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Pedro,
I have experimented with many different mechanisms for auto-discharging
hoppers, although none have been like the one you describe.
I have tried ones with levers that are moved up and down as the wagon passes
a trackside mechanism, and while these work to a degree, my most successful
effort to date is as illustrated here:
http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=56841
The wheel on the side of the wagon rubs along the top of a 1x8 tile to open
the door, then along the bottom of an upside down one to close it.
An important design consideration is ensuring that there is no virtually no
friction as the wagon passes through the mechanism and that any there is
even resistance on both sides of the wagon, otherwise it tends to tip. The
wheel rubbing on the tile presents virtually no friction, except at the end
of the travel when the door is fully open but the wheel has not yet quite
reached the end of the tile, but this is only for a few millimetres.
I was able to enclose the mechanics inside one of my previously designed
hoppers (elsewhere in my BS gallery) thus keeping them aesthetically
pleasing.
The choice is load is important. For obvious reasons, the rounder and
smaller the part used, the better it works. 1x1 round plates are thus ideal.
If you (or anyone else) is interested, I'll dust them and the mechanism off
and take some photos, although you can probably get the gist from this
picture taken at the Brickish Association AGM:
http://www.brickish.org/events/2003-04-agm/AGM0022.JPG
The odd-looking structure on the left is the Mindstorms-controlled loading
chute which is triggered when the wheel on the side of the wagons hits the
touch switch. I have therefore developed a 'merry go-round' system of
auto-loading and unloading wagons while the train continues to move. (one
day I'll get round to describing it fully...)
Huw
"Pedro Silva" <el_gordo@netc.pt> wrote in message
news:HL2HJz.1ot1@lugnet.com...
> Can you help me build a prototype?
>
> I've been playing around with MLCAD while attempting to create a
> self-discharging hopper for my train, and I came up with what I think is a • valid
> design for the mechanism. However, the said design includes some of the • most
> recent Technic parts, which I still don't have in my collection (double • bevel
> gear, some awkward liftarms), and as such I have no way I can test it • myself "in
> bricks".
>
> This is where *you* can help! :-)
>
> I'd be most thankful if you could find the time to build & test my little • gizmo,
> and tell me about the outcome... it's really quite small (less than 50 • parts).
> I'll e-mail the 2 .ldr files to anyone interested.
>
> TIA,
>
>
> Pedro
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Message has 2 Replies:
 | | Re: Assistance
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| Before anything else, thank you for the reply! In these past few days I've gone out of my mind trying to figure out alternative designs for the discharge mechanism, but as ideas get harder and harder to pop all the input is welcome. (...) I (...) (21 years ago, 15-Sep-03, to lugnet.technic, lugnet.trains, FTX)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Assistance
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| Can you help me build a prototype? I've been playing around with MLCAD while attempting to create a self-discharging hopper for my train, and I came up with what I think is a valid design for the mechanism. However, the said design includes some of (...) (21 years ago, 11-Sep-03, to lugnet.technic, lugnet.loc.pt)
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