Patent US3813812A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3813812A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for operating miniature vehicles
Assignee: CBS Broadcasting Inc
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Filing: 1973-01-31
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Granted: 1974-06-04
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Expires: 1993-01-31
Abstract
Abstract A system for operating electrically propelled miniature vehicles along a roadbed having side-by-side current conductive lanes with substantially flush tread surfaces and for remotely controlling the vehicles in a manner to turn out and pass one another at the will of the operator as the vehicles are transferred freely from one lane to another. The vehicles are driven by reversible propulsion motors mounted on the vehicle bodies for operating a pair of rear driving wheels connected by a rear axle. The motor rotates a threaded shaft extending fore and aft of the vehicle body, with a nut threaded on the shaft and operatively associated with front steering wheels to turn the steering wheels in opposite directions depending on the fore or aft movement of the nut in response to opposite rotational movement of the threaded shaft. The reversible propulsion motor is operatively connected to the rear axle through gear trains having oppositely oriented one-way clutches so that the rear wheels are driven by the propulsion motor regardless of the direction of operation of the motor.
Inventors
- 👤 G Barlow
- 👤 N Kramer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 06:57
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63H; A63H18/00; A63H18/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
260 words
A system for operating electrically propelled miniature vehicles along a predetermined path and for remotely controlling the vehicles in a manner to turn out and pass one another at the will of the operator, said vehicles each including a body provided with at least one surface engaging steering wheel turnable about a generally vertical axis for guiding the direction of movement of the vehicle, steering means to turn said steering wheel to direct the vehicle in predetermined directions, surface engaging driving wheel means on said body, an electrical respOnsive reversible propulsion motor on said body for operating said driving wheel means, first drive means operatively connecting the propulsion motor to the driving wheel means for transmitting power from the motor to the driving wheel means, a roadbed travelled by said vehicles having side-by-side current conductive lanes with substantially flush tread surfaces permitting said vehicles to transfer from one lane to another, current collectors on said vehicles operatively connected to the respective propulsion motors and in conductive contact with either of said lanes, the improvement comprising: second drive means operatively connecting the propulsion motor to said steering wheel for turning the steering wheel in one direction in response to operation of the motor in a given direction and for turning the steering wheel in an opposite direction in response to operation of the motor opposite said given direction; and clutch means operatively connected between said first drive means and the driving wheel means to drive the driving wheel means in the same direction during operation of the motor in either direction.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
260 words
A system for operating electrically propelled miniature vehicles along a predetermined path and for remotely controlling the vehicles in a manner to turn out and pass one another at the will of the operator, said vehicles each including a body provided with at least one surface engaging steering wheel turnable about a generally vertical axis for guiding the direction of movement of the vehicle, steering means to turn said steering wheel to direct the vehicle in predetermined directions, surface engaging driving wheel means on said body, an electrical respOnsive reversible propulsion motor on said body for operating said driving wheel means, first drive means operatively connecting the propulsion motor to the driving wheel means for transmitting power from the motor to the driving wheel means, a roadbed travelled by said vehicles having side-by-side current conductive lanes with substantially flush tread surfaces permitting said vehicles to transfer from one lane to another, current collectors on said vehicles operatively connected to the respective propulsion motors and in conductive contact with either of said lanes, the improvement comprising: second drive means operatively connecting the propulsion motor to said steering wheel for turning the steering wheel in one direction in response to operation of the motor in a given direction and for turning the steering wheel in an opposite direction in response to operation of the motor opposite said given direction; and clutch means operatively connected between said first drive means and the driving wheel means to drive the driving wheel means in the same direction during operation of the motor in either direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said clutch means includes gear trains having oppositely oriented one-way clutches so as to drive said driving wheel means regardless of the direction of operation of said motor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
The invention of claim 1 including circuit means connected to a source of current and to said current conductive lanes and having circuit components operatively associated with said current conductive lanes and said vehicle current collectors so as to permit operators of a pair of vehicles to control the direction of current to the propulsion motor of a respective vehicle independently of the control of the current direction to the motor of the other vehicle.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
194 words
A system for operating miniature vehicles wherein a vehicle comprises: a body provided with at least one surface engaging steering wheel; steering means to turn said steering wheel to direct the vehicle; surface engaging driving wheel means on said body; a reversible propulsion motor for driving said driving wheel means; first drive means operatively connecting the propulsion motor to the driving wheel means for transmitting power from the motor to the driving wheel means; remote control means operatively associated with each of said vehicles to remotely control the operating direction of the motor of a respective vehicle independently of the control of the operating direction of any other vehicle; second drive means operatively connecting the propulsion motor to the steering wheel for turning the steering wheel in one direction in response to operation of the motor in a given direction and for turning the steering wheel in an opposite direction in response to operation of the motor opposite said given direction; and clutch means operatively connected between said first drive means and the driving wheel means to drive the driving wheel means in the same direction during operation of the motor in either direction.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
