US3126668A - Toy railway dump car and actuator - Google Patents

Toy railway dump car and actuator Download PDF

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US3126668A
US3126668A US3126668DA US3126668A US 3126668 A US3126668 A US 3126668A US 3126668D A US3126668D A US 3126668DA US 3126668 A US3126668 A US 3126668A
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car
underframe
actuator
dump
extending
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    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63HTOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H19/00Model railways
    • A63H19/15Special types of cars

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  • the present invention relates to toy railway systems and to toy railway cars, and has specific application to light-weight toy cars which include dumping or other unloading features and such as may be used in H gauge and smaller sizes.
  • the invention also relates to remote control means for operating such cars.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a railway car which retains its realistic appearance although provided with stabilizer means to ensure a non-derailing performance during the car operations.
  • Yet another object of the invention is to provide completely automatic unloading operations in toy railway car systems.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide a toy railway system accessory including automatic and remote control operating means for such operations, which means are readily adapted to be housed in and be operable from realistically designed track side equipment.
  • the specific embodiment of the invention presently to be described includes a simulated track side platform in which is housed a dump car actuator.
  • the platform includes a simulated platform deck extending toward the rails of the railway system for cooperation with the stabilizer means on a toy railway dump car when positioned on the rails alongside of the actuator platform.
  • the underframe of the dump car provides laterally extending projections which become positioned beneath the platform edge when the car rides along the side of the platform.
  • the actuator platform also provides an electrically operated lever which is lifted upwardly to actuate a lever on the underframe of the car and which in turn dumps the material in the car by inclining the openedtop body thereof, while the projections from the underframe and the overlying platform edge act to keep the car on the rails.
  • a further feature of the invention includes the hinged support of the car on the underframe via a longitudinally extending adjustment spring, the ends of which provide the pivotal support for the car and the intermediate portion of which provides means for restraining the side door of the dump car body in the closed position and for opening and closing the side door of the dump car during the dumping operation.
  • the adjustment spring together with its mounting within the underframe and the lever operation of the dump car, including resilient return means, plus the external actuation of the car from simulated track side equipment all go to make up a very realistic and totally automatic dumping operation.
  • PlG. l is a top plan view partially broken away and partially in section of an actuator platform and dump car constructed in accordance with the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is an end view of the actuator platform and dump car of FIGS. 1 and 2, partially broken away and partially in section, and showing the dump car body in the inclined dump position;
  • FIG. 4 is a sectional view, partially broken away and substantially taken along the line 44 of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the underframe and dump car body of the previous figures
  • MG. 6 is a top plan view of the underframe with the car body removed;
  • FlG. 7 is a sectional View taken along the line 77 of FIG. 6.
  • the dump car and actuator accessory are shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.
  • the actuator ltl comprises a track section Ill. integrally connected, adjacent the ends of the ties 12, along one side thereof, to the actuator base 13, which in the illustration shown, simulates the base of a loading or station platform 14.
  • the actuator platform M is a single molded plastic piece and may be secured to the base 13 by a centrally located interconnecting screw s.
  • the platform 14 includes side and end walls 15 supporting a platform deck 16 along the major portion of the actuator platform 14. At the end of the platform 14 the walls 15 extend above the deck 16 and support a roof 1'], which together with the walls 15, form the housing H for the actuator solenoid S.
  • the deck 16 includes a laterally projecting portion 16a extending in a horizontal plane substantially aligned with the upper portion of the underframe 36 of the dump car 35.
  • a pair of longitudinally spaced vertical slots 18 are provided in the track side wall section 15:: of the actuator platform 14 and are disposed beneath the laterally extending portion 16a of the deck 16.
  • a longitudinally extending lever bar 19 is positioned alongside the track section 11 and, as seen in FIGS. 2, and 3, it normally rests upon a pair of longitudinally spaced supports 20 on the actuator base 13 in front of the actuator platform 14.
  • the bar 19 has bent ends which extend through the slots 18 into the actuator platform 14 where one of the ends of the bar 19 is pivotally supported in a hinge bracket 21 (FIGS. 1 and 4), and the other end is pivotally supported in the solenoid housing H on a solenoid support portion 22 of the actuator base 13 in a recess 22a formed therein.
  • the latter end of the bar 19 provides an upstanding portion 23 which extends through an aperture in the front support plate 29 of the solenoid S and is received in an upwardly pointed n conically shaped end aperture 24 of the plunger member 25 of the solenoid S.
  • the plunger 25 is biased toward the track side of the housing H by a spring 26 interposed between the upstanding portion 23 of the lever 19 and a plate member 27a of a casing 27 for the coil C of the solenoid S.
  • the ends of the coil C are connected through a wire 28 and through the front support plate 2% of the solenoid S to electric terminals 39 for remote control operation of the solenoid S.
  • Actuation of the solenoid S will move the plunger 25 rearwardly of the housing to pivot the bar 19 via the rotation of the upstanding portion thereof to an upper or actuated position above the supports 2%, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 (the phantom position in PEG. 4).
  • the lever bar 19 and laterally extending portion 16a of the deck 16 extend a substantial distance along the track section 11. As will become clear, this length facilitates a dumping operation of the railway car along a comparatively extended portion of the platform and the operator of the railway system in which the dump car and actuator are used will be given a wide accuracy range for disposing the dump car adjacent the operating area of the actuator.
  • FIGS. 13 and -7 The construction of the dump car 35 is shown in FIGS. 13 and -7.
