Smart smoke unit

• US 20040005836A1
• Filed: 07/05/2002
• Published: 01/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lionel LLC
• Original Assignee: Lionel LLC
• Inventors: ROHDE, JAMES M., Pierson, Martin D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,297,045 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 446/24
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 19/14 Arrangements for imitating locomotive features, e.g. whistling, signalling, puffing

Abstract

A smoke generating device for a model train that includes a smoke generating element supported by a support member. The smoke generating element can be wound around the support member is a generally helical pattern. The number of turns and the distance between turns can be varied to enhance the smoke generating properties of the device. The support member can be braided fiberglass. A length and cross-section of the support member can be varied to support smoke generating elements of different lengths. The length of the smoke generating element can be varied to produce smoke generating devices having different resistive values.

Claims

1. An apparatus for forming smoke to be emitted by an amusement device, the apparatus comprising:

a support member; and

a smoke generating element having a length and an outer surface, the support member in contact with the smoke generating element along at least part of the length and in contact with less than the entire outer surface for the at least part of the length.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the support member further comprises:

a length; and

a consistent cross-section along the length of the support member.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the support member is at least partially cylindrical.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the support member further comprises:

a length; and

an aperture extending along at least part of the length of the support member.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the support member is braided fiberglass.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the smoke generating element further comprises:

a nickel chromium wire.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the wire is fabricated from an alloy of sixty-one percent nickel, fifteen percent chromium, and twenty-four percent iron.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

at least one terminal for immovably associating the support member with respect to the amusement device.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the smoke generating element is disposed at least partially between the support member and the at least one terminal.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

a fan for directing an airstream relative to the smoke generating element.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the amusement device is a model train.

12. An apparatus for forming smoke to be emitted by an amusement device, the apparatus comprising:

a support member; and

a smoke generating element having a length and an outer surface, the support member in contact with the smoke generating element along at least part of the length and in contact with less than the entire outer surface for the at least part of the length, such that the smoke generating element is wound around the support member.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the support member further comprises:

a body having a length and a constant cross-section along the length of the body.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the support member further comprises:

a cylindrical body; and

an aperture extending along a path at least partially through the cylindrical body, the path parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body.

15. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the smoke generating element is a nickel chromium wire.

16. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the smoke generating element forms a plurality of turns around the support member.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the plurality of turns are evenly spaced along a length of the support member with respect to one another.

18. The apparatus according to claim 12 further comprising:

at least one terminal for immovably associating the support member with respect to an amusement device.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the smoke generating element forms a plurality of turns around the support member and at least two turns are disposed between the support member and the at least one terminal.

20. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the at least one terminal is brass.

21. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the at least one terminal further comprises:

two terminals disposed at opposite ends of the support member.

22. An apparatus for forming smoke to be emitted by an amusement device, the apparatus comprising:

a support member;

a smoke generating element having a length and an outer surface, the support member in contact with the smoke generating element along at least part of the length and in contact with less than the entire outer surface for the at least part of the length, such that the smoke generating element extends along a generally helical path around the support member; and

at least one terminal for immovably associating the support member with respect to an amusement device.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the support member further is braided fiberglass.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the support member further comprises:

a body having a length and a substantially rectangular cross-section.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24 wherein the substantially rectangular cross-section of the body is approximately 3.2 millimeters wide and one-quarter millimeter thick.

26. The apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the support member further comprises:

a tubular body having an inner diameter of 3.2 millimeters and a wall thickness of one-quarter millimeter.

27. The apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the smoke generating element is a nickel chromium wire.

28. The apparatus according to claim 27 wherein the wire is fabricated from an alloy of sixty-one percent nickel, fifteen percent chromium, and twenty-four percent iron.

29. The apparatus according to claim 27 wherein the smoke generating element forms a plurality of turns around the support member and at least two turns are disposed between the support member and the at least one terminal.

30. The apparatus according to claim 29 wherein the at least one terminal further comprises:

two terminals disposed at opposite ends of the support member.

31. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the amusement device is a model train.