Smoke generation system for model toy applications

• US 6,280,278 B1
• Filed: 07/16/1999
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MTH Electric Trains, Inc.
• Original Assignee: MTH Electric Trains, Inc.
• Inventors: Wells, Chuck
• Primary Examiner(s): Ackun, Jr., Jacob K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Miller, Bena B.
• Application Number:
  US09/354,799
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 446/24, 446/25, 446/467, 404/06, 404/07, 472/52, 472/65, 105/1.5
• US Class Current: 446/25
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 19/14 Arrangements for imitating locomotive features, e.g. whistling, signalling, puffing

Abstract

A smoke generation system for use in model toys. The system includes a reservoir for holding smoke fluid, a heating element for converting the smoke fluid into smoke, a pump unit for delivering smoke fluid from the reservoir to the heating element, and a controller coupled to the pump unit. The controller functions to govern the operation of the pump unit so as to control the delivery of smoke fluid to the heating element, thereby controlling the density, volume and output rate of the smoke generated by the system.

Claims

1. A smoke generation system for use in model toy, said system comprising:

a reservoir for holding smoke fluid,

a heating element for converting said smoke fluid into smoke,

a pump unit for delivering smoke fluid from said reservoir to said heating element, and

a controller coupled to said pump unit, said controller governing the operation of said pump unit so as to control the delivery of smoke fluid to said heating element, wherein said pump unit comprises;

a solenoid coupled to said controller, said solenoid being activated by said controller,

a plunger which is retractable from a first position by a magnetic field generated by said solenoid,

a lifting cup attached to a first end of said plunger,

a reed disposed beneath said lifting cup, and

an o-ring disposed in a cavity formed in a bottom surface of said reservoir,

wherein said o-ring and said reed form a seal when said plunger is in said first position.

2. The smoke generation system of claim 1, further comprising:

a smoke corridor for receiving the smoke generated by said heating element, and

a fan disposed in said smoke corridor, said fan operative for dispensing smoke from said smoke corridor, said fan having a variable speed of operation which is controllable by said controller.

3. The smoke generation system of claim 2, wherein said controller allows for the adjustment of the density, volume and output rate of the smoke generated by said system on a continuous basis.

4. The smoke generation system of claim 3, wherein said controller varies the speed of operation of said fan so as to control the rate at which said smoke is dispensed from said smoke corridor.

5. The smoke generation system of claim 2, further comprising means for monitoring at least one operating condition of said model toy, said controller varying the operation of at least one of said pump unit and said fan in accordance with variations in said at least one operating condition.

6. The smoke generation system of claim 5, wherein said operating condition is a current level drawn by a motor in said model toy.

7. The smoke generation system of claim 5, wherein said operating condition is a power level utilized by said model toy.

8. The smoke generation system of claim 5, wherein said operating condition is the output of a sound system disposed in said model toy.

9. The smoke generation system of claim 1, wherein said cavity is coupled to said smoke corridor via an opening formed in a bottom surface of a reservoir.

10. The smoke generation system of claim 9, further comprising a spring member engaging a second end of said plunger, said spring member operative for returning said plunger to said first position upon deactivation of said solenoid.

11. The smoke generation system of claim 10, wherein when said plunger is returned to said first position smoke fluid is displaced from said reservoir via said opening into said smoke corridor and into contact with said heating element.

12. The smoke generation system of claim 1, wherein said controller is a microprocessor.

13. The smoke generation system of claim 1, wherein the pump unit is disposed within the reservoir.

14. The smoke generation system of claim 1, wherein said controller is electrical.

15. A smoke generation system for use in a model train, said system comprising:

a reservoir for holding smoke fluid,

a heating element for converting said smoke fluid into smoke,

a microprocessor, and

a pump unit for delivering smoke fluid from said reservoir to said heating element, said pump unit comprising;

a solenoid coupled to said microprocessor, said solenoid being activated by said microprocessor,

a plunger which is retractable from a first position by a magnetic field generated by said solenoid,

a lifting cup attached to a first end of said plunger,

a reed disposed beneath said lifting cup, and

an o-ring disposed in a cavity formed in a bottom surface of said reservoir, wherein said microprocessor governs the operation of said pump unit so as to control the delivery of smoke fluid to said heating element.

