Sound simulator for model steam engine

• US RE30,174 E
• Filed: 10/13/1977
• Issued: 12/18/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Walter J. Schedler
• Original Assignee: Walter J. Schedler
• Inventors: Schedler, Walter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitts, Harold I.
• Application Number:
  US05/841,970
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 340/384 E
• US Class Current: 340/384.3
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2473 Devices for imitating a running engine
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 19/14 Arrangements for imitating locomotive features, e.g. whistling, signalling, puffing
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 15/02 Synthesis of acoustic waves synthesis of speech G10L13/00

Abstract

A simulator for mounting in a model steam train engine and adapted to emit sounds representative of a regular steam-driven train engine.

Claims

1. A sound generation system for a multi-wheeled model steam engine operating at a speed determined by the magnitude of electric power received from a controller, said system comprising:

an electronic circuit for generating a .[.constant.]. white noise signal representing a steam sound;

a switch electrically connected to receive electric power from the engine and including an actuator for turning the switch on momentarily at a rate responsive to the operating speed of the engine;

a full wave rectifier connected to receive electric current from the switch;

an amplifier having power terminals connected to receive electric power from the rectifier for providing an output signal responsive to the magnitude of the power received and synchronously with the closing of the switch, said amplifier also having signal input terminals connected to receive said white noise signal;

a capacitor connected across the power input terminals of the amplifier to filter and smooth out the power signal when any brief interruptions occur due primarily to the controller regulation and electrical connections between the engine and power source being momentarily broken;

a sound speaker connected to receive the amplifier output signal with such signal being the amplified white noise signal representing escaping steam occurring synchronously with the operating speed of the engine to simulate the actual sound of a steam engine.

2. A sound generation system for a model steam engine as defined in claim 1, wherein said switch actuator turns the switch on momentarily a multiplicity of times for each engine wheel revolution.

3. A sound generation system for a model steam engine as defined in claim 1, wherein the magnitude of the electric power received from the engine is directly proportioned to the power supplied to the engine by the controller thereby regulating the magnitude of the amplifier output signal proportional to the operating speed of the engine.

4. A sound generation system for a model steam turbine engine operating at a speed determined by the magnitude of the electric power received from a controller, said system comprising:

a first electronic circuit having signal output terminals for supplying a .[.constant.]. white noise signal representing a steam sound,

a second electronic circuit for generating a turbine sound signal at the output terminals having a frequency dependent upon the power supplied to the power terminals thereof;

a full wave rectifier electrically connected to receive electrical power from the engine;

an amplifier having power input terminals, and adapted to amplify and supply at output terminals a signal received at signal input terminals having a loudness responsive to power received at the power terminals;

first circuit means connecting the rectifier with the second electronic circuit power terminals and the amplifier power terminals;

second circuit means connecting the first circuit output terminals, the second circuit output terminals and the amplifier signal input terminals to supply the white noise and turbine sound signals to the amplifier; and

a sound speaker connected to receive and broadcast the amplifier output terminal signal whereby the turbine sound will be simulated by the second electronic circuit signal and the steam exhaust signal will be simulated by the first electronic circuit signal.

5. A sound generation system as defined in claim 4, including means to adjust the relative amplitudes of the white noise and turbine sound signals.

6. A sound generation system as defined in claim 5, including a capacitor connected across the power input terminal of the amplifier to filter and smooth out the power signal.

7. A sound generation system as defined in claim 6, including a capacitor connected across the power input terminals of the second electronic circuit to filter the power signal supplied thereto and stabilize the frequency of the turbine sound signal supplied thereby. .Iadd. 8. A sound generation system for a model train including an engine operating at a speed determined by the magnitude of electric power received from a controller, said system comprising;

an electronic steam sound simulating circuit;

means including a rectifier circuit electrically connected to said controller and being responsive to said magnitude of electric power and operable to generate an intermittent supply potential having a frequency corresponding to the operating speed of the engine;

an amplifier circuit coupled to said steam sound simulating circuit, said intermittent supply potential connected to one circuit of said amplifier and steam sound simulating circuits to provide an output signal responsive to the frequency of said intermittent supply potential and in synchronism with the operation of said engine; and

a sound transducer connected to said amplifier circuit to receive said output signal with such output signal being a simulated steam sound signal representing escaping steam ocurring synchronously with the operating

