Coupler for model trains

Abstract

An improved coupler for model trains is disclosed that provides for remote control vertical movement of a moveable coupler box. The improved coupler allows cars of a train to be coupled or uncoupled at any location along the track. An NMRA compliant DCC control system located on board a linkable car is used to receive the remote control signal, and a circuit, motor, and linkage are provided to translate function commands into up and down vertical movements of the moveable coupler box. Addressing is provided to control which car of the train is to be decoupled.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A plurality of linkable cars, comprising a mechanism for coupling or decoupling a first linkable car and a second linkable car, said mechanism including a first element on the first linkable car and a second element on the second linkable car, wherein said first element includes a first member and said second element includes a second member, said first member for coupling to said second member, and wherein said first element further comprises an on-board system for providing a vertical movement to said first member for vertically disengaging said first member from said second member for decoupling the first linkable car from the second linkable car, wherein said on-board system is operated by an external signal.  
     
     
         2 . A mechanism as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said on-board system provides that said first linkable car can be decoupled from said second linkable car at any location that said external signal can be received without manual intervention.  
     
     
         3 . A plurality of linkable cars as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said on-board system provides said first member aligned with said second member for coupling and wherein said on-board system provides said first member vertically misaligned with said second member for decoupling.  
     
     
         4 . A plurality of linkable cars as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said first member further comprises a first mounting mechanism, wherein said on-board system provides said first mounting mechanism with said vertical movement.  
     
     
         5 . A plurality of linkable cars as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said on-board system comprises a decoder, a motor and a linkage to provide said vertical movement.  
     
     
         6 . A plurality of linkable cars as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said decoder can decode standard DCC signals.  
     
     
         7 . A plurality of linkable cars as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said on-board system further comprises an additional circuit to provide clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of said motor in response to a command received at said DCC decoder.  
     
     
         8 . A plurality of linkable cars as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said additional circuit comprises a pair of transistors linked to each other to control direction current is provided to said motor.  
     
     
         9 . A plurality of linkable cars as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising resistors to limit current to said motor.  
     
     
         10 . A plurality of linkable cars as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said on-board system further comprises a cam to provide said vertical movement to said linkage from rotation of said motor.  
     
     
         11 . A plurality of linkable cars as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said on-board system further comprises stops to limit movement of said cam.  
     
     
         12 . A plurality of linkable cars as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a mounting device, wherein said first member is mounted on said mounting device and wherein said first member is capable of moving with a vertical component of motion with respect to said mounting device.  
     
     
         13 . A plurality of linkable cars as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said first member is capable of moving vertically on said mounting device.  
     
     
         14 . A plurality of linkable cars as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said mounting device comprises a smooth shaft or a threaded shaft.  
     
     
         15 . A plurality of linkable cars as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said shaft has vertical sidewalls.  
     
     
         16 . A plurality of linkable cars as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said mounting device fits into said first member.  
     
     
         17 . A plurality of linkable cars as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said first member has a knuckle shaped portion and wherein said second member has a knuckle shaped portion.  
     
     
         18 . A plurality of linkable cars as recited in  claim 17 , wherein said knuckle shaped portion pivots horizontally to link with said second member.  
     
     
         19 . A plurality of linkable cars as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said linkable cars are parts of a model railroad train.  
     
     
         20 . A plurality of linkable cars as recited in  claim 19 , further comprising a track, wherein said external signal is provided through said track.  
     
     
         21 . A mechanism for coupling and decoupling a first linkable car and a second linkable car, said mechanism comprising a vertical shaft and a moveable coupler box, said vertical shaft mounted to said first linkable car, said moveable coupler box capable of moving vertically on said vertical shaft.  
     
     
         22 . A mechanism as recited in  claim 21 , further comprising a fixed coupler box mounted on said second linkable car.  
     
     
         23 . A mechanism as recited in  claim 21 , further comprising an on-board system for providing a vertical movement to said moveable coupler box along said vertical shaft, wherein said on-board system is operated by an external signal.  
     
     
         24 . A mechanism as recited in  claim 23 , wherein said on-board system comprises a remote controlled on-board DCC control system.  
     
     
         25 . A mechanism as recited in  claim 23 , wherein said on-board system comprises a motor.  
     
     
         26 . A mechanism as recited in  claim 25 , wherein upward vertical movement is provided by rotation of said motor in a first direction and downward vertical movement is provided by rotation of said motor in a second direction opposite said first direction.  
     
     
         27 . A mechanism as recited in  claim 25 , wherein sufficient vertical movement to disengage said cars is provided by rotation of said motor one half turn.  
     
     
         28 . A mechanism as recited in  claim 21 , wherein said moveable coupler box slideably moves on said vertical shaft.  
     
