Variable-heat smoke unit for model vehicle

• US 7,666,052 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2005
• Issued: 02/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lionel LLC
• Original Assignee: Lionel LLC
• Inventors: Pierson, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Peter DungBa
• Assistant Examiner(s): RADA, ALEX P
• Application Number:
  US11/093,892
• Publication Number:
  US 20050227575A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,792 Days
• Field of Search: 446 24- 25, 446/484, 105/1.5, 472/52, 472/65, 392/401, 392/403, 392/396, 104 51- 52, 104/307, 246/1.R, 246/167.R, 246190-191, 246/193, 246/167.A, 246/187.A, 246/187.R
• US Class Current: 446/25
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 19/14 Arrangements for imitating locomotive features, e.g. whistling, signalling, puffing

Abstract

A smoke generating unit for a model vehicle controls and varies the rate at which smoke is generated by controlling power to a heater. The model vehicle is electrically driven, and the smoke-generating unit is configured to emit smoke so as to mimic varying emission from a traditionally-fueled vehicle, such as a steam-driven or diesel-driven vehicle. Smoke is generated in proportion to power supplied to the heater. A controller controls the power as a function of various control inputs, such as vehicle engine load, vehicle speed, or user input. Temperature or power feedback may be used as input for a closed-loop control process. A blower for the fan may be controlled via an analog circuit in response to velocity or load input to simulate a steam or diesel locomotive.

Claims

1. A smoke or visible vapor generator for a model vehicle, comprising:

a controller;

a heater in electrical communication with the controller via a power control module;

a sensor disposed to provide input information to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to provide a control signal to the power control module responsive to the input information, the control signal configured for controlling power to the heater within a range operable to control an amount of visible emissions from fuel heated by the heater; and

a feedback input to the controller, wherein the feedback is from a circuit element responsive to a condition selected from power supplied to the heater, heat output from the heater, and temperature, and wherein the controller is further configured to provide the control signal responsive to the feedback input.

2. The smoke or visible vapor generator of claim 1, wherein the controller executes a function for determining the control signal responsive to the input information selected from a linear function, a non-linear function, a quadratic function, an exponential function, a step function, a post-office function, a differential function, and any combination of the foregoing functions.

3. The smoke or visible vapor generator of claim 2, wherein the function is determined using a look-up table contained in a memory operably associated with the controller.

4. The smoke or visible vapor generator of claim 2, further comprising a user interface operably connected to the controller, and wherein the input information further comprises user input received from the user interface.

5. The smoke or visible vapor generator of claim 4, wherein the user input is operative to modify the function by an operation selected from:

multiplying by a scale factor, dividing by a scale factor, adding an offset amount, subtracting an offset amount and some combination of the foregoing operations.

6. The smoke or visible vapor generator of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to provide the input information corresponding to a velocity of the model vehicle to the controller.

7. The smoke or visible vapor generator of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a sensor selected from a switch, a mechanical switch, an encoder and a Hall Effect sensor.

8. The smoke or visible vapor generator of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to provide the input information corresponding to an engine load of the model vehicle to the controller.

9. The smoke or visible vapor generator of claim 1, wherein the control signal is configured to define a set point selected from a voltage set point, a power set point, and a temperature set point.

10. The smoke or visible vapor generator of claim 1, wherein the feedback input comprises a signal indicating a voltage supplied to the heater.

11. The smoke or visible vapor generator of claim 1, wherein the feedback input comprises a signal indicating an amount of power supplied to the heater.

12. The smoke or visible vapor generator of claim 1, wherein the feedback input comprises a signal indicating a temperature of the generator.

13. The smoke or visible vapor generator of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to determine the control signal using the feedback input and a control scheme selected from proportional control, proportional-integral control, and proportional-integral-derivative control.

14. The smoke or visible vapor generator of claim 1, wherein the circuit element providing the feedback input comprises a temperature sensor disposed for sensing a temperature of the smoke generator, the temperature sensor in electrical communication with the controller.

15. The smoke or visible vapor generator of claim 14, wherein the temperature sensor comprises a sensor selected from a J-type thermocouple, a K-type thermocouple, and a thermistor.

16. The smoke or visible vapor generator of claim 14, wherein the controller is configured for receiving temperature sensor input from the temperature sensor, and configuring the control signal so as to cause the temperature sensor input to be driven towards a temperature set point.

