Magnetically actuated model railroad coupler

Abstract

A model railroad car coupler assembly comprises a coupler with an upper shank having a coupler knuckle at a distal portion and a flat proximal portion, a lower shank having a coupler thumb at a distal portion and a flat proximal portion, and a coil spring terminating in first and second end portions, with a first turn of the coupler spring interlocked with the upper shank and a second turn interlocked with the lower shank. A mounting box has a circular mounting post that accepts circular openings in the shanks permitting them to rotate relative to each other between a closed coupled position and an open uncoupling position. The spring end portions engage the mounting box to bias the shanks into their coupled position. The knuckle carries a ferrous actuating pin that cooperates with a magnetic pad along a track to rotate the upper shank into its open position.

1 . A coupler for a model railroad car, the coupler comprising:
 a first shank comprising a distal portion with a first coupler member and a proximal portion with a mounting arrangement for mounting said first shank to the railroad car for rotation about an axis generally transverse to the direction of travel of the model railroad car along a track provided therefor;   a second shank comprising a distal portion with a second coupler member and a proximal portion with a mounting arrangement for mounting said second shank to the railroad car for rotation about an axis generally transverse to the direction of travel of the railroad car along the track, wherein said first and second shanks are rotatable relative to each other about an axis transverse to the direction of travel of the model railroad car along the track, said first and second shanks being rotatable between a closed position in which said coupler members cooperate with a coupler on another model railroad car to couple the railroad cars together and an open position in which said coupler members permit the railroad cars to separate; and   a coil spring with an axis generally parallel to the axes of rotation of said first and second shanks and having a first turn interlocked with said first shank and a second turn interlocked with said second shank, said first and second turns terminating in respective first and second end portions for engaging structure on the railroad car to bias said first and second shanks into their closed position.   
     
     
         2 . A coupler as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said proximal portion of said first shank comprises a flat portion having a circular outer surface and a concentric circular opening the center of which coincides with the axis of rotation of said first shank;   said proximal portion of said second Shank comprises a flat portion having a circular outer surface with a radius substantially the same as the radius of said circular outer surface of said first shank flat portion and a concentric circular opening the center of which coincides with the axis of rotation of said first shank with a radius substantially the same as the radius of said circular opening of said first shank flat portion; and   said coil spring has a circular planform with said first turn including a first interlocking offset that passes through an opening in said first shank and said second turn including a second interlocking offset that passes through an opening in said second shank, said flat portions of said first and second shanks including spring grooves accepting said coil spring to permit said flat portions to be in face-to-face contact and said coil spring having a radius slightly larger than the radius of said circular outer surfaces of said first and second shanks so that said first and turns of said coil spring are disposed outside the periphery of said circular outer surfaces.   
     
     
         3 . A coupler as in  claim 2 , wherein said first turn of said coil spring is interlocked with said first shank intermediate to the distal and proximal portions thereof, and said second turn of said coil spring is interlocked with said second shank intermediate to the distal and proximal portions thereof. 
     
     
         4 . A coupler as in  claim 2 , wherein said first and second shanks include a lost-motion connection therebetween that limits the amount by which said first and second shanks can rotate relative to each other into their open position. 
     
     
         5 . A coupler as m  claim 4 , wherein said lost-motion connection includes a cutout at the periphery of said circular opening of one of said first and second shanks and a pin on the other of said first and second shanks, said pin being disposed in said cutout and having a smaller dimension in the circumferential direction of said opening than said cutout. 
     
     
         6 . A coupler as in  claim 21 , wherein said cut-out is on Said first shank and said pin is on said second shank. 
     
     
         7 . A coupler as in  claim 4 , wherein said first and second shanks comprise cooperating stop structure that limits the amount by which said first and second shanks can rotate relative to each other into their closed position. 
     
     
         8 . A coupler as in  claim 7 , wherein said stop structure includes a surface on said first coupling member and a surface on said second coupling member that is urged into contact with said surface on said first coupling member by said spring. 
     
     
         9 . A coupler as in  claim 4 , further including a magnetic actuating pin mounted on one of said first and second shanks for causing rotation thereof against the biasing force of said spring when a railroad car to which the coupler is mounted is at a location on the track With said actuating proximate to a magnetic actuating pad. 
     
     
         10 . A coupler as in  claim 9 , wherein:
 said distal portion of said first shank comprises a coupler knuckle having said actuating pin mounted thereto and said distal portion of said second shank comprises a coupler thumb; and   said first shank is on top of said second shank when said coupler is in position on the railroad car and the railroad car is on the track.   
     
     
         11 . A coupler as in  claim 9 , wherein said magnetic actuating pin is a non-magnetized magnetically permeable material and the magnetic actuating pad comprises a magnet. 
     
     
         12 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A coupler as in  claim 10 , wherein said lost-motion connection includes a cutout at the periphery of said circular opening of one of said first and second shanks and a pin on the other of said first and second shanks, said pin being disposed in said cutout and having a smaller dimension in the circumferential direction of said opening than said cutout.