US1814490A - Lure carrier - Google Patents

Description

H. CVRBEG LURE CARRIER July i4, 1931.

Filed June 16, 1950 2 Sheets-Sham ETES-A lllll 1 H. OVERBERG LURE CARRIER July 14, 193i.

2 shets-snaai 2 Filed June 16, .1930

Qywmtoz Patented'July 14, 1931 HAR-RY overuse-Iter,V F CINCINNATI, oHIo LURE CARRIER Application filed J' une 16,

Thisv inventionrelates to an electricallymotivated car adapted for use at dog-racing tracks in carrying around the course the ruse or lure, generally in the form of a dummy E) rabbit. i n I Y An object of the'invention is to provide improved means of the class described having new and simplified features both of mechanicalstruct'ure and of electric motivation. l0 Another object is to provide such a device which practically eliminates the possibility of removal from its tracks during operation.

Another object is to provide such a car which is substantially. lighter in weight than those heretofore constructed and which is` compact and readily portable.

. These and other objects are attained by the means disclosed hereinand illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sideelevational view of the car of this invention mounted upon its tracks.

Fig. 2`is a view taken on line 2-2 of F ig.1.

3 .is a longitudinal sect-ion through one of the electric brush supports of the invention.

Fig. i is a Side elevation of a mqdified form of electrical brush associated with a wheel, parts being broken away.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the contact wheel shown in Fig. 4.,

Fig. Gis a view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view of another modied form of current carrying meansof the invention. Fig. 8 is a side elevationof modified guide means. j j j c l 'The device of this invention is adapted to run upon surface tracks which are endless and co'extensive with the racing course which is generallyoval lin form. The tracks run immediately adjacent theinner edge of a fenced-in racing course into which the dummy rabbit, carried by the car upon the opr posite side of the inner fence, is projected. yThese general features are known and need not-be,furtherdetailed. However, it should be remarked that prior devices of the'class of this invention have been adapted to run, .either in a pit or ditch extending directly beneath the race course, or else have provided 1930. sefia1N0.461,423. Y

for the overhead conveyance of a suspended 'dummy`rabbit, both of which types involved much expensive structural work. The present invention'provides a surface-running car f in the grooved wheels 13 and'l4adapted'to run upon the vertical ribs 15 of the surface ytracks 16. The outer casing lof motorflO is provided with a pair of spaced, outwardly-projecting flanges 17 and 18 extending horizontally over the motorand rvertically of its sides. The ends of flanges 17 and 18 project beneath the motor and are formed with feet 19 `between which a cross plate`20 70 extends. A one-piece trolleyfframe 2l has a central portion passing horizontally be-l neath thel motorv 10 transversely'thereof and secured upon the upper face of cross plate 20. Frame 21, extends upwardly1 above the 75 motor 10 and wheels 13 and 14v and comprises a pair of divergent arms having the inter- Amediate angled portions 22 and 23 and the vertical end portions 24 and 25. A strengthening bar 37 maybe positioned between the 80 divergent arms. Mounting members' 26 and 27;.are attached upon portions 24 and 25k and are vertically adjustable thereof as indicated at 28. The upper parts of members 26 and 27V are box-like in formv and are provided 85 each with a vertical passage`29 within Which l' the pin 30 of bifurcated swivel members 31 extends. Each pin 30 rests upon andl normally isy urged upwardly by a coil spring 32 disposed. upon the base of passage 29. A pulley 33, provided with roller bearings, is carried by each swivel member 31. Pulleys 33 are adapted to run upon a single track'34 carried by suitable supporting structure 35 erected at one side of tracks 16 and hav-U95 ing overhanging arms 36. The relationship of pulleys 33 and track 34 is such that the pulleys, when both are in position, are depressed against the tension of coil s rings 32. It will bev seen that byfthis ba anced Vof motor wire 48 to saidnut. Vnection 47 is adapted to be adjustably iixed structure, the car is retained in proper operative position upon its tracks. It should be noted that the groove walls of wheels 13, 14, and 33 have suilicient pitch to allow for unimpededmovement of the carv around the curved portions of its track.

