US 4,369,943 A · Model train crossing gate

Abstract

A detector circuit for a model railroad employs two pairs of magnetically-operated relays positioned on either side of a grade crossing along a set of tracks. In addition a single magnetically-operated relay is located at the grade crossing and is given an orientation orthogonal to that of the two pairs of relays. A locomotive of the model railroad is equipped with a first magnet for operating the pairs of relays and at least one car has a second magnet for operating the relay at the grade crossing. A control circuit is connected to the relays such that crossing gates at the grade crossing are lowered, a bell is sounded, and lights are flashed whenever the locomotive magnet passes over the pairs of relays traveling toward the grade crossing. The control circuit also raises the crossing gate and deactivates the bell and flashing lights whenever the car magnet moves over the relay at the grade crossing or the locomotive magnet moves over one of the pairs of relays while traveling away from the grade crossing.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A model railroad having a train with a locomotive and at least one car traveling along tracks provided with a grade crossing, comprising:

a grade crossing magnetically-operated relay positioned beneath the tracks at the grade crossing and having a particular orientation;
two pairs of adjacent approach magnetically-operated relays positioned beneath the tracks at locations remote from the grade crossing, one pair of approach relays being located on one side of the grade crossing and the other being located on the other side of the grade crossing along the longitudinal extent of the tracks, the orientation of the approach relays being orthogonal to that of the crossing relay;
first and second magnets positioned on the train, the first magnet being located in the locomotive and being oriented to operate the approach relays and the second magnet being located in a last car of the train and being oriented to operate the crossing relay;
and
a control circuit for operating the crossing gate so as to lower it whenever the first magnet moves over a pair of approach relays while traveling toward the grade crossing, and raises the gate whenever (i) the second magnet moves over the crossing relay or (ii) the first magnet moves over a pair of approach relays while traveling away from the grade crossing.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Model train crossing gate

Life of this patent

Model train crossing gate

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18