  • the exploded view in FIG. 5 of the car 35 will be particularly helpful in the following description:
  • Trucks (not shown) mounted on aXled wheels 37 mount the under-frame 36 of the dump car 55, which underframe 36, in the embodiment shown, includes a molded plastic piece simulating a pair of end sills 33 connected by a longitudinally extending body portion 39 from which depend realistically shaped and integrally molded simulated underframe equipment such as the reservoir tanks 40 on either side of the underframe 36 intermediate the end sills 38.
  • a metal body plate 41 overlies the body portion 39 of the underframe 36 and is supported thereon by upwardly extending peripheral portions 42 extended upwardly therefrom so that the plate 41 and body portion 39 are vertically spaced in the central area of the underframe 36.
  • the space thus provided between the body plate 41 and body portion 39 is utilized to house a longitudinally extending adjustment spring member 43.
  • the center portion of the spring 43 is normally biased laterally to dispose the ends of the spring closer to each other than is shown so that the ends of the adjustment spring 43 are readily received in a pair of apertured lugs 44 extending downwardly at either end of the body plate 41 adjacent the outer side of the underframe; that is, the outer side with respect to the actuator platform 14.
  • the spring is straightened against its normal bias and the ends of the adjustment spring 43 are made to extend longitudinally through the apertured lugs 44 to provide pivot hinges for mounting the dump car body 45. As seen in FIGS.
  • the body plate 41 provides a lateral restraining catch 31 extending in the central space between the plate 41 and body 39 and positioned to keep the spring member 43 from over-displacement toward the inner side of the car 35 to prevent the ends of the spring 43 from moving out of the apertured lugs 44.
  • the spring 43 provides a laterally outwardly bent portion 46 extending through a slotted area 47 between the body 39 and body plate 41 of the underframe 36.
  • a transversely extending adjustment screw 48 threadedly disposed within the inner side of the body plate 41 and in a horizontal plane with the end portion of the spring 43. Turning of the screw 48 will move the bent portion 46 of the spring 43 laterally outwardly and inwardly of the car.
  • the spring adjustment is provided for proper restraining and operation of the side door 49 of the dump car 35.
  • the laterally outwardly extending tabs 58 adjacent the apertured lugs 44 at either end of the body plate 41 are supplied for proper operating eliiciency of the car 35, as will be expalined.
  • the body plate 41 provides an integrally formed pair of upstanding tabs 33 forming a fulcrum or longitudinally extending pivot mount 51 for the dump car operating lever 52.
  • the pin member 32 of the lever pivot mount 51 is restrained in its longitudinal disposition within the mounts tab members 33 by an upstanding lug portion 34 extending from the body member 39 of the underframe 36.
  • the lever 52 extends transversely of the car and is pivotally mounted on the pin 32 for rota"on in a plane transverse to the car.
  • the platform side or inner end of the lever 52 as most clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, is bent downwardly and then laterally outwardly for disposition over the actuating lever 19 when the car 35 is positioned alongside the actuator platform 14.
  • a spring 53 interposed between the outer end of the lever 52 and the underframe 36 biases the lever 52 against counterclockwise rotation (as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3), and restrains the car body in the horizontal position.
  • the inner or platform side of the body plate 41 provides a pair of longitudinally spaced laterally extending stabilizers 54 which extend outwardly sulficiently, and which are horizontally positioned, so that they will very closely underlie the lateral extension 16a of the platform deck 16. In this manner, when the dump car body 45 is pivoted to a dump position via the actuator lever 19 and the dtunp car lever 52, as will be presently discussed, the car will be restrained upon the rails R by the interaction of the stabilizers 54 and platform extension 16a.
  • the car body 45 is of the open top gondola type. It has two ends 62 and one side 63 connected by a floor portion 64. It is supported in a horizontal position by a pair of longitudinally spaced support stands 65 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 7), depending from, and in the embodiment shown, molded with the floor 6-4 on the inner side of the car 45, and by the apertured lugs 56 pivotally mounted on the ends of the adjustment spring 43 on the outer side of the car. These lugs 56 are provided at either end of a pivot bracket which extends longitudinally of and is connected, via rivets 66, to the undersurface of the car body 45 adjacent the outer side thereof.
  • the bracket 55 further provides a second pair of depending apertured lugs 57 disposed on either side of the transverse center of the body 45, and which receive pivot pins 58 which extend through longitudinally spaced hinge brackets 59 on the side door 49 of the car body 45.
  • the side door is thereby pivotally mounted for rotation in a transverse plane from a closed position when the car body 45 is horizontally disposed, to an open position downwardly inclined away from the car body 45 when the body is in the inclined dump position (FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively).
  • the side door 49 is restrained in the upper or closed position via a restrainer tab 70 extending from the under edge of the door 49 below the pivot connection between the door 49 to the bracket 55 to lie in pressure contact against the outer edge of the bent portion 46 of the adjustment spring, which, as seen in FIG. 7, is bent upwardly to lie in a horizontal plane above the pivot connection between the car body 35 and the underframe 36.
  • the pivot bracket 55 is provided intermediate its ends, and between the apertured lugs 57, with a depending slotted portion which receives the laterally extending inner end of the lever 52.
  • the side door 49 conveniently provides a laterally outwardly extending housing area 71 to accommodate the outer end of lever 52.
  • the car body 45 will be pivoted about the ends of the adjustment spring &3 toward the dump position (FIG. 3) while the retainer lug 7d of the side door '4? rotates around the bent portion 46 of the spring d3 to finally become disposed within the confines of the bent portion 43 as the side door 4% is permitted'to pivot away from the car body 45.
  • the outer end of the lever 52 will also be in a position to underlie the outer side of the car body floor 64 and when the actuator coil is deenergized and the lever bar 19 lowered, the spring 53 will throw the outer end of the lever upwardly thereby forcing the car body 45 to pivot back to its normal position and the side door 49 to be pivoted back to its close position via the pressure contact of the retainer lug 7d against the bent portion 46 of the spring 43 as these two elements rotate relative to one another.