8. speed of the engine. .Iaddend..Iadd. 9. A sound generation system as defined by claim 8 wherein said rectifier circuit comprises a full wave rectifier. .Iaddend..Iadd. 10. A sound generation system as defined by claim 8 wherein said means additionally includes switch means coupled between said controller and said rectifier circuit, and operating at a rate corresponding to the operating speed of the engine. .Iaddend..Iadd. 11. A sound generation system for a model train including an engine operating at a speed determined by the magnitude of electric power received from a controller, said system comprising:

an electronic steam sound simulating circuit;

switch means electrically coupled to said controller by receiving electric power from the engine and including means for being operated at a rate corresponding to the operating speed of the engine;

an electrical rectifier circuit connected to said switch means for providing an intermittent supply potential;

an amplifier circuit coupled to said circuit simulating a steam sound, said intermittent supply potential from said rectifier circuit being connected to one circuit of said amplifier and steam sound simulating circuits to provide an output signal responsive to the magnitude of said supply potential and in synchronism with the operation of said switch; and

a sound speaker connected to receive said output signal with such output signal being a simulated steam sound signal representing escaping steam occurring synchronously with the operating speed of the engine. .Iaddend.

9. Iadd. 12. A sound generation system as defined by claim 11 wherein said electronic steam sound simulating circuit comprises a white noise source. .Iaddend..Iadd. 13. A sound generation system as defined by claim 12 wherein said white noise source comprises a constant white noise source. .Iaddend..Iadd. 14. The sound generation system as defined by claim 11 wherein said rectifier circuit comprises a full wave rectifier circuit. .Iaddend..Iadd. 15. A sound generation system as defined by claim 11 and additionally including circuit means coupled between said electrical rectifier circuit and said one circuit for filtering and smoothing out said intermittent supply potential when any brief interruptions occur due primarily to controller reguation and electrical connections between the engine and power source being momentarily broken. .Iaddend..Iadd. 16. A sound generation system as defined by claim 11 and additionally including electrical filter means coupled between said rectifier circuit and said one circuit. .Iaddend..Iadd. 17. A sound generation system as defined by claim 16 wherein said electrical filter means comprises a capacitor connected across the output of said rectifier circuit. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 18. A sound generation system for a model train including a turbine engine operating at a speed determined by the magnitude of the electric power received from a controller, said system comprising:

a first electronic circuit being operable to generate a signal simulating a steam sound;

a second electronic circuit being operable to generate a signal simulating a turbine sound, said turbine sound signal having a frequency dependent upon the magnitude of the electric power received from the controller;

an electrical rectifier circuit electrically connected to receive electrical power of a magnitude determined by said controller and providing an output supply potential the amplitude of which varies accordingly;

an amplifier circuit coupled to the output of said first and second electronic circuits and said output supply potential being coupled to at least one of said first and second electronic circuits to provide a composite output signal having a magnitude which varies in accordance with the amplitude of said output supply potential; and

a sound speaker connected to receive said composite output signal with such signal being a simulated steam and turbine sound occurring in response to the operating speed of the engine. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 19. A sound generation system as defined by claim 18 wherein said first electronic circuit comprises a white noise source. .Iaddend..Iadd. 20. A sound generation system as defined by claim 19 wherein said white noise source comprises a constant white noise source. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 21. A sound generation system as defined by claim 18 wherein said second electronic circuit comprises an oscillator circuit coupled to said output supply potential of said rectifier circuit, said oscillator being further operable to have its frequency of operation controlled by the amplitude of said output supply potential. .Iaddend..Iadd. 22. A sound generation system as defined by claim 18 and additionally including a filter circuit coupled across the output of said rectifier circuit to filter and smooth out said output supply potential. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 23. A sound generation system as defined by claim 22 wherein said filter circuit comprises a capacitor coupled across the output of said rectifier circuit. .Iaddend.