Magnetic conveyance system

• US 5,441,434 A
• Filed: 04/08/1994
• Issued: 08/15/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kenneth B. Caulkins
• Original Assignee: Kenneth B. Caulkins
• Inventors: Caulkins, Kenneth B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Mickey
• Application Number:
  US08/224,876
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: 446/135, 446/136, 446/176, 446/130, 446/132, 446/134, 446/133, 198/619, 104/154, 104/155, 104/283, 273/86 B, 362/802
• US Class Current: 446/130
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 54/02 electrostatic, electric, or magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 54/025 the load being magnetically coupled with a piston-like driver moved within a tube
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/802 Position or condition responsive switch

Abstract

A magnetic conveyance system uses magnetic drivers within a tube having pressurized fluid moving therethrough. The magnetic drivers have magnets mounted at an angle other than 90 degrees to the central axis of the tube. Outside of the tube, a cart has a magnet thereon and is moved by magnetic force interaction when the driver is moved by pressure of the fluid, preferably a liquid such as water. A number of balls flow in the tube and keep the magnetic drivers spaced apart. The balls also serve to push the magnetic drivers as the balls are more directly pushed by the pressure of the fluid. A water wheel is connected by gears to an index wheel and serves to keep the balls, and thus the magnetic drivers and associated carts, moving in the proper direction. The carts may be configured as model cars, trucks, and other such vehicles which move on a board having a simulated road surface with the pressurized fluid tube mounted thereunder.

Claims

1. A magnetic conveyance system comprising:

a fluid tube driver for movement in a tube filled with pressurized fluid and having a first front wheel, a first back wheel, a support structure mounted between and to said first front and back wheels with said first front and first back wheels rotatable with respect to said support structure, and a driver magnet mounted to said support structure and having a polarity axis which is angularly offset in a front-to-back direction from a vertical axis central to said fluid tube driver, and wherein said support structure includes a support between said first front wheel and said first back wheel, said driver magnet centrally disposed between said first front wheel and said first back wheel, a front member having a hole therein with a front axle supported therein, and a back member having a hole therein with a back axle supported therein; and

wherein said first front wheel is mounted to said front axle, and said first back wheel is mounted to said back axle.

2. The magnetic conveyance system of claim 1 wherein said polarity axis is angularly offset between 30 and 75 degrees to said vertical axis.

3. The magnetic conveyance system of claim 1 further comprising a second front wheel and a second back wheel and said second front and second back wheels are rotatable with respect to said support structure.

4. The magnetic conveyance system of claim 3 wherein said first and second front wheels are coaxial and said first and second back wheels are coaxial.

5. A magnetic conveyance system comprising a fluid tube driver for movement in a tube filled with pressurized fluid and having a first front wheel, a first back wheel, a support structure mounted between and to said first front and back wheels with said first front and first back wheels rotatable with respect to said support structure, and a driver magnet mounted to said support structure and having a polarity axis which is angularly offset in a front-to-back direction from a vertical axis central to said fluid tube driver, and further comprising a second front wheel and a second back wheel and said second front and second back wheels are rotatable with respect to said support structure, and wherein said first and second front wheels are coaxial and said first and second back wheels are coaxial, and wherein said support structure includes a support ball in which said driver magnet is disposed, a front member having a hole therein with a front axle supported therein, and a back member having a hole therein with a back axle supported therein;

and wherein said first and second front wheels are mounted to said front axle, and said first and second back wheels are mounted to said back axle.

6. The magnetic conveyance system of claim 5 further comprising a top wheel and a bottom wheel mounted on said support ball.

7. The magnetic conveyance system of claim 5 further comprising a pressurized fluid tube and wherein said fluid tube driver is in said pressurized fluid tube.

8. The magnetic conveyance system of claim 7 further comprising a cart outside of said pressurized fluid tube and magnetically coupled to move with said fluid tube driver.

