135 - How to Design a Lift Gate with Safety Stops

[@RoyEltham]

Nice lift gate setup. I like the pully and weight system especially.

[@DubaiTrains]

Thanks. The pulley system just hit me one day. It took only 5 minutes to set up!

[@frankhellman6879]

I do love the putter shaped train stop. The shape is perfect. Reminds me of the early industrial machinery.

[@DubaiTrains]

Form follows function!

[@SevenWelt]

Hello, Very Nice work from you!👍

[@DubaiTrains]

Thanks Steven

[@SevenWelt]

@@DubaiTrains 😀

[@dundasjunctionmodelr.r-jam8267]

I like the counter weight idea, my lift gate is in the middle, Hinges must higher than track height to work, great idea ,

[@DubaiTrains]

Thanks. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with!

[@graham9473]

Good point with the power and stopper

[@4everdc302]

Cool lift gate with the unconventional shape. 🚂🇨🇦🇦🇪🚃🚃🙋

[@DubaiTrains]

It always starts out as an easy project.... But once you get in the details it quickly 'lifts' out of hand.

[@robertlewis7237]

THANK YOU FOR DETAILED VIDEO AS GREAT WATCHING

[@DubaiTrains]

You are welcome!

[@robertschmidt6383]

Good idea and implementation. Hard subject to address. What works for you is the right one. 👍😊

[@DubaiTrains]

Thanks. No topic is too hard to address! But yes it is not easy.

[@SouthShorePlasticSurgery]

Your counterweight looks to me to be a VERY old top block to a wood-workers plane. I believe that would have clamped down the blade to a lower block, which would have been flat on the bottom with a slot in it for the blade to pass through. I believe the hole in your "counterweight" is for not only attachment of the top block to the bottom block, but, you would also be able to tighten / loosen the blade by tightening or loosening the fastener that passed through the hole, thus adjusting and fine tuning the position of the blade. This would be my best guess. As for the work on the lift gate, well done! Looking forward to see the entire system implemented! Jonathan

[@DubaiTrains]

Thanks Jonathan. I have been using the life gate for over a year now and it works great. The only part I did change is the rubber band, that broke within weeks. I updated it with a cable and counter weight.

[@grahammoores7244]

great job just a thought drill a hole were the coupler contacts the golf club so it makes contact on the buffers

[@DubaiTrains]

Ah ok. to better align the gate with the benchwork.

[@grahammoores7244]

no so that the impact is on the buffer not the coupler @@DubaiTrains

[@fredpryde8555]

i been looking to build a lift gate what a great idea thanks man

[@DubaiTrains]

Your welcome. Have fun building it!

[@gerdeguelle1967]

Nice video update I like it.

[@ronduz1281]

👍👍👍Awesome engineering

[@DubaiTrains]

Paying off that degree one lift gate at a time 😂

[@redhound4889]

Hi, you could use a 'bar/counter flap catch', to secure the gate when open.

[@DubaiTrains]

Thats Red. I had to look that one up. That's exactly what can work! Let me mention it in my next vlog. I like my counterweight for now as it also releaves a part of the weight. Imagine someone accidentally letting go of the bridge, now the fall will be dampened or even stopped.

[@michaeldeckert6023]

Great progress! Did I miss what kind of hinge you used on the wall side of the gate? Is it a piano hinge?

[@DubaiTrains]

Hi Michael, you didn't miss it because i didn't mention it ;-) Yes i used a piano hinge.

[@donaldshroyer8633]

Counterpoint : I use a duck under facilitated by a mechanics stool. I glide back and forth, never impacting the train paths.

[@DubaiTrains]

Hi Donald. I had a duckunder before but always found it an excersize to use it. In practice the gate is always open unless I'm running trains. For now I'm working more on the layout than running trains.

[@JDobbs726]

I could be wrong but that metal weight looks like a brace for the rails or for one in a switch.

[@DubaiTrains]

It does look a bit like a brace, but how would it work. The hole is in the wrong place.

[@JDobbs726]

Not reay sure that's just what came to mind.

[@Peepjouster27]

Love the mechanical stops, but I can't help but wonder how an electrical stop could be incorporated, with power districts on either side which would cutoff power upon lifting

[@Peepjouster27]

MOSFETs and spring loaded pins to complete the signal circuit maybe 🤔

[@DubaiTrains]

The issue is that the unpowered section of track needs to be far too long. It would leed half way into the switching area.

[@Peepjouster27]

@@DubaiTrains makes sense, did get the gears turning in my head though. And well done again on the mechanical implementation, that’s remarkably clean in my opinion

[@DubaiTrains]

@@Peepjouster27 Thats good! Keep those gears turning. What works for me doesn't have to work for you.

[@l.rod2827]

Nice design, bridges always present a challenge as each application is unique to the layout. I agree with the safety stop approach with your layout, electrical safety switches wouldn't work as well. I used the safety switches as my layout design didn't require it, but I also can run into the same issue should I run them in reverse for any reason. I used a linear actuator for the lifting mechanism. Check out my video... Model RailRoad Bridge Episode 2

[@DubaiTrains]

A linear actuator sounds fancy! You could equip that with a motion sensors so the gate opens automatically when you approach it. Of course all interlocked with the rail traffic ;-)