Directional control device for a model vehicle
AssigneesNgai Keung Metal & Plastic Mfy Ltd., Europlay Holding GmbH
InventorShun Pui Chiu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A steering control mechanism for a model vehicle, e.g. a small toy vehicle, includes an electromagnetic coil wound around the wheel shaft of one of the wheels of the toy vehicle. Adjacent and facing one end of this coil are provided one or more permanent magnets on the vehicle chassis. Current is selectively applied to the coil so as to cause the wheel shaft to rotate either towards one or the other pole of the permanent magnets. The mechanism also includes position sensing means which may provide a feedback control signal to a controller to provide for progressive turning of the wheels and/or to provide automatic centering of the wheels when it is desired for the vehicle to move in a straight line.
Claims9
A steering control mechanism for a model vehicle having first and second wheels mounted on either side of a vehicle chassis, each said wheel being mounted to said chassis through a wheel shaft, and each said wheel shaft being rotatably mounted on said chassis through a shaft support whereby each said wheel shaft may rotate about an axis perpendicular to said shaft, wherein an electromagnetic coil is wound around at least one said wheel shaft on the side of said shaft support that is opposite said wheel, and wherein permanent magnet means are provided on said chassis adjacent said one wheel shaft and arranged such that opposite poles of said permanent magnet means face said electromagnetic coil and are disposed on either side of said wheel shaft when said wheel shaft is in a neutral position corresponding to straight line movement of said vehicle, and control means for selectively applying current to energise said coil.
A model vehicle having first and second wheels mounted on either side of a vehicle chassis, each said wheel being mounted to said chassis through a wheel shaft, and each said wheel shaft being rotatably mounted on said chassis through a shaft support whereby each said wheel may rotate about an axis perpendicular to said shaft, wherein an electromagnetic coil is wound around at least one said wheel shaft on the side of said shaft support that is opposite said wheel and wherein permanent magnet means are provided on said chassis adjacent said one wheel shaft and arranged such that opposite poles of said permanent magnet means face said electromagnetic coil and are disposed on either side of said wheel shaft when said wheel shaft is in a neutral position corresponding to straight line movement of said vehicle, and control means for selectively applying current to energise said coil.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.