16. The smoke generation system of claim 15, further comprising:

a smoke corridor for receiving the smoke generated by said heating element, and a fan disposed in said smoke corridor, said fan operative for dispensing said smoke from said smoke corridor, said fan having a variable speed of operation which is controllable by said microprocessor.

17. The smoke generation system of claim 16, wherein said microprocessor allows for the adjustment of the density, volume and output rate of the smoke generated by said system on a continuous basis.

18. The smoke generation system of claim 16, wherein said microprocessor varies the speed of operation of said fan so as to control the rate at which said smoke is dispensed from said smoke corridor.

19. The smoke generation system of claim 16, further comprising means for monitoring at least one operating condition of said model train, said microprocessor varying the operation of at least one of said pump unit and said fan in accordance with variations in said at least one operating condition.

20. The smoke generation system of claim 19, wherein said operating condition is a current level drawn by a motor in said model train.

21. The smoke generation system of claim 19, wherein said operating condition is a power level utilized by said model train.

22. The smoke generation system of claim 19, wherein said operating condition is the output of a sound system disposed in said model train.

23. The smoke generation system of claim 19, wherein said operating condition is movement by said model train.

24. The smoke generation system of claim 19, wherein said operating condition is a direction of movement by said model train.

25. The smoke generation system of claim 15, wherein said cavity is coupled to a smoke corridor via an opening formed in said bottom surface of said reservoir.

26. The smoke generation system of claim 15, further comprising a spring member engaging a second end of said plunger, said spring member operative for returning said plunger to said first position upon deactivation of said solenoid.

27. The smoke generation system of claim 15, wherein when said plunger is returned to said first position smoke fluid is displaced from said reservoir via an opening into a smoke corridor and into contact with said heating element.

28. A smoke generation system for use in model toy, said system comprising:

a reservoir for holding smoke fluid,

a heating element for converting said smoke fluid into smoke,

a pump unit for delivering smoke fluid from said reservoir to said heating element,

a controller coupled to said pump unit, said controller governing the operation of said pump unit so as to control the delivery of smoke fluid to said heating element, and

means for monitoring at least one operating condition of a model toy, said controller varying the operation of said pump unit in accordance with variations in said at least one operating condition.

29. The smoke generation system of claim 28, further comprising a smoke corridor for receiving the smoke generated by said heating element, and a fan disposed in said smoke corridor, said fan operative for dispensing smoke from said smoke corridor, said fan having a variable speed of operation which is controllable by said controller.

30. The smoke generation system of claim 29, wherein said controller allows for the adjustment of the density, volume and output rate of the smoke generated by said system on a continuous basis, and for control over the speed of operation of said fan so as to control the rate at which said smoke is dispensed from said smoke corridor.

31. The smoke generation system of claim 30, said controller varying the operation of said fan in accordance with variations in said at least one operating condition.

32. The smoke generation system of claim 31, wherein said operating condition is a current level drawn by a motor in said model toy.

33. The smoke generation system of claim 31, wherein said operating condition is a power level utilized by said model toy.

34. The smoke generation system of claim 31, wherein said operating condition is the output of a sound system disposed in said model toy.

35. The smoke generation system of claim 31, wherein said operating condition is movement by said model toy.

36. The smoke generation system of claim 31, wherein said operating condition is a direction of movement by said model toy.

37. A smoke generation system for use in model toy, said system comprising:

a reservoir for holding smoke fluid,

a heating element for converting said smoke fluid into smoke,

a pump unit for delivering smoke fluid from said reservoir to said heating element,

a controller coupled to said pump unit, said controller governing the operation of said pump unit so as to control the delivery of smoke fluid to said heating element,

a smoke corridor for receiving the smoke generated by said heating element,

a fan disposed in said smoke corridor, said fan operative for dispensing smoke from said smoke corridor, said fan having a variable speed of operation which is controllable by said controller, and

means for monitoring at least one operating condition of said model toy, said controller varying the operation of at least one of said pump unit and said fan in accordance with variations in said at least one operating condition.

38. The smoke generation system of claim 37, wherein said operating condition is a current level drawn by a motor in said model toy.

39. The smoke generation system of claim 37, wherein said operating condition is a power level utilized by said model toy.

40. The smoke generation system of claim 37, wherein said operating condition is the output of a sound system disposed in said model toy.

41. The smoke generation system of claim 37, wherein the pump unit is disposed within the reservoir.