WO2004069362A1

WO2004069362A1 - Device and method for steering a model vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2004069362A1
Application number: PCT/EP2004/001066
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roland Neumuth
Original assignee: Roland Neumuth
Priority date: 2003-02-07
Filing date: 2004-02-05
Publication date: 2004-08-19
Also published as: DE10306086B4; DE10306086A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a steering system for a model vehicle (10) driven by at least two chains (14) and/or at least two wheels. Said steering system comprises a sensing magnet (18) which is pivotally arranged on a lever arm (26) and which reacts to a tracer wire and/or a tracer wire strip. The vertical axis of rotation (22) of the lever arm (26) is arranged at a distance from the sensing magnet (18). The steering system for a model vehicle can be used for wheels as well as for track-laying model vehicles or track-type model vehicles. The sensing magnet (18) must not be guided in front of the front axle of the vehicle in order to ensure cross-country mobility, i.e. especially the capacity to surmount obstacles.

Description

Device and method for steering a model vehicle

description

The invention relates to a device and a method for steering a model vehicle with the features mentioned in the preamble of claim 1 and claim 15.

A wide variety of steering systems are known for model vehicles. Model vehicles with an assigned drive can be steered mechanically, among other things, by means of cables, a linkage or similar devices. The control by the user can also take place by radio. The direction of travel of the model vehicle can usually be set independently of the terrain to be driven.

The disadvantage with the aforementioned type of steering systems, however, is that 'a user. can only control one vehicle at a time. The simultaneous control of several vehicles would usually overwhelm the user. In order to enable the simultaneous actuation of several vehicles by a user, mechanical steering contacts and power take-off contacts are also known, which, when the vehicle deviates from the prescribed path, emit control impulses by touching the current-conducting rails of the roadway, which are transmitted to the steering linkage of the vehicles. However, such an arrangement is very expensive and complicated and. consequently also prone to failure. It is even more complex to provide, in addition to the busbars feeding the drive motor of the vehicle, further busbars for guiding power for a steering device.

To overcome the aforementioned disadvantages, a model vehicle is described in DE-OS 1 603 631, on the underside of which a magnetic head is arranged at a distance in front of its driving wheels and a strip which interacts with the magnetic head and is made of a magnetically active material is embedded in the roadway ,

The mechanical guidance of the vehicle takes the place of the magnetic force acting between the lane strip and the magnetic head, without the need for steering to be actuated by means of magnetic control pulses. By arranging the magnetic head in front of the drive wheel or wheels, the vehicle follows the course of the strip embedded in the road, without this effect being visible to the viewer at the same time.

A steering system for model vehicles of the aforementioned type is also known from DE 34 09 975 AI, in which an iron wire as a track following is arranged above the road surface. Drives magnet via a lever linkage of a steering knuckle of the vehicle front wheels. To be able to recreate the driving and steering behavior of model vehicles the actual driving behavior of industrial vehicles in faithful a manner as possible, is described in German Utility Model G 86 153 93.5 a steering system for model vehicles, ^'in which the wheels of the steerable wheel set, in particular the wheels of the ¹ Front axle bearing, in a bearing block arranged on the vehicle floor by pivoting from the outer legs, connected by a tie rod connected in the same direction pivotable and in the middle of the bearing block extending in the direction of travel of the vehicle, at the free end equipped with a permanent magnet arm made of non-conductive material is pivotably mounted, which is connected in the middle of the track rod so as to be rotatably connected to the track rod. The vehicle itself is thus steered by the wheel set, the pivoting of which is effected in accordance with the course of the trace wire by the permanent magnet which interacts with the trace wire. This results in a driving behavior of the model vehicle that corresponds to the actual driving behavior of corresponding commercial vehicles.

Furthermore, DE 296 01 716 ül proposes to use a magnetic strip designed as a magnetic foil instead of the iron wire previously used as trace wire, to which the magnet of the model vehicle is assigned. This is intended to improve the guiding properties, in particular when braking and cornering, and to better simulate the predetermined lane or the road through the model vehicle, since the combination of the magnetic stripe with the permanent magnet of the model vehicle is comparatively small, especially of the permanent magnet strong magnetic attraction and consequently considerable improved guiding properties of the model vehicle guaranteed.

