US1912195A - Electric toy trackage - Google Patents

Description

May 30, 1933. L.. G. HANDY ELECTRIC TOY TRACKAGE original Filed Sept. 18. 192e Nm, mN

ATTORNEY Patented May 30, 1933 UNITED LEVIN GESSFORD HANDY, F MOUNTAIN VIEW, NEW JERSEY ELECTRIC TOY TRACKAGE Original application led September 18, 1926, Serial No. 136,359, new Patent No. 1,753,147, dated April 1, 1930. Divided and this application led March 31, 1930, Serial No. 440,246. Renewed October This invention relates to trackage for toy electric trains, such for instance as is contained in my Patent No. 1,636,416, July 19th, 1927, and in my co-pending application Serial No. 136,359, iiled September 18, 1926, now Patent No. 1,7 53,147, dated April 1, 1930, the present application being adivi- Vsion of said mentioned co-pending application.

An object of the present invention is to provide improved means whereby the passage of a train over a given section or sections of the track may be made to control the operation of auxiliary devices such as signals and the like.

A further object is to provide an electric toy track section intended to be attached. to or removed from track forming relation with other electric toy track sections in the usual manner, said section being constructed to include improved means whereby the passage of a train over said section will complete a shunt circuit, in parallel with the train circuit, for controlling one or more auxiliary devices.

A further object is to so construct the electric toy section that it will include a device arranged to be operated by a passing train for controlling a shunt circuit in parallel with the train circuit.

A more detailed object is to so construct the electric toy section that it will include a part arranged to be moved by being engaged by the iiange of a passing car wheel for controlling an electric circuit including a signal device, the third rail and one of the wheel bearing rails of the electric toy section.

Other objects and aims of the invention, more or less specific than those referred to above, will be in part obvious and in part pointed out in the course of the following description of the elements, combinations, arrangements of parts and applications of principles constituting the invention; and

the scope of protection contemplated will be indicated in the appended claims.

ln the accompanying drawing which is to be taken as a part of this specication, and in which I have shown merely a preferred form of embodiment oi the invention Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan viewof an electric toy track system illustrating the presn ent invention associated therewith.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of one of the electric toy track sect-ions of which the system Fig. 1 is built, said section being constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken upon the plane of line lll-III of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a diagrammaticv sectional view corresponding with a portion of Fig. 3 but illustrating a modified arrangement of contact parts.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but illustrating a further modified arrangement of contact parts.

Referring to the drawing for describing in detail the structure illustrated therein, the reference characters L and G indicate the two metallic wheel bearing rails of an electric toy track section, and the reference character H indicates the intermediate or third metallic rail of said section. These three separate rails are connected together by cross tie means, such as the three metallic cross ties 1, 2 and 3 as illustrated.

The intermediate or third rail is insulated from the other rails and from the cross ties by insulating members 4 4-4 as is customary. n

The wheel bearing rails L and G as shown are not insulated from the cross ties. They are held in metallic contact with said cross ties as by means ofthe tangs 5-5 provided upon the cross ties for this purpose and hence are in constant electrical connection with said cross ties. Y

Each of the rails L, G and H is provided with connecting means at its opposite ends by which it may be readily mechanically and electrically connected intrack forming'relation with aligned rails of adjacent other toy track sections. As an illustration of means for this purpose the drawing herewith shows said rails to lbe formed with sockets at their ends and metallic pins 6-6 for engaging in said sockets, said pins being adapted to eX- tend into similar sockets provided in the aligned rails of adjacent other toy track sections.

The track system illustrated in Fig. 1 is made up of a series of toy electric track sections constructed as thus described, said sections being connected together end to end in a well known manner. A source of electrical energy is indicated at 7 with a conductor 8 leading from one side thereof to the third rail of the system, and with a conductor as 9 :trom its opposite side connected with the two wheel bearing rails of the system, it being noted that although the conductor 9 is shown in Fig. 1 as having direct connection with both of the wheel bearing rails it is usually suflicient to connect said conductor directly with only one of said rails, the current being fed to the other wheel bearing rail through the several metallic cross ties which provide a metallic bond between the wheel bearing rails as above explained.

ln Fig. 1 a signal device to be operated by a passing train is indicated at l0, and an electric toy section constructed in accordance with the present invention is shown at 11. A

.conductor 12 extends from a part of the section 11 to the signal 10 and a second conductor, as 13, connects the opposite side of the signal device with the wheel bearing rail G of the section.

