Puffing fan driven smoke unit for a model train
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A puffing smoke unit for a model toy train comprising:
- a smoke generator including an inlet hole and an exhaust hole;
a fan to direct an airstream through the smoke generator; and
a blocker movable between an open position and a closed position to intermittently restrict the airstream with respect to the smoke generator, the fan operable to direct the airstream with respect to the smoke generator when the blocker is in the open and closed positions.
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a smoke generator for a model train. The invention allows a toy locomotive to produce smoke as an actual train would, in a puffing pattern. The present achieves its purpose by manipulating the flow of air through a smoke generating housing with a fan and a blocking device.
38 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A puffing smoke unit for a model toy train comprising:
-
a smoke generator including an inlet hole and an exhaust hole;
a fan to direct an airstream through the smoke generator; and
a blocker movable between an open position and a closed position to intermittently restrict the airstream with respect to the smoke generator, the fan operable to direct the airstream with respect to the smoke generator when the blocker is in the open and closed positions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
the blocker is biased to the closed position and movable to the open position by a predetermined pressure difference between the airstream internal with respect to the smoke generator and ambient air.
-
-
6. A puffing smoke unit as in claim 1 wherein the fan is positioned within a fan housing, the fan housing positionable adjacent the smoke generator.
-
7. A puffing smoke unit as in claim 6 wherein the fan housing is immediately adjacent to the smoke generator.
-
8. A puffing smoke unit as in claim 1 further comprising:
the blocker engageable with an axle of the model toy train such that the blocker is movable between the open and closed positions in response to movement of the axle.
-
9. A puffing smoke unit as in claim 1 further comprising:
a solenoid operably engaged with the blocker to move the blocker between the open and closed positions.
-
10. A puffing smoke unit as in claim 1 further comprising:
a conduit operably engaged with the exhaust hole and a smoke stack of the model toy train, the airstream movable in the conduit from the smoke generator to the smoke stack.
-
11. A puffing smoke unit as in claim 10 further comprising:
the blocker positionable in the conduit.
-
12. A method of creating a puffing action in a model toy train comprising the steps of:
-
generating smoke with a smoke generator including an inlet hole and an exhaust hole;
directing an airstream through the smoke generator with a fan; and
intermittently restricting the airstream with respect to the smoke generator with a blocker movable between an open position and a closed position, the fan operable to direct the airstream with respect to the smoke generator when the blocker is in the open and closed positions. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
moving the blocker between the open and closed positions at a rate corresponding to a speed of the model toy train so that as the speed of the model toy train increases the rate of movement of the blocker between the open and closed positions increases.
-
-
14. A puffing smoke unit as in claim 12 wherein the restricting step further comprises step of:
moving the blocker to the closed position to at least partially obstruct the airstream while the fan directs the airstream to increase an air pressure internal with respect to the smoke generator.
-
15. A puffing smoke unit as in claim 12 wherein the restricting step further comprises the step of:
moving the blocker to the closed position to at least partially obstruct the airstream while the fan directs the airstream to decrease an air pressure internal with respect to the smoke generator.
-
16. A puffing smoke unit as in claim 12 further comprising the steps of:
-
positioning the smoke generator spaced apart from a smoke stack of the model toy train;
placing the smoke generator in fluid communication with the smoke stack with a conduit; and
positioning the blocker internal with respect to the conduit.
-
-
17. A puffing smoke unit for a model toy train comprising:
-
a smoke generator including an a housing, an inlet aperture and an exhaust aperture, smoke generated internal with respect to the housing;
a fan positionable with respect to the housing to direct an airstream through the housing; and
a blocker movable between an open position and a closed position to intermittently restrict the airstream with respect to the housing of the smoke generator, the fan operable to direct the airstream with respect to the housing when the blocker is in the open and closed positions. - View Dependent Claims (18)
the blocker including a plate, a lever arm an cam follower, the plate at least partially covering one of the inlet aperture and outlet aperture in the closed position and spaced apart from the one in the open position, the lever arm engaged with the mounting plate and the cam follower, the cam follower in contact with an axle of the model toy train to move the lever arm and the plate in response to rotation of the axle.
-
Specification