A disadvantage of the aforementioned prior art is that the proposed steering systems can only be used for vehicles with wheel chassis, but not for vehicles with track or crawler tracks. A further disadvantage is that the magnet provided for the scanning, usually designed as a permanent magnet, in the proposed solutions according to the prior art has to be arranged at a certain distance in front of the first front axle of the model vehicle (in the direction of travel) in order to ensure timely guidance To be able to guarantee handlebars even in tight bends. This is disadvantageous because the model vehicle can get caught on certain obstacles with a scanning magnet arranged in front of the front axle (for example on ridges in the middle of the vehicle in the ground). As a result, the mobility and above all the off-road capability (in the sense of a model system) of such vehicles is clearly restricted. Further, the arranged in front of the front axle of a permanent magnet simulation of a real vehicle is counteracted, since the visibility of the scanning magnet ^'does not speak to the real situation corresponds. In this respect, it is particularly desirable to be able to guide a scanning magnet under the vehicle, ie behind the front axle. However, this is not possible with the known devices according to the prior art due to the restricted mobility of the handlebar and thus the need to guide the scanning magnet in front of the front axle in order to cope with tight curves. The invention is therefore based on the object of specifying a steering system for model vehicles which can be used both for wheels and for tracked or caterpillar model vehicles. Furthermore, a scanning magnet should not have to be guided in front of the front axle of the model vehicle in order to be suitable for off-road use, above all to be able to overcome obstacles.

Furthermore, a method for steering a model vehicle is to be specified which eliminates the disadvantages of the prior art.

This object is achieved according to the invention by the features in the characterizing part of claim 1 (device claim) and the features in the characterizing part of claim 15 (method claim) in cooperation with the features in the preamble. Appropriate embodiments of the invention are contained in the subclaims.

A particular advantage of the invention is that the steering according to the invention, based on a permanent magnet associated with the model vehicle and interacting with a trace wire, is suitable for both wheels and tracked or tracked vehicles. ^• a first a tracking wire and / or a track magnetic strip is responsive pivotally ^'arranged on a lever arm scanning magnet whose vertical axis of rotation of ■ the lever arm is spaced from the scanning magnet, fixedly connected to a second lever arm being arranged on the second pivotally mounted lever arm a control solenoid is ^' and the model vehicle has at least two magnetic switches which are arranged in the region of the magnetic field of the control magnet. The scanning magnet arranged on a rotatably mounted lever arm is deflected in accordance with a track wire assigned to it. The one with the lever arm lever arm of a control magnet, which is firmly connected to the scanning magnet, is also deflected by the deflection of the lever arm of the scanning magnet (or remains in its position with the track wire remaining the same). A control magnet arranged on the second lever arm is hereby moved via a magnetic switch such that this magnetic switch switches over. This changeover can either slow down, switch off, reverse or accelerate the motor for the corresponding wheel and / or the corresponding chain / caterpillar in accordance with the change in direction to be carried out.

In accordance with the change in direction of the trace wire, not only the scanning magnet but also the control magnet pivoted with the scanning magnet is moved. This movement causes the magnetic switch suitable for the corresponding curve to switch. This switching causes the speed of the respective wheel or chain / caterpillar to be set appropriately according to the curve. As a result, caterpillar / tracked vehicles as well as wheeled vehicles as well as half-tracked vehicles and / or other machines which are moved with chains and / or wheels can be steered in the direction specified by the track wire.

According to the invention, it can be used for particularly sharp curves and / or. at a high speed that the wheel or chain / caterpillar on one side is brought to a complete standstill or moved in the opposite direction. As a result, the model vehicle can make a particularly tight curve or perform a turn on the spot. This makes it possible in particular to arrange the lever arm carrying the scanning magnet not in front of the front axle but behind the front axle. In a preferred embodiment, the lever arm of the scanning magnet is designed to be resilient. This ensures in particular that the model vehicle with the steering system according to the invention does not get caught on obstacles. Furthermore, the lever arm can be arranged behind the front axle, i.e. under the vehicle, and is therefore covered. This is often desirable for model vehicles, particularly because of the replication of original vehicles that is as faithful as possible.

The magnetic switch is preferably a magnetic switch. In a preferred embodiment variant, this magnetic changeover switch is a reed switch. The magnetic switch is preferably electrically connected to at least one motor, at least one resistor, at least one power supply and / or at least one transistor in accordance with its setting for the curve. The engine is connected to at least one chain and / or at least one wheel of the model vehicle. ^" In a preferred embodiment, the axis of rotation of the lever arm of the scanning magnet is identical to the axis of rotation of the lever arm of the control magnet. Furthermore, both the scanning magnet and the control magnet are arranged in the starting position for the straight running of the model vehicle from its front behind the axis of rotation in the center of the vehicle. Furthermore, the ^'scanning magnet preferably has a larger distance up from its axis of rotation as the control magnet. in order to overcome obstacles, the lever arm of the scanning magnet is arranged preferably vertically pivotable. in contrast, the lever arm of the control magnet actual vertical locked firmly. This is intended to ensure that the control magnet always has the same distance from the respective magnetic switch in order to ensure that the magnetic switches can be switched over safely. In a particularly preferred embodiment variant, a model vehicle has three magnetic switches on each side in the lateral swiveling range of the control magnet, the innermost magnetic switch reducing the motor speed, the second innermost (middle) magnetic switch switching off the motor and the outermost magnetic switch one Reverse the motor drive.

