Electrical generator or motor structure – Dynamoelectric – Rotary
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-04
2001-04-10
Ramirez, Nestor (Department: 2834)
Electrical generator or motor structure
Dynamoelectric
Rotary
C310S154090, C104S288000, C105S054000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06215220
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to motors for electric railways, and more particularly, to motors for model electric railways.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Model railroad motors are powered by drawing direct current (D.C.) electricity through the rails on which the train runs, the power being conducted through the metal wheels of the model train, onto contacts that touch the metal wheels, and through wires to a small D.C. motor known in the art. The D.C. motor then converts the electric power to rotational energy, which is then transferred by a worm gear or other type of gearing to the wheels of the train motor. The use of a set of gears for transmission of power from the motor to the wheels results in a certain loss in efficiency, ultimately limiting the speed of the train. The use of a worm gear transmission also results in model train engines that characteristically stop abruptly when the power is shut off, rather than coasting to a stop gradually to simulate the action of actual railroad engines braking against substantial momentum.
It is known in the art, as an alternative to model railroad engines with gear transmissions, to provide a direct-drive model railroad engine that uses segmented wheels on the train as “rolling commutators” connected to an armature in between, as is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,536,344 ('344 patent) to Herbert S. Bean. As shown in
FIG. 1
of the '344 patent, essentially reproduced and renumbered herein as
FIG. 1
, such a motor comprises a permanent magnet
10
, a rotatable armature
12
between the poles thereof, and two separate commutators (wheels)
14
and
16
mounted at opposite ends of the armature and adapted to ride upon a pair of rails
17
. Wheels
14
and
16
are divided into a plurality of conductive segments
18
, each segment being insulated from the others, and each electrically connected to a coil of the armature. Segments
18
are rigidly held between two insulating discs
20
and
22
that form part of each wheel
14
and
16
, as shown in FIG.
2
.
Other details of the motor are described in the '344 patent, which is incorporated herein by reference. As is apparent from
FIG. 1
, however, permanent magnet
10
as shown and described in the '344 patent is a standard horseshoe magnet that hangs from a bridge
24
above the motor. This placement of the magnet above the motor makes the assembled train top-heavy, and likely to tip over or derail when negotiating turns quickly. Thus, there is a need in the art for an electric model railway motor that provides the advantages of direct-drive without the top-heaviness inherent in the use of an overhead horseshoe magnet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a motor comprising an axle adapted to rotate about an axis; a wound armature fixed to and concentric with the axis; two segmented wheel commutators fixed on opposite ends of the axle concentric with the axis, a motor casing surrounding and enclosing the armature; and a pair of permanent magnets attached opposite one another on the sides of the casing. Each commutator comprises a plurality of segments insulated from one another. The commutators are adapted to conduct electricity across a set of tracks. The casing further comprises opposite end caps and a cylindrical body concentric with the axis.
The motor may further comprise a bearing aperture in each casing end cap and a first and second bearing, each bearing fixed to and adapted to rotate with the axle concentric with the axis. Each bearing is mounted in a bearing aperture in the casing end cap and has a plurality of wire channels therethrough. Such motor also comprises a plurality of wires, each wire electrically connected between one segment of one wheel commutator and an opposite segment of the opposite wheel commutator. Between said commutators, each wire is disposed through one of said bearing wire channels in said first bearing, across said armature, and through one of said bearing wire channels in said second bearing.
Each wheel may consist essentially of conductive segments separated by nonconductive epoxy, and a non-conductive bushing centered therein and adapted to receive the axle.
REFERENCES:
patent: 500851 (1893-07-01), Case
patent: 1055598 (1913-03-01), Balachowsky et al.
patent: 1862248 (1932-06-01), Wesnigk
patent: 2536344 (1951-01-01), Bean
patent: 3072812 (1963-01-01), Gaddes
patent: 3616761 (1971-11-01), Valls
patent: 3646892 (1972-03-01), Halmai et al.
patent: 3983430 (1976-09-01), Howard
Bean Robert S.
Jones Judson H.
Ramirez Nestor
Ratner & Prestia
LandOfFree
Direct-drive model railroad motor does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Direct-drive model railroad motor, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Direct-drive model railroad motor will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2524689