     
         29 . A plurality of linkable cars that can be decoupled under control of a remote control device that can transmit a control signal, comprising a first linkable car and a second linkable car, a first vertically moveable coupler and an on-board system on said first linkable car, a second coupler on said second linkable car, wherein said on-board system is capable of moving said first moveable coupler vertically out of alignment with said second coupler to provide the decoupling, wherein said on-board system is capable of receiving the control signal transmitted by the remote control device and of moving said first moveable coupler in response to the received control signal.  
     
     
         30 . A plurality of linkable cars as recited in  claim 29 , wherein said on-board system provides that said first linkable car can be decoupled from said second linkable car at any location that said signal can be received.  
     
     
         31 . A plurality of linkable cars as recited in  claim 29 , wherein said on-board system comprises a decoder, a motor and a linkage to provide said vertical movement.  
     
     
         32 . A plurality of linkable cars as recited in  claim 31 , wherein said decoder can decode standard DCC signals.  
     
     
         33 . A plurality of linkable cars as recited in  claim 32 , wherein said on-board system further comprises an additional circuit to provide clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of said motor in response to a command received at said DCC decoder.  
     
     
         34 . A plurality of linkable cars as recited in  claim 33 , wherein said additional circuit comprises a pair of transistors linked to each other to control direction current is provided to said motor.  
     
     
         35 . A plurality of linkable cars as recited in  claim 35 , wherein said additional circuit further comprises resistors to limit current to said motor.  
     
     
         36 . A plurality of linkable cars as recited in  claim 31 , wherein said on-board system further comprises a cam to provide said vertical movement to said linkage from rotation of said motor.  
     
     
         37 . A plurality of linkable cars as recited in  claim 36 , wherein said on-board system further comprises stops to limit movement of said cam.  
     
     
         38 . A plurality of linkable cars as recited in  claim 29 , further comprising a mounting device, wherein said first vertically moveable coupler is mounted on said mounting device and wherein said first vertically moveable coupler is capable of moving with a vertical component of motion with respect to said mounting device.  
     
     
         39 . A plurality of linkable cars as recited in  claim 38 , wherein said mounting device comprises a smooth shaft or a threaded shaft.  
     
     
         40 . A plurality of linkable cars as recited in  claim 39 , wherein said shaft has vertical sidewalls.  
     
     
         41 . A plurality of linkable cars as recited in  claim 39 , wherein said mounting device fits into said first vertically moveable coupler.  
     
     
         42 . A plurality of linkable cars as recited in  claim 29 , wherein said first vertically moveable coupler has a knuckle shaped portion and wherein said second coupler has a knuckle shaped portion.  
     
     
         43 . A plurality of linkable cars as recited in  claim 29 , wherein said first vertically moveable coupler pivots horizontally to link with said second coupler.  
     
     
         44 . A plurality of linkable cars as recited in  claim 29 , wherein said first linkable car and said second linkable car are part of a model railroad train.  
     
     
         45 . A plurality of linkable cars as recited in  claim 44 , further comprising track, wherein said external signal is provided through said track.  
     
     
         46 . A plurality of linkable cars that can be decoupled under control of a remote control device that can transmit a control signal, comprising a first linkable car including an NMRA compliant DCC control system that can receive the control signal, said first linkable car further including a coupler capable of vertical movement, said NMRA compliant DCC control system linked to said coupler for controlling vertical position of said coupler.  
     
     
         47 . A plurality of linkable cars as recited in  claim 46 , wherein said NMRA compliant DCC control system further comprises a circuit to translate NMRA compliant DCC control system function commands into up and down vertical movements of said vertically moveable coupler.  
     
     
         48 . A plurality of linkable cars as recited in  claim 47 , wherein said circuit comprises a motor.  
     
     
         49 . A plurality of linkable cars as recited in  claim 48 , wherein said circuit further comprises elements to provide that said motor operates in a first direction to provide said upward movement and that said motor operates in a direction opposite to said first direction to provide said downward movement to said vertically moveable coupler.  
     
     
         50 . A plurality of linkable cars, comprising a plurality of moveable couplers, each said moveable coupler linked to an on-board system for remotely controlling position of that moveable coupler, wherein each said on-board system includes an address for selecting which of said moveable couplers is to have its position changed to provide for coupling or decoupling.  
     
     
         51 . A train as recited in  claim 50 , wherein each said on-board system comprises an NMRA compliant DCC control system.  
     
     
         52 . A train as recited in  claim 51 , wherein each said on-board system comprises a circuit to translate NMRA compliant DCC control system function commands into a signal usable to provide movement of said moveable coupler.  
     
     
         53 . A train as recited in  claim 51 , wherein said movement comprises a vertical movement.