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Subject: 
Re: Loading cargo from and to train electrically
Newsgroups: 
lugnet.robotics, lugnet.trains
Date: 
Mon, 9 Jan 2006 20:16:55 GMT
Viewed: 
1454 times
  
In lugnet.robotics, Steve Lane wrote:
> In lugnet.robotics, Elroy Davis wrote:
> > In lugnet.announce, Edmund Nussbaum wrote:
> > > Hi,
> > > this machinery can load cargo onto a train waggon and
> > > also load cargo off, too. See
> > > 
> > > http://www.nussbaums.homepage.t-online.de/trldunld.html

> > I've been toying with this sort of idea in my head for a couple of months.  I'm
> > hung up on the idea of making the pushers look like cargo loaders of some sort
> > though (fork-lifts maybe?).
> > 
> > My thinking was to build two of these and set them up on opposite sides of a
> > train layout.  An RCX would somehow stop a train, then check to see if the
> > waggon was loaded.  If not, it would be loaded, then continue on to the next
> > station, where it could be unloaded, thereby setting up automated cargo delivery
> > for the entire layout.

> I too had thought about something similar. I had got much past the specs though.
> I wanted a system that only used one rcx per station. One channel would control
> the train leaving me with only two remaining.
> 
> I'd never thought of a system which didn't somehow lock the containers too the
> wagon, therefore my system was to have magnets on the containers. An overhead
> track would hold multiple containers, which would slide over the train one by
> one. Once aligned the container would be lowered, A mechanism would have to be
> incorporated to push apart the magnets when the container had been lowered
> enough. The container would then self align onto ramps built onto the wagon.
> 
> Steve

I played a bit with stopping a train at a station.  I had a loop of track
powered off from a normal speed regulator.  One section of track next to the
stop was isolated elecrically by putting tape over the rails before connecting
them.  I powered this single section of track off from the RCX, which would
allow me to stop and start it.

As you mentioned, this leaves two motor outputs.  I was thinking of using one to
power a forklift-shaped pusher to load the train, and another to unload.  I
hadn't really though much about the cargo slipping off the waggon on other parts
of the layout though.  Using tiles, I can see how the cargo might slide off the
car if it takes a corner too quickly.  I might have to play with that a bit.

-Elroy



Message has 2 Replies:
  Re: Loading cargo from and to train electrically
 
(...) How accurately? If you want to do this for a bunch of cycles, it would seem to me you need to control the position of the train quite exactly. The GBC train uses a simple bump sensor, and both Steve & I got train positioning to within 1 stud, (...) (21 years ago, 9-Jan-06, to lugnet.robotics, lugnet.trains)
  Re: Loading cargo from and to train electrically
 
(...) Funny how oceans apart we come up with the same ideas. I stopped using light sensors for the RCX and laterly use an isolated track to stop trains at two stations. The third ouput being used for a level crossing. I really like the loader idea, (...) (21 years ago, 17-Jan-06, to lugnet.robotics, lugnet.trains)

Message is in Reply To:
  Re: Loading cargo from and to train electrically
 
(...) I too had thought about something similar. I had got much past the specs though. I wanted a system that only used one rcx per station. One channel would control the train leaving me with only two remaining. I'd never thought of a system which (...) (21 years ago, 9-Jan-06, to lugnet.robotics, lugnet.trains)

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