Smoke generation system for model toy applications
AssigneeM.T.H. Electric Trains
InventorChuck Wells
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A smoke generation system for use in model toys. The system includes a reservoir for holding smoke fluid, a heating element for converting the smoke fluid into smoke, a pump unit for delivering smoke fluid from the reservoir to the heating element, and a controller coupled to the pump unit. The controller functions to govern the operation of the pump unit so as to control the delivery of smoke fluid to the heating element, thereby controlling the density, volume and output rate of the smoke generated by the system.
Claims41
A smoke generation system for use in model toy, said system comprising:
- a reservoir for holding smoke fluid,
- a heating element for converting said smoke fluid into smoke,
- a pump unit for delivering smoke fluid from said reservoir to said heating element, and
- a controller coupled to said pump unit, said controller governing the operation of said pump unit so as to control the delivery of smoke fluid to said heating element, wherein said pump unit comprises:
- a solenoid coupled to said controller, said solenoid being activated by said controller,
- a plunger which is retractable from a first position by a magnetic field generated by said solenoid,
- a lifting cup attached to a first end of said plunger,
- a reed disposed beneath said lifting cup, and
- an o-ring disposed in a cavity formed in a bottom surface of said reservoir,
- wherein said o-ring and said reed form a seal when said plunger is in said first position.
A smoke generation system for use in a model train, said system comprising:
- a reservoir for holding smoke fluid,
- a heating element for converting said smoke fluid into smoke,
- a microprocessor, and
- a pump unit for delivering smoke fluid from said reservoir to said heating element, said pump unit comprising:
- a solenoid coupled to said microprocessor, said solenoid being activated by said microprocessor,
- a plunger which is retractable from a first position by a magnetic field generated by said solenoid,
- a lifting cup attached to a first end of said plunger,
- a reed disposed beneath said lifting cup, and
- an o-ring disposed in a cavity formed in a bottom surface of said reservoir, wherein said microprocessor governs the operation of said pump unit so as to control the delivery of smoke fluid to said heating element.
A smoke generation system for use in model toy, said system comprising:
- a reservoir for holding smoke fluid,
- a heating element for converting said smoke fluid into smoke,
- a pump unit for delivering smoke fluid from said reservoir to said heating element,
- a controller coupled to said pump unit, said controller governing the operation of said pump unit so as to control the delivery of smoke fluid to said heating element, and
- means for monitoring at least one operating condition of a model toy, said controller varying the operation of said pump unit in accordance with variations in said at least one operating condition.
A smoke generation system for use in model toy, said system comprising:
- a reservoir for holding smoke fluid,
- a heating element for converting said smoke fluid into smoke,
- a pump unit for delivering smoke fluid from said reservoir to said heating element,
- a controller coupled to said pump unit, said controller governing the operation of said pump unit so as to control the delivery of smoke fluid to said heating element,
- a smoke corridor for receiving the smoke generated by said heating element,
- a fan disposed in said smoke corridor, said fan operative for dispensing smoke from said smoke corridor, said fan having a variable speed of operation which is controllable by said controller, and
- means for monitoring at least one operating condition of said model toy, said controller varying the operation of at least one of said pump unit and said fan in accordance with variations in said at least one operating condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.