Patent GB-607346-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to toy or miniature vehicles
IPC: G05D1/00
Filed: 1946-01-31
Abstract: 607,346. Reciprocating motors. FOOT, V. A. Jan. 31, 1946, No. 3093. [Class 35] [Also in Group XV] A toy or miniature vehicle having steerable wheels operated by remote control comprises one or more electromagnetic devices situated on the vehicle, the supply of current thereto being effected and controlled from a distance through flexible conductors combined into a single lead. Fig. 2 shows the electromagnetic devices mounted in a toy car, driven by the motor 27, current being supplied through the flex 27. The front wheels 10, Fig. 1, are provided with the usual steering gear including stub axles pivoted by king pins 11 to the front axle 12, the stub axles being connected by a trade rod 13. The steering is effected by way of a link 14 connecting one stub axle to a drop arm 15 rigidly secured to a transverse shaft 16. The steering device comprises solenoids 23a and 23b which attract pawl-like engaging devices. 20a and 20b, which are normally held out of contact with the serrated wheel 17 mounted on the shaft 16 by the leaf springs 25. When, however, one of the solenoids, say 23a, is energized, it attracts the engaging device 20a against the leaf spring so that it turns about its pivot 19 until the edge 24 engages the serrated wheel 17. It then carries with it the arm 18a and turns the wheel 17 through a small angle, thus moving the steering gear. The supply of current to the solenoids is controlled by a control switch operated by a steering wheel mounted on the control panel. Beneath the wheel on the panel is a star wheel 47 to which is secured rigidly an indexing wheel 51, all rotatably mounted on a shaft 52. The star wheel is held in position by a leaf spring 53 engaging in a notch 54 of the indexing wheel. The arms 48 of the star wheel are twisted slightly and move over contacts 49a and 49b separated by a layer of insulating material 49c, Fig. 6; if the wheel turns in one direction they take up position 64a, and if in the other position 64b. A disc 55 is attached to the shaft 52 and is connected to the.star wheel by the lugs 57 and 58 of a hair spring 56. These lugs lie between projections 59 and 60 on the star wheel and between projections 61-62 on the disc 55. Movement of the steering wheel on the panel causes the legs of the hair spring to approach each other, movement of the star wheel being prevented by the leaf spring 53. The projection 62 engages the leg 57 and exerts a torque sufficient to lift 53 out of its notch, whereupon the star wheel turns with a snapaction until 53 engages the next notch. Thus a steady rotation of the steering wheel on the panel causes the delivery of a series of impulses to or produces a series of interruptions in the current delivered to one or the other, and hence causes movement of the steering gear. Normally when the car is running current flows through one or other of the solenoids so that the corresponding engaging device 20a or 20b holds the steering gear locked by its engagement with the serrated wheel 17 except when the current is momentarily interrupted by movement of the steering control switch.