A train is indicated as travelling along the system said train having Wheels 14 riding upon the wheel bearing rails L and G and having a contact shoe 15 riding upon the third rail, the shoe being connected to one side of a train propelling motor 16, the opposite side of the motor being mounted upon the trame as 17 of the train and hence upon all of the wheels of the trainand upon the wheel bearing rails Land G.

The propelling circuit for the train is of the usual type well known in this art, namely, from source 7 through conductor 8 to the third, or power, rail, through the shoe 15 and motor 16 to ground upon the frame of the train and back to the opposite side of the source through the wheel bearing or ground rails L and G.

A shunt circuit through the signal device 10 is closed as soon as one of the wheels of the train rides into engagement with the portion 11 of the present attachment, said shunt circuit being in parallel with the train circuit as follows: From source 7 along the I third rail to the contact device 18 through said contact device and along conductor 12 to the signal device 10 and back by way of conductor 13 to the wheel bearing rail G and thence by way of said wheel bearing rail hack to the opposite side of the source.

rThe detailed construction and arrangement of parts of the present improved section including the contact device 18; may now be readily understood as follows: The portion 17 is a strip of insulating material which extends longitudinally of the toy section closely adjacent one of the wheel bearing rails for instance the rail G, being in position to be engaged by the flange as 19 of one of the wheels 14 of the train. t is carried upon one or more spring arms as 20-20 and is adapted to be depressed by the wheel lange from the position indicated in full lines to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3. One or both of the spring arms 2O is electrically connected with the third rail H being pref erably soldered thereto as indicated at 21 and when the member 17 is depressed by the car wheel flange it carries a portion of .the spring arm or armsl downwardly into electrical en* gagement with a contact as 22. The contact 22 is miounted upon an insulating base as 23. Where two spring arms are employed, as indicated in the drawing the contact 22 may consist of a strip of metal extending longi* tudinally of the toy section from one of said spring arms to the other and there may be two of the insulating base pieces 23 for its support.

Two binding posts as 24 and 25 are provided mounted upon one of the insulating pieces, the post 24 being connected with one of the wheel bearing rails as for instance the rail G, as by a conductor 2G and the post 25 being connected with the contact member or members 22 by means of a conductor 27.

It will be appraent from this descrip tion of detail that as soon as a car wheel traversing rail G moves onto the insulating strip 17 it will depress said strip so as to complete an electrical connection between the third, or power, rail H and the contact 22, and of course outwardly from said contact by way of conductor 27 binding post 25 and conductor 12 to the signal or like device 10 and back through conductor 13 binding post 24 and conductor 12 to the rail G. rl`his circuit will continue as long as the car wheel remains upon the strip 17 but will be broken again as soon as the strip 17 is free to spring back to its normal position. l

The contact 22 is preferably of a resilient character so that it will be adapted to yield to a greater or less extent when pressed against by the upper contacts, that is by the spring ingers 20.

In the modification Fig. 4 the structure is substantially the sante as above described except that in this instance a contact spring arm as 28 is provided in lieu of the contact parts heretofore described and arranged to be pressed directly against the rail G hy the weight of the passing car wheel. A conductor as 29 leads from this spring arm to one of the binding posts, and a second conductor as 30 provides electrical connection between the third rail and the other binding post. When a train passesover this structure the weight of the car pressing against the contact 28 will move said contact into engage* CLI ment with the rail@ and the shunt circuit will extend from rail irl along conductor 30 to the signal device and back along conductor 29 to the contact 2S and into rail lt may be noted that actual contact ot the member Q8 with the rail G is not essential since said member 28 will be in engagement with the car wheel and through said wheel to ground on the train and thence into either or both of the wheel bearing rails and back to the source as heretofore. The insulating support or base 23 in this structure, as well as in the structure Figs. l to 3, extends to engage the rails G and H and to thereby utilize both of these rails in holding itself and the contact parts in proper relacion to said rails and to the car parts moving along said rails. The insulating sup-port servesin ee'ct as a spacer between the rails and parts of opposite polarity, so that no electrical connection or short circuit can at any time occur between said rails and said parts of opposite polarity.