  • the underframe construction greatly facilitates the assembly thereof wherein the spring element providing the pivot hinges 'for the car body may be inserted quickly in the body plate and restrained in position via the pressure contact between it and the restrainer catch 31 in the plate. Adjustment of the spring 43 is then readily accomplished by the simple adjustment screw '48 arrangement to properly dispose the bent portion 4-6 of the spring relative to the retainer lug 70 of the side door when the car body is snap fitted over the ends of the spring into place.
  • the complementary stabilizer means on the car and actuator, and the actuator operation may be used in many types of toy train track side operations besides dump car operations.
  • an underframe construction comprising a longitudinally extending body, a longitudinally extending plate overlying said body and connected thereto, the central areas of said body and said plate being in spaced relation relative to one another, an elongated longitudinally extending spring within the space between said body and said plate, said spring being biased laterally of said car intermediate the ends of said spring, said plate providing means extending into said space for restraining said spring substantially linearly, the ends of said spring being received in the ends of said plate and extending longitudinally outwardly thereof to provide pivot mountings, transversely extending screw means in said plate and disposed laterally of said spring and in a plane therewith and adjustable for moving the intermediate portions thereof laterally of said car, and means integral with said plate and forming a longitudinally extending pivot mounting, a lever extending transversely of said underframe and mounted intermediate its ends on said pivot mounting, said lever extending laterally of said car for engagement with
  • a lightweight toy railway dump car operable with a stationary element externally thereof and comprising, an underframe, an open top car body, said car body being hingedly attached to said underframe along one side thereof and movable from a horizontal position to an inclined dump position, means intermediate said underframe and said car body for moving said body to said inclined dump position, and car stabilizer means extending from said underframe on the other side thereof and laterally of said car for engaging the stationary element externally of said car, said open top car body including a hinged side adjacent said underframe on one side, said hinged side being movable from a substantially vertical position closing the side of the car body to an open position laterally of said car body, and means provided on said underframe and engageable with said hinged side of said car body for restraining said side in the substantially vertical position when said body is in the horizontal position and for permitting said hinged side to rotate away from said body when said body is moved to said inclined dump position, said means engageable with said hinged side being an elongated spring member having a bent portion extending laterally
  • a lightweight toy railway dump car operable with a stationary element externally thereof and comprising, an underframe, an open top car body, said car body being hingedly attached to said underframe along one side thereof and movable from a horizontal position to an inclined dump position, means intermediate said underframe and said car body for moving said body to said inclined dump position, and car stabilizer means extending from said underframe on the other side thereof and laterally of said car for engaging the stationary element externally of said car, said means intermediate said body and said underframe for moving said body being a lever pivoted intermediate its ends and extending transversely of said underframe, one end of said lever extending to said one side of said underframe, said body providing means for underlying said one end of said lever adjacent said one side of said underframe, whereby movement of said lever to rotate said one end thereof downwardly will move said car body to said dump position, resilient means being interposed between said underframe and said lever adjacent said one end for biasing said one end of said lever upwardly to underlie said car body adjacent said one side thereof, whereby to restrain said
  • a wheel-mounted, lightweight toy railway dump car mounted on said track sections for movement thereover, said car including an underframe, an open top body hingedly attached along one side of said underframe, said body being movable from a horizontal position to an in clined dump position, means intermediate said car body and said underframe for moving said body to said dump position, said means extending dow wardiy from said underframe and laterally therefrom adjacent the other side thereof, and at least one car stabilizer projection secured to said underframe and extending laterally therefrom adjacent the other side thereof, a dump car actuator alongside said track sections and oriented relative thereto for engagement with said means intermediate said body and said underframe, said dump car actuator including stabilizer means extending laterally therefrom toward said track sections and positioned for overlying said stabilizer projection extending from said underframe, said actuator comprising an integral portion of one of said track sections and providing a cover member adjacent said one track section, said cover member taking the form of a platform, said platform extending laterally toward
  • a lightweight toy railway dump car operable with a stationary element externally thereof and comprising, an underframe, an open top car body, said car body being hingedly attached to said underframe along one side thereof and movable from a horizontal position to an inclined dump position, means intermediate said underframe and said car body for moving said body to said inclinecl dump position, and car stabilizer means extending from said underframe on the other side thereof and laterally of said ear for engaging the stationary element externally of said car, said open top car body including a hinged side adjacent said underframe on one side, said hinged side being movable from a substantially vertical position closing the side of the car body to an open position laterally of said car body, and means provided on said underframe and engageable with said hinged side of said car body for restraining said side in the substanially vertical position when said body is in the horizontal position and for permitting said hinged side to rotate away from said body when said body is moved to said inclined dump position, said means engageable with said hinged side being an elongated spring member having
  • a lightweight toy railway dump car operable with a stationary element externally thereof and comprising, an undertrame, an open top car body, said car body being hingedly attached to said underframe along one side thereof and movable from a horizontal position to an inclined dump position, means intermediate said underframe and said car body for moving said body to said inclined dump position, and car stabilizer means extending from said underframe on the other side thereof and laterally of said car for engaging the stationary element externally of said car, said open top car body including a hinged side adjacent said underframe on one side, said hinged side being movable from a substantially vertical position closing the side of the car body to an open position laterally of said car body, and means provided on said underframe and engageable with said hinged side of said car body for restraining said side in the substantially vertical position when said body is in the horizontal position and for permitting said hinged side to rotate away from said body when said body is moved to said inclined dump position, said means engageable with said hinged side being an elongated spring member having a bent portion extending later
  • a car, stabilizer and actuator elements mounted externally of said car said car comprising an underframe, a car body mounted on said underframe, means extending laterally past the lateral width of said car body for engaging said stabilizer element externally of said car, means intermediate said underframe and said car body for performing simulated car operating movements and extending laterally for engaging said actuator externally of said car and for being actuated thereby, said means intermediate said underframe and said car body including longitudinally pivoted laterally rotatable lever means, said actuator including vertically rotatable lever means for engagement with said lever means intermediate said underframe and said car body, said stabilizer and actuator elements extending from and forming parts of a simulated trackside plat- 5 form.

