HO scale concealed electromagnet uncouplers

[tatans]

Sierra: 60 year old technology indeed ! My sentiments exactly, everyone expounds on the marvels of kd couplers and their technology and I was at a train show recently, a fellow was wandering around a layout with a controller in his hand directing a bunch of trains, tooting and choo-chooing all over the place, then he put this gadget down and used a bamboo chop-stick to uncouple a car, I asked him what he was doing and how ridiculous he looked and he said this is how you uncouple cars, as before, I quoted the person that invents an authentic, workable, fair priced coupler will rule the MR market.

[Anonymous]

No, a permanent magnet just won't do......way too many unscheduled uncouplings. Kadee has the under roadbed permanent but same problem. I've got the Kadee electros but they are unsightly (but they really aren't that tough to install) and cannot be totally concealed[. I'm trying to modify the Kadee electro with limited success.

QUOTE: Originally posted by jim22

I've got a between the rails permanent magnet which works on most of my cars - most have McHenry uncouplers. They are very touchy to adjust. Of course, the magnet is NOT concealed in any way. I've seen a picture of the under track permanent magnet, which looks like it could be concealed below the ballast. It's much wider, but I havn't tried it yet. The electro-magnet kit from kadee is more complicated than I imagined when I bought it. I havn't had the heart to cut a hole in my table to try it. I guess I envisioned the old Lionel decoupler, which was just a special track section.

Maybe we could invent an in-car system. Maybe battery powered (to avoid pickups on the wheels) and activated by infared LEDs in the ballast, just like remote controls for TVs. Maybe with a dual coil soleniod under the car pulling/pushing on the coupler to open/close it. Could we patent this?

Jim

[jim22]

I've got a between the rails permanent magnet which works on most of my cars - most have McHenry uncouplers. They are very touchy to adjust. Of course, the magnet is NOT concealed in any way. I've seen a picture of the under track permanent magnet, which looks like it could be concealed below the ballast. It's much wider, but I havn't tried it yet. The electro-magnet kit from kadee is more complicated than I imagined when I bought it. I havn't had the heart to cut a hole in my table to try it. I guess I envisioned the old Lionel decoupler, which was just a special track section.

Maybe we could invent an in-car system. Maybe battery powered (to avoid pickups on the wheels) and activated by infared LEDs in the ballast, just like remote controls for TVs. Maybe with a dual coil soleniod under the car pulling/pushing on the coupler to open/close it. Could we patent this?

Jim

[Anonymous]

I know MR ran some artlcles years ago about under roadbed electric uncouplers and I think a company called Cuda Technologies (out of business) made one in the mid '90s but does any one have some plans for building one that will actually do delayed uncoupling from under the roadbed invisibly.

I've been trying to modify the Kadee unit with some success but its not perfect.

Hand tool uncoupling is not an option for me.

I can't believe its 2005, we have great running, highly detailed, well made locomotives, DCC, and fantastic sound units, yet we have uncoupling technology which is still where it was 60 years ago.

Someone please help!!!!!!