Electric power is transmitted to the car through the tracl s16 into the niotor,'one of the tracks serving as the carrier and the other as the return conduit. Severalmeans are hereinset forth for transmitting the current from the rails 16 into the motor. InV all of these forms it is necessary that wheels 13 and 14 be insulated from the motor shaft 12. This structure isillustrated in Fig. 6. Each yend of'shaft 12 Iis 'threadedly received by fa liber bushing 38 disposed in the wheel bearing 39 and projecting outwardly a short distance beyond eachside of the wheel.l These projecting portions 40 are surrounded by a fiber washer 41 which extends outwardly beyond said ends 40: of the bushing `A flanged nut 42 is threadedly received upon shaft 12 on each side of the wheel and is brought into firm Contact against the adjacent washer 41.' The wheel and shaft Iare lieyed together by means of a liber pin 43 passing through nut 42, washer 41v and into the wheel. i

The track-to-inotor circuit means liliewise comprise a pair of pipe arms` 44 and 45 extending from a support boX 46 secured upon the lianges 17and 18 at one side of the motor 10. Arms 44 and 45 each threadedly receives at its free end a T-connection which isjspac'ed from and in substantial parallelism with Ythe adj acent car wheel. y wires 48 extend into support box 46 and through arms 44 and 45 as will be further eli lained.

nlFigs. 1 and 2 and 3 the outer portion of each Tpiece 47 is provided with a fiber b ushing 49 the ends of which extend beyond the ends of the T-piece. A metal pin 50, as of bronze, extends through and beyond tlie bushing 49 and threadedly receives at eachend a nut 51 and, 52,. respectively, which abut the ends of the bushing 49. A slot 53 in' the upper end of pin 50 has secured therein, Ysuch as by soldering, the endof a copper strip 54, which serves as an electrical contact brush. A threaded boltr 55 in the edge ofnut 51 is used for attaching the free end The T-conin an angular relationship relative to the adjacent wheel for bringing the brush 54 into contact uponv the periphery of the carr wheel. It is evident that an electrical cirwheels 13 andll-bruslies 54, pins 50, wires 48 and motorlll. j y

modified form of circuit means is shown 1n Fig. 4. Herein a liber shaft is adjustably secured in and projects outwardly beyondA the ends of the vertically-disposed T connec- The motor Yguide structure.

tion 47. A metal pin 57 extends through the upper end of shaft 56, toward the adjacent car wheel, and has a swivel member 58 attached to the end adjacent the wheel. A centrally ribbed roller wheel 59 is mounted in member 58 and is urged arainst the periphery 'of the adjacent wheel by means of a spring 60 disposed on pin 57` between swivel member 58 and shaft 56, tension of this spring being adjustable by means of a nut 61 threadedly received upon the outer end of pin 57. The vribbed portion of roller 59 is adapted to extend into the grooved portion of the wheel 'and the lateral sections thereof are adapted to 'ride upon the periphery of the wheel.

Motor wire 48 may be connected'to pin 57 bevibertube 65 suitably attached, asl at'66, to

the lower end of theyverticallydisposed T- connection 47. A coil vspring 67 disposed interiorlyof tube 65, encloses stem 64 and seats upon shoe 62. A metal screw 68 is threadedly received in a liber core 69 in Tfpiece 47, and

projects downwardly into tube 65, having an abutment plate 70 on its lower` end adapted t`o `contact spring 67, whereby tension of the spring is adjustable by movement of screw 68. The motor wire is attached to shoe 62 kas at 71 and passes upwardly Vinto .the adjacent pipe arm throughv a perforation 72 therein'. j

A dummy rabbit 73,or. thelike, may be attached rat the end of a vertical rod 74 con `nected to a rigid support arm 75 extending frein the car and over the adjacent fence surrounding the race course. `Arm 75 may be removably attached tothe car Vby means of a Herein a shoe 62, adapted to ride,

support block 76 secured upon `the top of v flanges 17 v`and18 and havingan arm-receiving passage 77 with a threaded bolt 78 projecting thereinto. y

The commutator 11 may be provided with removable shield means 79Yby which access may be had to the adjacent partsr and the latter protcctedlfrom dirt and foreign matter.

