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Crazy Arduino Automations
Crazy Arduino Automations Blog Raising the Bridge...Automation with Arduino
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  • Author Author: colporteur
  • Date Created: 27 Mar 2023 8:22 PM Date Created
  • Views 3295 views
  • Likes 7 likes
  • Comments 23 comments
  • crazyarduinoautomationch
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Raising the Bridge...Automation with Arduino

colporteur
colporteur
27 Mar 2023

image

This design challenge presented itself at an opportune time. The model railroaders are putting the finishing touches on a bridge that requires some automation.

On the other side of the bridge is a turn-about that the tug (A) needs to reach in order to change direction. I have been asked to create the following automation sequence.

Tug triggers sensor (A) to indicate the bridge needs to raise.

Gate (B) lowers indicate no traffic to enter bridge

Bus (C) stops.

Ramp (D) re-aligns to make room for bridge movement

Bridge (E) raises.

I suspect a button (no letter on the image) on the turn-about side will be required to indicate when the tug has completed it transition and the bridge can be restored.

My initial assessment is two inputs and four outputs.

Inputs

Tug Trigger

Operations Trigger

Outputs

Motor control bridge gate

Power interruption bus

Motor control bridge ramp

Motor control bridge

I am hoping to use a Arduino Uno for the project. If you have an extra to spare you can throw it my way.

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Top Comments

  • beacon_dave
    beacon_dave over 3 years ago +1
    Bonus points if you can make the bus jump the bridge as it is being raised... 'Blues Brothers' meets 'Speed'.
Parents
  • beacon_dave
    beacon_dave over 3 years ago

    Looks like you might be missing a gate on the far side of the bridge ?

    Also there is distinct lack of flashing LED's and sirens to indicate the bridge is about to move.

    When does the camera go into the tug boat ?  Slight smile

    Power fail recovery might be an interesting one as you don't know if the tug is under the bridge when power comes back on or in which direction it was moving.

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  • colporteur
    colporteur over 3 years ago in reply to beacon_dave

    Stop by the next time your in the neighbourhood, I can use the insight.

    I'm not a model railroader and the model railroaders are not techie's. It would be nice to have someone other than myself to white board solutions. There are more appropriate ways to do some of this stuff but I just don't know them. So, they get what I know. 

    I have a few more design meetings. I was going to discuss the missing turn-about switch. I did notice the missing gate and was thinking of a sound and light addition. I will freeze the design by the end of the week so I can start a build.

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  • beacon_dave
    beacon_dave over 3 years ago in reply to beacon_dave

    It also reminds me of the Fischertechnik 'Hobby 4' elevator 

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vs89aPbv9xM

    which I never got for Xmas either...

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  • ralphjy
    ralphjy over 3 years ago in reply to beacon_dave

    You must have been really naughty Laughing.

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  • beacon_dave
    beacon_dave over 3 years ago in reply to beacon_dave

    I had forgotten that they did a few more action sets 

    Conveyor:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlSHvkBY3Oc&list=PLzIb_vTXKAG97f7Vy52ITAJdbYpi0sUGJ&index=2

    Loading tipper:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpmyHzoJ48g&list=PLzIb_vTXKAG97f7Vy52ITAJdbYpi0sUGJ&index=3

    Tipping wagon:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wro9IOxEs0Q&list=PLzIb_vTXKAG97f7Vy52ITAJdbYpi0sUGJ&index=4

    probably because I didn't get any them for Xmas either...

    Looks like they could have done with a track sweeping wagon to clean up the spillage. Might be worth considering if the railway club plans on running a  mining track layout continually for long periods of time. Some sort of spillage catchment tray.

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  • colporteur
    colporteur over 3 years ago in reply to beacon_dave

    My plan is for limit switches.

    The motor used is offering some challenges. It doesn't lock when voltage is removed. Also when the bridge starts down, gravity takes hold and it comes down fast. I have to do some damping of sorts.

    No one stopped to test the motor and assembly before starting the bridge build. The motor was found at a parts store. After applying voltage to see that it worked off they went to build the bridge.

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  • beacon_dave
    beacon_dave over 3 years ago in reply to colporteur

    Can't you balance it a bit using the counterbalance or won't the bearing take the additional weight ?

    BTW your alias appeared on an etymology podcast today...

    https://podcasts.google.com/... ('colporteur' etymology')

    Skip to about 8mins from the end... 

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  • beacon_dave
    beacon_dave over 3 years ago in reply to colporteur

    Can't you balance it a bit using the counterbalance or won't the bearing take the additional weight ?

    BTW your alias appeared on an etymology podcast today...

    https://podcasts.google.com/... ('colporteur' etymology')

    Skip to about 8mins from the end... 

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