Uncoupling

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#259749 (In Topic #14186)
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Yet another uncoupling system for tension couplings

Yet another uncoupling method for tension couplings.
 
I have recently fitted 20 turnouts, a double scissors crossover, 3 double slips and two three-way turnouts with ‘wire-in-tube’ method of operation and been very pleased with the results. (This isn’t intended as a boast, just a necessity, because the station I’m modelling needs these to operate as the prototype did back in the sixties). So, I began to wonder if it would be possible to use W.I.T to operate an uncoupling ramp
All that is required is to transfer a horizontal motion into a vertical one and that can be easily accomplished with a crank but I wanted something a little easier that didn’t rely on my accurate measurements and spending time working overhead under my baseboard. Old age and bifocals are a nightmare for that.
So, I used brass tube of 2.38mm (3/32”) OD and an ID of about 1.5mm and that easily took the W.I.T. which is 1.0mm OD. The bending took a bit of practice but there are lots of bending tools on the market. As long as you get smooth curves and no kinks you should be OK; the PTFE tube of the W.I.T. is very slippery.
Then I found I needed square tube for a socket under the track and a square tube to slide up inside. Both readily available with the added attraction that one size fits neatly into the next size up. Circular tube is a no-no because it spins round and fouls the track.
The real trick is to fit the 0.5mm piano wire into the moving brass tube. It doesn’t solder so you have to use a physical method to trap the wire so it can push and pull. Just bend over the wire, poke it into the moving square tube and melt solder into the hole. There isn’t a lot of strain and it is just a straight up and down push or pull. Even super glue might work but I don’t like SG much in case it gets where it isn’t wanted.
Getting the W.I.T. to where I wanted it on the top of the baseboard was the easy bit.
I felt I ought to pass on this method because somebody might find it useful and I’ve been so pleased with the results I felt I should share it with others.
Obviously, I can pass on more details if anybody is interested.
 
Chris
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I forgot to mention I've six put some photos in my picture gallery.

Chris
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Can you post a photo here Chris - it's a bit difficult to imagine what you've achieved from the write up.  It could of course, just be me but they always say a photograph is worth a thousand words …… :cool wink

'Petermac
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Sol
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Sol is in the usergroup ‘Super-moderators’
Petermac, if you click on
  view photos in gallery on Chris's thread, you will see all photos.

Ron
NCE DCC ; 00 scale UK outline.
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You can get away with using just round tube/wire by putting another locating pin/hole on the ramp to stop it from spinning

Cheers

Andy
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That is absolutely true, I just happened to have some square tube in my scrap box and being lazy went for the easier option.

Chris
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