9. The magnetic conveyance system of claim 8 wherein said cart has a cart magnet disposed thereon.

10. The magnetic conveyance system of claim 8 wherein said cart is a toy vehicle.

11. The magnetic conveyance system of claim 8 wherein said cart is a load carrying vehicle.

12. The magnetic conveyance system of claim 8 further comprising a plurality of free balls within said pressurized fluid tube.

13. The magnetic conveyance system of claim 8 further comprising a pump and an index assembly connected to said pump and to said pressurized fluid tube and including an index wheel and a pump bypass passageway, said index assembly having a supply side downstream from said index wheel and a return side upstream of said index wheel;

and wherein said index assembly channels water from the return side to said pump and pushes said free balls and said fluid tube driver through said pump bypass passageway.

14. A magnetic conveyance system comprising a fluid tube driver for movement in a tube filled with pressurized fluid and having a first front wheel, a first back wheel, a support structure mounted between and to said first front and back wheels with said first front and first back wheels rotatable with respect to said support structure, and a driver magnet mounted to said support structure and having a polarity axis which is angularly offset in a front-to-back direction from a vertical axis central to said fluid tube driver, and further comprising a pressurized fluid tube and wherein said fluid tube driver is in said pressurized fluid tube;

and further comprising a plurality of magnetic flux operated switches positioned for closure by said magnetic fluid driver and each connected to one of a corresponding plurality of lights which turn on when said magnetic fluid driver passes adjacent the corresponding one of said switches.

15. A magnetic conveyance system comprising a fluid tube driver for movement in a tube filled with pressurized fluid and having a first front wheel, a first back wheel, a support structure mounted between and to said first front and back wheels with said first front and first back wheels rotatable with respect to said support structure, and a driver magnet mounted to said support structure and having a polarity axis which is angularly offset in a front-to-back direction from a vertical axis central to said fluid tube driver, and wherein said support structure includes a support ball in which said driver magnet is disposed, a front member having a hole therein with a front axle supported therein, and a back member having a hole therein with a back axle supported therein;

and wherein said first front wheel is mounted to said front axle, and said first back wheel is mounted to said back axle.

16. A magnetic conveyance system comprising a fluid tube driver for movement in a tube filled with pressurized fluid and having a first front wheel, a first back wheel, a support structure mounted between and to said first front and back wheels with said first front and first back wheels rotatable with respect to said support structure, and a driver magnet mounted to said support structure and having a polarity axis which is angularly offset in a front-to-back direction from a vertical axis central to said fluid tube driver, and further comprising a pressurized fluid tube and wherein said fluid tube driver is in said pressurized fluid tube.

17. The magnetic conveyance system of claim 16 further comprising a pump and an index assembly connected to said pump and to said pressurized fluid tube and including an index wheel and a pump bypass passageway, said index assembly having a supply side downstream from said index wheel and a return side upstream of said index wheel;

and wherein said index assembly channels liquid from the return side to said pump and pushes said fluid tube driver through said pump bypass passageway.

18. The magnetic conveyance system of claim 16 wherein said pressurized fluid tube includes relatively fast sections having a relatively small cross-sectional area and relatively slow sections having a relatively large cross-sectional area.

19. A magnetic conveyance system comprising:

a pressurized fluid tube;

a fluid tube driver within said pressurized fluid tube, said fluid tube driver includes a driver magnet;

a pump; and

an index assembly connected to said pump and to said pressurized fluid tube and including an index wheel and a pump bypass passageway, said index assembly having a supply side downstream from said index wheel and a return side upstream of said index wheel; and

wherein said index assembly channels liquid from the return side to said pump and pushes said fluid tube driver through said pump bypass passageway.

20. The magnetic conveyance system of claim 19 further comprising a cart outside of said pressurized fluid tube and magnetically coupled to move with said fluid tube driver.

21. The magnetic conveyance system of claim 19 wherein said pressurized fluid tube includes relatively fast sections having a relatively small cross-sectional area and relatively slow sections having a relatively large cross-sectional area.