Toy tractor

Application filed October 2, 1925. Serial No. 60,126.

This invention appertains to toy thresh- illustrate the novel means employed for diing outfits and more. particularly to a trac- recting the -finely commutated material tion engine for operating a toy thresher be- through : the smoke stack for simulating ing made the subject matter of an independ- smoke, ent application. : ‘ ^{K A}

The primary object-of the present invention is to provide a novel toy traction engine, constructed to simulate the .appearance of a steam tractor and which includes novel means for operating the various.parts of the engine, such as the piston, drive wheels and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for constructing the cylinder and piston of the traction engine so that the piston, when, in operation, will make a sound similar to the exhaust of a steam cylinder, thereby'rendering the engine more attractive.

A further object of the invention is. to provide a novel whistle for the toy engine embodying a fan, housed within a dome similar to the steam dome of an ordinary steam tractor for creating a blast of. air through the whistle, means being provided for setting the whistle into and out of operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide means arranged within the body of the engine for directing finely ground ma- — -— —-,-------_D—_o------—-.

terial through the smoke stack for simulat- 16 has^ rotatably^mounted thereon the ^front ing real smoke. griwxL-1. ill t_'_:

A still further object of the invention is be swung on the bolster 15 similar to an to provide a toy traction engine of the above character, which will· be durable and efficient in use, simple and easy to manufacture and one which can be placed upon the market at a reasonable cost and which will present a pleasing appearance to the trade.

With th_{ese an}d other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which drawings:

traction engine, parts thereof being broken away and in section,

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the improved toy engine,

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical section through the whistle operating means,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the engine looking from the opposite side as shown in Figure 1, the engine βο

Figure .5 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the engine showing a slightly modified form of means for operating the drive wheels and other operating parts thereof.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A generally indicates the improved toy engine, which comprises a body 10 shaped to simulate the appearance Of a boiler; The inner end of the body is provided with a depending extension 11, for simulating the appearance of a fire box and. a platform 12 projects rearwardly from the fire box and can have fuel 75 boxes-13 disposed on the opposite sides thereof. A draw head 14 can be connected with the platform 12 if so desired. The boiler 10, fire box 11 and platform 12 can be constructed from any desired material, such as 80 hard wood or sheet metal. In the drawings, the entire apparatus is shown constructed of metal. The front end of the boiler 10 supports an arched bolster 15 on which is mounted by means of a suitable fifth wheel 85 or the like, a swinging axle 16. The axle ground, wheels '17 and the axle is adapted to .. .... -- ₍ordinary steam traction engine. As shown, go the axle 16’has connected to terminals thereof chains 18, which lead to a transverse cross shaft-19 rotatably mounted in suitable hangers 20 carried by the lower surface of the body or boiler 10. This shaft 19 has keyed 95 or otherwise secured thereto a worm wheel 21 which meshes with a worm 22 keyed or otherwise secured to the steering shaft 23 which extends upwardly and rearwardly at an angle through the fire box and terminates 100 __________ directly above the platform 12. If preFigure 1 is a side elevation of the toy ferred the steering shaft can be disposed at ' ' ’ ' ’ ' ’ one side of the body and fire box. This steering post 23 is provided with a steering wheel 24. The fire box 11 rotatably sup- 105 ports a rear live drive axle 25 to which is keyed relatively broad rear ground wheels 26? This axle 25 is driven by means, which will be hereinafter more ffilly described, but it is to be noted that the axle has rigidly 110 secured thereto a sprocket wheel 27. The boiler 10 supports adjacent to the forward

5β site side as snown m r igure x_; tne engine being partly broken away and in section to

