Model coupling drive device

Abstract

To provide a magnetic model drive system that can stably operate even very small linked model trains. [Solution] The magnetic model drive device uses a combination of a chain 21 made of a non-magnetic material and a chain 22 made of a magnetic material to form a chain 2 that drives the model. A magnet 42 embedded in the towing vehicle model 41 is attracted to a magnet 23 fixed to the chain made of a non-magnetic material, and a magnet 44 embedded in the dependent vehicle model 43 is attracted to the chain made of a magnetic material, thereby achieving stable running and guidance of the towing model.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for running a model.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, when driving a connected model composed of a plurality of vehicles such as railway vehicles, trailers, and articulated buses by magnets provided under the running roadbed, only the leading vehicle is driven by the magnets, and the subsequent subordinate vehicles are physically connected to the leading vehicle and towed. The guidance of the subordinate vehicles was performed by wheels provided on the subordinate vehicles or by rails. As a typical product for driving a model by magnets, Magnorail is known.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Non-Patent Documents

[0004]

Non-Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] When driving very small model trains using magnets, it becomes difficult to install rotatable wheels on the models, making it impossible to guide the trailing cars by wheels. Even if rotatable wheels can be installed or if guidance is provided by rails, the light weight of the models results in low ground pressure, making it difficult to guide the trailing cars properly due to skidding and derailment. It is possible to solve this problem by driving the second and subsequent cars with magnets in the same way as the lead car, but in that case, it is necessary to precisely adjust the spacing of multiple magnets under the track bed, which makes manufacturing difficult. This invention aims to solve these problems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In this invention, the portion of the drive chain near the magnet is made of a non-magnetic material, and the portion away from the magnet is made of a magnetic material. This allows the magnet of the towing vehicle of the linked model to be attracted to the magnet of the drive chain for driving, and the magnet of the dependent vehicle to be attracted to the magnetic portion of the drive chain for guidance and to increase the ground pressure, thereby solving the aforementioned problem. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] By constructing the area near where the magnets on the drive chain are installed with a non-magnetic material, the magnetic force of the magnets is not shielded, allowing for effective driving of the towing vehicle of a model train that incorporates magnets. Furthermore, by constructing the portion of the drive chain away from the magnets with a magnetic material, the magnets built into the dependent vehicle can be attracted to the magnetic material, thereby enhancing guidance and ground pressure. Since the magnetic force along the length of the chain does not act when the magnetic chain and the magnets built into the dependent vehicle are attracted to each other, precise adjustments required when the dependent vehicle is driven by magnets on the chain in the same way as the towing vehicle are unnecessary. This allows for stable guidance of the dependent vehicle with a simple configuration. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a side view showing a part of one embodiment of the coupling model drive device of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is an isometric view showing one embodiment of the linked model drive device of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The embodiments will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. A magnet 23 is embedded in the center of a chain 21 made of a non-magnetic material, and a drive chain 2 is made by connecting it to a chain 22 made of a magnetic material. In this case, the entire drive chain 2 may be linear, or it may be ring-shaped by connecting the ends. The chain 22 made of a magnetic material may be a chain made of a ferromagnetic metal such as iron or nickel, or a resin chain containing magnetic material powder. A ball chain is preferably used as the type of drive chain 2, but other types of chains such as link chains and roller chains can also be used. This drive chain 2 is installed in a drive chain guide mechanism so that the chain can flow along a specific path. The guide mechanism may be a groove-shaped guide path 32 as shown in Figure 2, a mechanism consisting of pulleys and sprockets, or a combination of both. A drive mechanism is installed in the middle of this guide mechanism so that the chain 2 can be driven along the path of the guide mechanism by power. In this case, various power sources such as manual, spring, and motor can be used. A thin, plate-shaped model track bed 31 made of a magnetic-transmitting material is placed on top of the guide mechanism. Model guide mechanisms such as rails may or may not be provided on the model track bed 31.

