The other day when I post about what I call my "Spring Switcher" that can be placed under a turnout and throw it via a pull on fishing line Mike posted back... I had looked into trying to make a lever frame a couple times over the last couple years. I didn't really go anywhere with it as I couldn't come up with a concept that I though was practical for me. I'm at the point where I can't spend a ton of time scratch-building something that is pretty close to the real thing. I need to be able to design it fairly quickly and be able to 3D print most of it, especially if I need a number of the item. Researching most of the lever frames I saw were pretty much of the design shown above. I'm not interested in a scale model to put on the layout but an operating lever frame to use for the turnouts in my main yard. One that would have a total height of 3-4 inches and maybe no more than 2 inches in depth. I had ideas but not that I felt would be feasible based on the type shown above. There are two other criteria that needed to be meet. One is that it could work with my 'Gravity Switcher' and/or my 'Spring Switcher' which both operate with a fish line from under the turnout to the side of the layout where the lever frame would be located on the fascia. The 'Gravity Switcher' requires the line to be pulled almost an inch so a more difficult design situation. The newer 'Spring Switcher' though only requires the pull to be 1/2" to 5/8". Still hard to do with the design shown in the image. The other item was I wanted to not only be able to work with a manually operated switch machine but also be able to control a servo operated switch machine. Thanks to Mike I revisited this yesterday and found.... ... the lever frame shown above. The levers travel about 180 degrees so a design base on this would make it easier to achieve the length of pull on the line that is needed for either of the switch machines. This morning I worked on some sketches to further analyze the problem (shown above) and I'm encourage enough that I might proceed with this. I can only put in so many hours in the shop before I'm spent so this could be a non-shop project to work on with Fusion 360. My question is from what I can figure out at this point the lever frame show above might be a European design. Anyone know if something similar was used in the States? Would I get railroaded out of the model railroad community if I was to use it on a layout running UP equipment . There is no way I can 3D print and make an exact copy of the lever machine shown but maybe get something that would kind of resemble it for the side of the layout. Comments, ideas, ??? Sumner P.S. For anyone looking there is a really nice lever frame out there now...Cobalt-S Signal Box Lever. It is way nicer than what I might be able to come up with but also I like to do my own thing if possible so won't go that route but it might be the right path for someone else.
I've been thinking about this, too - I had a couple hairbrained ideas that were pretty complex but I've whittled it down to this idea that might be simple enough: The key here is that red "pulley" (3D printed) at the pivot point of the lever. Whatever amount of travel you need in that fishing line can be managed by the diameter of that pulley. The green lever has no real function, for simplicity, but could be spring loaded to add fun factor but still keeping it simple. The brown part is what would show above floor/desk level, 3D printed, two black dots are stopper bolts to control the amount of arc travel allowed for the main lever. This really looks like it could be a fun project as long as it's kept simple! See - now that I'm looking at this picture in the post, the pulley can be simplified further by removing the pulley altogether and putting a pin or screw on the lever where the pulley edge would have intersected with the lever - you get slightly less travel than the arc of a pulley, but still have control over distance traveled. -Mike
Yes, the U.S. had plenty of levers back in the day. Seems to me there's something to be said for rods, because they can not only be pulled, they can be pushed. Otherwise you need a spring on one end to keep your fishing line taut, and a ratchet on the other to keep the lever in position. That, or arrange it so there's an eccentric, so moving it over center causes the spring pressure to hold it in that position too.
On Mikes design..or any for that matter. Wouldn't you need the line to go over the pulley and go back to the turnout...but on the other side of the track...to pull the points back when the lever is moved in the opposite direction ??? That made perfect sense in my head...LOL !! Something along this design would work pretty good with fishing line attached to opposite sides of the points !
Thanks for the input guys. Here is a little info on what I have now that works. Both of these use a line to control the switch machine and both switch machines work against the line to throw the turnout back the other way when the line is released. One uses a spring and the other a weight. They both are reliable and consistent in operation so this exercise would hopefully end up with something that is more prototypical looking and acting to control the line. The 'Spring Switcher' that needs the least amount of travel.... http://1fatgmc.com/RailRoad/Trackwork/page-54.html .... and .... ... and the 'Gravity Switcher' that needs a little more travel to lift the weight.. http://1fatgmc.com/RailRoad/Trackwork/page-26-c.html .... and .... I showed both being controlled with the 'Toggle Switcher' (also the 'Slide Switcher') but both can be controlled by other options. I'm looking at the design in the next option as the lever rotates the drum 180 degrees so more travel with a smaller diameter drum. With the under floor ones the top of the handle moves a long ways to achieve much distance traveled under the floor. I wouldn't want the handle to move more than about 60 degrees with this design or it will stick out too far for my layout. With the one above the handle moves more that 60 degrees but rotates down pretty much back out of the way. With the 180 degree rotation the drum diameter can be smaller and I might be able to make the complete assembly under 4 inches tall which I'd like to do. I've never seen this type of lever arrangement before so I'm wondering if it has ever been used in the states. Sumner