In the method according to the invention for steering for a model vehicle traveling on at least two chains and / or at least two wheels, scanning a direction of travel predetermined by a trace wire and / or a track magnetic strip by means of a scanning magnet arranged pivotably on a lever arm 5, a second magnet is used Lever arm pivotally arranged control magnet by means of the magnetic acting on the scanning magnet. Forces pivoted to a magnetic switch and thereby the. The speed of the motor driving the chain and / or the wheel 0 changed in accordance with the deflection of the scanning magnet. The magnetic forces acting on the scanning magnet are transmitted to a lever arm assigned to the control magnet by means of a lever arm assigned to the scanning magnet.

The invention will be explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments shown at least partially in the figures. 0 show:

FIG. 1: a schematic side section of a model vehicle with steering according to the invention,

Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of a model running ^¬ tool with an inventive steering system, FIG. 3: a schematic representation of a steering according to the invention when the model vehicle is running straight ahead,

FIG. 4: a schematic representation of a steering system according to the invention in a first left-hand driving position (somewhat to the left),

FIG. 5: a schematic representation of a steering system according to the invention in a second left-hand driving position (strongly to the left),

Figure 6: a schematic representation of a steering system according to the invention in a third left-hand driving position (turn to the left on the spot).

FIG. 1 shows a schematic side section of a model vehicle 10. The model vehicle 10 moves on the ground 16 in the direction of travel 12 (forward). The model vehicle 10 has two chains 14 which convert the driving forces of the engine into the movement of the model vehicle. The scanning magnet 18 arranged on the lever arm 26, which is rotatably mounted about the axis of rotation 22, is designed to be resilient, so that the lever arm 26 can not only be pivoted laterally (with respect to the direction of travel), but can also be moved in height. This is particularly advantageous because the scanning magnet 18 can also avoid obstacles. The lever arm 26 is horizontally firmly connected to the lever arm 28 of the control magnet 20. As a result, the scanning magnet 18 following the trace wire (not shown here) located in the underground 16 causes a pivoting movement of the lever arm 26 in the event of a curve, and this leads to a rectified pivoting movement of the lever arm 28 and thus of the control magnet 20. FIG. 2 schematically shows a top view of a model vehicle 10 with a steering system according to the invention. In this exemplary embodiment, the model vehicle 10 is in a straight line. For this purpose, the lever arms 26 and 28, which are permanently connected horizontally, are arranged or aligned from the front of the vehicle directly behind the axis of rotation 22 (in the middle of the vehicle). If the trace wire (not shown here) located in the subsurface now has a curved course, the scanning magnet 18 will pivot in this direction (following the track wire) due to the magnetic forces acting between the track wire and the scanning magnet 18. The control magnet 20 which is fixedly and also rotatably mounted via the lever arms 26, 28 will hereby be pivoted in the same direction as the scanning magnet 18. As a result, the control magnet 20 is moved via one of the reed switches 24, as a result of which the respective reed switch is switched over. If the trace wire now takes a left-hand curve, the scanning magnet 18, and with it, due to the horizontally fixed connection via the lever arms 26, 28, also pivot the control magnet 20 to the left and, from a certain curvature of the trace wire, the innermost, left-hand side (in the direction of travel ) Reach reed switch 24, which then switches over. As a result, the respective, in this case the left-hand drive motor 34 is reduced in voltage by a resistor 32, and thus in speed, as shown in FIG. Therefore, the right chain continues to run at full speed, but the left chain now with reduced speed. As a result, the model vehicle 10 will move to the left following the curve of the trace wire. The left-hand movement of the model vehicle 10 continues until the model vehicle 10 is again centered over the trace wire, so that the control magnet 20 is no longer above the innermost reed switch 24 and therefore this reed switch 24 switches back to its original position due to the lack of magnetic force. Switching back takes place as soon as the overlap area of control magnet 20 and reed switch 24 is removed again. By switching the reed switch 24 back, the left shaft is driven again at the original speed and the vehicle now continues its journey in the corrected direction in a straight line, as is shown schematically in FIG. If the reduced speed of the left chain shown in FIG. 4 above is not sufficient for the steering movement, i.e. the curve is too strong, the scanning magnet 18, and with it the control magnet 20, is deflected further and reaches the middle left reed switch 24 By switching this middle left reed switch 24, the left drive motor 34 is completely switched off, as shown in FIG. The left chain 14 is stationary, the right chain being driven at undiminished speed. The model vehicle 10 therefore turns more strongly and is rotated to the left until the scanning magnet 18 and thus the control magnet 20 is moved back so far that the middle left reed switch 24 switches off again and the inner reed switch 24 switches on again. The model vehicle 10 continues its journey in this first steering position with the direction corrected until this steering movement is no longer necessary and is switched off.

