the permanent magnetic wheel may be magnetized in the axial direction and the permanent magnetic strip may be magnetized in a direction parallel to the driving surface.
  • FIGURES 1a and 1b are a cross-sectional view and a plan View respectively of a device according to the invention.
  • FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 show cross-sectional views through the cooperating permanent magnets according to the invention illustrating the directions of magnetization of the said magnets.
  • FIGURES 5 and 6 diagrammatically show two embodiments of a toy vehicle according to the invention.
  • FIGURE 7 shows a connection constructed with the permanent magnetic guide strips.
  • FIGURE 8 diagrammatically shows a further embodiment of the toy vehicle according to the invention running on two guide strips.
  • a flexible permanent magnetic strip 2 which is rectangular in cross-section is provided, for example, bonding, in arbitrary stretches below a fiat thin driving surface 1 consisting of non-magnetic material, for example, wood, cardboard or synthetic material.
  • driving surfaces which are manufactured by hot-pressing synthetic material, grooves for receiving the strip 2 may be pressed in on the lower side.
  • the flexible strip 2 consists of permanent magnetic material, in particular barium or strontium hexaferrite, embedded in synthetic material or rubber and may be manufactured in substantially any length by extrusion.
  • This permanent magnetic strip 2 serves as an invisible guide for a toy vehicle on the driving surface 1, which is driven by any suitable drivin means.
  • the steering mechanism of the vehicle is provided with a cylindrical wheel consisting of a permanent magnetic material, for example, barium or strontium hexaferrite, which is sintered or embedded in synthetic material or rubber.
  • the wheel runs above the permanent magnetic strip 2 and follows the same.
  • the wheel 3 has the same width as the permanent magnetic strip 2.
  • An annular north pole and an annular south pole are formed on opposing radial surfaces of the wheel.
  • two corresponding pole pieces with opposite polarity are arranged which are formed likewise by a bipolar transverse magnetization. As a result of this magnetization, the wheel 3 is attracted by the permanent magnetic strip 2 and guided along the stretch formed by the strip.
  • the plane of the cross-section through the centre of the wheel 3 always extends through the longitudinal axis of the strip 2.
  • the magnetizations of the wheel 3 and the strip 2 shown in FIGURE 3, are of the same type as in FIGURE 1a.
  • the two parts of the magnet have a bipolar transverse magnetization; in this case the pole pieces have been displaced more towards the sides of the wheel and the strip respectively.
  • FIGURE 4 shows the wheel 3 and the strip 2 with a three-pole transverse magnetization.
  • the circumference of the wheel 3 consequently comprises three annular pole pieces namely, as shown, two south poles and one north pole, while the side of the strip 2 facing the wheel likewise comprises three pole pieces, namely two north poles and one south pole.
  • the wheel 3 is magnetized in the axial direction so that a pole piece is formed on each side face. Accordingly the strip 2 is magnetized in the direction parallel to the driving surface 1 with opposite polarity so that the pole pieces are arranged on the narrow side faces.
  • pole pieces on the permanent magnetic strip 2 are arranged laterally adjacent one another throughout the length of the strip.
  • FIGURES 5 and 6 diagrammatically show toy vehicles driven, for example, by a spring motor or an electric motor, consisting of a vehicle body with rear wheel drive 5.
  • the front wheels 6 are secured to the steering mechanism 7 which is secured to the permanent magentic wheel 3 by means of a rod 8.
  • the wheel 3 can rotate with respect to the rod 8.
  • the wheel 3 is rotatbaly mounted on the vehicle body 4.
  • the front wheels may be constructed as dummy wheels so that a three-wheel vehicle is obtained which is steered by means of the wheel 3.
  • two parallel strips may be used alternatively for the steering of the toy vehicle as shown in FIGURE 8.
  • the two strips 2 in this case always cooperate with one of the permanent magnetic wheels which are used directly as front wheels 18 rotatably mounted on an axle of the vehicle.
  • the rear wheels 19 may be permanent magnets also.
  • the current supply may be effected through conducting layers provided on the driving surface and touched by sliding contacts arranged on the vehicle.
  • FIGURE 7 shows two permanent magnetic strips 9 and 10 each forming a stretch which communicate with one another by means of a switch connection.
  • a short section 11 of the permanent magnetic strip 10 is arranged below the driving surface so as to be laterally slidable. Normally this section 11 is drawn against a stop member 13 by a spring 12. In this case the vehicle runs on the strip 10.
  • the section 11 is also connected to a core 14 of an electromagnet 15, which, when actuated, attracts the section 11 against a stopmember 16 so that the vehicle is conducted from the strip 10 to the strip 9.
  • a magnetic steering assembly for a toy vehicle sys- 4 tem comprising a ferromagnetic strip including permanent magnetic material therein, said ferromagnetic strip being attached to a driving surface of said vehicle system and having at least two laterally disposed pole pieces of opposite polarity extending substantially the entire length thereof, and a permanent magnetic wheel coupled to a steering mechanism on said toy vehicle, wherein said permanent magnetic wheel overlies said ferromagnetic strip and includes a pair of pole pieces of opposite polarity located in laterally adjacent radial planes of said wheel, with each of the pole pieces of said magnetic wheel being in overlying aligned relation with a pole piece of opposite polarity of said ferromagnetic strip whereby said wheel is urged into continuous alignment with said ferromagnetic strip in response to the interaction of the magnetic fields therebetween.

