Arrangement for controlling simultaneously several electric toys by a single circuit

• US 3,955,129 A
• Filed: 01/21/1974
• Issued: 05/04/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DEG Datensysteme und Electronic Gesellschaft Ingenieurbuero, H Zorn, K Waegner
• Original Assignee: DEG Datensysteme und Electronic Gesellschaft Ingenieurbuero, H Zorn, K Waegner
• Inventors: Zorn, Hellmut, Wagner, Karlhorst
• Primary Examiner(s): Schaffer, Robert K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Duncanson, Jr., W. E.
• Application Number:
  US05/435,118
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 318/16, 318/55, 318/80
• US Class Current: 318/55
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 19/24 Electric toy railways; Systems therefor

Abstract

A system for individually controlling simultaneously several electric model trains on a common track in which one of the trains is controlled in speed and direction by a voltage supply which determines the direction of the train by the polarity of its output voltage. The speed of the train is determined by the amplitude of the output voltage. Additional trains are controlled in both speed and direction by an auxiliary AC voltage supply which is connected to the supply for the first train and which superimposes pulse-waves having a Hf AC component on the voltage output of the supply for the first train. This AC component comprises pulse shaping information for controlling the velocity and direction of the additional vehicles. Such Hf component and pulse-waves are electrically blocked out of the first voltage control of the first train, thereby providing for individual control of the latter; while each additional train is provided with a capacitor for filtering the Hf signal carrying the pulse-waves to individual rectifiers associated therewith for control thereof by pulse shape adjustment.

Claims

1. A model train system comprising apparatus for converting a conventional single electric model DC train set having a conventional remote control console for operating of such single train from any conventional AC utility current supply outlet on track rails comprising the energizing and control signal circuit thereof;

to a multi-train/common track system having an individual remote control console for each train added thereon, so that the trains can be simultaneously and individually controlled in speed and direction without any electrical interference therebetween;

comprising

an input circuit cable plug for connecting the system to a conventional AC utility outlet source of supply voltage for driving and controlling the conventional train by means of the conventional train control console for starting the conventional train in a selected direction and adjusting the speed thereof by changing the amplitude and polarity direction of the energizing DC voltage applied to said conventional train, as desired;

an additional train mounted to run on said track, comprising a driving unit circuit containing a receiving capacitor circuit acting to separate a selected pulsed supply voltage from the DC voltage applied to said conventional train, and an individual rectifier circuit, whereby variations in amplitude of such pulsed voltage are converted to a corresponding variable DC voltage for energizing the motor of said additional train;

such pulsed supply voltage being of relatively low frequency that is, however, substantially higher than that (25 - 60 H) of said utility AC outlet;

a pulse-wave generator connected to said pulsed supply voltage circuit for applying voltage pulses to the driving unit circuit of said additional train by way of said track; and

an auxiliary individual control console for said additional train comprising a potentiometer having a contact movable to either side of center for setting the direction of the polarity and amplitude of the pulses applied to the driving unit circuit of said additional train for controlling the direction and speed of the latter on said track; and

capacitor and inductor means associated with said DC and pulsed supply circuits, respectively, for protecting the pulsed circuit from direct current of the former, and for protecting the DC circuit from alternating current of the pulsed supply circuit, when both trains are operated on said track;

such pulsed supply voltage being in the form of nonsymmetrical half waves having a time-average value of substantially zero, whereby the difference voltages of both maximum values serves for determining the direction of the so-controlled vehicle;

the pulse repetition frequency being equal to a multiple of that of the AC utility line outlet supply, thereby providing a sufficiently high voltage for reliable starting and acceleration of the additional train, providing that when the amplitude of the supply voltage pulses increases, the pulse width also increases at substantially fixed pulse repetition frequency, whereby smooth transition exists from start-up to full-speed steady-state voltage conditions;

said auxiliary control console of said additional train being connected in series between the circuit for the first train and the rail circuit, so that the pulsed supply voltage circuit is superimposed upon the DC supply voltage, and the control consoles are both connected to the common AC utility outlet.