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US 4,031,661 AGranted
Miniature vehicle with magnetic enhancement of traction
AssigneeAurora Products Corporation
InventorRobert B. Bernhard
Life of this patent
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AssigneeAurora Products Corporation
InventorRobert B. Bernhard
Estimating the term…
An arrangement for increasing the normal force exerted by an electrically powered miniature vehicle on a track in order to improve the traction of the vehicle's wheels. Flux collectors used in association with permanent magnets mounted along the sides of the vehicle and forming part of the vehicle's electric motor exert an attractive magnetic force on power rails embedded in the track, which force substantially exceeds the force provided by the magnets alone. Each of the flux collectors is made of a sheet of material which is attracted by a magnet and is mounted adjacent to the magnet surface which faces away from the motor armature. Also, each of the flux collectors extends downward to a point in close proximity to one of the power rails and includes a flange extending along at least part of the lower surface of the permanent magnet against which it is mounted.
In a miniature vehicle of the type having a supporting chassis, at least one driving wheel mounted to the chassis, and a pair of electrical pick-up shoes, said driving wheel adapted to engage a track including electric power means therein made of a magnetic material engageable with said pick-up shoes, the combination of:
In a miniature vehicle adapted to ride on a track having electric power means therein made of a magnetic material, said vehicle including a chassis, an electric motor mounted in said chassis having a rotor assembly and a plurality of magnets forming part of the stator assembly therof, at least one driving wheel mounted in said chassis, said at least one driving wheel being operatively coupled to the rotor assembly and arranged to engage said track and a pair of electrical pick-up shoes engageable with said track for energizing said motor;
In a miniature vehicle provided with a supporting chassis and at least one driving wheel secured to an axle rotatably mounted in the chassis, said at least one driving wheel being adapted to engage a track having electric power means therein made of a magnetic material, a pair of electrical pick-up shoes engageable with said electric power means, an electric motor mounted in said chassis for powering said at least one driving wheel, and energized through said electrical pick-up shoes, comprising:
In a miniature electrically powered vehicle of the type having a supporting chassis, a pair of driving wheels mounted to the chassis, and a pair of electrical pick-up shoes, and a track having electric power means therein made of a magnetic material and engageable with said pick-up shoes, the improvement comprising an electric motor mounted in said chassis for powering said driving wheels, including a rotatably mounted drive shaft extending axially along the length of said vehicle and coupled to said driving wheels, an armature coaxially mounted on said drive shaft having a plurality of windings, a pair of magnet assemblies extending axially along the length of said vehicle and mounted in said chassis on opposite sides of said armature, each of said magnet assemblies including a magnet mounted in said chassis forming the stationary magnetic component of said motor, means for coupling said armature to said pick-up shoes for providing electric power to said motor, said magnet assemblies and said electric power means cooperating when said miniature vehicle is on said track to provide a magnetic force holding said vehicle to said track, thereby increasing the traction of said driving wheels on said track.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.