447results about "Model railways" patented technology

An information system and method provides information to an operator of a motor vehicle. A destination location and a current position of the motor vehicle are established. A planned route is established as a function of the destination location and the current position, and at least one required parameter of the vehicle.

A display case that includes a body having a first end and a second end and a cavity extending through the body from the first end to the second end, the cavity configured to receive at least one display item therein, such as a model train, and a pair of end caps attached to respective ends of the body and each include an attachment device to removably couple the display case to adjoining display cases. The display cases have different lengths and are attachable to any one of the other display cases. An elevator system is provided having at least one elevator device configured to move display cases. The display system is operable between an expanded state and a collapsed state. The display system has a track attached to distal ends of at least three members. The track and members are collectively collapsible between the expanded and collapsed states.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a gas barrier film improved in gas barrier characteristics by decreasing the adsorbent of the surface of a gas barrier layer to water and the like. The present invention attains the above object by providing a gas barrier film comprising a substrate, a gas barrier layer which is a vacuum deposition film, formed on one surface or both surfaces of the above substrate, and a water-repellent layer which is a film having water repellency, formed on the above gas barrier layer.

A model train and layout control system based on on-board sound and locomotive modules, new signaling methods, bi-directional communication, environmental sound, turnout control, train location methods, computer interaction and accessory control, by adding components to existing technology. AC power signal waveforms are variously altered to convey digital command words.

New techniques are presented for detection methods employed in the control, automation and operation of scale Model railroad layouts that permit new types of capabilities to be incorporated into the railroad. The invention allows reliable detection of transponder devices on a model railroad layout using conveniently low values of transponder current pulses. Processing of the detected current pulse timing and direction characteristics and then comparing these with the expected or reference current direction for the layout section allows us to reject echo pulses caused by common impedances in the layout wiring. This method overcomes the pulse echoes that have caused the failure of previous attempts to reduce this technology to practice. Allowing additional acknowledgment pulses synchronized to any transponder address sent can further enhance Transponding technology. This provides extra communication capabilities that are not limited by the rate or timing of addresses sent to any particular transponder device.

A sensor node configured to acquire sensor data on one or more properties of a railroad environment, wirelessly transmit data related to the property(ies), and generate sufficient power to operate the sensor node without access to any additional power sources is provided. The sensor node can be deployed as part of a group of sensor nodes, which provide data for use by a railroad system in monitoring and / or controlling the railroad environment. In this manner, various properties of the railroad environment can be monitored without requiring significant wiring to the various sensor nodes.

A model train accessory controller is connectable to a DC power pack having a throttle to apply a power signal to a set of train tracks. The controller includes a switching device, which is in electrical communication with the power pack and the train tracks, to reverse a polarity of the power signal on the train tracks. The controller includes an input, and a processor in electrical communication with the switching device. The processor receives a command from the input to produce, by control of the switching device, a digital command having a series of sequential reversals in the polarity of the power signal.

Embodiments of the invention relate to interactive toys. In one embodiment, the interactive toy includes a housing, and a receiving region on the housing. A detection device including a plurality of detectors is in the receiving region. A processor operatively coupled to the detection device. A solid object is received in the receiving region. The toy could be a toy electronic train, or an interactive book.

The invention discloses a spiral line cable detecting robot which consists of a cart, an upper and a lower supporting hugging devices symmetrically distributed along the cable which are connected together. The robot is characterized in that the active cart is provided with a climbing device and a magnetic absorbing device; two supporting horizontal levers are provided with hugging devices; the climbing device includes a lithium battery fixed in the cart and a DC motor fixed on one side of the driving wheel in the cart; power of the DC motor is supplied by the lithium battery, and the DC motor drives the driving wheel of the cart to rotate by a drive axle, so as to drive the whole robot to spirally climb along a water transmission line of the cable; the hugging devices and the magnetic absorbing device work together to tightly press the driving wheel onto the surface of the cable. The climbing device can rotate for any degree relative to the cart, so as to adapt to the water transmission line with different thread pitch; power supply by the lithium battery is more suitable for the environment of high-altitude operation; the robot is also provided with a descending device, which is safer and more reliable in use. The invention has simple and reasonable structure, is convenient in maintenance, can have high climbing speed, is applicable in detection of the spiral line cable of large cable-stayed bridges as well as lamps and other rod types.