In the modiiication Fig. 5 the structure is similar to that illustrated in Fig. l except that in this instance the contact spring arm or strip as 3l is connected directly with the track rail G instead ot being carried by separate insulating base or carrying plate 23. Suitable insulation, as m is provided between the strip andthe rail and said insulation and strip are firmly fixed to the rail so that the strip is carried by said rail as a part thereof in insulated relation thereto. The upper part of the strip 3l is formed 'to provide a portion as 33 directly overlying the upper surface of the rail. A passing car wheel will ride upon the upper surface of portion 33 and will thus make electrical contact therewith.

It desired the material of the strip 31 may be suitably resilient so that While the portion 33 will stand normally spaced a slight distance above the upper surface of the rail G and thus. out of electrical contact therewith yet said portion 38 will readily yield and press into direct electrical engagement against the rail under the weight of the passing train. As soon as the train has moved off of the portion 33 said portion will again rise to its normal position out of electrical engagement with the rail.

Electric conductors 29 and 30 connect the two binding posts with the rail H and the contact arm or strip 3l, and the circuits Jfor operating the signal are substantially the same as described with respect to Fig. 4.

As many changes could be made in this construction without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the following claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description, or shown in the accompanvi O' drawing, shall be interpreted as illus tive only and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. As an article of manufacture, an electric toy track section intended to be attached to or removed from track forming relation with other electric toy track sections in the usual manner, said section being made up of spaced wheel bearing rails and an intermediate insulated third rail with cross-tie means b y which all of the rails are mechanically connected together for unit-ary handling, the third rail being adapted to carry one side ofan electric train circuit and at least one of the wheel bearing rails being adapted to carry the opposite side ot said circuit, said two mentioned rails each being electrically continuous from end to end ot the toy section adapted thereby for continuous propulsion of a train over said section, a contactmember arranged adjacent said rails, a second vcontact member electrically connected with one of said rails and being movable into and out of engagement with the lirst contact memb r means whereby the )first contact mem- Jer and a rail which carri the side of the ircuit opposite to that carried by the rail to which the second mentioned contact member is connected may be electrically connected with opposite sides ot a signal device, and means whereby to move the second contact into engagement with the irst contact incident to the passage ot a train along said rails.

9,. As an article of manufacture, an electric toy track section intended to be attached to or removed from track forming relation with other electric track sections in the usual manner, said section being made up of spaced wheel bearing rails and an intermediate insulated third rail with cross-tie means by which all of the rails are mechanically connected together tor unitary handling, the third rail being adapted to carry one side of an electric train circuit and at least one of the wheel bearing rails being adapted to carry the opposite side of said circuit, said two mentioned rails each being electrically continuous from end to end of the toy section adapted thereby tor continuous propulsion of a train over said section, means by which to electrically connect an electrically operable device in circuit with the third rail and with the wheel bearing rail carrying the opposite side ot the circuit to thereby put said electrically operable device in shunt with the c track circuit, and control means for said shunt circuit comprising a relatively stationary contact, a relatively movable Contact and means in addition to said rails adapted to be engaged by a passing car wheel for moving the movable Contact into engagement with the stationary Contact.

3. As an article of manufacture, an electric toy track section intended to lbe attached to or removed from track 'forming relation with other electric toy track sections in the usual manner, said section being made up of seaced wheel bearing rails and an intermediate insulated third rail with cross-tie means by which all of the rails are mechanically connected together for unitary handling, the third rail being adapted to carry one side of an electric train circuit and at least one of the wheel bearing rails being adapted to carry the opposite side of said circuit, said two mentioned rails each being electrically continuous from end to end of the toy section adapted thereby for continuous propulsion of a train over sai; section, means by which to electrically connect an electrically operable device in circuit with the third rail and with the wheel bearing rail carrying the opposite side of the circuit to thereby put said electrically operable device in shunt with the track circuit, and control means tor said shunt circuit comprising a spring contact member arranged at one side of one of the rails normally out of electrical connection with said rail but being disposed to be actuated by tie weight ot a car part passing along said rail for being flexed into direct electrical connection with said rail.