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Description

March 31, 1954 J. L. BONANNO ETAL 3,126,668
TOY RAILWAY DUMP CAR AND ACTUATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 3, 1961 III] IIIIII a lflflfllllff/mllfffv ATTORNEY 5 March 3 1954 J. L. BONANNO ETAL 3,126,568
TOY RAILWAY DUMP CAR AND ACTUATOR Filed May 3, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lll Ill VIIIIII'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/IIIIIIII f5 INVENTORS ATTORNEY S March 3 1964 J. L. BONANNO ETAL 3,
TOY RAILWAY DUMP CAR AND ACTUATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 5, 1961 M fi BM Z Z i R E a o VHN w M 4 0 manna,
United States Patent Ofiice 3,126,668 Patented Mar. 31, 1964 TOY RAHLWAY DUMP EAR AND ACTUATGR Joseph L. llonanno, South Qrange, and Dorland L. Crosrnan, Bloomfield, N..l., assignors, by mesne assignments,
to Walter E. Heller dz (Ioznpany, Inc, New York, N.Y.,
a corporation of Belaware Filed May 3, 1961, Ser. No. 107,357 8 tjlaims. (Cl. 2-6-40) The present invention relates to toy railway systems and to toy railway cars, and has specific application to light-weight toy cars which include dumping or other unloading features and such as may be used in H gauge and smaller sizes. The invention also relates to remote control means for operating such cars.
The basic problem in providing a workable toy railway dump or unloading car in the smaller gauges arises because of the light weight of these cars. For example, when attempting to actuate portions of light weight toy railway cars, such as attempting to rotate the body of a toy dump car, it is found that the car will become derailed during the application of even small forces upon the underframe. This problem becomes aggravated when automatic return operation is desired and return forces have to be overcome during the initial actuation force.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a model railway system in which the weight problem of light cars is overcome and automatic unloading operations and the like may be included.
It is an object of the present invention to provide relatively simple toy railway structures to accomplish simulated car operations and wherein these structures lend themselves to ready assembly during the manufacture of the cars, resulting in assembly economic factors.
Another object of the invention is to provide a railway car which retains its realistic appearance although provided with stabilizer means to ensure a non-derailing performance during the car operations.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide completely automatic unloading operations in toy railway car systems.
A further object of the invention is to provide a toy railway system accessory including automatic and remote control operating means for such operations, which means are readily adapted to be housed in and be operable from realistically designed track side equipment.
In accordance with the objects of the invention, the specific embodiment of the invention presently to be described includes a simulated track side platform in which is housed a dump car actuator. The platform includes a simulated platform deck extending toward the rails of the railway system for cooperation with the stabilizer means on a toy railway dump car when positioned on the rails alongside of the actuator platform.
The underframe of the dump car provides laterally extending projections which become positioned beneath the platform edge when the car rides along the side of the platform. The actuator platform also provides an electrically operated lever which is lifted upwardly to actuate a lever on the underframe of the car and which in turn dumps the material in the car by inclining the openedtop body thereof, while the projections from the underframe and the overlying platform edge act to keep the car on the rails.
A further feature of the invention includes the hinged support of the car on the underframe via a longitudinally extending adjustment spring, the ends of which provide the pivotal support for the car and the intermediate portion of which provides means for restraining the side door of the dump car body in the closed position and for opening and closing the side door of the dump car during the dumping operation. The adjustment spring, together with its mounting within the underframe and the lever operation of the dump car, including resilient return means, plus the external actuation of the car from simulated track side equipment all go to make up a very realistic and totally automatic dumping operation.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will be better understood upon a reading of the following description of the specific embodiment of the invention, together with the drawings in which:
PlG. l is a top plan view partially broken away and partially in section of an actuator platform and dump car constructed in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an end view of the actuator platform and dump car of FIGS. 1 and 2, partially broken away and partially in section, and showing the dump car body in the inclined dump position;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view, partially broken away and substantially taken along the line 44 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the underframe and dump car body of the previous figures;
MG. 6 is a top plan view of the underframe with the car body removed;
FlG. 7 is a sectional View taken along the line 77 of FIG. 6.
The dump car and actuator accessory are shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The actuator ltl comprises a track section Ill. integrally connected, adjacent the ends of the ties 12, along one side thereof, to the actuator base 13, which in the illustration shown, simulates the base of a loading or station platform 14.
The actuator platform M is a single molded plastic piece and may be secured to the base 13 by a centrally located interconnecting screw s. The platform 14 includes side and end walls 15 supporting a platform deck 16 along the major portion of the actuator platform 14. At the end of the platform 14 the walls 15 extend above the deck 16 and support a roof 1'], which together with the walls 15, form the housing H for the actuator solenoid S.
The deck 16 includes a laterally projecting portion 16a extending in a horizontal plane substantially aligned with the upper portion of the underframe 36 of the dump car 35. A pair of longitudinally spaced vertical slots 18 are provided in the track side wall section 15:: of the actuator platform 14 and are disposed beneath the laterally extending portion 16a of the deck 16.