194 words
A system for operating miniature vehicles wherein a vehicle comprises: a body provided with at least one surface engaging steering wheel; steering means to turn said steering wheel to direct the vehicle; surface engaging driving wheel means on said body; a reversible propulsion motor for driving said driving wheel means; first drive means operatively connecting the propulsion motor to the driving wheel means for transmitting power from the motor to the driving wheel means; remote control means operatively associated with each of said vehicles to remotely control the operating direction of the motor of a respective vehicle independently of the control of the operating direction of any other vehicle; second drive means operatively connecting the propulsion motor to the steering wheel for turning the steering wheel in one direction in response to operation of the motor in a given direction and for turning the steering wheel in an opposite direction in response to operation of the motor opposite said given direction; and clutch means operatively connected between said first drive means and the driving wheel means to drive the driving wheel means in the same direction during operation of the motor in either direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention of claim 4 wherein said clutch means includes gear trains having oppositely oriented one-way clutches so as to drive said driving wheel means regardless of the direction of operation of said motor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
120 words
The invention of claim 4 wherein said system includes a roadbed travelled by said vehicles having side-by-side current conductive lanes with substantially flush tread surfaces permitting said vehicles to transfer from one lane to another, current collectors on said vehicles operatively connected to the respective propulsion motors and in conductive contact with either of said lanes, and circuit means connected to a source of current including the remote control means associated with said current conductive lanes and said vehicle current collectors so as to permit operators of a pair of vehicles to control the direction of current to the propulsion motor of a respective vehicle independentlY of the control of the current direction to the motor of the other vehicle.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
235 words
A system for operating electrically propelled miniature vehicles along a predetermined path and for remotely controlling the vehicles in a manner to turn out and pass one another at the will of the operator, said vehicles each including a body provided with at least one surface engaging steering wheel turnable about a generally vertical axis for guiding the direction of movement of the vehicle, steering means to turn said steering wheel to move the vehicle in predetermined directions, surface engaging driving wheel means on said body, an electrical responsive reversible propulsion motor on said body for operating said driving wheel means, and drive means operatively connecting the propulsion motor to the driving wheel means for transmitting power from the motor to the driving wheel means, the improvement in said steering means comprising: second drive means connecting the propulsion motor to said steering wheel for turning the steering wheel in one direction in response to operation of the motor in a given direction and for turning the steering wheel in an opposite direction in response to operation of the motor opposite said given direction, and a cross brace pivotally mounted on said body and connected to said steering wheel to turn the steering wheel in response to pivotal movement of the cross brace, wherein said connecting means effects opposite pivotal movements of the cross brace in response to opposite directions of operation of the propulsion motor.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
235 words
A system for operating electrically propelled miniature vehicles along a predetermined path and for remotely controlling the vehicles in a manner to turn out and pass one another at the will of the operator, said vehicles each including a body provided with at least one surface engaging steering wheel turnable about a generally vertical axis for guiding the direction of movement of the vehicle, steering means to turn said steering wheel to move the vehicle in predetermined directions, surface engaging driving wheel means on said body, an electrical responsive reversible propulsion motor on said body for operating said driving wheel means, and drive means operatively connecting the propulsion motor to the driving wheel means for transmitting power from the motor to the driving wheel means, the improvement in said steering means comprising: second drive means connecting the propulsion motor to said steering wheel for turning the steering wheel in one direction in response to operation of the motor in a given direction and for turning the steering wheel in an opposite direction in response to operation of the motor opposite said given direction, and a cross brace pivotally mounted on said body and connected to said steering wheel to turn the steering wheel in response to pivotal movement of the cross brace, wherein said connecting means effects opposite pivotal movements of the cross brace in response to opposite directions of operation of the propulsion motor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
The invention of claim 7 wherein said connecting means comprises an elongated threaded shaft extending fore and aft of the vehicle and rotated by said propulsion motor, and coupling means for effecting opposite pivotal movements of the cross brace in response to opposite rotational movement of said threaded shaft.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
60 words
The invention of claim 8 wherein said coupling means includes a nut threaded on said shaft for fore and aft movement in response to rotational movement of said shaft, and a connector block movably mounted on said body and operatively connected to said nut to pivotally move said cross brace in response to fore and aft movement of said nut.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The invention of claim 9 wherein said nut and connector block are connected by cam and cam follower means in the form of a follower pin on one of the nuts and the connector block received in a cam slot on the other.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
The invention of claim 10 wherein said connector block is pivoted on said body and is connected to said cross brace by a pin and slot connection to provide for lost motion to pivot the cross brace in response to pivotal movement of the connector block.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-03 | 1977-12-03 | 1978-06-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-03 | 1981-12-03 | 1982-06-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-03 | 1985-12-03 | 1986-06-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |