US1868354A - Automatic switching system for toy railroads - Google Patents

Description

July 19, 1932. J. J. GEIGER 1,868,354

AUTOMATIC SWITCHING SYSTEM FOR TOY RAILROADS Filed Aug. 11, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 25 a i H n /n I I f H n H X I l I I l I I I ll I l l I II I l J a I] 2Q 3r 3 Q Q a I n I I TI TI I I 1 In I I n I INVENTOR 7 1 5. WITNESSES 5 QZYJ/Zn CJIjGIflEI a g 35 k a. 5 I M ATTORNEYS July 19, 1932. j GE|GER 1,868,354

AUTOMATIC SWITCHING SYSTEM FOR TOY RAILROADS Filed Aug. 11, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSES ENTOR ATTORN EYS Patented July 19, 1932 PATENT OFFICE I .kTOI-IN.GEIGER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

AUTOMATIC SWITCHING SYSTEM FOR TOY RAILROADS Application filed August 11, 1931.

This invention relates to Switching systems for "toy railways and particularly to .an automatic switching system wherein when the parts are properly set, a toy train may be '5 switched automatically from one series of tracks to the other as long .aspower is sup plied.

An object of the invention is to provide a simplified construction for electrically operated toy trains 'wherein'two .orinore tracks may be used and the'trains automatically switched from one track to the other so that 'eachtrain will successively pass over the vari- 'ous track systems. 1

Another object of the invention is to pro- 'vide in an automatic switching system a switch ada'ptedto be actuated-by the engine of the train for turning'on and off current to the switch operating mechanism,the same being associated with insulated rail sections for providing current to the switch mechanism for automatically resetting the vsame.

; ."In the accompanying drawings,

Figure .1 is a top planview ofa toy railroadidisclosing a structure embodying most ofthe invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective View showing the front part of an electric engine and part ofthe track'together with a switch and operating bar carried by the engine.

7 Figure '3 is a vertical horizontal sectional viewthrough the switch'shown in Figure 2, the same being on an enlarged scale. A

'Figure 1 is an enlarged top plan view of ":35. one of the insulated sections shown in Figure 1, the same being shown in connection with a power take-off contact structure.

Figure 5 is a plan view of one of the switches andlassociatedparts shown in Figure 1, the housing of the switohoperating mechanism being shown in section for better illustrating the arrangement of conductors. Referring to the accompanyingdrawings bynumerals, 1 indicates a three rail track for toy railroads, the samebeingof a well known kind, as forinstance the Lionel'tracks as now commonly placed on the market. These tracks consist of suitable metallic ties 2, rails I: .3 and 4 for receiving'the wheels of the engine andcars of the train placed on thetrack and Serial No. 556,449.

connected to the tie 3 but not insulated therefrom. Rail 5'is connected with the respective ties 2 but is insulated therefrom so as to act as a third rail to supply power tothe engine 5 through well known mechanism now in common use. This mechanism usually consists of a contact shoe which is electrically connected with the motor of the engine 6 and which has one side connected with the wheels of the engine, said wheels resting on the rails 3 and i. The structure just described is old and well known and forms no part of the present invention except in combination. 1 Associated with the tracks 1 are switches 7 and 8, said switches being of identical structure so that a description of one will'apply to both. As these switches are old and well known structures as now found on the mar- 7 ket, it is thought a detailed description thereof is not necessary. The particular switch shown in the accompanying drawings is the ordinary Lionel. switch which is operated by a pair of solenoids 9 and 10 as shown in Figure 5, said solenoids having a core 11 connected by a rod 12 and by certain suitable connecting members with the plate 13. Plate 13 carries the rail sections 14 and 15 and also a central rail 16 which is insulated from plate 13. Plate 13 is pivotally mounted at 17 so that when the switch is set as shown in Figure 5, the train will take the side track, but if the switch is moved to the right as shown in Figure 5, the train will take the straight track. When the solenoid 10 is energized the switch is moved from the position shown in Figure 5 until rail 15 contacts with the rail 3. When solenoid 9 is energized the parts will function to swing the switch mechanism to the position shownin Figure 5. All the structure just described is old and well known except the detailed wires 18 and 19. It will be noted that these wires are connected to one end of the windings of the respective solenoids 10 and 11 and also connected to the rail 16. It will therefore be noted that one terminal of each of the solenoids is grounded on the power rail while the other terminals 20 and 21 are connected to the wires or other conductors 22 and 23. Conductor 22 is con- 9 current is supplied and is turned on to the desired kind, but as shown, .consists of an insulating plate 28 carrying spurs 29 which press against the rail 5 and a swinging clamp- 30 adapted to press againstthe rail 3. The clamp 30 is pivotally mounted on a metallic plate 31 which carries a terminal 32 to which 7 a wire 33 is secured. The contact 24 is identical with thecontact 24 and will, therefore, need no detailed description. Wire 33 is connected to the terminal 34 of the train operated switch 35 while the wire 36 is connected with the terminal 37 of switch 35 andalso to the terminal 23 while the wire 37 is connected to the terminal 22" and to the contact 24".