[0010] A coupled model 4 consisting of multiple vehicles coupled together is placed on the model track 31 of the coupled model drive device 1 of the present invention, which is configured as described above. Each vehicle in the coupled model 4 has magnets 42 and 44 built into its lower part. The magnet 42 of the towing vehicle model 41 is attracted to the magnet 23 of the drive chain 2 across the model track 31, and the magnet 44 of the dependent vehicle model 43 is attracted to the chain 22 made of magnetic material across the model track 31. In this case, the towing vehicle model 41 may or may not be the leading vehicle. Each vehicle may or may not have wheels that can rotate effectively. The number of dependent vehicles may be one or more. The magnet 23 fixed to the drive chain 2 and the magnets 42 and 44 built into each vehicle are preferably installed with their magnetic poles aligned in the front-to-back direction of the direction of travel in order to align the orientation of the vehicles with the direction of travel. With this configuration, the towing vehicle model 41 can be driven by magnetic force, and the dependent vehicle model 43 can be effectively guided along the drive chain 2 by magnetic force, allowing the entire coupled model 4 to run stably on the model running track 31 along the drive chain 2 using power. [Examples]

[0011] The embodiment will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. A groove-shaped drive chain guide path 32 with a width of 3 mm and a depth of 3 mm is placed beneath the model track bed 31, which is made of a plastic plate with a thickness of approximately 1 mm. A chain drive sprocket 33 driven by a motor, a pusher 34 and a spring 35 for pressing the chain against the sprocket are also arranged, allowing the annular drive chain 2 to circulate within the guide path by the drive of the motor. The drive chain 2 is made by connecting a brass (non-magnetic) ball chain 21 and an iron (magnetic) ball chain 22 with balls of 1.5 mm in diameter in an annular manner. A brass ball chain connector is placed in the center of the brass ball chain, and a cylindrical neodymium magnet 23 with a diameter of 2 mm and a length of 2 mm is fixed inside the ball chain connector. A coupled model 4 consisting of two vehicles coupled to each other is placed on the track bed 31 of this coupled model drive device 1. Small neodymium magnets 42 and 44 were embedded in both vehicles. Magnet 42, installed on the towing vehicle model 41, was attracted to the magnet 23 on the drive chain across the model track 31. Magnet 44, installed on the dependent vehicle model 43, was attracted to the iron ball chain 22 across the model track 31. With the coupling model drive device configured in this way, when the motor was rotated, the rotation of the chain drive sprocket 33 caused the drive chain 2 to move along the drive chain guide path 32, allowing the magnet 42 and the towing vehicle model 41, which were attracted to the magnet 23 fixed to the chain, to run along the drive chain guide path 32 on the model track 31. At the same time, the dependent vehicle model 43, which was coupled to the towing vehicle model 41, was also pulled by the towing vehicle model 41 and could run stably without deviating from the path of the drive chain guide path 32 due to the magnetic force of the magnet 44 attracted to the iron chain 22. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0012] 1. Model coupling drive device 2 Drive chain 21 Non-magnetic chain 22 Magnetic chain 23 Magnets 31 Model track bed 32 Drive chain guide path 33 Chain drive sprocket 34 Pusher 35 Spring 4 Connected model 41 Model of a towing vehicle 42 Magnets 43. Model of auxiliary vehicles 44 Magnets

Claims

1. A coupling model drive device comprising a drive chain connecting a chain made of a magnetic material and a chain made of a non-magnetic material, a magnet installed on the non-magnetic material chain, and a drive mechanism and a guide mechanism for the drive chain located beneath the model track bed, wherein the magnet drives a towing vehicle model containing a magnet placed on the model track bed along the drive chain, and guides a subordinate vehicle model containing a magnet, which is connected to the towing vehicle model, along the drive chain by the chain made of the magnetic material.

2. The coupling model drive device according to claim 1, wherein the chain made of a non-magnetic material and the chain made of a magnetic material are ball chains.

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