MODEL RAILROAD ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE SOUND SYSTEM

• US 3,664,060 A
• Filed: 03/08/1971
• Issued: 05/23/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert H. Longnecker
• Original Assignee: Robert H. Longnecker
• Inventors: Longnecker, Robert H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Louis G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cutting, Robert F.
• Application Number:
  US05/121,701
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 46/216,232,243P
• US Class Current: 446/410
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 19/14 Arrangements for imitating locomotive features, e.g. whistling, signalling, puffing
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 15/02 Synthesis of acoustic waves synthesis of speech G10L13/00

Abstract

An accessory includes a speaker mounted in the locomotive tender electrically driven by an audio frequency signal from one or more electronic sound generators simulating respectively a bell, escaping steam either from an engine exhaust, leakage or blowoff, and a whistle. The engine exhaust sound is timed by periodically grounding the radio frequency oscillator of a timing circuit for the escaping-steam-simulating generator by intermittently closing a switch in the circuit effected by rotation of a driver wheel of the locomotive. Selective controls enable the bell and whistle to be operated at will and further enable the nature of the sounds of the bell, exhaust and whistle to be modified. Direct current for the locomotive driving motor, the audio frequency signal to drive the speaker and the radio frequency signal to the locomotive-carried switch for timing the simulated engine exhaust are all simultaneously impressed on the two rails but electronic blocking components included in the circuit prevent the enginedriving direct current and the radio-frequency signaling current from interfering with the speaker operation and prevent the audio frequency signal and the radio frequency signal from leaking into the direct-current power circuit.

Claims

1. A locomotive sound mechanism for a model train device comprising a locomotive, a speaker, and electronic audio frequency signal synthesizing means for generating an audio frequency signal generally matched to simulated locomotive sound and operable to drive said speaker for emitting such simulated locomotive sound and said electronic audio frequency signal synthesizing means being remote from the train device.

2. The locomotive sound mechanism defined in claim 1, in which the speaker is carried by the model train device.

3. The locomotive sound mechanism defined in claim 2, in which the locomotive is propelled by an electric motor to which driving current is supplied through rails on which the train device travels, and the audio frequency signal synthesized by the electronic audio frequency signal synthesizing means is transmitted to the speaker through the rails on which the train device travels.

4. The locomotive sound mechanism defined in claim 1, in which the audio frequency signal synthesized by the electronic audio frequency signal synthesizing means is generally matched to simulated locomotive sound including simulated locomotive bell sound.

5. The locomotive sound mechanism defined in claim 1, in which the audio frequency signal synthesized by the electronic audio frequency signal synthesizing means is generally matched to simulated locomotive sound including simulated locomotive whistle sound.

6. The locomotive sound mechanism defined in claim 5, in which the audio frequency signal synthesizing means includes a plurality of oscillators generally matched to different locomotive whistle sound frequencies, respectively, and means for combining the audio frequency signals produced by said plurality of oscillators.

7. The locomotive sound mechanism defined in claim 1, in which the audio frequency signal synthesized by the electronic audio frequency signal synthesizing means is generally matched to simulated locomotive sound including simulated combined locomotive whistle and escaping steam sound.

8. The locomotive sound mechanism defined in claim 1, in which the audio frequency signal synthesized by the electronic audio frequency signal synthesizing means is generally matched to simulated locomotive sound including simulated locomotive escaping steam sound.

9. The locomotive sound mechanism defined in claim 8, in which the escaping steam sound includes simulated engine exhaust chuffing.

10. The locomotive sound mechanism defined in claim 9, and timing means synchronized with the speed of the model train device for timing the simulated engine exhaust chuffing sound.

11. The locomotive sound mechanism defined in claim 10, in which the timing means is synchronized with the rotation of a wheel of the train device.

12. The locomotive sound mechanism defined in claim 11, in which the timing means includes commutating switch means.

13. The locomotive sound mechanism defined in claim 11, in which the timing means includes a radio frequency signal timing circuit transmitting a radio frequency signal to the train device.

14. The locomotive sound mechanism defined in claim 13, in which the radio frequency signal timing circuit includes rails on which the train device travels by way of which the radio frequency signal is transmitted to the train device.

15. The locomotive sound mechanism defined in claim 1, in which the audio frequency signal synthesized by the electronic audio frequency signal synthesizing means is generally matched to simulated locomotive sound including at least two separately generated audio frequency signals generally matched, respectively, to corresponding sounds selected from the group consisting of locomotive bell sound, locomotive whistle sound, escaping steam sound and engine exhaust chuffing.

16. The locomotive sound mechanism defined in claim 15, and integrating means for integrating separately generated audio frequency signals simulating different locomotive sounds to be impressed on the speaker.

17. The locomotive sound mechanism defined in claim 1, in which the audio frequency signal synthesizing means includes two components, one component being generally matched to simulated locomotive sound including simulated locomotive whistle sound and the other component being generally matched to simulated locomotive sound including escaping steam sound, actuating means, and means operable to condition said actuating means for controlling independently and selectively the component generally matched to simulated locomotive whistle sound and the component generally matched to simulated escaping steam sound.