Inside a friction motor on a toy car. Note that the drive wheels are connected via a low gear ratio to a flywheel (bottom).
A friction motor is a simple mechanism to propel toy cars, trucks, trains, action figures and similar toys. The motor consists of a large flywheel which is connected to the drive wheels of the toy via a very low gear ratio, so that the flywheel revolves faster. The flywheel's axis is perpendicular to the direction in which the toy faces and moves. When the toy is pushed forward, the drive wheels engage the flywheel. Pushing the vehicle forward repeatedly spins this flywheel up to speed. When let go, the flywheel drives the vehicle forward. The flywheel stores the kinetic energy of the initial acceleration and propels the toy after it is released, by forcing the perpetual motor that revolves the kinetic energy. [1]
As the flywheel, unlike the spring of a pullback motor, is continuously rotating and not held, the motor may be "pumped up" by pushing the car repeatedly forward. The cars also typically work in forward and reverse. Some used a zip cord pulled from the vehicle body to accelerate the flywheel directly. Another system was the Turbo Tower of Power (TTP) in which air expelled from a hand-operated pump pushed turbine blades on the flywheel's rim.
These toys were especially popular in the 1960s to 1980s though they continue to be available today.
A frictionmotor is a simple mechanism to propel toy cars, trucks, trains, action figures and similar toys. The motor consists of a large flywheel which...
Types of friction include dry, fluid, lubricated, skin, and internal. Friction can have dramatic consequences, as illustrated by the use of friction created...
from WW1 (see photo) is an example for a vacuum cleaner powered by a frictionmotor similar to but larger than those powering toy cars. To power it the...
A stepper motor, also known as step motor or stepping motor, is an electrical motor that rotates in a series of small angular steps, instead of continuously...
to compress a fresh charge of air and fuel. Another example is the frictionmotor which powers devices such as toy cars. In unstressed and inexpensive...
friction clutch (where the clutch is partially engaged but the shafts are rotating at different speeds) is sometimes required, such as when a motor vehicle...
generators to recover energy that might otherwise be lost as heat and friction. Electric motors produce linear or rotary force (torque) intended to propel some...
motor. The soft brush material wears down due to friction, creating dust, and eventually the brushes must be replaced. This makes commutated motors unsuitable...
producing 1:25 scale plastic automobile dealer promotional model cars and frictionmotor models, and pioneered the annual 3-in-1 model kit buildable in stock...
prevent its motion, most often accomplished by means of friction. Most brakes commonly use friction between two surfaces pressed together to convert the...
static friction is not overcome, followed by a rapid contraction phase where static friction is overcome and the point of contact between the motor and moving...
or a rotor to create friction. There are two basic types of brake pad friction mechanisms: abrasive friction and adherent friction. This action slows the...
viscosity index improvers.[citation needed] The main function of motor oil is to reduce friction and wear on moving parts and to clean the engine from sludge...
Rematch". Motor Trend. Motor Trend Group. Retrieved December 30, 2023. Allain, Rhett. "Tesla Cybertruck vs. Ford F-150: It's All About the Friction". Wired...
to transport people, cargo, or both. Vehicles include wagons, bicycles, motor vehicles (motorcycles, cars, trucks, buses, mobility scooters), railed vehicles...
lubricant (sometimes shortened to lube) is a substance that helps to reduce friction between surfaces in mutual contact, which ultimately reduces the heat generated...
it was experimentally shown that efficiency of a motor can be increased by the usage of anti-friction additives to the lubricating oil. Historically, many...
An induction motor or asynchronous motor is an AC electric motor in which the electric current in the rotor that produces torque is obtained by electromagnetic...
Rolling resistance, sometimes called rolling friction or rolling drag, is the force resisting the motion when a body (such as a ball, tire, or wheel) rolls...
An AC motor is an electric motor driven by an alternating current (AC). The AC motor commonly consists of two basic parts, an outside stator having coils...
Ultrasonic motors replace the noisier and often slower micro-motor in this application. Dry friction is often used in contact, and the ultrasonic vibration...
The term friction loss (or frictional loss) has a number of different meanings, depending on its context. In fluid flow it is the head loss that occurs...
engine are used to slow down a motor vehicle, as opposed to using additional external braking mechanisms such as friction brakes or magnetic brakes. The...
moves at varying speeds. CVTs are used in cars, tractors, side-by-sides, motor scooters, snowmobiles, bicycles, and earthmoving equipment. The most common...
4) improving the aerodynamics of motors to reduce mechanical windage losses, 5) improving bearings to reduce friction losses, and 6) minimizing manufacturing...
A car, or an automobile, is a motor vehicle with wheels. Most definitions of cars state that they run primarily on roads, seat one to eight people, have...
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