A longitudinally extending lever bar 19 is positioned alongside the track section 11 and, as seen in FIGS. 2, and 3, it normally rests upon a pair of longitudinally spaced supports 20 on the actuator base 13 in front of the actuator platform 14. The bar 19 has bent ends which extend through the slots 18 into the actuator platform 14 where one of the ends of the bar 19 is pivotally supported in a hinge bracket 21 (FIGS. 1 and 4), and the other end is pivotally supported in the solenoid housing H on a solenoid support portion 22 of the actuator base 13 in a recess 22a formed therein. The latter end of the bar 19 provides an upstanding portion 23 which extends through an aperture in the front support plate 29 of the solenoid S and is received in an upwardly pointed n conically shaped end aperture 24 of the plunger member 25 of the solenoid S.
The plunger 25 is biased toward the track side of the housing H by a spring 26 interposed between the upstanding portion 23 of the lever 19 and a plate member 27a of a casing 27 for the coil C of the solenoid S. The ends of the coil C are connected through a wire 28 and through the front support plate 2% of the solenoid S to electric terminals 39 for remote control operation of the solenoid S.
Actuation of the solenoid S will move the plunger 25 rearwardly of the housing to pivot the bar 19 via the rotation of the upstanding portion thereof to an upper or actuated position above the supports 2%, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 (the phantom position in PEG. 4).
In the specific embodiment shown herein, the lever bar 19 and laterally extending portion 16a of the deck 16, extend a substantial distance along the track section 11. As will become clear, this length facilitates a dumping operation of the railway car along a comparatively extended portion of the platform and the operator of the railway system in which the dump car and actuator are used will be given a wide accuracy range for disposing the dump car adjacent the operating area of the actuator.
The construction of the dump car 35 is shown in FIGS. 13 and -7. The exploded view in FIG. 5 of the car 35 will be particularly helpful in the following description:
Trucks (not shown) mounted on aXled wheels 37 mount the under-frame 36 of the dump car 55, which underframe 36, in the embodiment shown, includes a molded plastic piece simulating a pair of end sills 33 connected by a longitudinally extending body portion 39 from which depend realistically shaped and integrally molded simulated underframe equipment such as the reservoir tanks 40 on either side of the underframe 36 intermediate the end sills 38.
A metal body plate 41 overlies the body portion 39 of the underframe 36 and is supported thereon by upwardly extending peripheral portions 42 extended upwardly therefrom so that the plate 41 and body portion 39 are vertically spaced in the central area of the underframe 36.
The space thus provided between the body plate 41 and body portion 39 is utilized to house a longitudinally extending adjustment spring member 43. The center portion of the spring 43 is normally biased laterally to dispose the ends of the spring closer to each other than is shown so that the ends of the adjustment spring 43 are readily received in a pair of apertured lugs 44 extending downwardly at either end of the body plate 41 adjacent the outer side of the underframe; that is, the outer side with respect to the actuator platform 14. During assembly of the underframe 36 the spring is straightened against its normal bias and the ends of the adjustment spring 43 are made to extend longitudinally through the apertured lugs 44 to provide pivot hinges for mounting the dump car body 45. As seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the body plate 41 provides a lateral restraining catch 31 extending in the central space between the plate 41 and body 39 and positioned to keep the spring member 43 from over-displacement toward the inner side of the car 35 to prevent the ends of the spring 43 from moving out of the apertured lugs 44.
Intermediate the ends of the adjustment spring 43 and endwardly of the transverse center line of the underframe 36, the spring 43 provides a laterally outwardly bent portion 46 extending through a slotted area 47 between the body 39 and body plate 41 of the underframe 36. As the center portion of the spring 43 is normally biased inwardly of the car 35, lateral outward and inward adjustment of the bent portion 46 is permitted via a transversely extending adjustment screw 48 threadedly disposed within the inner side of the body plate 41 and in a horizontal plane with the end portion of the spring 43. Turning of the screw 48 will move the bent portion 46 of the spring 43 laterally outwardly and inwardly of the car. As will become clear, the spring adjustment is provided for proper restraining and operation of the side door 49 of the dump car 35. Similarly, the laterally outwardly extending tabs 58 adjacent the apertured lugs 44 at either end of the body plate 41 are supplied for proper operating eliiciency of the car 35, as will be expalined.
Intermediate its ends, the body plate 41 provides an integrally formed pair of upstanding tabs 33 forming a fulcrum or longitudinally extending pivot mount 51 for the dump car operating lever 52. The pin member 32 of the lever pivot mount 51 is restrained in its longitudinal disposition within the mounts tab members 33 by an upstanding lug portion 34 extending from the body member 39 of the underframe 36. The lever 52 extends transversely of the car and is pivotally mounted on the pin 32 for rota"on in a plane transverse to the car. The platform side or inner end of the lever 52, as most clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, is bent downwardly and then laterally outwardly for disposition over the actuating lever 19 when the car 35 is positioned alongside the actuator platform 14. A spring 53 interposed between the outer end of the lever 52 and the underframe 36 biases the lever 52 against counterclockwise rotation (as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3), and restrains the car body in the horizontal position.
The inner or platform side of the body plate 41 provides a pair of longitudinally spaced laterally extending stabilizers 54 which extend outwardly sulficiently, and which are horizontally positioned, so that they will very closely underlie the lateral extension 16a of the platform deck 16. In this manner, when the dump car body 45 is pivoted to a dump position via the actuator lever 19 and the dtunp car lever 52, as will be presently discussed, the car will be restrained upon the rails R by the interaction of the stabilizers 54 and platform extension 16a.
