Lever Frames

Discussions of the prototypes and how to model them. Show us how you do it.
The_Prisoner
Posts: 4
Joined: Sun Jul 20, 2008 7:44 pm

Lever Frames

Postby The_Prisoner » Thu Jan 05, 2012 3:10 pm

I need to carry out a small survey:

How many of you are using the lever frames from Ambis Engineering, MSE, Modratec, or SHAG?

Are you using any form of mechanical interlocking?

Finally, does anyone else market a similar product?

(I have also asked this on E4um)

Peter

User avatar
grovenor-2685
Forum Team
Posts: 3918
Joined: Sun Jun 29, 2008 8:02 pm

Re: Lever Frames

Postby grovenor-2685 » Thu Jan 05, 2012 4:15 pm

The SHAG version is now the Scalefour Stores version.
Mike Clark also offers a lever frame on his Masokits label.
Older, maybe not similar enough, is the GEM lever frame, which I am still using for yard points, without interlocking.
Regards
Keith
Regards
Keith
Grovenor Sidings

User avatar
Tim V
Posts: 2868
Joined: Tue Jul 29, 2008 4:40 pm

Re: Lever Frames

Postby Tim V » Thu Jan 05, 2012 4:49 pm

Scratchbuilt mine, with mechanical locking, and electric release on two levers.

Over 20 years old, no sign of wear.
Tim V
(Not all railways in Somerset went to Dorset)

User avatar
Russ Elliott
Posts: 930
Joined: Thu Jun 02, 2011 6:38 pm

Re: Lever Frames

Postby Russ Elliott » Thu Jan 05, 2012 5:06 pm

Peter - may we ask why you "need to carry out" this survey"?

User avatar
Tim V
Posts: 2868
Joined: Tue Jul 29, 2008 4:40 pm

Re: Lever Frames

Postby Tim V » Thu Jan 05, 2012 5:51 pm

Something Number 2 dreamt up.
Tim V
(Not all railways in Somerset went to Dorset)

Alan Turner
Posts: 643
Joined: Sun Jul 20, 2008 4:24 pm

Re: Lever Frames

Postby Alan Turner » Thu Jan 05, 2012 6:52 pm

AMBIS do one as well.

Alan

Pannier Tank
Posts: 56
Joined: Sun May 02, 2010 1:11 pm

Re: Lever Frames

Postby Pannier Tank » Thu Jan 05, 2012 6:57 pm

Brassmasters also do a lever frame.
Regards

David

Andrew Ullyott
Posts: 225
Joined: Fri Aug 08, 2008 2:31 pm

Re: Lever Frames

Postby Andrew Ullyott » Thu Jan 05, 2012 8:42 pm

Have a S4 (SHAG) one on Wheal Elizabeth. No problems in building and has done 20 odd shows with no problems. Mechanically linked to DPDT slide switches to change feed polarity for tortoise motors.

User avatar
barhamd
Posts: 289
Joined: Sun Jul 20, 2008 2:45 pm

Re: Lever Frames

Postby barhamd » Thu Jan 05, 2012 10:25 pm

Using a SHAG frame on my layout, 20 levers with electric interlocking via servos.

Only issue is getting a decent joint between the steel handles and the nickel silver levers, every now and again I seem to have to resolder the joint.

David Barham

Pannier Tank
Posts: 56
Joined: Sun May 02, 2010 1:11 pm

Re: Lever Frames

Postby Pannier Tank » Fri Jan 06, 2012 6:41 am

barhamd wrote:Only issue is getting a decent joint between the steel handles and the nickel silver levers, every now and again I seem to have to resolder the joint.

David Barham


Could you Braze / silver solder the joint?
Last edited by Pannier Tank on Fri Jan 06, 2012 4:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Regards

David

The_Prisoner
Posts: 4
Joined: Sun Jul 20, 2008 7:44 pm

Re: Lever Frames

Postby The_Prisoner » Fri Jan 06, 2012 9:32 am

To answer the "why are you asking/" question:

I'm developing a small electronic circuit board to link directly to the bottom of the levers and produce the necessary pulses to drive cheap radio-control servos to operate points and signals. I'm trying to find out which lever frames are the most popular, then follow up with some dimensional questions on lever pitch and throw (the manufacturers don't always seem to know the answers).

I hope to be able to sell bare circuit boards and assembled units, but I doubt I'll ever get rich on it.

I was hoping for a "one size fits all" but I already know that the Modratec lever pitch is less than MSE's so that may not be possible. For the record, I know of the Ambis and SHAG versions also.

So, if you have a lever frame, please answer the following:

1. What make?
2. What is the lever pitch?
3. What extra space is required if you put two banks of levers side-by-sise?
4. What is the maximum throw (i.e. last hole out) of the levers as supplied?

The original interlocking question was just to find out the level of interest in that - definitely non-commercial.

Off to investigate the others - GEM discounted.

Mark Tatlow
Posts: 898
Joined: Tue Dec 02, 2008 11:24 pm

Re: Lever Frames

Postby Mark Tatlow » Fri Jan 06, 2012 12:58 pm

For my part I am a user of the SHAG/Scalefour Society levers and like them a lot. Except early on, I do not have a problem with the heads of the levers coming off but I solder these on with 245 degree solder and a lot of heat right at the outset of the build so that they are really well secured.

I also have a 13 lever MSE version which I extended to 14 levers. I have to say it is a bit sloppy and when I tried to use it with microswitches they sometimes slipped between the levers. I solved this by using slide DPDT switches but if you were considering coming up with something that was compatible with the MSE version then you may need to accommodate this trait. It is a lot less of a problem with the Society version.

I might well be interested in a servo driver that was added to be integral with the lever frame, subject to it being sufficiently simple and robust as well as having the right features (programmability for bouncing signals being one).

I have seen David Barham's article on his interlocking frame in MERG's mag and had thought about doing soemthing similar but then thought it was probably a complication beyond my inclinations! I take it you have seen this? The point of his approach is that it used with a further set of servos to lock the levers so not only did they not work the turnout/signal, they were physically held until released.
Mark Tatlow

User avatar
newport_rod
Posts: 138
Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2008 12:48 pm

Re: Lever Frames

Postby newport_rod » Fri Jan 06, 2012 1:11 pm

I intend to build an interlocked frame for our club's 7mm (spit) layout and have purchased a SHAG kit as a start point. I too had seen the article in the MERG but was still thinking in terms of mechanical interlocking.
Rod

User avatar
Russ Elliott
Posts: 930
Joined: Thu Jun 02, 2011 6:38 pm

Re: Lever Frames

Postby Russ Elliott » Fri Jan 06, 2012 1:31 pm

Mark Tatlow wrote:The point of his approach is that it used with a further set of servos to lock the levers so not only did they not work the turnout/signal, they were physically held until released.

Yep. My thoughts were about some kind of wedge-shaped actuator (solenoid-driven?) that could do the mechanical locking, whilst external configurable logic (cheap diodes and gates) could do the decision-making process according to the locking chart. It's not the Tim V 'full-monty' of course, but an approach that recognises that most people's track plans will evolve and change.

lever-locker.png
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

nigelcliffe
Posts: 747
Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2008 8:31 am

Re: Lever Frames

Postby nigelcliffe » Fri Jan 06, 2012 1:56 pm

Russ Elliott wrote:
Mark Tatlow wrote:The point of his approach is that it used with a further set of servos to lock the levers so not only did they not work the turnout/signal, they were physically held until released.

Yep. My thoughts were about some kind of wedge-shaped actuator (solenoid-driven?) that could do the mechanical locking, whilst external configurable logic (cheap diodes and gates) could do the decision-making process according to the locking chart. It's not the Tim V 'full-monty' of course, but an approach that recognises that most people's track plans will evolve and change.

lever-locker.png


I originally started with a method similar to the one you have drawn.

David's method uses the top of a narrow (2.5g) servo, fitted with a tube with a slot cut in it. This is fitted directly below the base of the lever (slightly extended in his design). The servo rotates the tube through about 90 degrees. With the two slots in line with the bottom of the turnout lever, the lever can pass through the slots. With the tube rotated, the slots become "walls" and stop the lever moving.

The "logic" can be done with whatever method you find most convinient. I'm quite happy with a computer running software. But one does not need "big computers" to do the relatively simple interlocking logic, and a small microprocessor (eg. PIC) or descrete logic gates (AND, OR, NOT, etc), or some diodes and relays could do the job.


- Nigel

User avatar
Paul Townsend
Posts: 964
Joined: Mon Sep 14, 2009 6:09 pm

Re: Lever Frames

Postby Paul Townsend » Fri Jan 06, 2012 2:36 pm

1. What make?
2. What is the lever pitch?
3. What extra space is required if you put two banks of levers side-by-sise?
4. What is the maximum throw (i.e. last hole out) of the levers as supplied?

The original interlocking question was just to find out the level of interest in that - definitely non-commercial.

1. Shag/ S4
2. 10mm
3. none
4. approx 5mm. I can measure more precisely if you need it but will need to unmount it to do so.

I would be interested in your PCB for a 15 way assembly.

