GB2576643A

GB2576643A - Model railway arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2576643A
Application number: GB1914583.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Golding James; Moore Andrew
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-10-09
Filing date: 2019-10-09
Publication date: 2020-02-26
Anticipated expiration: 2039-10-09
Also published as: GB201914583D0; GB2576643B

Abstract

A model railway arrangement comprises a bridge section of track 28 and a plurality of mutually parallel approach tracks 40. Bridge section 28 is movable transversely to the approach tracks 40 and rotatable about a central vertical axis. The arrangement further comprises motors 34, 36 which actuate the movement of bridge section 28 under the control of a controller (22, Figure 3). Thus, a rolling stock unit can travel from one of the tracks 40 to the bridge section 28, be rotated to reverse its orientation, and subsequently travel at the user’s option either back to the first approach track or to another of the approach tracks 40. The bridge section 28 may be suspended from a gantry 14 and can be rotated relative to the gantry 14. Said gantry 14 is supported and guided by rails 2, 4. A linear sliding contactor 8 may be provided on rail 2 and a rotating sliding contactor may be provided on gantry 14. A sensor, for example a Hall effect sensor 16, may be provided on gantry 14 for sensing of a detectable element, such as a magnet, located at the ends of tracks 40 thereby establishing the locations of said ends.

Description

MODEL RAILWAY ARRANGEMENT

Background to the Invention [0001] This invention relates to an apparatus for locating and orientating locomotives in a model railway layout.

[0002] In model railway layouts of an out-and-back design, the need often arises to rotate a locomotive or entire train to preserve the direction of travel for aesthetic, prototypical or performance reasons. Model railway designs typically incorporate staging or fiddle yards where train sets or individual locomotives can be held awaiting despatch onto the live portion of the layout. Moving locomotives between sidings is often performed by using a simple hand-held loco lift cassette to prevent damage to rolling stock during handling.

[0003] An existing method of locomotive staging in a model railway involves a turntable, comprising a bridge, typically sunk in a well or pit that pivots on a central vertical axis and is supported at its extremities by load-bearing rollers or similar. The bridge can be rotated with manual or automatic control, usually by incorporating a stepper or gear-reduction motor hidden in trackside buildings or below the baseboard. Although this is a realistic way of handling locomotives, the number of sidings that can be incorporated is typically limited by the radius of the bridge and the subsequent approach track radii required to intersect the centreline of rotation. These devices, in the model world, are also difficult to set up, with expensive systems requiring some degree of programming and lower cost options suffering from poor accuracy or repeatability. The requirement of conducting electricity to drive the locomotive is often facilitated by sprung contacts, mounted radially, that engage with the adjacent sidings. These contacts are often unreliable, stranding the locomotive part-way on the gantry.

[0004] In the real world, a transverse mechanism may be employed in conjunction with a turntable, simply arranged adjacent thereto. A number of modern depots use these where space is at a premium.

[0005] Another method of supporting out-and-back layout design is the cassette system, where an entire train is positioned within a section of track of greater length. This track can comprise two lengths of L section aluminium to support the wheel flanges and conduct the required electrical current to the locomotive. Again current flows through sprung contacts at one end of the cassette. Once the train is correctly positioned and secured the track section is lifted in its entirety by one or more persons, physically man-handled through 180° and repositioned on the layout, reversing the direction of travel of the train set in its entirety.

Summary of the Invention [0006] It is an aim of the invention to provide an arrangement for orientation and transfer of locomotives with greater flexibility, control and compactness than the existing arrangements.

[0007] The present invention provides a model railway arrangement according to claim 1. The arrangement comprises: a bridge section of track and a plurality of approach tracks each having an end with which an end of the bridge section can be aligned, for example, two sets of approach tracks having ends arranged in two mutually parallel straight lines. The bridge section is movable transversely to the approach tracks and rotatable about a central vertical axis. Motors actuate the rotation and transverse movement of the bridge section and a controller controls the motors. Thus, a rolling stock unit can travel from one of the approach tracks to the bridge section in a first orientation, be rotated to a second orientation opposite the first orientation if the user desires, and subsequently travel at the user's option either back to its original approach track or to another of the approach tracks.

[0008] This permits a mix of accurate and controlled linear and rotational movement as to transfer and orientate rolling stock as desired by the operator.

[0009] In embodiments of the invention, the bridge section is suspended from a gantry at a centre thereof, and is rotatable relative to the gantry, the gantry being aligned parallel to the approach tracks and movable transversely for alignment of the bridge section with a selected approach track. The gantry may be supported and guided by rails extending transversely to the approach tracks.