Wire 23 is connected to a "contact 24 It will be understood that the contacts 24' and 24. are connected tothe insulated railv sec- =tions 25. and 25 in a similar way to; the

i is provided with aswinging arm 38 which is connection shown in Figure 4. The switch as shown particularly in Figures2 and 3 adapted. to strike an abutment 39 .formedfof insulating material and bolted or'otherwise mechanism of switch '35 fromone position to rigidly "secured .to engine 16. Also, the. abutment could be made from metal andin'sulated from the engine, the function of the abut.- ment being to strikethe rod 38 and swing the the, otherf. The s witch'35 is a well known structure now on the market and is commonly known as-a pull switch. This form of switch when pulled or moved in one direction closes the circuit and when given a second pull opens the circuit. As this is an old and well known switch, the details thereof will not be de'scribed,-b'ut it will be understood that when the'engine 6 passes the switch for the first time, the circuit will be closed between the wires 33 and 36. When the engine passes a. second time in the same direction, the circuit between the wires 33 and 36 will beopen. If the trainshould move me reverse direction" past switch 35, .the switch will not 'be shifted but will remain in its original setting. In'operation, the engineer a train of cars ncluding an engineis supplied with current when the parts are properly functioned, cur.- rent'being supplied from any suitable source through suitable wires 40 and 4-1. When the engine 6, the engine will begin to move, it being understood that most of the track. 1 and the engine 6 are old and well known structures, for instance, the ordinary Lionel structure now incommon use on the market.

of arrow 42.

Assuming that engine (die at point A in Figure 1 when the current is turned on, the engine would begin to move in the direction As soon as the wheels begin to strike the section 25 current will flow from rail 4 through the wheels and body of the engine to rail 25", wire 37, wire 20, as shown in' Figure 5, the windings of the solenoid 10, and, finally, through wire 18 to rail 16. This will cause the switch 8 to be moved over to'the posit-ion shown in Figure 1 unless already in that position. The engine will continue without stopping and will pass on to the rail section 25 whereupon the same action takes place, namely, current will pass from the rail-4, through thewheels and frame of the engine to'the rail-25".

The current passing to jthe rail 25. will pass through wire 23, wire 21, as shown in Figure 5, the windings of the solenoid 11,

and wire 19 to rail '16 which'fis part ofthe power rail 5. This will cause the solenoid 11 to move the switch 7 to the position shown in Figures and 5 unless already in this position. .While, this is taking place, the engine or train is still movingand will pass switch 7 and finally pass'the switch 35. a As the engine passes'switch 3.55 abutment 39 will strike the vrod or arm 38'and actuate switch 35 so that it connects wires'33 and 36; This connection does not result in turning on the currentto any operatingparts, but sets the circuit so thatswitch 8 may be swung t othe opposite position td that shown in Figure 1 when the engine passes the insulated railfsecftion However, before passing :this {section, theengine naturally-passes the rail section 25 anathapart function as described in. regard to sections25 and25" so that current will pas'sfthrough wire 22, wire 20 as shown in Figure 5, the windings of solenoid l0 and wire 18to rail 16, whereupon the switch plate113 and associated. parts will be moved toward the right in Figure 5. The engine continues past the contact 24 and current/will pass asheretofore described from track 4 through the wheelsjand body of the engine to rail section 25, wire 33, switch 35,