Fig. 8 illustrates a modified form of upper Herein, the pulley 33 is pivotally mounted in the hook portion 8O of a short vertical arm 81 having offsets as at 82 and 83 for bringing sai/d hook portion into alignment with the upwardly disposed I 7 -guide rail 34. Arm 81 passes loosely through Ycuit has been` established through railsfl6,`

journal member 84 secured in cross bar 37 adjacent the end thereof. The lower end of arm 81 projects belowth'e bar 37. and has; a coil spring 85 thereon 'whichabuts the meinber 84 at its tcp end andthe adjustable plate A86A at its lower end. The arms of frame l21 are secured as at' 87 to the Vends ofA cross bar iso 37. Spring 85 serves to retain pulley 38 in constant contact with its rail 84, compensating for possible irregularities in the surface tracks, or in said rail.

Electric current passed through one of the circuits previously described results in movement of the carrier about its track. A reversible variable speed motor and control having akplurality of speeds, may be used. The common practice at the finish of a race is to drop a curtain, across the course, shutting off the rabbit from the view of the dogs. After this, the electric current is cut off and the car is permitted to come to a stop.

The device of this invention is compact and readily t-ransported, and is comparatively light in weight, yet any danger of removal from its track while in use is practically eliminated by its novel form of mounting` and the balanced retaining forces acting thereon. Due to the simplicity of its construction it has the added advantage of a low manufacturing cost.

What is claimed is: v

l. The combination with a pair of endless metal tracks, of a device adapted to run upon said tracks and comprising a pair of metal wheels fixed upon a common shaft and electrically insulated from said shaft, a motor mounted upon the shaft intermediate the Wheels and adapted to drive the shaft, a pair of parallel arms attached one each to one side of the motor and extending upwardly therefrom in divergent relationship, an oVerha-nging support structure erected at one side of the tracks, a flanged rail attached to the overhanging portion of said support above and in alignment with said divergent arms, a pulley pivotally mounted at the upper end of each of said arms, means normally urging the pulleys upwardly into association with said anged rail and means lattached to the car and normally contacting the wheels thereof, said means being electrically connected to the motor whereby electric current passed through the tracks is transmitted to the motor for effecting movement of the car upon the tracks.

2. In a lure carrier the combination of a pair of surface tracks, an elevated guide disposed in a plane parallel with and intermediate the surface tracks, a motor having an extended armature shaft, tractional supporting wheels on said shaft, electrically insulated therefrom and engaging the. surface tracks, the surface tracks carrying electrical current for the motor, brush means electrically connecting the motor with said tracks, a frame member attached to the motor and extending above it and having a pair of tractional means engaging the elevated guide, and means carried by the motor and extending transversely of the track for suspending a lure closely adjacent the plane of the surface tracks.

3. In a lure carrier the combination of a pair of surface tracks, an elevated rail disposed in a plane intermediate said tracks, a shaft, wheels rigidly mounted in electrically insulated relationon said shaft and adapted torun on said surface tracks, electricall motor means supported by said shaft and having driving relation therewith, means on the motor tractionally engaging the elevated rail for stabilizing the motor on its supporting shaft, and brush means contacting said wheels and electrically connecting the motor and the tracks.

4. In a device of the class described a motor comprising a stator and an armature, an armature shaft extending on both sides of the motor, tractional supporting wheels fixed 0n said shaft and electrically insulated therefrom, a frame extending above the motor and adapted for tractional engagement upon an elevated rail, and means to supply energizing current to the motor.

5. A lure carrier adapted to run upon electrically-energized tracks and comprising a shaft, wheels fixed upon the shaft and electrically insulated therefrom the wheels being adapted to run upon said tracks, a motor i mounted upon the shaft in driving relationship therewith, means for energizing the motor from the current carried by the tracks, a frame secured upon and extending above-the motor and projecting forwardly and rearwardly of the motor in substantial parallelism withthe tracks, means disposed above the tracks and adapted to engage said frame for maintaining cooperative relation of the wheels and motor with said tracks, and means on the motor for supporting a lure.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 24th day of May, 1930.

HARRY OVERBERG.

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