1,608,143 terminal thereof the upstanding smoke stack 29, which is to simulate an ordinary smoke stack and the stack has communicating therewith the rearwardly and downwardly 5 inclined flue or tube 30 disposed in the body or boiler 10. The inner end of this pipe or flue 30 extends into a blast chamber 31 formed by placing transverse partitions, 32 and 32' in the boiler or body. The rear 10 end of the chamber 31 can have coininuni15 eating therewith a feed chute 33 closed by a door 34 which is arranged above the platform 12. This door can simulate the ordinary, fire box door of a steam traction gine. A shaft 35 extends transversely through the chamber 31 and has formed on or secured thereto any preferred type of blast fan 36 for creating a blast of air through the flue 30 and stack 29. An air 20 inlet opening 37 can be formed in the chamber in order to insure the correct supply of air to the air chamber. The chamber 31, flue 30 and stack 29 is utilized for throwing the commutated material out of the stack to 25 simulate smoke and any substance can be used, such as flour, finely ground saw dust, . small pieces of paper or the like, and this material can either be introduced through the opening 37 or through the chute, 33. ³⁰ The fan blower shaft 35 can be. driven from the drive axle 25 if desired but it is preferred to operate the same directly from a main operating shaft 50, which will be described later and the shaft 35 and the shaft ³⁵ 50 can be provided respectively with friction pulley wheels 38 and 39 around which is .-trained a pulley belt 40. It is obvious that when the fine material is thrown out of the stack, that the same will give the ap40 pearance of real smoke, issuing from the stack. Arranged on one side of the boiler adjacent to the forward end thereof is the cylinder 41 and the piston 42. .This cylinder 41 and piston 42 perform no function ⁴⁸ other than adding to the appearance of the engine and to give a sound similar to a traction engine in operation. The cylinder at a point intermediate its ends is. provided with a flexible partition or sounding diaphragm ⁵⁸ 43 and the cylinder is provided with a sound outlet opening 44. During the reciprocal tion of the piston 42, by means which will be . hereinafter described, the piston will strike the diaphragm 4.3 causing a sound to ⁵³ be macle similar to the exhausting of steam from a cylinder. The outer end of the pis. ton 42 has secured thereto a rigid piston rod 45 connected with a cross head 46 which operates in cross head guides 47 carried by the ⁶⁰ body or boiler. This cross head is in turn connected by means of pitman, rod 48 with a crank wheel 49 which is rigidly secured in any preferred way to the main operating shaft 50. This main, operating shaft ex⁸³ tends transversely of the body 10 and is mounted in suitable bearings 51 carried by the upper encl of the boiler or body. The opposite end of the main drive shaft 50 from the crank wheel 49 has secured thereto a relatively heavy fly wheel 52 which is uti- 70 lized for storing energy, in the present instance, to drive the operating parts of the engine a· considerable length of time after power has ceased to be applied to the main drive shaft 50. This drive shaft 50 can be 75 driven in any desired way, which forms no part of the present invention, and the shaft can be driven by a spring motor, an electric en- motor or the like.

In order to operate the drive axle 25, a 80 drive shaft 53 is rotatably carried by the body directly above the drive axle 25. This shaft at the opposite ends thereof is provided respectively with a relatively large and a relatively small sprocket wheel 54 85 and 55. The sprocket wheel 54 is in direct alinement with a relatively small sprocket wheel which is rigidly secured to the main drive shaft 50 and a sprocket wheel chain 57 is trained about the sprockets 56 and 54. ⁸⁰A sprocket chain 58 is trained about the sprocket wheels 55 and 27 and thus it is obvious that when shaft 50 is driven, that drive axle 25, the piston 42 and a fan 36 will be operated therefrom. In order to ⁸⁵permit the operation of the blower and other parts of the device when the engine is standing still without operating the drive axle, the sprocket wheel 55 is loosely mounted on the shaft 53 and can be connected and dis- ¹⁰⁰connected thereto in any,preferred way, such as by a set screw 55'. In the embodiment shown the shaft 53 is provided with a hand crank to permit the. operation of the device.

If preferred a whistle can also be pro- ^10:>vided for the toy and the boiler or body 10 has secured to the upper face thereof a dome 60 made to simulate a steam dome and this dome provides a housing for a blower fan 61 which is mounted upon a crank shaft ^3!n62 rotatably carried by the said dome. One end of the shaft 62 protrudes beyond the dome and is provided with a sprocket wheel 63 which is in direct alinement with a sprocket wheel 64 rigidly secured'to shaft 50. A sprocket chain 65 is trained about the sprocket wheels 63 and.64 for operating the said blower fan 61. The upper end of the dome 60 is provided with an outlet open- _1Of)ing ().6 which communicates with a nipple G<. This nipple 6t carries any preferred type of whistle 68 provided with an inlet tube 69 partially extending into the outlet nipple 67. In order to bring the whistle ₁₀₅into and out of operation, a whistle operating lever 70 is pivotally connected with a slide valve 72 provided with an opening 73 which is adapted to be brought into and out of alinement with the inlet 69. of the ₁₃₀whistle. 68. Normally the slide valve 72 is

1,608,142 adapted · to close the inlet- of^: the whistle. and permit the air? to. escape from the outlet nipple 67 to the atmosphere. 11 owe ver. when the lever . 70 is operated to move the 5 slide valve 72 inward, all of the air from the dome. will be directed through the. whistle to cause the sounding thereof. Any means can be provided for operating the whistle, such as a cord 74 connected to the-upper end 10 of the lever and leading back through a guide &lt;'5. carried by the rear, end of the body directly above the platform 12.

- As heretofore stated, any suitable means can be. provided for operating the toy en15 gine,- and in Figure 5 of . the drawing I have shown a ; slightly modified operating: means which is also of the manual type. In? this form I provide a^: transversely extending main drive crank shaft 75 rotatably carried 20 by. the body. This shaft at a point intermediate its ends is provided with a crank arm 76 which is in alinement with crank arm .77 formed on the shaft 50, which is utilized for operating the piston and other parts of ²³ the device. One end of the crank shaft is provided with a handle 78 to facilitate the manual operation thereof while the other end is provided with a crank 79 having connected thereto a pitman rod 80 operatively ³⁰ connected to a crank 81 formed on the said drive shaft 25. The cranks 77 and 76 are operatively connected by a suitable link or pitman rods 82.

From the foregoing description, it can be ³⁵ seen that I have provided a novel toy traction engine, which is constructed to closely simulate a real steam traction engine and which embodies a number of attractive features which will please children mechani⁴⁰ cally inclined.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, but: