Bob and Ed - Gentlemen, thank you for the kind words. It has been a fun project so far. I think were close now to the end!
Douglas
PM RailfanPS: This is for Maxman.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whQQpwwvSh4
AC/DC? Should be AC/DCC.
Well folks, I never could sleep on Xmas Eve. So i decided to stay up and wait for ole Santy Claus doing more work on the couplers.
Havent seen him yet but I do have another video to post! I already showed you the working "above floor - boxcar type" autocoupler. Now I want to show you something else you should like.... the working "underfloor flatcar/gondola" autocoupler (Beta Version!).
This is only a test video of one of the many prototype designs (note the destruction in the frame and floor of the test car from all the other.... 'designs'. ) Ive been working on.
This one is the 'bumble bee" and is the best working so far as it opens the coupler, it fits 'between' the wheels but, doesnt clear the forward axle yet. More tweaking. Heres the video....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uV5yKGxATw4&feature=youtu.be
Sorry about the bad quality. Let me know if there is a problem with the link, and definately what you think about the coupler.
Merry Christmas Everyone!
UPDATE - Heres where I am now. Pretty much, one car is now finished. On to the other.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRkOt_TiPpY&feature=youtu.be
Neat, I admire your tenacity.
Jack W.
Now that is truly useful. Simple magnetic wand with no touching the car being uncoupled. "Be the brakeman" and pull the pin without physically touching the car.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Hello Railfans! You folks getting bored yet? Ah ha ha not I! And I have yet one more update for ya. Except this time, its just a pinch different.
How you ask? Well this time, it is a whole other way of doing things. In the poor video that i made I try to show you all angles. You will notice 1) its a flat car. Gonna be interesting to see where the electronics and power are. 2) um, thats right, this time there ISNT any electronics or power! Ha HAAAHHH! No mag switches, no batteries, no wiring, no insulators, no resistors, no fuss no muss (yes its done with magic now)! 3) still wand activated though. 4) still Kadee compliant too... kinda since i use them to begin with. 5) an unforseen bonus during testing was i found that you can hold the coupler open indefinately 'without the wand' (as long as the car isnt jostled or re-coupled to). Dont know why youd want to hold it open, but nice to know you can. Watch til the very end to see it stay open.
The video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwCMWwYklHI&feature=youtu.be
Give it a look see, Id like to know what you think.
Now the acid test .... will it actually uncouple from another car ? Doesn't look like it opens enough to do so. (?)
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
Mark R. Now the acid test .... will it actually uncouple from another car ? Doesn't look like it opens enough to do so. (?) Mark.
Mark:
I was wondering the same thing myself. I think that this is very interesting work and with a little more tweaking should develop into a nice addition to operation.
Joe
Sorry guys, maybe this is what your looking for.....
Working Gen II couplers- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGEWhRLt01U
Working cars with Gen II couplers in tight spaces (roof overhang between cars) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SILl5v-6YtQ
Working cars with Gen II couplers in tight spots (roof over hang between cars) and a working Kadee coupler gauge - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXVE8kqjvl4
4 videos in all i made today, the first being in my last post. For a recapsulation of all the videos, or to see any video you may have missed.... use this link -
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO_5kkhEiUXdOx_YHJHU6FQ
Pretty impressive !
Do they work on boxcars where you can't get the magnet down to floor level ?
Douglas:
The videos really settled my doubts about adequate coupler opening. I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with next.
OK, I'm impressed!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Mark R. Pretty impressive !
Thank You.
Mark R. Do they work on boxcars where you can't get the magnet down to floor level ? Mark.
The first design does. Second design doesnt. Here is a video of an over the roof wand activated boxcar. I need to make one more boxcar and I can make a video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRkOt_TiPpY
Is the boxcar an unpowered version as well ?
Mark R. Is the boxcar an unpowered version as well ? Mark.
The boxcar version, if it could be adapted, would be an answer for the uncoupling problem with passenger cars equipped with close fitting diaphragms. The evolution of this thread has been very interesting and I hope that it will continue.
Since this thread has migrated away from the original DCC title maybe an edit of the title to reflect the current discussion would serve to attract more followers.
Joe - Have no worries, passenger cars with diaphrams are on the list of car types to develop. I have two concerns with passenger cars though....
1) The vestible side door windows will allow the coil post to be seen. Gotta figure out how to hide that.
2) Truck mounted couplers.
Stay tuned for this one.
As for the thread. I started it in the Gen. Disc. section because i knew it wouldnt be all about DCC. MR Staff moved it here. I have been wanting to change the title for a while now.
Pretty much since it was ascertained that there is no current DCC decoder capable of handling autocouplers, the question is answered. So do i rename, or actually close the thread and open a new one consisting of the coupler work? Because even if i change the title, someone looking for couplers would be in Gen Disc., not DCC section.
And since I cant seem to figure out just HOW you change the title.... it may be i just start a whole new thread in Gen Disc. Kinda leaning that way.
At this point I think that a new thread that links back to this one but concentrates on your continuing development efforts would be useful. Since you have moved away from DCC involvement it could go into the General Discussion section unless the use of coils and magnets keeps it in the section. Either way, keep up your development efforts and by all means keep us informed.
To change the title of the thread you need to go back to your first post and click on 'Edit' in the lower right corner.
Dave - i wished you had told me that before i spent 45 minutes looking for a way to change the title. Never found the answer. Thanks Dave for enlightning me.
THIS THREAD HAS BEEN ANSWERED AND IS HERE FOR REFERENCE ONLY.
The discussion about working couplers has moved to -
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/744/t/244165.aspx
Please join us there if you want to follow the non DCC side of the project as it continues.
OP - PM Railfan