The car body 45 is of the open top gondola type. It has two ends 62 and one side 63 connected by a floor portion 64. It is supported in a horizontal position by a pair of longitudinally spaced support stands 65 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 7), depending from, and in the embodiment shown, molded with the floor 6-4 on the inner side of the car 45, and by the apertured lugs 56 pivotally mounted on the ends of the adjustment spring 43 on the outer side of the car. These lugs 56 are provided at either end of a pivot bracket which extends longitudinally of and is connected, via rivets 66, to the undersurface of the car body 45 adjacent the outer side thereof.
The bracket 55 further provides a second pair of depending apertured lugs 57 disposed on either side of the transverse center of the body 45, and which receive pivot pins 58 which extend through longitudinally spaced hinge brackets 59 on the side door 49 of the car body 45. The side door is thereby pivotally mounted for rotation in a transverse plane from a closed position when the car body 45 is horizontally disposed, to an open position downwardly inclined away from the car body 45 when the body is in the inclined dump position (FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively). The side door 49 is restrained in the upper or closed position via a restrainer tab 70 extending from the under edge of the door 49 below the pivot connection between the door 49 to the bracket 55 to lie in pressure contact against the outer edge of the bent portion 46 of the adjustment spring, which, as seen in FIG. 7, is bent upwardly to lie in a horizontal plane above the pivot connection between the car body 35 and the underframe 36.
The pivot bracket 55 is provided intermediate its ends, and between the apertured lugs 57, with a depending slotted portion which receives the laterally extending inner end of the lever 52. The side door 49 conveniently provides a laterally outwardly extending housing area 71 to accommodate the outer end of lever 52.
In operation, when the dump car 35 is brought alongside of the actuator platform 11, the laterally extending stabilizers 54- become disposed beneath the lateral extension llfia of the platform deck i=6. At the same time the inner end of the lever 52 becomes disposed above the actuator lever 19. Actuation of the solenoid S will cause the plunger 2% to be moved through the coil C and to draw the upstanding portion 23 of the lever 19 away from the track side wall 15 of the actuator housing H. In turn, the lever bar 19 will be moved upwardly (FIGS. 3 and 4) to lift the inner end of the lever 52 and to swing the outer end downwardly against the longitudinally extending edge of the slotted portion 60 of the pivot bracket 55. In turn, the car body 45 will be pivoted about the ends of the adjustment spring &3 toward the dump position (FIG. 3) while the retainer lug 7d of the side door '4? rotates around the bent portion 46 of the spring d3 to finally become disposed within the confines of the bent portion 43 as the side door 4% is permitted'to pivot away from the car body 45.
As the car body 45 reaches the dump position, the center of gravity of the car body 35 is displaced so that the car body 35 will begin to fall around its pivoted connection to the underframe 3d. Excessive pivotal movement of the car body 35 is restrained by the laterally extending tabs '59 which receive the underside of the body 45 and hold it against further movement. In this position, the outer end of the lever 52 will also be in a position to underlie the outer side of the car body floor 64 and when the actuator coil is deenergized and the lever bar 19 lowered, the spring 53 will throw the outer end of the lever upwardly thereby forcing the car body 45 to pivot back to its normal position and the side door 49 to be pivoted back to its close position via the pressure contact of the retainer lug 7d against the bent portion 46 of the spring 43 as these two elements rotate relative to one another.
It will be noted that the underframe construction greatly facilitates the assembly thereof wherein the spring element providing the pivot hinges 'for the car body may be inserted quickly in the body plate and restrained in position via the pressure contact between it and the restrainer catch 31 in the plate. Adjustment of the spring 43 is then readily accomplished by the simple adjustment screw '48 arrangement to properly dispose the bent portion 4-6 of the spring relative to the retainer lug 70 of the side door when the car body is snap fitted over the ends of the spring into place.
It will also be appreciated that the complementary stabilizer means on the car and actuator, and the actuator operation may be used in many types of toy train track side operations besides dump car operations.
A specific embodiment of the invention has been described. It will occur to those skilled in the art how many of the elements herein may be modified and interchanged to bring about substantially the same structure. It is intended, therefore, that the full spirit and scope of the invention is to be defined only in the following claims.
What is claimed is:
1. In a light-weight toy railway dump car operable with a stationary element externally thereof and with an actuator externally thereof, an underframe construction comprising a longitudinally extending body, a longitudinally extending plate overlying said body and connected thereto, the central areas of said body and said plate being in spaced relation relative to one another, an elongated longitudinally extending spring within the space between said body and said plate, said spring being biased laterally of said car intermediate the ends of said spring, said plate providing means extending into said space for restraining said spring substantially linearly, the ends of said spring being received in the ends of said plate and extending longitudinally outwardly thereof to provide pivot mountings, transversely extending screw means in said plate and disposed laterally of said spring and in a plane therewith and adjustable for moving the intermediate portions thereof laterally of said car, and means integral with said plate and forming a longitudinally extending pivot mounting, a lever extending transversely of said underframe and mounted intermediate its ends on said pivot mounting, said lever extending laterally of said car for engagement with said actuator externally of said car, and car stabilizer means formed integrally with said plate and extending laterally from said underframe for engaging said stationary element externally of said car, said spring and said lever comprising means for connecting portions of said toy railway dump car for restraining and lifting the same.
2. A lightweight toy railway dump car operable with a stationary element externally thereof and comprising, an underframe, an open top car body, said car body being hingedly attached to said underframe along one side thereof and movable from a horizontal position to an inclined dump position, means intermediate said underframe and said car body for moving said body to said inclined dump position, and car stabilizer means extending from said underframe on the other side thereof and laterally of said car for engaging the stationary element externally of said car, said open top car body including a hinged side adjacent said underframe on one side, said hinged side being movable from a substantially vertical position closing the side of the car body to an open position laterally of said car body, and means provided on said underframe and engageable with said hinged side of said car body for restraining said side in the substantially vertical position when said body is in the horizontal position and for permitting said hinged side to rotate away from said body when said body is moved to said inclined dump position, said means engageable with said hinged side being an elongated spring member having a bent portion extending laterally outwardly of said underframe adjacent said one side, said spring member having ends journalled at either end of said underframe and providing longitudinally extending pivot means upon which said open top car body is hinged, said hinged side of said car body providing a downwardly protruding portion and said downwardly protruding portion overlies said bent portion of said spring member and is in pressure contact therewith when said body is in said horizontal position, whereby said side is restrained in said substantially vertical position, said protruding portion being guided by said bent portion to become positioned inwardly of said bent portion to permit said side to rotate away from said car body as said body is moved into said inclined dump position.
3. A lightweight toy railway dump car operable with a stationary element externally thereof and comprising, an underframe, an open top car body, said car body being hingedly attached to said underframe along one side thereof and movable from a horizontal position to an inclined dump position, means intermediate said underframe and said car body for moving said body to said inclined dump position, and car stabilizer means extending from said underframe on the other side thereof and laterally of said car for engaging the stationary element externally of said car, said means intermediate said body and said underframe for moving said body being a lever pivoted intermediate its ends and extending transversely of said underframe, one end of said lever extending to said one side of said underframe, said body providing means for underlying said one end of said lever adjacent said one side of said underframe, whereby movement of said lever to rotate said one end thereof downwardly will move said car body to said dump position, resilient means being interposed between said underframe and said lever adjacent said one end for biasing said one end of said lever upwardly to underlie said car body adjacent said one side thereof, whereby to restrain said car body in said horizontal position and to return said car body to said horizontal position from said dump position, said lever providing at its other end a downwardly and outwardly extending portion adjacent the other side of said underframe, said other end of said lever extending laterally of said underframe for engagement with actuating means externally of said car for rotating said lever.
4. In a toy railway system including railway track sections, a wheel-mounted, lightweight toy railway dump car mounted on said track sections for movement thereover, said car including an underframe, an open top body hingedly attached along one side of said underframe, said body being movable from a horizontal position to an in clined dump position, means intermediate said car body and said underframe for moving said body to said dump position, said means extending dow wardiy from said underframe and laterally therefrom adjacent the other side thereof, and at least one car stabilizer projection secured to said underframe and extending laterally therefrom adjacent the other side thereof, a dump car actuator alongside said track sections and oriented relative thereto for engagement with said means intermediate said body and said underframe, said dump car actuator including stabilizer means extending laterally therefrom toward said track sections and positioned for overlying said stabilizer projection extending from said underframe, said actuator comprising an integral portion of one of said track sections and providing a cover member adjacent said one track section, said cover member taking the form of a platform, said platform extending laterally toward said track section at its upper portion and at a height and lateral length to overlie said stabilizer projection extending laterally from said underfrarne and thereby forming said stabilizer means, said actuator including a solenoid operated lever arranged for moving said means intermediate said body and said underframe, said actuator lever being elongated and extending longitudinally adjacent said one track section and below said platform, whereby said dump car may be operated along a comparatively long portion of said actuator.
5. The toy railway system of claim 4, wherein said lever has an end inside of said platform, said end is upstanding, a plunger is connected to said upstanding end and said plunger is movable by the operation of an electrically energized solenoid.
6. A lightweight toy railway dump car operable with a stationary element externally thereof and comprising, an underframe, an open top car body, said car body being hingedly attached to said underframe along one side thereof and movable from a horizontal position to an inclined dump position, means intermediate said underframe and said car body for moving said body to said inclinecl dump position, and car stabilizer means extending from said underframe on the other side thereof and laterally of said ear for engaging the stationary element externally of said car, said open top car body including a hinged side adjacent said underframe on one side, said hinged side being movable from a substantially vertical position closing the side of the car body to an open position laterally of said car body, and means provided on said underframe and engageable with said hinged side of said car body for restraining said side in the substanially vertical position when said body is in the horizontal position and for permitting said hinged side to rotate away from said body when said body is moved to said inclined dump position, said means engageable with said hinged side being an elongated spring member having a bent portion extending laterally outwardly of said underframe adjacent said one side, said spring member having ends journalled at either end of said underframe and providing longitudinally extending pivot means upon which said open top car body is hinged, said hinged side of said car body providing a downwardly protruding portion and said downwardly protruding portion overlies said bent portion of said spring member and is in pressure contact therewith when said body is in said horizontal position, whereby said side is restrained in said substantially vertical position, said protruding portion being guided by said bent portion to become positioned inwardly of said bent portion to permit said side to rotate away from said car body as said body is moved into said inclined dump position, said elongated spring member being normally biased laterally toward the other side of said car and being restrained substantially longitudinally by portions of said underframe extending vertically, and adjustment means provided on said underframe, said adjustment means extending laterally of said car and being movable in the plane of said adjustment spring to dispose said bent portion laterally outwardly and inwardly.
7. A lightweight toy railway dump car operable with a stationary element externally thereof and comprising, an undertrame, an open top car body, said car body being hingedly attached to said underframe along one side thereof and movable from a horizontal position to an inclined dump position, means intermediate said underframe and said car body for moving said body to said inclined dump position, and car stabilizer means extending from said underframe on the other side thereof and laterally of said car for engaging the stationary element externally of said car, said open top car body including a hinged side adjacent said underframe on one side, said hinged side being movable from a substantially vertical position closing the side of the car body to an open position laterally of said car body, and means provided on said underframe and engageable with said hinged side of said car body for restraining said side in the substantially vertical position when said body is in the horizontal position and for permitting said hinged side to rotate away from said body when said body is moved to said inclined dump position, said means engageable with said hinged side being an elongated spring member having a bent portion extending laterally outwardly of said underframe adjacent said one side, said spring member having ends journalled at either end of said underframe and providing longitudinally extending pivot means upon which said open top car body is hinged, said hinged side of said car body providing a downwardly protruding portion and said downwardly protruding portion overlies said bent portion of said spring member and is in pressure contact therewith when said body is in said horizontal position, whereby said side is restrained in said substantially vertical position, said protruding portion being guided by said bent portion to become positioned inwardly of said bent portion to permit said side to rotate away from said car body as said body is moved into said inclined dump position, said elongated spring member being normally biased laterally toward the other side of said car and being restrained substantially longitudinally by portions of said underframe extending vertically, and adjustment means extending laterally of said car and being movable in the plane of said adjustment spring to dispose said bent portion laterally outwardly and inwardly, a lever comprises said means intermediate said underframe and said car body for moving said body to said inclined dump position, and portions extending vertically from and integral with said underfrarne intermediate the ends of said underframe to pivotally mount said lever.
8. In a lightweight toy railway system, a car, stabilizer and actuator elements mounted externally of said car, said car comprising an underframe, a car body mounted on said underframe, means extending laterally past the lateral width of said car body for engaging said stabilizer element externally of said car, means intermediate said underframe and said car body for performing simulated car operating movements and extending laterally for engaging said actuator externally of said car and for being actuated thereby, said means intermediate said underframe and said car body including longitudinally pivoted laterally rotatable lever means, said actuator including vertically rotatable lever means for engagement with said lever means intermediate said underframe and said car body, said stabilizer and actuator elements extending from and forming parts of a simulated trackside plat- 5 form.
References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,226,876 Rexford Dec.31, 1940 10 10 Smith Apr. 28, 1942 Pettit Dec. 15, 1942 McCune Dec. 22, 1953 Flowers Aug. 28, 1956 Bonanno Sept. 29, 1959 Schnaitter et a1. May 10, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS France Ian. 5, 1959 France May 9, 1960

Claims (1)

  1. 8. IN A LIGHTWEIGHT TOY RAILWAY SYSTEM, A CAR, STABILIZER AND ACTUATOR ELEMENTS MOUNTED EXTERNALLY OF SAID CAR, SAID CAR COMPRISING AN UNDERFRAME, A CAR BODY MOUNTED ON SAID UNDERFRAME, MEANS EXTENDING LATERALLY PAST THE LATERAL WIDTH OF SAID CAR BODY FOR ENGAGING SAID STABILIZER ELEMENT EXTERNALLY OF SAID CAR, MEANS INTERMEDIATE SAID UNDERFRAME AND SAID CAR BODY FOR PERFORMING SIMULATED CAR OPERATING MOVEMENTS AND EXTENDING LATERALLY FOR ENGAGING SAID ACTUATOR EXTERNALLY OF SAID CAR AND FOR BEING
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Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3589063A (en) * 1969-09-12 1971-06-29 Child Guidance Toys Inc Motorized shuttle train
US3596400A (en) * 1968-11-06 1971-08-03 Tyco Ind Inc Model railroad freight dumping car assembly
US3931693A (en) * 1975-03-17 1976-01-13 The Quaker Oats Company Dump mechanism for toy truck

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2226875A (en) * 1939-07-08 1940-12-31 Marx & Co Louis Trackside dump mechanism for toy railroads
US2281393A (en) * 1940-04-20 1942-04-28 Lionel Corp Self-unloading toy vehicle
US2305491A (en) * 1939-11-09 1942-12-15 Lionel Corp Toy vehicle
US2663438A (en) * 1951-08-02 1953-12-22 Frederick S Mccune Car dumper
US2760657A (en) * 1954-08-03 1956-08-28 Flowers Henry Fort Dumping mechanism for tiltable car bodies
FR1180990A (en) * 1957-08-09 1959-06-10 Venissieux Atel Installation for unloading sedans, and sedans usable in such an installation
US2906213A (en) * 1956-10-24 1959-09-29 Lionel Corp Railway dump car
US2936085A (en) * 1958-10-02 1960-05-10 Erie Mining Co Coupling head latch mechanism for vehicle dumping apparatus
FR1233776A (en) * 1959-07-21 1960-10-12 Prep Ind Combustibles Extraction plant

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2226875A (en) * 1939-07-08 1940-12-31 Marx & Co Louis Trackside dump mechanism for toy railroads
US2305491A (en) * 1939-11-09 1942-12-15 Lionel Corp Toy vehicle
US2281393A (en) * 1940-04-20 1942-04-28 Lionel Corp Self-unloading toy vehicle
US2663438A (en) * 1951-08-02 1953-12-22 Frederick S Mccune Car dumper
US2760657A (en) * 1954-08-03 1956-08-28 Flowers Henry Fort Dumping mechanism for tiltable car bodies
US2906213A (en) * 1956-10-24 1959-09-29 Lionel Corp Railway dump car
FR1180990A (en) * 1957-08-09 1959-06-10 Venissieux Atel Installation for unloading sedans, and sedans usable in such an installation
US2936085A (en) * 1958-10-02 1960-05-10 Erie Mining Co Coupling head latch mechanism for vehicle dumping apparatus
FR1233776A (en) * 1959-07-21 1960-10-12 Prep Ind Combustibles Extraction plant

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3596400A (en) * 1968-11-06 1971-08-03 Tyco Ind Inc Model railroad freight dumping car assembly
US3589063A (en) * 1969-09-12 1971-06-29 Child Guidance Toys Inc Motorized shuttle train
US3931693A (en) * 1975-03-17 1976-01-13 The Quaker Oats Company Dump mechanism for toy truck

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