If even smaller curve radii are traveled and the model vehicle 10 must therefore turn on the spot, the scanning magnet 18 and with it the control magnet 20 are deflected following the trace wire to such an extent that the control magnet 20 overlaps with the outermost reed switch 24. That is, the control magnet 20 is deflected beyond the middle reed switch to the outer reed switch 24. As a result, the outer reed switch 24 is switched over, which means that a transistor circuit is used _. (consisting of _. -transistors 30). the polarity and thus the direction of rotation of the left chain is reversed. This causes the chains to run in. opposite direction and the model vehicle 10 rotates on the spot until the orientation of the vehicle is corrected so far and adapted to the course of the track wire that the overlap ^'of the control magnet 20 with the outermost reed switch 24 is removed. The control magnet 20 is now in the second steering position, that is, in the overlap with the middle left reed switch. According to the guidance of the trace wire, an adjustment of the corresponding steering positions is achieved. The process can be repeated a number of times in various mixed forms depending on the length and radius of the curves.

In half-tracks can be made ^'a combination of steering systems of the prior art and the inventive steering system. Half-track vehicles have both steerable front wheels and caterpillars / chains. According to the invention it can be provided that the scanning magnet arranged on the lever arm drives a steering knuckle for the front wheels. At the same time, the speed of the caterpillars to be steered can be regulated according to the invention via a control magnet. However, it is also conceivable that both wheels and caterpillars are regulated according to the invention via a control magnet. The invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments shown here. Rather, it is possible to implement further design variants by combining and modifying the means and features mentioned. without leaving the scope of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

Model vehicle direction of travel (forward) chain underground scanning magnet control magnet axis of rotation reed switch lever arm of the scanning magnet lever arm of the control magnet transistor resistance motor current source switch

Claims

claims

1. Steering for a model vehicle (10) traveling on at least two chains (14) and / or at least two wheels with a scanning magnet (18) arranged on a lever arm (26) and responsive to a track wire and / or a track magnetic stripe, the vertical axis of rotation (22) of the lever arm (26) is spaced from the scanning magnet (18), characterized in that a control magnet (20) pivotably arranged on a second lever arm (28) is fixedly connected to the lever arm (26) of the scanning magnet (18) , The model vehicle (10) having at least two magnetic switches which are arranged in the region of the magnetic field of the control magnet (20).

2. Steering according to claim 1, characterized in that the magnetic switch is a magnetic switch.

3. Steering according to claim ^' 1, characterized in that the magnetic switch is a reed switch • (24).

4. Steering according to claim 1 to 3, characterized in that the magnetic switch is electrically connected to at least one motor (34), at least one resistor (32), at least one power supply, at least one control circuit and / or at least one transistor (30).

5. Steering according to claim 1 to 4, characterized in that the at least one motor (34) with at least one chain (14) and / or at least one wheel is mechanically connected.

6. Steering according to claim 1 to 5, characterized in that the axis of rotation (22) of the lever arm (26) of the scanning magnet (18) with the axis of rotation (22) of the lever arm (28) of the control magnet (20) is identical.

7. Steering according to claim 6, characterized in that both scanning magnet (18) and control magnet (20) in the starting position for straight running of the model vehicle (10) from the front behind the axis of rotation (22) are arranged centrally.

8. Steering according to claim 1 to 7, characterized in that the Abtas.tmagnet (18) has a greater distance from its axis of rotation (22) than the control magnet (20).

9. Steering according to claim 1 to 8, characterized in that both the lever arm (28) of the control magnet (20) and the lever arm (26) of the scanning magnet (18) are arranged horizontally pivotable.

10. Steering according to claim 1 to 9, characterized in that the lever arm (26) of the scanning magnet (18) is arranged vertically pivotable.

11. Steering according to claim 1 to 10, characterized in that the lever arm (28) of the control magnet (20) is vertically fixed • locked.

12. Steering according to claim 1 to 11, characterized in that in each case three magnetic switches are arranged in the lateral pivoting range of the control magnet (20).

13. Steering according to claim 1 to 12, characterized in that the model vehicle (10) has a reproduction scale of 1:72 and smaller.

14. Steering according to claim 13, characterized in that the model vehicle (10) has a replica scale of 1:87.

15. Method for steering a model vehicle (10) traveling on at least two chains (14) and / or at least two wheels by scanning a direction of travel predetermined by a trace wire and / or a track magnetic stripe by means of a scanning magnet arranged pivotably on a lever arm (26) ( 18), characterized in that a control magnet pivotably arranged on a second lever arm is pivoted to a magnetic switch by means of the magnetic forces acting on the scanning magnet and the speed of the motor driving the chain and / or the wheel is changed in accordance with the deflection of the scanning magnet ,

6. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that ^' the magnetic forces acting on the scanning magnet are transmitted by means of a lever arm assigned to the scanning magnet to a lever arm assigned to the control magnet.