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  • Toys (AREA)
US513306A 1964-12-16 1965-12-13 Magnetic steering mechanism for toy vehicles Expired - Lifetime US3403470A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DEP0035702 1964-12-16

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3403470A true US3403470A (en) 1968-10-01

Family

ID=7374344

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US513306A Expired - Lifetime US3403470A (en) 1964-12-16 1965-12-13 Magnetic steering mechanism for toy vehicles

Country Status (9)

Country Link
US (1) US3403470A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
AT (1) AT263585B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
BE (1) BE673750A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CH (1) CH446986A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE1478647A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DK (1) DK113831B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR1469041A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1095808A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
NL (1) NL6516212A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4990117A (en) * 1988-10-27 1991-02-05 Yonezawa Corporation Magnetic force-guided travelling toy
US6007401A (en) * 1997-10-03 1999-12-28 Parvia Corporation Optoelectric remote control apparatus for guiding toy vehicles
US6102770A (en) * 1997-10-03 2000-08-15 Parvia Corporation Toy vehicular electromechanical guidance apparatus
US6322415B1 (en) * 1997-10-03 2001-11-27 Peter Cyrus Toy vehicular electromagnetic guidance apparatus
US20120270464A1 (en) * 2011-04-25 2012-10-25 Kyu Hwi Lee Toy blocks for children

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2690626A (en) * 1949-03-02 1954-10-05 Godwin R F Gay Magnetically guided toy
CA680570A (en) * 1964-02-18 Jedrzejak Florian Retaining mechanism for toy vehicles
US3189981A (en) * 1961-05-25 1965-06-22 Child Guidance Toys Inc Method of assembling magnetized rubber-like strips in plastic configurations

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA680570A (en) * 1964-02-18 Jedrzejak Florian Retaining mechanism for toy vehicles
US2690626A (en) * 1949-03-02 1954-10-05 Godwin R F Gay Magnetically guided toy
US3189981A (en) * 1961-05-25 1965-06-22 Child Guidance Toys Inc Method of assembling magnetized rubber-like strips in plastic configurations

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4990117A (en) * 1988-10-27 1991-02-05 Yonezawa Corporation Magnetic force-guided travelling toy
US6007401A (en) * 1997-10-03 1999-12-28 Parvia Corporation Optoelectric remote control apparatus for guiding toy vehicles
US6102770A (en) * 1997-10-03 2000-08-15 Parvia Corporation Toy vehicular electromechanical guidance apparatus
US6322415B1 (en) * 1997-10-03 2001-11-27 Peter Cyrus Toy vehicular electromagnetic guidance apparatus
US20120270464A1 (en) * 2011-04-25 2012-10-25 Kyu Hwi Lee Toy blocks for children

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR1469041A (fr) 1967-02-10
DE1478647A1 (de) 1969-09-25
NL6516212A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1966-06-17
AT263585B (de) 1968-07-25
DK113831B (da) 1969-04-28
BE673750A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CH446986A (de) 1967-11-15
GB1095808A (en) 1967-12-20

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