[0010] A linear sliding contactor may be provided for transmitting electrical power from at least one of the rails to the gantry. A rotating sliding contactor may be provided to transmit electrical power from the gantry to the bridge section of track. A unit sensor may be provided to effect electrical isolation of the bridge section of track when a rolling stock unit is positioned on the bridge section.

[0011] A sensor may be provided on the gantry for sensing, in a set-up phase, the locations of the ends of the approach tracks. For this purpose a detectable element such as a magnet may be provided at each of said ends, for example mounted on a portal through which the rolling stock unit can pass.

[0012] The controller may be programmed to control the rotational and transverse movement of the bridge section and align it with a selected approach track end, of which the location has been recorded. The controller may prohibit the rotation of the bridge section where there is insufficient space.

[0013] The arrangement may include additional tracks extending at an angle to the mutually parallel tracks, the bridge section also being alignable with the additional approach tracks.

Brief Description of the Drawings [0014] Embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0015] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an arrangement according to the invention;

[0016] Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, during a move;

[0017] Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, but with the gantry removed;

[0018] Figure 4 is a plan view of the arrangement, during a move;

[0019] Figure 5 is a further plan view, showing the bridge section aligned with an additional approach track; and [0020] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the arrangement.

Detailed Description of Particular Embodiments [0021] In the following exemplary description, the rolling stock item being transferred is a locomotive, but the arrangement could be used or adapted for other units including trains.

[0022] The drawings show a model railway arrangement. Purely for ease of reference, the top right, bottom right, bottom left and top left sides of the arrangement shown in Figures 1 to 3 (top, left, bottom and right respectively in Figures 4 and 5) are described herein as north, east, south and west respectively, these designations not limiting the actual orientation of the arrangement.

[0023] The arrangement comprises north and south suspension rails 2, 4, each mounted on two pylons 6, one at each end of each rail. In this example, the north rail 2 includes a plurality of elongate electrical conductors 8 facing inwardly, the conductors being supplied with electricity via terminals 10 on the north-east pylon 6. Also in this example, the south rail 4 includes a toothed rack 12 facing inwardly. [0024] A gantry 14 is supported at its ends by the rails 2,4, such that the gantry can slide therealong. Figure 3 does not show the gantry in order to make components thereof visible. The gantry 14 has two Hall effect sensors 16, one at each end. Carbon brushes mounted in brush holders 18 on the gantry 14 are urged against the conductors 8 to obtain power for the gantry.

[0025] A printed circuit board 20 on the gantry 14 carries a microcontroller 22, and two limit switches 24 at the east and west sides of the gantry respectively.

[0026] A bridge 26, carrying a section of track 28, is suspended from the gantry 14 by means of a support bearing 30 allowing continuous rotation of the bridge. The track section 28 is supplied with electricity from the gantry via a slip ring (not shown). A relay 32 on the gantry 14 controls this supply.

[0027] A first stepper motor 34 on the gantry 14 is arranged with gears to rotate the bridge 26 relative to the gantry. A second stepper motor 36 at the south end of the gantry 14 is arranged to rotate a pinion 38, which meshes with the rack 12 to cause movement of the gantry 14 along the rails 2, 4.

[0028] Mutually parallel approach tracks or sidings 40 lead up to the arrangement. In this example, the majority of the sidings 40 extend in a north-south direction, with some at the northern and others at the southern side of the arrangement. Each siding 40 terminates in a portal 42. When the bridge section of track 28 is aligned with a one of the sidings 40, the siding track is continuous with that of the bridge section.

[0029] The number and position, along the respective rail 2,4, of the sidings 40 and portals 42 is not fixed, but can be set up by the user as desired. Each portal 42 carries a magnet mounted in a housing 44.

[0030] There are also two additional sidings 46, also provided with portals 48, at the east and west ends of the arrangement.

[0031] When first switched on, the microcontroller 22 enters a set-up phase. The gantry is caused to travel westwards, by means of the second motor 36, until its westernmost limit of travel is found by the western limit switch 24. An X axis counter is then reset. Next the gantry travels eastwards. As it does so, whenever one of the Hall effect sensors 16 is aligned with the magnet on one of the portals 42, it returns a HIGH value. The controller then saves the position of the portal to memory, based on how far the gantry 14 has travelled and whether the portal is on the north or south side, and assigns the portal a sequential number. When the gantry reaches its easternmost limit of travel, this is indicated to the controller 22 by the eastern limit switch 24. The controller now records the total maximum length of travel. Thus, the arrangement is scalable to any length that the structure can support, as required by the user.