A local area network based control system for model railroad layout control that may be readily modified, upgraded, dynamically reconfigured or expanded with minimum physical or functional interruption to the operation of the model railroad layout. This allows for the expansion and improvements to the layout control system to be effected with least effort, time and risk of failure.

An energy converting system is comprised of a track, a controller, and a magnetized body located on the track and including an energy converting unit. The track comprises electrically connected coil windings spaced apart in a series way along the track to form a 3-phase linear stator. The controller is electrically connected with the linear stator and generates a combination waveform consisting of a multi-phase propulsion signal and a power signal. The propulsion and power signals are at different frequencies. The propulsion signal causes the interaction of the magnetized body with the linear stator, thus propelling the magnetized body along the track. The energy converting unit comprises electrically connected energy consuming means and at least one pick-up coil inductively coupled to the linear stator, thus providing power to the energy consuming means.

A third rail power insulating system, comprising an insulator assembly and a cover board assembly. The insulator assembly comprises pedestal supporting insulators that are mounted onto a contact rail assembly. The insulator assembly further comprises an insulator anchor bolt assembly, a base shim plate, a bolt assembly, a lubricating shim, and retaining clips. The cover board assembly is also mounted onto the contact rail assembly and it comprises a support bracket assembly, retaining clips, a side cover board, and a top cover board. The support bracket assembly has a general C-shape and comprises a lateral wall, a top wall, a base wall, and a protrusion. The side cover board comprises an elongated plate having at least one hole, and the top cover board comprises an elongated plate having sufficient curvature to contour the support bracket assembly.

A multi-purpose surface covering for interactive play and display is disclosed. The play or display environment, or surfacescape, is created by the user by combining the various components of the invention. The components interact so that they may be scaled to various sizes for use on floors, walls, table or counter tops, or other surfaces, and can be assembled outward as well as upward for play or display in multi-dimensional settings. As a play environment, it provides a set of easily interchangeable components that allow an unlimited number of colors, textures, shapes, and articles to be incorporated into the system. When displayed horizontally or vertically, this invention provides the capacity for interchangeable display of inserts, which may include but is not limited to artwork, advertising indicia, educational material (numbers, letters, etc.), instructional information, notices, or an infinite number of other materials which can be readily and changeably viewed.

The invention relates to a system for supplying very low voltage electrical energy for at least one electric traction vehicle (30) running on a track (20), and comprising: at least one very low voltage electric power system (10) installed directly next to the track (20); two parallel power supply rails (41, 42) or the like, that are adjacent or distant, a first rail (41) being connected to a terminal (11) of said power supply means (10) and the second rail (42) being connected to another terminal (12) of said power supply means (10); at least one onboard means for storing electrical energy (60) in the vehicle; and at least one onboard power supply means (80) that is joined to the means for collecting electrical energy (51, 52), and is connected both to the storage means (60) and the traction chain (70), such that the very low voltage power supply means (10) feeds the onboard power supply means (80) which, in turn, feeds the storage means (60) so that it stores electrical energy, to its full capacity, in the successive rolling phases.

The invention includes compositions containing one or more alpha -sulfofatty acid esters, and methods for making and using the same. At least one alpha -sulfofatty acid ester is included in an inner portion. The invented composition can further include an outer portion which protects the alpha -sulfofatty acid ester from di-salt formation. The resulting composition improves the stability of the alpha -sulfofatty acid ester after manufacture, during shipping and storage, and in detergents. The invention further included detergents containing the invented composition, and methods of making such detergents.

New techniques are presented for detection methods employed in the control, automation and operation of scale Model railroad layouts that permit new types of capabilities to be incorporated into the railroad. The invention allows for the lowering of the cost of detection electronics by employing a redundant encoding of information in the transponder responses that are then used for detecting transponder location on the layout by using current sensors. The use of a complementary multiplex arrangement and algorithm allows a reduction in the detection electronics by virtue of the fact that most the conditioning electronics can be supplied in a single instance that is shared amongst the multiplexed current sensors.

A method and an arrangement for the accurate, realistic automatic or semiautomatic control of track-guided toys, in particular electrically operated model railways and trains. Type- and / or geometry-specifying memory components, readable by non-contact, are disposed at or in each track, track piece, buffer, signal and / or switch that is to be included in the structure, such that each memory component and hence each track in addition exhibits an identification code that is not repeated within the series of such codes. Furthermore the rolling stock, preferably the locomotives, are equipped with a memory-reading device as well as a data-transmission device for revertive communication. After a first trip around the route, an electronic representation of the route configuration is available and can be preserved in a central memory. During subsequent trips around the route, the momentary position on the roadway or of the train is determined by reading memory components and revertive signalling to the central memory or a central control system, such that on the basis of prespecifiable tasks associated with operation of the railway, taking into account the route and velocity information as well as special functions, one or more machines are independently monitored and controlled.

