Subject:
|
A power rail idea
|
Newsgroups:
|
lugnet.trains
|
Date:
|
Sun, 14 Oct 2007 06:15:58 GMT
|
Highlighted:
|
(details)
|
Viewed:
|
5689 times
|
| |
|
|
OK, so 9V is dead. Not a happy thought.
Still, the engineer in me can't help but think about ways to work within the new
regime. After 40 years of off-and-on model rail and toy train activity, the
first thought that comes to mind is that anyone who thinks batteries will be
sufficient in a display situation is delusional. On the other hand, a train
system based on the new power function motors looks like it has some real
opportunities for interesting loco models. Think big wheels, techic parts...
So the real question is how to deliver power to the motors in a way that is
upward compatible with plastic R/C track. A thought that comes to mind is a
"power tile". A power tile would be one stud wide, and have two conductors, one
running along each edge. It would be placed directly on either row of studs
that is next to the (between studs) track center line. There would need to be a
power pick up brick with three brushes, one brush picking up the power rail
closest to track center, and two other brushes placed so that they pick up the
"outside" power rail, one brush on each side of center so that it doesn't matter
which side of center the power tile is on. (Only one of these outside brushes
would be active at a time.)
A simple track cross section, where | is rail, ^ is power tile:
_|__^_|_
(Forgive the ASCII art, I'm too lazy tonight to make fancy drawings.)
Note that all reverse loop problems magically disappear, since the conductor
closest to center is always the same polarity. It would also be easy to splice
a DCC decoder in between the brush brick and the motor. This is upward
compatible with plastic R/C track, since the power tile is simply an optional
extra part.
Issues:
1. Would need two sets of pick up brushes per loco to cross gaps reliably. Pick
up brushes might be built into axle holder bricks.
2. Crossings and turnouts will need special power tiles with gaps. Or better
yet, a new powered turnout that matches power tile standards.
This is easy to prototype in a crude fashion. Of the many codes of H0 and N
scale rail, there must be one that is about one tile tall. With epoxy, one
could glue one rail down the center line, and glue on another rail one stud
over. With a few snippets of phosphor bronze sheet metal you have pick-up
brushes. Or, it could be prototyped by modding 1x8 tiles by adding strips of
copper tape on each side, although copper tape may not last long. Maybe some
brass L stock glued to a tile would work better.
The profile of a 1 stud wide tile might not be the best profile for a power
tile, something more trapezoidal might allow better brush tracking. In any case
the tile can't get too tall without causing clearance problems with existing
equipment.
Anyway, just some random thoughts tossed into the public domain for discussion.
-dave
|
|
Message has 4 Replies:
 | | Re: A power rail idea
|
| (...) Sounds like a new and improved 12-volt system. It does eliminate one of the three problems that I felt the 12-volt system had; reverse polarity in turn-abouts. The biggest problem the 12-volt system had was that it was never avalable here in (...) (17 years ago, 15-Oct-07, to lugnet.trains)
| | | Re: A power rail idea
|
| With all the advances in battery (rechargeable and otherwise) technology these days, you might be a little shortsighted in your estimation of the feasibility of battery trains. But assuming you are correct, my biggest concern about this idea is the (...) (17 years ago, 15-Oct-07, to lugnet.trains)
| | | Re: A power rail idea
|
| (...) Not a bad idea. However, I used to have a decent layout in the 70's (my Dark Ages) using the 12V system, which is not too far from what you are proposing. It would require Lego to come up with new parts, including a complicated switch. Also, I (...) (17 years ago, 17-Oct-07, to lugnet.trains)
| | | Re: A power rail idea
|
| (...) A not quite as eloquent but easier to realize-on-a-small-scale solution would be using n-gauge track for power conduction up the middle of the all plastic L-gauge track (yes, with even more of the unsightly drawbacks and eliminating the (...) (17 years ago, 17-Oct-07, to lugnet.trains)
|
7 Messages in This Thread:
 
 
- Entire Thread on One Page:
- Nested:
All | Brief | Compact | Dots
Linear:
All | Brief | Compact
|
|
|
|
