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Subject: 
Re: Drawbridge help needed!
Newsgroups: 
lugnet.build, lugnet.trains
Date: 
Thu, 28 Mar 2002 01:08:25 GMT
Viewed: 
565 times
  
In lugnet.build, Kim Toll writes:
In lugnet.build, Pedro Silva writes:
I am currently building a small drawbridge for my train using Technic
elements, but I came across a difficulty which I was not expecting to be so
problematic: the need of a "counter-weight".
I did know I was *probably* gonna need one. And that there are ways to
calculate its weight and placement. Only I was expecting the gears would
hold... which they didn't.

Has anyone made some bridges like this, that I can use as reference? Mainly
for the *shape* to use.

Pedro,

Here's my version of a draw bridge.  Its the first listing under "Bridges"
on my site.

http://www.easystreet.com/~kjmrr/

Its a Bascule bridge based on a real one I had a picture of in some train
magazine.

I got the counter balance to work fairly well.  I could balance it such that
it took very little force to lift the span.  However, at this balance point
the track wouldn't stay level - the end of the bridge would be a couple of
inches up off the landing points.  It would take some amount of force to
hold the span DOWN in that situation.  So I left it unbalanced enough that
it held itself firmly in place as a train was crossing.

Your bridge has definately a very impressive mechanism. It does look a
little fragile, but I'm pretty sure it holds solid (it holds a train, right?
:-).

It is very complex, nonetheless. Isn't there any simpler (so to speak...)
solution? One less "sturdy"? You see, space is one of the issues I have to
deal with... :-/

In the meanwhile, I'll be testing your solution, possibly with modifications
to fit my bridge better.

I was planning to motorize it, but never got around to it.  My theory was
that with a motor, I could balance it more closely and the tension provided
by the gear train would hold the bridge in either the open position or the
closed position, whichever way it was left.  I never really tested that
theory, but I still think it had a good chance of working.

The thinking seems correct to me. I believe the secret is the reduction
gear, it must be quite big to effectively slow down the bridge's axis (thus,
the bridge itself).

Be sure to let us know how it goes.
Kim

Will do!

Thank you for the tips, Kim. I'll try to adapt them this Easter, and then
I'll let you know what I found.

P.S.  I followed up to the trains group too, since this is a train bridge
and it seemed appropriate.



Message has 1 Reply:
  Re: Drawbridge help needed!
 
(...) Actually, its quite solid (or was - it is nolonger with us, may it rest in peace). Held two trains (its a double track bridge) quite easily, no problem. The counterbalance mechanism was quite study also. (...) Hmm... Well the space is mainly (...) (23 years ago, 28-Mar-02, to lugnet.build, lugnet.trains)

Message is in Reply To:
  Re: Drawbridge help needed!
 
(...) Pedro, Here's my version of a draw bridge. Its the first listing under "Bridges" on my site. (URL) a Bascule bridge based on a real one I had a picture of in some train magazine. I got the counter balance to work fairly well. I could balance (...) (23 years ago, 28-Mar-02, to lugnet.build, lugnet.trains)

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