Patent Publication Number: US-2021162311-A1

Title: Railway model train for dust collection

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a dust collecting model railroad car for collecting dust on the model railroad track during its running. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Many of model railroad are scale models that reproduce the shapes of real objects based on the scales such as 1/87 (HO-gauge). In addition, with the exception of some large sized models, an external power supplied generally through the rails on the model railroad track is used as motive power of model railroad cars. 
     The model railroad track is constantly exposed to dust in typical environments without dust protection and dust trapped on the model railroad track may lead to model railroad car malfunctions. In addition, dust on the top surface of the rails can lead to poor current collection and sparking on the rails and wheel tread. 
     As a measure for removing dust on a model railroad track, there are, for example, those disclosed in patent literature 1 and non patent literature 1. Patent literature 1 discloses a model railroad car in which a variety of cleaning heads, including centrifugal fan for dust collection, are mounted on a vertically mounted motor shaft. Non patent literature 1 also provides a model railroad car with a centrifugal fan fixed on a vertically oriented motor shaft. 
     CITATION LIST 
     
         
         Patent Document 1: JP 2000-325673 
         Non-Patent Document 1: Catalog by LUX-Modellbau; issued February 2017 [Search performed on Internet on Aug. 31, 2018 (URL) https://www.lux-modellbau.de/cms/upload/downloads/kataloge_flyer_prospekte/Spur_HO.pdf] 
       
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Problem to be Solved by the Invention 
     However, the existing model railroad cars for dust collection have a structure which is uncomfortable as a model, such as a net or filter for dust collection is exposed to a part of the vehicle body. In addition, the length of the centrifugal blower in the direction of the rotation axis is restricted to less than the vehicle body height because it is installed in the vertical direction. 
     Existing model railroad car for dust collection can only install the outlet of the centrifugal fan in one direction which faces the dust collection chamber. 
     On existing model railroad car for dust collection, the upstream centrifugal fan creates a positive pressure in the dust collection chamber, which can cause dust to escape from the dust collection chamber. 
     Existing model railroad car for dust collection requires a powered model railroad car such as a locomotive to be connected, because self-propelling is not possible. Therefore, in order to collect dust to the end of model railroad track, a turnaround may be necessary so that the model railroad car for dust collection first advances into the end. 
     The present invention provides a model railroad car for dust collection having a structure which is harmonized with the other scale model, and wherein a centrifugal blower having a size equal to or larger than the existing model railroad car for dust collection can be installed. 
     Means for Solving the Problem 
     The present invention is characterized in including a dust collection nozzle which is open at the inferior of a vehicle body; a dust collection chamber which is positioned at the middle part of the vehicle body, is in communication with the dust collection nozzle, and is partitioned by a partition wall and a dust collection filter at the front and rear; a centrifugal blower installed horizontally in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, with a dust collection fan which is a centrifugal fan oriented toward the dust collection filter; and an outlet at the periphery of the centrifugal fan; wherein one or more driving bogie(s) as a running gear can be installed. 
     Effects of the Invention 
     According to the present invention, the centrifugal blower can be housed in a vehicle body having a height of about the diameter of the centrifugal fan when installed horizontally, it can be mounted on a model of a work train such as a rail inspection car. In addition, restrictions on the length of the centrifugal blower in the rotational axis direction is also relaxed, therefore, there is an advantage of installing a larger centrifugal blower than in the existing model railroad car for dust collection even in a model of a small car of about 15 m in actual size. 
     In the model railroad car for dust collection of the present invention, since the dust collection chamber is brought to negative pressure by the centrifugal fan installed downstream, there is less risk of dust leaking from the dust collection chamber. The dust collection filter is placed between the dust collection chamber and the centrifugal fan and is not exposed to the exterior of the vehicle, so it will not impair the exterior of the model. 
     In the model railroad car for dust collection of the present invention, the centrifugal blower is installed horizontally, therefore, the outlet can be arbitrarily installed around the centrifugal fan, i.e., at any of four directions of both left and right sides, under the floor, and on the roof. 
     The model railroad car for dust collection of the present invention is self-propelling by mounting a driving bogie as a running gear and can easily collect dust to the end of model railroad track. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an elevational view of an end of the model railroad car for dust collection; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view according to the section line A-A in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view according to the section line B-B in  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the dust collection nozzle  14 . 
     
    
    
     MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Example 1 
     An example of the model railroad car for dust collection of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 4 . 
     Dust on model railroad track  11  is drawn through a dust collection nozzle  14  toward a path  8 , and to a dust collection chamber  6  in communication with the dust collection nozzle  14 . The dust collection chamber  6  is located at the middle part of the vehicle body partitioned by partition wall  15  and dust collection filter  5  at the front and rear. The drawn dust is separated from the air by vacuum filtration through the dust collection filter  5  and centrifugal fan  4 . The residue  12  accumulated in the dust collection chamber  6  can be removed by opening a dust collection chamber lid  7 . In addition, a dust bag may be attached instead of the dust collection filter  5 . 
     The air having passed through the dust collection filter  5  is taken into the centrifugal fan  4 , and the air is discharged from an outlet  3 . The outlet  3  can be arbitrarily installed around the centrifugal fan  4 , i.e., at any of four directions of both left and right sides, under the floor, and on the roof. To the rotational axis of a blower motor  2  for driving the centrifugal fan  4 , it is desirable to install a flywheel  1  to be prepared for power outage. 
     The model railroad car for dust collection is equipped with a driving bogie  16  which is equipped with a drive motor  9 , and a trailing bogie  10  as running gears, so that it can be self-propelling to the end of model railroad track  11 . Incidentally, when connecting the model railroad car for dust collection as a trailer to a powered model railroad car such as a locomotive, the driving bogie  16  is replaced with a trailing bogie, and drive motor  9  is omitted. 
     The dust collection nozzle  14  shown in  FIG. 4  communicates to the dust collection chamber  6  from under the floor and has an opening with a width equal to or greater than the track gauge and equal to or less than the vehicle body width. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
         
         
           
               1  FLYWHEEL 
               2  BLOWER MOTOR 
               3  OUTLET 
               4  CENTRIFUGAL FAN 
               5  DUST COLLECTION FILTER 
               6  DUST COLLECTION CHAMBER 
               7  DUST COLLECTION CHAMBER LID 
               8  PATH 
               9  DRIVE MOTOR 
               10  TRAILING BOGIE 
               11  MODEL RAILROAD TRACK 
               12  RESIDUE 
               13  VEHICLE BODY 
               14  DUST COLLECTION NOZZLE 
               15  PARTITION WALL 
               16  DRIVING BOGIE