User avatar
grovenor-2685
Forum Team
Posts: 3918
Joined: Sun Jun 29, 2008 8:02 pm

Re: Lever Frames

Postby grovenor-2685 » Fri Jan 06, 2012 2:55 pm

Peter,
I don't see where this PCB fits in, to operate servos and provide simple adjustment of speed, end positions, bounce etc you are going to need a PIC or similar. MERG already has cheap boards designed, proven and available as kits that will do exactly this and can be controlled by the microswitches that many of the lever frames, certainly the SHAG one, already have designed in provision for.
But of coure, if designing PCBs is what you want to do, go for it.
Russ,
DavidB's rotating servos do exactly what your proposed solenoid would do, but IMHO are simpler to assemble and easier to control with available electronics and software.
Regards
Keith
Regards
Keith
Grovenor Sidings

Pannier Tank
Posts: 56
Joined: Sun May 02, 2010 1:11 pm

Re: Lever Frames

Postby Pannier Tank » Fri Jan 06, 2012 3:34 pm

newport_rod wrote:I intend to build an interlocked frame for our club's 7mm (spit) layout and have purchased a SHAG kit as a start point. I too had seen the article in the MERG but was still thinking in terms of mechanical interlocking.
Rod


I thoroughly recommend http://www.noodlebooks.co.uk/product/view/2050 it covers mechanical interlocking and makes interesting reading.
Regards

David

User avatar
John Bateson
Posts: 808
Joined: Wed Jul 02, 2008 6:39 pm

Re: Lever Frames

Postby John Bateson » Fri Jan 06, 2012 4:54 pm

Amazon - £12.25 - 3 left only
John
Slaving away still on GCR stuff ...

andrew jukes

Re: Lever Frames

Postby andrew jukes » Fri Jan 06, 2012 6:12 pm

I'm planning (eventually) to have a lever frame at Welwyn North as a local alternative to the screen-based whole-layout control of my layout. The idea is to have (probably) a SHAG frame fitted with microswitches giving simple normal/reversed one bit inputs to the Merg RPC bus used for everything on the layout, and then to have one bit outputs from the RPC bus for locking each lever. I have so far been picturing using low current solenoids and some clever mechanical lock (perhaps like Russ's drawing). It would mean having quite a few solenoids normally 'on' but provided the solenoids only involve 20mA or so (the sort of current that would allow direct connection to an RPC output), that would seem to be OK.

Going to servos for this use sounds like quite a lot more complication for little gain (always assuming I can make my approach work!).

The Merg article on a locking lever frame, so far as I can recall, seemed to involve locking and unlocking the whole frame, which didn't feel right at all.

My locking is all in software - I can't imagine doing it any other way on a large and evolving layout.

Andrew

User avatar
grovenor-2685
Forum Team
Posts: 3918
Joined: Sun Jun 29, 2008 8:02 pm

Re: Lever Frames

Postby grovenor-2685 » Fri Jan 06, 2012 6:51 pm

The Merg article on a locking lever frame, so far as I can recall, seemed to involve locking and unlocking the whole frame, which didn't feel right at all.
That was another one, look for the recent article by David Barham, Winter 2011 Journal.

Also discussed here for those not in MERG.
Keith
Regards
Keith
Grovenor Sidings

User avatar
barhamd
Posts: 289
Joined: Sun Jul 20, 2008 2:45 pm

Re: Lever Frames

Postby barhamd » Sat Jan 07, 2012 1:41 am

A better description of the servo based locking system which locks individual levers is in a more recent blog entry http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/186/entry-6813-fun-with-servo-based-interlocked-lever-frame/

David

Pannier Tank
Posts: 56
Joined: Sun May 02, 2010 1:11 pm

Re: Lever Frames

Postby Pannier Tank » Sat Jan 07, 2012 11:10 am

Scale Signal Supply also do a Lever Frame.
Regards

David

Easterner

Re: Lever Frames

Postby Easterner » Sat Jan 07, 2012 12:19 pm

I have looked at many types and I feel the SHAG one is the best around - Does anybody know when it is due back in stock?

User avatar
Paul Townsend
Posts: 964
Joined: Mon Sep 14, 2009 6:09 pm

Re: Lever Frames

Postby Paul Townsend » Sat Jan 07, 2012 12:40 pm

Easterner wrote:I have looked at many types and I feel the SHAG one is the best around - Does anybody know when it is due back in stock?


I asked about restock time a few days ago and was informed that Jeremy is awaiting the springs, and we should watch the S4 website for an announcement.

Perhaps the bod who sees it first could copy to here!


Return to “Signals and Control Systems”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: ClaudeBot and 0 guests