wire 3.6 and through the proper solenoid atf switch 8to move theswitch 8 to the position shown in'Fi'gure'5, whereupon the engine striking this switchQS will pass again to point A and then over thesamepath as heretofore described. I After, the train passes the contact 24" a second time, current will be supplied towire 37 for shifting the switch 8 to the position shown i'nFigure 1. As the engine passes, contact 24 the current supplied will move switch 7 over to the position shown in Figure land the engine willfcon- ;tinue to pass switch As theengine passes switch 35 the second time, it-will swing the arm 38 and will open the switch so that the wires 33 and 36 are not electrically connected. The engine passing the contact 24 willsupply current to wire 22 for actuating switch 7 so that it will move to the right, from the position in Figure 1, so as to make the main line clear. As the engine passes contact 24 nothingoccurs as switch 35 is open and consequently the engine will pass switch 8 while it is still in the position shown in Figure 1 and will move around the portion B of the track 1 and will pass switch 7 and again strike the rod 38 for closing switch 35. This will eventually cause the switch 8 to be moved to the left from the position in Figure 1 and switch 7 moved to the left or to the position shown in Figure 1, so that the train will pass around past point A on its third trip, the trackage of point A presenting a siding or auxiliary trackage. As switch 35 is closed one time and opened another time the engine passes, switches 7 and 8 will be automatically actuated so that the engine will make one complete trip around the main track and then a trip around the main track from switch 7 to switch 8 and through the auxiliary track past point A. The next trip will be around the main track and so on. This action is continued as long as the power is turned on and switch 35 functions.

I claim:

1. An automatic switch system for toy railways including a main trackage, an auxiliary trackage connected at certain points with the main trackage, a switch at the point of connection of the auxiliary trackage with the main trackage, electrically operated means for opening and closing said switches, means for supplying current to said electrically operated means, said means including insulated track sections over which the wheels of a train is adapted to pass and wiring connecting said sections to the respective means for actuating the switches and a train actuated switch for opening the circuit of one of said means so that the switch operating means associated with one of the switches will not function, thus causing the train to at one time pass around the main trackage and at another time to be switched on to the auxiliary trackage.

2. In an automatic switch system for a toy railroad, a main trackage over which an electrically operated toy train is adapted to move, said trackage having a pair of wheel tracks and a third rail for supplying current to the train, an auxiliary trackage connecting certain parts of the main trackage and electrically operated switch at the juncture of said auxiliary trackage with the main trackage at each juncture, means for closing the circuit of said switches by said train so as to move the switches back and forth so that the same will be opened and closed and an engine operated switch for opening one of said circuits whereby when the train is functioning, it will pass around said main trackage shunt circuits including an insulated rail section and a train operated switch for opening and closing the circuit of one of the electrically operated means of one of said switches, whereby a train operating on said trackage will make one trip around the main trackage and then on the second trip will pass over the second'trackage.

4. In an automatic switching system for toy electric railways, a main trackage, an auxiliary trackage, a switch connecting said auxiliary trackage with the main trackage, electrically operated means for moving one switch to an open and closed position, a wire leading from said electrically operated means, an insulated rail track section connected with said wire, said track section being part of said auxiliary trackage, conductors extending from said electrically operated means to said main trackage at one point, said main trackage at said one point having an insulated wheel rail to which said conductors are electrically connected and a train operated switch interposed in said conductors for opening and closing the circuit thereof whereby when said switch is closed, current will be supplied to close said switch as the train passes over the main line.

JOHN J. GEIGER.

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