Locomotive control simulator attachment for model electric train controllers

• US 5,480,333 A
• Filed: 05/16/1994
• Issued: 01/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bradley S. Larson
• Original Assignee: Bradley S. Larson
• Inventors: Larson, Bradley S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MUIR, DAVID N
• Application Number:
  US08/243,686
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 446/7, 446/429, 446/444, 446/445, 446/446, 446/447, 446/467, 446/410, 104/295, 104/53, 104/DIG. 1, 105/61, 105/1.5
• US Class Current: 446/7
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/00 Remote-control arrangements specially adapted for toys, e.g. for toy vehicles steering mechanisms for toy vehicles A63H17/36; for model railways A63H19/24, A63H19/28

Abstract

A locomotive control simulator attachment for a model train controller having a protruding throttle control shaft reciprocally rotatable for regulating the speed of the train includes a support adapted to be attached to the controller, mechanism, such as a pinion gear and rack combination, that is engageable with the throttle control shaft for reciprocally rotating the shaft, a throttle control lever simulating a locomotive throttle, mechanism for mounting the lever on the support for reciprocal pivotal movement of the lever, and mechanism for connecting the lever to the mechanism engageable with the shaft, for operating the latter mechanism to reciprocally rotate the shaft upon reciprocal pivotal movement of the lever, whereby in regulating the speed of a model train, the lever movement simulates the movement of a full-scale railroad locomotive throttle. The attachment may be attached to a model train controller having sliding actuators for switches or the like that regulate other conditions of operation, such as direction, braking, and momentum. Preferred embodiments of the attachment include one or more control lever-operated mechanisms that operate the actuators, simulating full-scale locomotive controls.

Claims

1. A locomotive control simulator attachment for a model electric train controller, said controller including a throttle control shaft having a portion protruding from the controller and being reciprocally rotatable for regulating the train speed, said attachment comprising, in combination:

a support adapted to be attached to said controller in register with said protruding shaft portion;

means engageable with said protruding shaft portion for reciprocally rotating the shaft when said support is attached to said controller;

a throttle control level simulating a locomotive throttle;

means for mounting said throttle control lever on said support permitting reciprocal pivotal movement of the lever; and

means for connecting said throttle control lever to said engageable means for operating the engageable means to reciprocally rotate said throttle control shaft upon said reciprocally pivotal movement of said throttle control lever, thereby allowing a user to regulate power applied to a model train controlled by said controller having said attachment attached thereto, with said throttle control lever reciprocal movement simulating the movement of a full-scale railroad locomotive throttle.

2. An attachment as defined in claim 1 and wherein said support is adapted upon attachment to said a controller to contain therein each of said protruding shaft portion, said engageable means, said mounting means, and said connecting means.

3. An attachment as defined in claim 1 and wherein said controller includes at least one reciprocatively sliding actuator having a portion protruding from the controller and being adapted for regulating another condition of operation of a controller model train, and wherein said attachment includes engageable with said protruding portion of said at least one actuator for sliding the actuator reciprocatively when said support is attached to said controller, at least one additional control lever, means for mounting said at least one additional control lever on said support permitting reciprocal pivotal movement of the additional control lever, and means for connecting said at least one additional control lever to said means engageable with said protruding at least one actuator portion for operating the latter engageable means to slide said at least one actuator reciprocatively upon reciprocal pivotal movement of said at least one additional control lever.

4. An attachment is defined in claim 3 wherein said at least one actuator comprises a momentum switch actuator, a direction switch actuator, or a brake switch actuator.

5. An attachment as defined in claim 3 and, wherein said support is adapted upon attachment to a said controller to contain therein each of said protruding shaft portion, said means engageable with said protruding shaft portion, said means for mounting said throttle control lever on said support, said means for connecting said throttle control lever to said means engageable with said protruding shaft portion, said protruding portion of said at least one sliding actuator, said means engageable with said protruding actuator portion, said means for mounting said at least one additional control lever on said support, and said means for connecting said at least one additional control lever to said means engageable with said protruding actuator portion.

6. A locomotive control simulator attachment for a model electric train controller, said controller including a throttler control shaft having a portion protruding from the controller and being reciprocally rotatable for regulating the train speed, said attachment comprising, in combination:

a support adapted to be attached to said controller;

in register with said protruding shaft portion;

a pinion gear adapted for being keyed to said protruding shaft portion for reciprocally rotating the shaft thereby when said support is attached to said controller;

a rack drivingly engageable with said gear;

a throttle control lever simulating a locomotive throttle;

means for drivingly connecting said throttle control lever to said rack with said rack engaging said gear; and

means for mounting said throttle control lever on said support permitting reciprocal pivotal movement of the lever while connected to said rack, thereby to reciprocate said rack in engagement with said gear for reciprocally rotating said throttle control shaft, to regulate power applied to a model train controlled by said controller having said attachment attached thereto, with said throttle control lever reciprocal movement simulating the movement of a full-scale railroad locomotive throttle.

7. An attachment as defined in claim 6 and wherein said support is adapted upon attachment to a said controller to contain therein each of said protruding shaft portion, said gear, said rack, said means for connecting said throttle control lever to said rack, and said means for mounting said throttle control lever.

8. An attachment as defined in claim 6 and wherein said controller includes at least one reciprocatively sliding actuator having a portion protruding from the controller and being adapted for regulating another condition of operation of a controlled model train, and wherein said attachment includes means engageable with said protruding portion of said at least one actuator for sliding the actuator reciprocatively when said support is attached to said controller, at least one additional control lever, means for mounting said at least one additional control lever on said support permitting reciprocal pivotal movement of the additional control lever, and means for connecting said at least one additional control lever to said means engageable with said protruding at least one actuator portion for operating the latter engageable means to slide said at least one actuator reciprocatively upon reciprocal pivotal movement of said at least one additional control lever.

9. An attachment is defined in claim 8 and wherein said at least one actuator comprises a momentum switch actuator, a direction switch actuator, or a brake switch actuator.

10. An attachment as defined in claim 8 and wherein said support is adapted upon attachment to a said controller to contain therein each of said protruding shaft portion, said gear, said rack, said means for connecting said throttle control lever to said rack, said means for mounting said throttle control lever on said support, said protruding portion of said at least one sliding actuator portion, said means engageable with said protruding actuator portion, said means for mounting said at least one additional control lever on said support, and said means for connecting said at least one additional control lever to said means engageable with said protruding actuator portion.