Device to identify vehicles of a model railroad train set by means of remotely controllable coupling pairs

Abstract

In order to create a system in the case of a model railway train which is composed of locomotives and wagons via remotely controllable coupling pairs by means of which, for remote control capability purposes, the sequence of the individual vehicles in the train as well as the location of a wagon in front of or behind a driving locomotive can be identified automatically, the invention proposes that a decoder be arranged in all the vehicles in the train, that these be connected to one another by a data bus, and that the capability be provided to subdivide the latter into two group areas, specifically into a group which is located in front of and a group which is located behind the locomotive, with the coupling pairs for pulling even long trains being stable, and being composed of an active coupling part and a corresponding mating coupling, each having a train hook in the form of a two-armed rocker lever.

1 - 24 . (canceled) 
   
   
       25 . A device for identification of vehicles in a model railway train set composed of locomotives and cars via remotely controllable coupling pairs for remote control in combination with the train set, wherein a decoder is arranged in each vehicle and power and data are transmitted via the train coupling pairs, comprising:
 a data bus connecting all vehicles and their decoders with each other, is divided into two groups by a resistor and a switchable electronic load installed in the locomotive decoder, a first group of vehicles located ahead of the locomotive and a second group of vehicles located behind the locomotive,   the data bus including a voltage metering in each vehicle of the train set to permit all decoders within the train set to measure a voltage from the locomotive decoder, the decoders of those coupled cars that are located on a side following the resistor measuring a voltage that is decreased by an amount of a voltage drop at the resistor in comparison to the decoders of those coupled cars that are located on a side prior to the resistor, wherein the groups with the higher and the lower voltage value correlate with the decoders and vehicles that are coupled in on either side of the locomotive.   
   
   
       26 . The device according to  claim 25 , wherein each coupling pair comprises an electronic resistor, voltage drop values at the electronic resistors of each coupling pair in the data bus determine the succession of the vehicles within a group of the train set. 
   
   
       27 . The device according to  claim 25 , wherein each vehicle decoder has a unique electronic address and wherein the voltage drop values can be transferred together with the unique address of the respective vehicle decoder, so that the position of all vehicles can be identified. 
   
   
       28 . The device according to  claim 26 , wherein each vehicle decoder has a unique electronic address and wherein the voltage drop values can be transferred together with the unique address of the respective vehicle decoder, so that the position of all vehicles can be identified. 
   
   
       29 . The device according to  claim 25 , wherein each decoder includes a device that can interrupt the current flow to the next decoder permitting the vehicles' succession to be determined since, due to the opening of the bus connection, a data package from the locomotive will only be transferred to that decoder which has initiated the current flow's interruption. 
   
   
       30 . The device according to  claim 25 , wherein the coupling pairs are controlled remotely via a control center, each coupling pair comprising a first coupling part and an identical second coupling part that is rotated 180° from the first coupling part, the coupling parts each having a coupling hook that is a two armed lever which can be rotated around a hinge and has an angled latch that will snap into a notch of the opposite coupling part when the coupling hook is closed. 
   
   
       31 . The device according to  claim 26 , wherein the coupling pairs are controlled remotely via a control center, each coupling pair comprising a first coupling part and an identical second coupling part that is rotated 180° from the first coupling part, the coupling parts each having a coupling hook that is a two armed lever which can be rotated around a hinge and has an angled latch that will snap into a notch of the opposite coupling part when the coupling hook is closed. 
   
   
       32 . The device according to  claim 27 , wherein the coupling pairs are controlled remotely via a control center, each coupling pair comprising a first coupling part and an identical second coupling part that is rotated 180° from the first coupling part, the coupling parts each having a coupling hook that is a two armed lever which can be rotated around a hinge and has an angled latch that will snap into a notch of the opposite coupling part when the coupling hook is closed. 
   
   
       33 . The device according to  claim 29 , wherein the coupling pairs are controlled remotely via a control center, each coupling pair comprising a first coupling part and an identical second coupling part that is rotated 180° from the first coupling part, the coupling parts each having a coupling hook that is a two armed lever which can be rotated around a hinge and has an angled latch that will snap into a notch of the opposite coupling part when the coupling hook is closed. 
   
   
       34 . The device according to  claim 30 , wherein the active coupling part possesses a pressure spring that engages at the rotatable two armed coupling hook that is located on the opposite side of the angled latch and that keeps the coupling hook in a locked position. 
   
   
       35 . The device according to  claim 30 , wherein the active coupling part includes an electronically triggered lift magnet, such that when the lift magnet is triggered electronically, a lifting element will be extended that will hook onto the two armed coupling hook, swivel out and thus release the coupling pair. 
   
   
       36 . The device according to  claim 34 , wherein the active coupling part includes an electronically triggered lift magnet, such that when the lift magnet is triggered electronically, a lifting element will be extended that will hook onto the two armed coupling hook, swivel out and thus release the coupling pair. 
   
   
       37 . The device according to  claim 30 , wherein the latch of the coupling hook is angled slightly greater than 90° from a longitudinal direction of the coupling hook. 
   
   
       38 . The device according to  claim 34 , wherein the latch of the coupling hook is angled slightly greater than 90° from a longitudinal direction of the coupling hook. 
   
   
       39 . The device according to  claim 35 , wherein the latch of the coupling hook is angled slightly greater than 90° from a longitudinal direction of the coupling hook.