[0032] The controller then divides the total travel distance by two and moves the gantry 14 to the centre of the rails 2,4. It then causes the first motor 34 to rotate the bridge 26 in order to find its home position in the rotary (C) axis.

[0033] Next the controller defines Zones-of-Death at opposite ends of the X axis. These are the parts of the extent of travel of the gantry 14 within which rotation of the bridge 26 is prohibited, as it would cause a collision with one of the pylons 6 or additional portals 48. These Zones are each have a length that is half that of the bridge 26. Rotation is only permitted within the Middle area, between the two Zones-of-Death.

[0034] The microcontroller 22 can itself be controlled remotely, for example by an infrared, Wi-Fi ®, or Bluetooth ® signal. The controller decides what to do based on its location when a command is received and the destination designated by the command. A command includes two pieces of data: firstly, the number of the destination portal, or whether to go to the east additional portal 48, as shown in Figure 5, or the west additional portal, and secondly, whether to rotate the bridge 26 or not.

[0035] When a command is received, the controller identifies whether the move must be broken down into stages and if so, how. This is done by means of a lookup table setting out the possible moves. The motors 34 and/or 36 are then actuated to perform the move. For example, if the bridge 26 is in one of the Zones-of-Death, and is required to rotate and re-align to the starting portal, it first moves as far as the boundary between the Zone-of-Death in question and the Middle, rotates there and then returns to the starting portal. The transition between stages of a move is so fast that the move appears continuous and uninterrupted to the user. In addition, rotation and transverse moment of the bridge 26 can occur simultaneously, thus reducing the time taken to complete the move.

[0036] When the initial move is complete and the bridge track 28 is aligned with the desired siding 40 passing through the selected portal 42, power is supplied to the track 28, controlled by a commercially available controller or pulse-widthmodulation control so that a locomotive can drive on. It will be propelled under its own power until either stopped manually, or until the relay 32 isolates power to the track, preventing the locomotive from being powered during a machine move. [0037] The user can then input the number of a destination portal 42 that the controller 22 will index to. Once the motion is complete, the relay 32 engages, allowing power to the track 28 and the locomotive to be moved off the bridge 26, through the target portal 42 and onto the destination siding 40. The microcontroller 22 then awaits its next input.

[0038] The arrangement of the invention enable the train operator to orientate a locomotive or other rolling stock on any given siding, parallel or otherwise, in the correct direction of travel within the least amount of space. The system minimises the amount of programming and manual intervention required. The arrangement requires a minimal amount of baseboard preparation or modification. It may be positioned at the extremity of the sidings or at a mid-way point, enabling rolling stock to pass completely through if required.

Claims

1. A model railway arrangement comprising:

a bridge section of track;

a plurality of approach tracks each having an end with which an end of the bridge section can be aligned, the ends of the approach tracks being disposed in a straight line, and the bridge section being movable transversely to the approach tracks and rotatable about a central vertical axis;

motors for actuating the rotation and transverse movement of the bridge section; and a controller for controlling the motors, such that a rolling stock unit can travel from one of the approach tracks to the bridge section in a first orientation, be rotated to a second orientation opposite the first orientation if the user desires, and subsequently travel at the user's option either to said one of the approach tracks or to another of the approach tracks.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the bridge section is suspended from a gantry at a centre thereof, and is rotatable relative to the gantry, the gantry being aligned parallel to the approach tracks and movable transversely for alignment of the bridge section with a selected approach track.

3. An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the gantry is supported and guided by rails extending transversely to the approach tracks.

4. An arrangement according to claim 3, wherein a linear sliding contactor is provided for transmitting electrical power from at least one of the rails to the gantry.

5. An arrangement according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein a rotating sliding contactor is provided to transmit electrical power from the gantry to the bridge section of track.

6. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein a unit sensor is provided to effect electrical isolation of the bridge section of track when a rolling stock unit is positioned on the bridge section.

7. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein a sensor is provided for sensing, in a set-up phase, the locations of the ends of the approach tracks.

8. An arrangement according to claim 7, wherein a detectable element such as a magnet is provided at each of said ends, for example mounted on a portal through which the rolling stock unit can pass.

9. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the controller prohibits the rotation of the bridge section where there is insufficient space.

10. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, comprising additional approach tracks each having an end, the ends of the additional approach tracks being disposed in an additional straight line parallel to said straight line and spaced therefrom by the length of the bridge.

11. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, including at least one additional track extending at an angle to the mutually parallel approach tracks, the bridge section also being alignable with the at least one additional track.