17. The smoke or visible vapor generator of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a processor operably associated with a memory, the memory holding program instructions configuring operation of the controller.

18. The smoke or visible vapor generator of claim 1, further comprising a blower disposed in fluid communication with the heater.

19. The smoke or visible vapor generator of claim 18, further comprising a blower control circuit for controlling an amount of power output to the blower as a function of at least one control input.

20. The smoke or visible vapor generator of claim 19, wherein the at least one control input is selected from an input indicating an engine load of a model vehicle bearing the smoke generator, and an input indicating a speed of the model vehicle.

21. The smoke or visible vapor generator of claim 19, wherein the blower control circuit is configured for controlling an amount of power output to the blower so as to cause smoke to be emitted in puffs.

22. The smoke or visible vapor generator of claim 19, wherein the blower control circuit comprises an analog control circuit receiving the control output and controlling the blower separately from the controller.

23. The smoke or visible vapor generator of claim 22, wherein the analog control circuit comprises a plurality of analog timers coupled to provide an output pulse for puffing the blower at a rate proportional to the speed of the model vehicle.

24. The smoke or visible vapor generator of claim 1, wherein the heater includes a resistive heating element having terminals disposed at its opposite ends, each terminal operable for connecting the element to the smoke generating unit.

25. A method for generating visible emissions for a model vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

calculating a control output for an emission generating unit of a model vehicle in response to a current model vehicle state, wherein the control output indicates an amount of power to be supplied to a heater of the emission generating unit; and

controlling an amount of power output to the heater based on the control output, so as to cause the emission generating unit to emit visible emissions at a desired emission rate;

wherein the calculating step further comprises calculating the control output based a feedback input indicating information selected from a voltage supplied to the heater, an amount of power supplied to the heater, and a temperature of the emission generating unit.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising receiving at least one input indicating the current model vehicle state.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the calculating step further comprises calculating the control output using a function defining a relationship between the model vehicle state and control outputs over an operating range.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the calculating step further comprises calculating the control output based on the current model vehicle state selected from a velocity of the model vehicle and an engine load of the model vehicle.

29. The method of claim 25, further comprising receiving user input from a user interface device.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the calculating step further comprises calculating the control output based on the user input.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein the calculating step further comprises calculating the control output configured to define a set point selected from a voltage set point, a power set point, and a temperature set point.

32. A smoke or visible vapor generator for a model vehicle, comprising:

a controller;

a heater in electrical communication with the controller and adapted to heat a fuel material;

a blower operatively coupled in fluid communication with the heater;

a blower control circuit operatively coupled to the blower for controlling an amount of power provided to the blower as a function of at least one control input; and

a feedback input to the controller, wherein the feedback is from a circuit element responsive to a condition selected from power supplied to the heater, heat output from the heater, and temperature;

wherein the at least one control input is a function of at least one parameter selected from vehicle velocity, engine speed, engine load, last engine state, commanded engine state, and time since last engine state change.

33. The smoke or visible vapor generator of claim 32, wherein the controller is operatively associated with the blower control circuit and executes a function for determining the control input selected from a linear function, a non-linear function, a quadratic function, an exponential function, a step function, a post-office function, a differential function, and any combination of the foregoing functions.

34. The smoke or visible vapor generator of claim 32, wherein the at least one parameter is selected from a first parameter indicating an engine load of a model vehicle bearing the smoke generator, and a second parameter indicating a speed of the model vehicle.

35. The smoke or visible vapor generator of claim 32, wherein the controller is operatively associated with the blower control circuit and is configured for providing the at least one control input so as to cause the blower to operate at a speed proportional to vehicle velocity.

36. The smoke or visible vapor generator of claim 32, wherein the controller is operatively associated with the blower control circuit and is configured for providing the at least one control input so as to cause the blower to operate at a speed proportional to vehicle load.

37. The smoke or visible vapor generator of claim 32, wherein the controller is operatively associated with the blower control circuit and is configured for providing the at least one control input so as to cause the blower to operate at a speed determined by a commanded change in vehicle motion.

38. The smoke or visible vapor generator of claim 32, wherein the blower control circuit comprises an analog control circuit receiving the at least one control input as a pulsed input.