Subject:
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Re: How did James Mathis make his tilting trains?
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.trains
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Date:
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Sat, 9 Feb 2002 21:41:55 GMT
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Viewed:
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1058 times
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In lugnet.trains, Ludo Soete writes:
> In lugnet.trains, James Mathis writes:
> > I have not posted any construction details of the tilting mechanism.
> > They will come. I have the model cast in MLCad form, but I still need to
> > spend a fair amount of time generating and refining any instructions.
> >
> > I will say that the full train is very long. If memory serves correctly,
> > something like a little over 7 feet. The tilting mechanism causes enough
> > friction between wheels and rails that I have used qty 3 9v train motors.
> > To push-pull the full set through severe curvey-S curves, I have had to hook
> > up 2 speed regulators. Not a very efficient design; but it is pretty cool
> > looking tilting through the curves.
>
> Does this mean that you can go through the curves at full speed without
> derailing, using the tilting mechanism?
>
> Ludo Soete
No. Even in real-life trains, I'm not sure that making a train tilt through
a curve necessarily enables it to go any faster than it could if it didn't
tilt. It is my understanding that tilting the train cars is more to keep
passengers more comfortable (and saucers on the table)-- orients the
perceived direction of gravity to remain closer to perpendicular to the floor.
I think that the maximum speed through curves is more based on the location
of the center of mass above the track and radius of the curve. The speed,
center of mass, and radius of curve all determine the force (centripetal)
and consequent torque that acts to tip the train car over (derail) through
the curve.
Banking the track tilts a train, too, but it tips both the cars and the
wheels. The result is higher speeds than if the track weren't banked.
Banking the track through curves permits both greater max speed and
passenger comfort, irrespective of whether the train cars tilt. In banking
the track, the angle between the direction of the centripetal force and the
surface of the track is reduced. This allows for greater speed through
the curve before the train would tip over. Think NASCAR banked oval tracks.
I don't think that only tilting the train cars is the same thing.
I know this is a pretty inadequate explanation--maybe pretty wrong?
So, I don't think that tilting the brick-built train should necessarily
yield higher speeds through the curves. Wish it did. In fact, with the
brick-built train, I am wondering if the swinging motion actually tends to
throw the train off the track as it enters the curve. ??
later,
James Mathis
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