Il. As an article of manufacture, an electric toy track section intended to be attached to or removed from track forming relation with other electric toy track sections in the usual manner, said section being made up of spaced wheel bearing` rails and an intermediate insulated Jrhird rail with crosstie means by which all or" the rails are mechanically connected together 'for unitary handling, the third rail being adapted to carry one side of an electric tra-in circuit and at least one of the wheel bearing rails being adapted to carry the opposite side of said circiiit, said two mentioned rails each being electrically continuous from end to end of the toy section adapt-ed thereby for continuous propulsion of a train over said section, means by which to electrically connect an electrically operable device in circuit with the third rail and with the wheel bearing rail carrying the opposite side of the circuit to thereby put said electrically operable device in shuntwith the track circuit, and control means for said shunt circuit comprising a spring Contact member normally in off position but arranged to be actuated into on position by the flange of a car wheel passing along one of the rails of the section.

5. ln a toy electric railroad, comprising spaced wheel bearing rails, an insulated power rail, and a source of electric energy connected'with the power rail and with one of the wheel bearing rails, means by which to electrically connect an electrically operable device in circuit with the power rail and with the mentioned wheel bearing rail to thereby put said electrically operable device in shunt with the track circuit, and a control switch included in said connecting means normally in off position but adapted to be actuated into on position by a passing train, said control switch including a movable contact, and a support for said movable contact mounted upon two of said rails and serving to hold the movable contact in position to be moved by the flange of a car wheel travelling along one ot the rails upon which the support is mounted.

6. ln a toy electric railroad, comprising spaced wheel bearingrails, an insulated power rail, and a source of electric energy connected with the power rail and with one of the wheel bearing rails, all of said rails being electrically continuous adapted thereby for continuous propulsion of a train, a support having a pair oit' wire terminals thereon, conductor means providing for electrical connection between the power rail and one wire terminal, conductor means providing for electrical connection between the mentioned wheel bearing rail and the other wire terminal, and a movable switch element included in one of said conductor means mov able into on and ed positions incident to the uninterrupted movement of a train.

7. ln a toy electric railroad, comprising spaced wheel bearing rails, an insulatedl power rail, and a source of electric energy connected with the power rail and with one of the wheel bearing rails, means by which to electrically connect an electrically operable device in circuit with the power rail and with the mentioned wheel bearing rail to thereby put said electrically operable device in shunt with the track circuit, and a control switch included in said connecting means having a spring contact part extending normally spaced above a part of one of said railsbut depressible by the weight of a passing train into electrical connection with said rail part.

8. In a toy electric railroad made up of a plurality of toy track sections connected together end to end, each section comprising spaced wheel bearing rails and an insulated intermediate power rail together with cross ties extending between said rails to which the rails are attached, a source of electric energ` having one side electrically connected with the power rail and having its other side electrically connected with the wheel bearing rails, connecting means by which to electrically connect an electrically operable device in circuit with the power rail and wif. h one of the wheel bearing rails to thereby pnt said electrically operable device in shunt with the track circuit, said connecting means including a resiliently movable contact member positioned adjacent to one of said rails adapted to be moved inc-ident to the passage ot' a train along the track and to eiiect operation of said electrically operable device as the result of said movement, and an insulating support other than the cross ties, said insulating supportserving to support said Contact member and utilizing the power rail and at least one of the wheel bearing rails to hold the contact member spaced Jfrom the remainder of the structure.

9. In a toy electric railroad, comprising spaced wheel bearing rails, an insulated power rail, and a source of electric energy connected with the power rail and with one of the wheel bearing rails, means by which to electrically connect an eleclrically operable device in circuit with the power rail and with the mentioned wheel bearing rail to thereby put said electrically operable device in shunt with the track circuit, and said connecting means including a movable part normally spaced from one ot said rails thereby holding said shunt circuit open but said movable part being disposed to be moved into engagement with said rail incident to passage of a train to thereby effect a closing of said .shunt circuit.

l0. In a toy electric railroad, comprising spaced wheel bearing rails, an insulated power rail, and a source of electric energy connected with the power rail and with one of the wheel bearing rails, means by which to electrically connect an electrically operable device in circuit with the power rail and with the mentioned wheel bearing rail to thereby put said electrically operable device in shunt with the track circuit, said connecting means including` a movable contact movable into and out of circuit closing position, and said contact being electrically conn-ected with one of said rails and extending to adjacent another of said rails in position to be engaged and moved into circuit closing position by a car part passing along said second rail.

