Low-power electrically operated coupler

• US 6,604,641 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2002
• Issued: 08/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mike's Train House Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mike's Train House Incorporated
• Inventors: Long, Scott B., Krebiehl, David L., Wolf, Michael Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Mark T.
• Application Number:
  US10/237,066
• Publication Number:
  US 20030001051A1
• Time in Patent Office: 337 Days
• Field of Search: 310/12, 310/15, 310/14, 310/23, 213/75.R, 213/75.TC, 213/75.D
• US Class Current: 213/75.0TC
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 19/14 Arrangements for imitating locomotive features, e.g. whistling, signalling, puffing
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 19/18 Car coupling or uncoupling mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 19/24 Electric toy railways; Systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 19/32 Switches or points; Operating means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/28 Soap-bubble toys; Smoke toys blowing smoke rings A24F13/30

Abstract

An electrically operated coupler includes a knuckle movable between an open position and a closed position, a plunger mechanically couplable to the knuckle, and a solenoid having a central hollow portion for receiving at least a portion of the plunger, at least a portion of the solenoid includes ferromagnetic material adapted to define at least a portion of a magnetic circuit for driving the plunger. The movable plunger includes a cap configured to engage the knuckle at a locking position of the plunger for locking the knuckle in the closed position. The solenoid drives the movable plunger toward or away from the locking position and a guide member guides the cap toward and away from the locking position.

Claims

1. An electrically operated model train coupler comprising:

a knuckle assembly movable between an open position and a closed position;

a movable plunger assembly mechanically couplable to said knuckle assembly,

wherein said movable plunger assembly includes a cap configured to engage said knuckle assembly at a locking position of said plunger assembly for locking said knuckle assembly in said closed position;

a solenoid assembly for driving said movable plunger assembly toward or away from said locking position; and

a guide member for guiding said cap toward and away from said locking position.

2. The coupler of claim 1, wherein application of a voltage to the solenoid assembly causes the solenoid assembly to generate a magnetic field which attracts the plunger assembly, thereby causing the plunger assembly to move toward or away from said locking position.

3. The coupler of claim 2, wherein the applied voltage to the solenoid assembly is less than or equal to approximately 6 volts.

4. The coupler of claim 1, wherein said guide member and said cap are configured to be in bearing contact.

5. An electrically operated coupler, comprising:

a knuckle assembly movable between an open position and a closed position;

a plunger assembly mechanically couplable to said knuckle assembly; and

a solenoid assembly having a central hollow portion for receiving at least a portion of said plunger assembly, at least a portion of said solenoid assembly includes ferromagnetic material adapted to define at least a portion of a magnetic circuit for driving said plunger assembly,

wherein said plunger assembly includes a plastic plunger cap adapted to selectively contact a portion of said knuckle assembly.

6. The electrically operated coupler of claim 5, wherein said solenoid assembly comprises a driver part and a housing assembly for housing said driver part, wherein said at least a portion of said solenoid assembly includes at least a part of said housing assembly.

7. The electrically operated coupler of claim 6, wherein said housing assembly includes at least one element selected from the group consisting of a sleeve at least partially surrounding said driver part, a back end positioned on one longitudinal end of said driver part, a forward end positioned on another end of said driver part, and a bobbin positioned at least on an inner surface of said driver part within said central hollow portion.

8. The electrically operated coupler of claim 7, wherein said housing assembly includes each of said sleeve, said back end and said forward end,

wherein said housing assembly includes sufficient ferromagnetic material so as to form a closed magnetic circuit.

9. The electrically operated coupler of claim 8, wherein said sleeve, said back end and said forward end are each made from ferromagnetic material.

10. The electrically operated coupler of claim 5, wherein at least a portion of said plunger assembly moves within said central hollow portion, said solenoid assembly includes a plastic bobbin surrounding said central hollow portion, said plastic bobbin adapted to contact said at least a portion of said plunger assembly.

11. The electrically operated coupler of claim 5, wherein said solenoid assembly comprises a driver part and a housing assembly for housing said driver part, said housing assembly includes a forward end positioned between said driver part and said knuckle assembly,

said plunger assembly includes a biasing spring positioned between said forward end and said knuckle assembly.

12. The electrically operated coupler of claim 5, wherein said solenoid assembly comprises a driver part and a back end positioned on one longitudinal end of said driver part, and said plunger assembly includes a plunger having a conical end, wherein said back end includes a corresponding conical cut-out portion facing said conical end such that during operation a portion of said conical end can be surrounded by said conical cut-out portion.

13. The electrically operated coupler of claim 5, wherein said knuckle assembly includes a spring for biasing said knuckle assembly into the open position.

14. The electrically operated coupler of claim 5, wherein said plunger assembly includes a spring for biasing the plunger towards the knuckle assembly.

15. An electrically operated coupler comprising:

a knuckle assembly movable between an open position and a closed position;

a plunger assembly mechanically couplable to said knuckle assembly; and

a solenoid assembly having a central hollow portion for receiving at least a portion of said plunger assembly, at least a portion of said solenoid assembly includes ferromagnetic material adapted to define at least a portion of a magnetic circuit for driving said plunger assembly,

wherein said plunger assembly includes a plunger end adapted to move within said central hollow portion, and said solenoid assembly comprises a driver part and a housing assembly for housing said driver part, said housing assembly includes a back end positioned on an end of said driver part so as to face said plunger end, wherein said plunger assembly includes a plunger cap configured to prevent contact between said plunger end and said back end.

16. An electrically operated coupler comprising:

a knuckle movable between an open position and a closed position;

a movable plunger mechanically couplable to said knuckle, plunger includes an increased diameter portion configured to engage said knuckle at a locking position of said plunger for locking said knuckle in said closed position;

a solenoid for driving said movable plunger toward or away from said locking position; and

a guide member for guiding said portion toward and away from said locking position.