Magnetic core actuator

Abstract

A magnetic core actuator includes a housing, formed of a non-magnetic material, having a generally tubular shape; a coil, which includes a left hand portion and a right hand portion, wherein each portion, when energized, generates a magnetic field wherein the magnetic fields generated by the left hand portion and the right hand portion have like fields facing one another; and a pair of magnetic armatures, including a left hand armature and a right hand armature, retained in said housing, wherein said magnetic armatures are mounted with like poles facing one another within said housing, said magnetic armatures being driven to opposite ends of said housing by their magnetic fields, and said armatures being shifted towards the center of said housing when power is applied to said coil. As used in a model railroad car, a linkage mechanism extends between the magnetic core actuator and a coupler on a model rail road car for shifting the coupler between its coupled condition and its uncoupled condition.

1 . A magnetic core actuator comprising:
 a housing, formed of a non-magnetic material, having a generally tubular shape;   a coil, which includes a left hand portion and a right hand portion, wherein each portion, when energized, generates a magnetic field wherein the magnetic fields generated by the left hand portion and the right hand portion have like fields facing one another;   a pair of magnetic armatures, including a left hand armature and a right hand armature, retained in said housing, wherein said magnetic armatures are mounted with like poles facing one another within said housing, said magnetic armatures being driven to opposite ends of said housing by their magnetic fields, and said armatures being shifted towards the center of said housing when power is applied to said coil.   
   
   
       2 . The magnetic core actuator of  claim 1  wherein each coil portion is wound in an opposite direction about said housing, and wherein a cross-over lead extends between said coil left hand portion and said right hand portion, said coil, when energized, generates a magnetic field from each coil portion, said magnetic fields having opposing poles along the length of said housing. 
   
   
       3 . The magnetic core actuator of  claim 1  wherein said housing includes a pair of coil retainers which retain each coil portion therein. 
   
   
       4 . The magnetic core actuator of  claim 1  which is mounted in a model railroad car and which is connected to a linkage mechanism, a controller and a power supply, for remotely uncoupling the model railroad car from another like model railroad car upon receipt of a signal by said controller. 
   
   
       5 . The magnetic core actuator of  claim 4  which is activated by a signal-receiving mechanism, and which is connected by a linkage mechanism to a self-centering coupler, wherein the coupler is mounted on a model railroad car, and is shiftable between a coupled condition, wherein the coupler engages a coupler on another model railroad car, and an uncoupled condition, wherein said linkage mechanism extends between the magnetic core actuator and the coupler for shifting the coupler between its coupled condition, when the coil is not energized, and its uncoupled condition, when the coil is energized. 
   
   
       6 . The magnetic core actuator of  claim 4  wherein said linkage mechanism includes a connecting arm connected, at one end thereof, to a magnetic core actuator, which connecting arm other end is connected to a coupler knuckle. 
   
   
       7 . The magnetic core actuator of  claim 6  which includes a coupler arm fixed to said coupler knuckle. 
   
   
       8 . The magnetic core actuator of  claim 7  wherein said coupler arm is connected to a coupler trip pin. 
   
   
       9 . The magnetic core actuator of  claim 4  which further includes a power supply for said magnetic core actuator. 
   
   
       10 . The magnetic core actuator of  claim 9  wherein said power supply is carried on-board the rolling stock. 
   
   
       11 . The magnetic core actuator of  claim 9  wherein said power supply comprises power supplied to spaced-apart rails on which the model railroad car rolls, and which includes a pickup mechanism for transferring power from the rails to said magnetic core actuator. 
   
   
       12 . A model railroad remote uncoupling mechanism for use with a signal-receiving mechanism and a self-centering coupler, wherein the coupler is mounted on a model railroad car, and is shiftable between a coupled condition, wherein the coupler engages a coupler on another model railroad car, and an uncoupled condition, comprising:
 a magnetic core actuator which is activated by the signal-receiving mechanism; said magnetic core actuator comprising:
 a housing, formed of a non-magnetic material, having a generally tubular shape; 
 a coil, which includes a left hand portion and a right hand portion, wherein each portion, when energized, generates a magnetic field wherein the magnetic fields generated by the left hand portion and the right hand portion have like fields facing one another; and 
 a pair of magnetic armatures, including a left hand armature and a right hand armature, retained in said housing, wherein said magnetic armatures are mounted with like poles facing one another within said housing, said magnetic armatures being driven to opposite ends of said housing by their magnetic fields, and said armatures being shifted towards the center of said housing when power is applied to said coil; and 
   a linkage mechanism extending between the magnetic core actuator and the coupler for shifting the coupler between its coupled condition and its uncoupled condition.   
   
   
       13 . The magnetic core actuator of  claim 12  wherein each coil portion is wound in an opposite direction about said housing, and wherein a cross-over lead extends between said coil left hand portion and said right hand portion, said coil, when energized, generates a magnetic field from each coil portion, said magnetic fields having opposing poles along the length of said housing. 
   
   
       14 . The uncoupling mechanism of  claim 13  which further includes a power supply for said magnetic core actuator. 
   
   
       15 . The uncoupling mechanism of  claim 12  wherein said power supply is carried on-board the rolling stock. 
   
   
       16 . The uncoupling mechanism of  claim 12  wherein said power supply comprises power supplied to spaced-apart rails on which the model railroad car rolls, and which includes a pickup mechanism for transferring power from the rails to said magnetic core actuator. 
   
   
       17 . The uncoupling mechanism of  claim 12  wherein said linkage mechanism includes a connecting arm connected, at one end thereof, to a magnetic core actuator, which connecting arm other end is connected to a coupler knuckle, which further includes a coupler arm fixed to said coupler knuckle trip pin. 
   
   
       18 . The uncoupling mechanism of  claim 12  which is activated by a signal-receiving mechanism, and which is connected by a linkage mechanism to a self-centering coupler, wherein the coupler is mounted on a model railroad car, and is shiftable between a coupled condition, wherein the coupler engages a coupler on another model railroad car, and an uncoupled condition, wherein said linkage mechanism extends between the magnetic core actuator and the coupler for shifting the coupler between its coupled condition and its uncoupled condition.