A racing play set for toy vehicles includes a first track segment, a second track segment disposed in intersection with the first track segment, a return portion disposed in communication with the first and second track portions, and a scoring mechanism, where the return portion is configured to be shared by toy vehicles traveling on the first and second track segments, where the return portion is configured to receive a first toy vehicle from the first track segment and return the first vehicle to the first track segment, where the return portion is configured to receive a second toy vehicle from the second track segment and return the second vehicle to the second track segment, where the scoring mechanism is configured to record a pass of the first vehicle through the return portion and a pass of the second vehicle through the return portion.

A switching electromagnetic moving system is comprised of at least one track and at least one moving body located on the track. The track is comprised of a power buss, at least two track sections and a controller. Each track section has a contact surface and comprises electrically connected coil windings spaced apart in a series way to form a multi-phase linear stator. Each track section has a switch and at least one sensor to detect the position of the moving body on the track. For each track section the sensor of the preceding track section relative to the direction of travel of the moving body controls the switch to power on and the sensor of the subsequent track section controls the switch to power off.

A wireless system uses a direct UHF radio frequency (RF) signal to control electric trains and train accessories. A controller, such as a handheld unit used by the toy train operator, accepts control commands and transmits encoded control data over a high frequency radio link directly to a receiver, on the toy train or train accessory, which decodes the commands and controls the toy train or toy train accessory functions with either unidirectional or bidirectional communication between the controller and the model train or train accessory. One controller has the ability to control many trains and other model train layout components such as signals and track switches even while other train operators are operating their trains on the same electric train track layout.

A single main steel wheel rides on a single main steel rail of a guideway to support and drive a carrier and to facilitate steering and provide a simplified, more compact and less costly construction. The carrier can support a car through a platform having elements and chocks for locking contact with a front bumper and front wheels of the car Auxiliary wheels and rails cooperate to cause nearly all weight to be carried through the single main wheel. Traction is increased when necessary through application of increased upward forces to undersides of auxiliary rails and / or through developing magnetic forces between the steel wheel and steel rail. An AC induction motor is a main source of drive power. Acceleration and braking are assisted through epicyclic gearing, braking means and a DC motor / generator that is connected to a battery and that drives the carrier if supply of AC fails.

The present invention discloses a system and method for recognizing objects placed together using capacitance sensors in conjunction with the RFID technology. A structure that is made with a material of high dielectric constant and a RFID tag that comprises a unique identification code (UID) of an object is embedded with the object. With the objects recognized, the spatial structure or the spatial distribution formed by them is derived and corresponding sensory feedbacks are provided by the system.

An improved maintenance, inspection, and / or measurement solution is provided. An embodiment of the invention includes a handheld measurement device for measuring an object, such as a railway wheel on a train. The handheld measurement device can comprise a single unit to provide one handed operation and can include various features, such as onboard evaluation, a graphical user interface, and / or a self-health monitor. Additionally, aspects of the invention provide an inspection environment that incorporates preliminary measurement data, wireless communications, and / or historical data into the measurement and evaluation process.

The present invention provides a video-captured model vehicle simulator including at least one model vehicle, a track layout, at least one video imaging unit, at least one computer, at least one input device and / or control system and a customised software application whereby the simulator provides a user with a realistic simulation of the operation of a vehicle.

A system which operates a digitally controlled model railroad transmitting a first command from a first client program to a resident external controlling interface through a first communications transport. A second command is transmitted from a second client program to the resident external controlling interface through a second communications transport. The first command and the second command are received by the resident external controlling interface which queues the first and second commands. The resident external controlling interface sends third and fourth commands representative of the first and second commands, respectively, to a digital command station for execution on the digitally controlled model railroad.

A system which operates a digitally controlled model railroad transmitting a first command from a first client program to a resident external controlling interface through a first communications transport. A second command is transmitted from a second client program to the resident external controlling interface through a second communications transport. The first command and the second command are received by the resident external controlling interface which queues the first and second commands. The resident external controlling interface sends third and fourth commands representative of the first and second commands, respectively, to a digital command station for execution on the digitally controlled model railroad.