Model railroad operation using proximity selection
DCFirst Claim
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1. In a model railroad layout, an automatic method of controlling one or more turn-outs comprising the steps of:
- arming the one or more turn-outs so as to enable them to toggle; and
for each turn-out;
determining electronically whether or not the turn-out is occupied by a train;
electronically detecting a train approaching the turn-out; and
if the turn-out is not occupied by a train, automatically toggling the turn-out in response to the train approaching the turn-out without operator intervention;
and then disarming all of the turn-outs so that only the first unoccupied turn-out approached by the train is toggled.
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Abstract
An electronic control system for model railroads incorporates electronics which "arms" all railroad track switch turn-outs (here after referred to as "turn-outs") at once, selects and toggles the state of a specific turnout by the approach of a model train directly after arming, and "disarms" all the turnouts at once when the selected turnout has operated. A variation of this method is also applied to model railroad electric uncoupler track sections or automatic unloader track sections to arm, select, operate and then disarm any desired track section.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. In a model railroad layout, an automatic method of controlling one or more turn-outs comprising the steps of:
arming the one or more turn-outs so as to enable them to toggle; and
for each turn-out;determining electronically whether or not the turn-out is occupied by a train; electronically detecting a train approaching the turn-out; and if the turn-out is not occupied by a train, automatically toggling the turn-out in response to the train approaching the turn-out without operator intervention; and then disarming all of the turn-outs so that only the first unoccupied turn-out approached by the train is toggled.
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2. An automatic turn-out apparatus for a model railroad layout comprising:
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a lead-in leg; a curve leg; a straight leg; electric switch means for coupling one at a time of the curve leg and the straight leg to the lead-in leg; electronic detection means for detecting and indicating a train approaching the turn-out; means for arming the turn-out; and means for automatically toggling the switch means in response to said indication of a train approaching the turn-out only if the turn-out is armed. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4)
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5. A turn-out control system for use in a model train layout having a plurality of turn-outs, the control system comprising:
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a plurality of detection means for detecting the presence of a model train, each of the detection means being located at a respective location on the layout adjacent a corresponding one of the turn-outs; arming request means for arming all of the turn-outs; means in each of the turn-outs for automatically toggling in response to the indication of the presence of the train at the corresponding location of the layout only if the turn-out is armed; and disarming means for disarming all of the previously armed turn-outs in the layout when one of the turn-outs toggles. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. In a model railroad layout, an automatic method of controlling a plurality of uncoupler tracks from a single uncouple control switch, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a single uncouple control switch arranged for actuating any selected one at a time of the plurality of uncoupler tracks; while the model railroad layout is in operation, determining electronically whether or not each uncoupler track is occupied by a train; substantially simultaneously arming all of the uncoupler tracks except for those uncoupler tracks determined to be occupied by a train; for each armed uncoupler track; detecting a train approaching the armed uncoupler track; and selecting only the armed uncoupler track in the path of the approaching train so as to enable the selected uncoupler track to be actuated in response to actuation of the uncouple control switch; disarming all of the uncoupler tracks except the selected uncoupler track so that only the first unoccupied uncoupler track approached by the train after said arming step is selected; and
thenactuating only the selected uncoupler track in response to operator actuation of the uncouple control switch for uncoupling a railroad car located on the selected track without manual selection, whereby the uncoupler track is effectively selected by the approaching train but not operated until the operator actuates the uncouple control switch. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. In a model railroad layout, an automatic method of controlling a plurality of operating accessories from a common control switch, each operating accessory being associated with a corresponding section of track, and the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a common control switch for actuating the operating accessories; substantially simultaneously arming all of the operating accessories so as to enable them to be selected; for each operating accessory; determining electronically whether or not the corresponding track section is occupied by a train; electronically detecting a train approaching the corresponding track section; and
if the corresponding track section is not occupied by a train, selecting the accessory in response to the train approaching the corresponding track section;disarming all of the other accessories so that only the accessory associated with the first unoccupied corresponding track section approached by the train is selected; and actuating only the selected accessory in response to user-actuation of the common control switch.
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Specification