Self-propelled toy vehicle having an auxiliary water jet propulsion system

Abstract

A toy vehicle designed to run on land is powered, at least in part, by a water jet. If the water jet propulsion system is auxiliary to a main propulsion system, the main propulsion system may be a compressed air piston engine, in which case pressurization of the air supply for the piston engine and pressurization of the water tank that supplies the water jet may advantageously be achieved by using a common hand pump, and the waterjet propulsion system as well as a sound effects system may be linked to the motor drive shaft to achieve simultaneous actuation of the motor, the water jet, and corresponding sound effects.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A toy vehicle, comprising: 
 a compressed air motor arranged to provide a main motive force by driving at least one wheel of the vehicle to move the vehicle in a first direction; and    an auxiliary water jet propulsion system arranged to direct a water jet in a direction opposite the first direction.    
     
     
         2 . A toy vehicle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary propulsion system comprises: 
 a water tank;    a water tank pressurization subsystem for supplying air to the water tank in order to pressurize the water tank;    a nozzle arranged to direct a jet of water in a rearward direction to thereby cause said vehicle to move in a forward direction;    a valve connected between the air inlet and the nozzle, 
 wherein when said valve is closed, water is prevented from being supplied to said nozzle, and  
 wherein when said valve is open, water is supplied under pressure from said water tank to said nozzle; and  
   a valve actuator lever arranged to open said valve in response to move of said vehicle.    
     
     
         3 . A toy vehicle as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said valve actuator lever is mounted on a chassis of the toy vehicle, and said toy vehicle further comprises a release lever arranged to retain said valve actuator lever in a valve-closure position, at least two wheels connected by an axle, a cam arranged to cause said release lever to disengage from said valve actuator lever is response to movement of said axle, causing said valve actuator lever to move to a valve-opening position upon movement of said axle and release by said release lever.  
     
     
         4 . A toy vehicle as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said water tank pressurization subsystem is a hand pump, and wherein said hand pump includes an extension arranged to return said valve actuator lever to said valve-closure position upon operation of said hand pump.  
     
     
         5 . A toy vehicle as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said water tank pressurization subsystem is a hand pump.  
     
     
         6 . A toy vehicle as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said water tank pressurization subsystem is further arranged to supply air under pressure to an air tank, said air tank being arranged to supply pressurized air to said compressed air motor.  
     
     
         7 . A toy vehicle as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said water tank pressurization subsystem includes a hand pump.  
     
     
         8 . A propulsion system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said compressed air motor is a compressed air piston engine.  
     
     
         9 . A toy vehicle as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said compressed air piston engine comprises: 
 an intake valve connected to a source of pressurized air;    an air cylinder connected to receive pressurized air from said source through said intake valve when said intake valve is in an open position;    a piston within said air cylinder;    a connecting rod extending from said piston;    a crank connected to the connecting arm;    a shaft connected to and rotatable with said crank;    a cam connected to and rotatable with said shaft;    a cam follower pin engaged with said cam and connected to said intake valve,    wherein when said valve is in an open position, pressurized air is supplied to said cylinder to cause said piston to move, movement of said piston causing said connecting rod to rotate said crank, rotation of said crank causing rotation of said shaft and said cam, rotation of said cam causing said valve to move to a closed position,    wherein said shaft is further connected to a drive gear arranged to cause rotation of at least one wheel of said vehicle in response to turning of said shaft to thereby move said vehicle, and    wherein movement of said vehicle causes further rotation of said shaft to return to said piston to said first position and re-open said intake valve.    
     
     
         10 . A toy vehicle as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said drive axle engages a second cam arranged to open a water jet outlet valve in said water propulsion system.  
     
     
         11 . A toy vehicle as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said intake valve and said air cylinder are separate structures connected by a first air hose.  
     
     
         12 . A toy vehicle as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said intake valve is a check valve positioned in a passage having an inlet connected to a second air hose, said second air hose being connected to an air tank, and an outlet connected to said first air hose.  
     
     
         13 . A toy vehicle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said air motor and said water jet propulsion system are arranged to be started simultaneously.  
     
     
         14 . A toy vehicle as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said air motor and said water jet propulsion system are arranged to be started upon manual pushing of said vehicle.  
     
     
         15 . A toy vehicle as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said manual pushing of said vehicle causes an intake valve of said air motor and an outlet valve of said water jet propulsion system to open.  
     
     
         16 . A toy vehicle as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a sound module having a switch arranged to be actuated upon pressing down on a part resembling an engine projecting through a hood of the vehicle.  
     
     
         17 . A propulsion system for a toy vehicle, comprising: 
 a water tank;    a water tank pressurization subsystem for supplying air to the water tank in order to pressurize the water tank;    a nozzle arranged to direct ajet of water in a rearward direction to thereby cause said vehicle to move in a forward direction;    a valve connected between the air inlet and the nozzle, 
 wherein when said valve is closed, water is prevented from being supplied to said nozzle, and  
 wherein when said valve is open, water is supplied under pressure from said water tank to said nozzle; and  
   a valve actuator lever arranged to open said valve in response to move of said vehicle.    
     
     
         18 . A propulsion system as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said valve actuator lever is mounted on a chassis of the toy vehicle, and said toy vehicle further comprises a release lever arranged to retain said valve actuator lever in a valve-closure position, at least two wheels connected by an axle, a cam arranged to cause said release lever to disengage from said valve actuator lever in response to movement of said axle, to cause said valve actuator lever to move to a valve-opening position upon movement of said axle and release by said release lever.  
     
     
         19 . A propulsion system as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said water tank pressurization subsystem is a hand pump, and wherein said hand pump includes an extension arranged to return said valve actuator lever to said valve-closure position upon operation of said hand pump.  
     
     
         20 . A propulsion system as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said water tank pressurization subsystem is a hand pump.  
     
     
         21 . A propulsion system as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising a compressed air motor arranged to provide a main motive force for moving said vehicle, said jet of water providing an auxiliary motive force.  
     
     
         22 . A propulsion system as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said water tank pressurization subsystem is further arranged to supply air under pressure to an air tank, said air tank being arranged to supply pressurized air to said compressed air motor.  
     
     
         23 . A propulsion system as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein said water tank pressurization subsystem includes a hand pump.  
     
     
         24 . A propulsion system as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said compressed air motor is a compressed air piston engine.  
     
     
         25 . A compressed air piston engine, comprising: 
 an intake valve connected to a source of pressurized air;    an air cylinder connected to receive pressurized air from said source through said intake valve when said intake valve is in an open position;    a piston within said air cylinder;    a connecting rod extending from said piston;    a crank connected to the connecting arm;    a shaft connected to and rotatable with said crank;    a cam connected to and rotatable with said shaft;    a cam follower pin engaged with said cam and connected to said intake valve, wherein when said valve is in an open position, pressurized air is supplied to said cylinder to cause said piston to move, movement of said piston causing said connecting rod to rotate said crank, rotation of said crank causing rotation of said shaft and said cam, rotation of said cam causing said valve to move to a closed position,    wherein said shaft is -further connected to a drive gear arranged to cause rotation of at least one wheel of said vehicle in response to turning of said shaft to thereby move said vehicle, and    wherein movement of said vehicle causes further rotation of said shaft to return to said piston to said first position and re-open said intake valve.    
     
     
         26 . A toy vehicle as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein said intake valve and said air cylinder are separate structures connected by a first air hose.  
     
     
         27 . A toy vehicle as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein said intake valve is a check valve positioned in a passage having an inlet connected to a second air hose, said second air hose being connected to an air tank, and an outlet connected to said first air hose.