GB632339A - Improvements in self-propelled toy vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

632,339. Steering means for mechanical toys. HARDY, N. S. July 16, 1947, Nos. 18932 and 23383. [Class 132(iii)] A toy vehicle containing a propelling motor comprises steering means, a cam on the side face of a gear or other rotary member driven by the motor, a cam follower displaceable by the cam, connections between the cam follower and the steering means to operate the latter while the vehicle is moving, and adjustment means for shifting the rotary member axially to vary the displacement of the follower by the cam. As shown, the chassis 1 of a toy car is provided with steerable wheels 2b (only one is shown) and the driving motor 3 operates a gear 18 carrying a cam 4 which displaces a cam follower 5. The wheels may be mounted on stub axles 6a, 6b, each capable of movement about a substantially vertical axis and connected together by a track rod 7. Spring means 8 bias the wheels into the " straight ahead " position and similar spring means may be used to bias the cam follower toward the cam. The track rod 7 is connected to the cam follower by a crankshaft 9, one end 11 of which engages in a fork 10 on the track rod such that displacement of the follower rocks the crankshaft 9 shifting the track rod 7. To ensure contact of the wheels with the supporting surface despite irregularities thereof the stub axles 6a, 6b are pivotally mounted on an axle carrier 15 extending transversely across the vehicle and centrally pivoted at 16. The stub axles are conveniently mounted directly on trailing levers 13a, 13b pivoted to the carriers 15, to which levers 13a, 13b, the ends of the track rod are pivoted. The motor may be driven by clockwork, electricity, elastic, internal combustion, hot air or steam means. The cam 4 may consist of a stud or other protrusion on the gear 18. The extent of rocking of the cam follower and the angle through which the steering wheels are temporarily displaced are adjusted by axial displacement of the cam gear 18. This may be done by endwise shifting the spindle 22 carrying the gear by forming on one of its ends 22c a screw thread to enable it to carry a nut 23. A spring 24 may be mounted on the spindle 22 to thrust against the gear and the chassis. Preferably one flank of the cam is inclined so that axial displacement of the gear alters the duration of displacement of the cam follower.