1l. In a toy electric railroad, comprising spaced wheel bearing rails, an insulated power rail, and a source of electric energy connected with the power rail and with one of the wheel bearino' rails, means by which to electrically connect an electrically operable device in circuit with the power rail and with the mentioned wheel bearing rail to thereby put said electrically operable device in shunt with the track circuit, said connecting means including a movable contact movable into and out of circuit closing position, said contact being electrically connected with one of said rails and said contact having a member of insulating material constituting an extension thereof projecting into position to be engaged and moved by a car part passing along another of said rails thereby to move said Contact into circuit closing position.

l2. In a toy electric railroad, comprising spaced wheel bearing rails, an insulated power rail, and a source of electric energy connected with the power rail and with one of the wheel bearing rails, means by which to electrically connect an electrically operable device in circuit with the power rail and with the mentioned wheel bearing rail to thereby put said electrically operable device in shunt with the track circuit, said connecting means including twocontact members normally spaced apart to hold said shunt circuit open, and one of said contact members being electrically connected with one of said rails and having a springy part projecting into posit-ion adjacent another of said 'rails so as to be engaged and moved into circuit closing position against the otherV contact by a. car part passing along said second rail.

' 18. In a toy electric railroad, comprising spaced wheel bearing rails, an insulated power rail, and a source ofelectric energy connected with the power rail and with one ofthe wheel bearing rails, l'means by which to electrically connect an electrically operay,

ble device in circuit with the power rail and with the mentioned vwheel bearing rail to Vthereby put said electrically operable device in shunt with ,the track circuit, said. connecting means including two contact members4 normally spaced apart to hold said shunt circuit open, and one of said contact members being electrically connectedwith the power rail and having a springy part projecting into position against one of the wheel bearing rails so as to be engaged and moved; into circuit closing position against lthe other contact by the flange 'of a car wheel rolling along said wheel bearing rail.

14. In a toy electric railroad, comprising spaced wheel bearing rails, an insulated power rail, and a source ot electric energy connected with the power rail and with one of the wheel bearing rails, means by which to electrically connect an electrically operable device in circuit with the power rail and with the mentioned wheel bearing rail to thereby put said electrically operable device in shunt with the track circuit, said connecting means including a Contact member carried in in-v sulated relation upon one of said rails and having a movable part movable into electrical engagement with said carrying rail incident to the passage of a car part along said carrying rail.

15. In a toy electric railroad, comprising spaced wheel bearing rails, an insulated power rail, and a source of electric energy connected with the power rail and with one ot the wheel bearing rails, means by which to electrically connect an electrically operable device in circuit with the power rail and with the mentioned wheel bearing rail to thereby put said electrically operable device in shunt with the track circuit, said connecting means' including a Contact member carried in insulated relation upon one of said wheel bearing rails and having a movable part movable into electrical engagement with said carl ryi-ng rail by being engaged by a wheel of a passing train.

16'. As an article of manufacture, an electric toy track section intended to be attached I to or removed from track forming relation with other electric toy track sections in the usual manner, said section being made up of spaced wheel bearing rails and an intermediate insulated power rail with cross-tie means by which all of the rails are mechanically connected together or unitary handling,4 means by which to electrically connect an electrically operable device in circuit with the power rail and one of the wheel bearing rails of the section to thereby put said electrically operable device in shunt with the track circuit, and control means for said shunt circuit comprising an elongated strip of material extending lengthwise of the section in the space between the power rail and one of the wheel bearing rails in position to be engaged by a car part passing along the rails of the section, and there being two separate resilient supports by which said strip is mounted to be resiliently yieldable under engagement by said car part, said two supports being spaced apart one engaging each end portion of the strip and each having engagement with the adjacent end portion of the section to hold the strip in operative position upon the section.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature. LGESSFORD HANDY.

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