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Post by konkos on May 27, 2008 6:58:34 GMT
Hello everybody,
General question hoping this is the right area for it. I am in the process of building 7 1/4" guage, 2" scale diesel CO CO that is to be powered by a 4 cyl petrol motor coupled up to a 200 amp aircraft generator which in turn will power the 6X 450watt traction motors. I have made a great deal of progress with the bogies (trucks). The drive-train I have chosen from electric motor to axle will be belt drive. Basically 5mm X 19mm or could even go to 25mm if I need to.
My question is open to all and feedback is sought form other with these drive systems. I am quite confident that it will all come together, but a few people I have spoken to are suggesting otherwise - IE belts snapping and stretching. Advice and input on matter please.
konkos
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ianmac
Part of the e-furniture
Posts: 308
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Post by ianmac on May 30, 2008 3:00:07 GMT
Not being an expert at this topic but if we apply some logic to it we can rule a few things out.
Have the guys from the doom and gloom dept look in the engine bay of their car. Even if you need to go with a wider belt its no great drama. Simply slip on a wider pully which are all avaliable commercially very cheaply.
Even if the belt was to stretch slightly its only a matter of undoing the nuts that hold the generator in place and retentioning it. Rubber belts are used in a variey of appliactions. Timing belt?
I have a 442 class petrol electic loco that i inherited. It was always a bad peformer and i think the motor was undersize to begin with. The plan in the future is to keep the petrol engine in the loco but have it charge the batteries and pull power from the batteries. If you went up a small grade the engine struggled and barley made it up with a small child and me!
I think that a petrol driven 5" loco is too small for housing an appropriate powerplant. Others might disagree??? At least with a petrol engine charging the batteries you can get a full day of fun out of it.
One thing to add is chain might be more efficent. rubber as it moved would generate some friction where as chain would have hardly any friction.
Ian
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Post by ausdan on May 30, 2008 10:55:17 GMT
Regarding the belt drive, have you seen the article in the current aussie AME on David Lees two GMs
I have seen and spoken to him at two of the last conventions and his drive system is outstanding, he has no slippage and if the load is to great he said his wheels slip every time not the belts
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Post by konkos on Jun 4, 2008 10:09:02 GMT
Thanks for your replies all. Firstly - YES, the timing belt system was the main reason as to why I choose it and also the Harley bikes use them even though they are not quite the same.
I have seen the article on the 2 GM's and I am surprised that a 5" loco could be done using belt drive, but well done I say. I am confident that it should/will work fully as expected. I would have liked to fit wider pulleys but the motors only just fit between the back to back of the wheels so very room is left for increasing pulleys. The 6 motors run parallel with the axles . I will however need to check out if there are stronger or different compounded belts around if the problem does arise.
konkos
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Post by the_viffer on Jun 5, 2008 21:37:02 GMT
I think that a petrol driven 5" loco is too small for housing an appropriate powerplant. Others might disagree??? At least with a petrol engine charging the batteries you can get a full day of fun out of it. One thing to add is chain might be more efficent. rubber as it moved would generate some friction where as chain would have hardly any friction. Ian Err yes I disagree. I have two 5" petrol locos. One is a narrow gauge outline powered by a Honda 90 chain driving two bogies. The most significant limiter to performance is stopping rather than pulling. I have never dared open it right up. I also have a standardish gauge outline loco where a Honda 50 powers a LandRover alternator which floats a charge over a battery. Final drive is two old Sinclair C5 motors which are now probably worth more than my house driving the bogie via flexible belt. This area of the site is principally about a supplier of kits locos and more comment would probably be given if the question were posted on the main part. |
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ianmac
Part of the e-furniture
Posts: 308
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Post by ianmac on Jun 6, 2008 2:49:36 GMT
Sorry your quite right a narow gauge outline would in most instances have space and i did generalise my comments.
The loco i have is a 442 AME outline locomotive.
What i should have rightfully pointed out is that in this instance a petrol engine , in this case a honda is too small to cope in the unit.
I feel that it would be a perfect peformer if it was reworked. generator + battery bank = All day fun
Ian
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Post by konkos on Jun 11, 2008 9:58:05 GMT
It certainly seems that we all have different views on the subject, but it also seems that the principal of the belt works. I will press ahead with the concept and will keep others informed on it's success. Maybe I should have posted this question in another part of the forum but I am still feeling my way in the dark so I hope I will be forgiven for my error.
konkos
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isc
Statesman
Posts: 708
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Post by isc on Jun 24, 2009 12:42:33 GMT
I'm not a rail type,but I would use toothed belts-plenty of choise,if belt be the way,otherwise I would go to chain,I would think cycle chain would work ok,but what would I know!
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Post by oldunone on Jul 7, 2009 20:00:17 GMT
On reading the advice given, which I agree with. Have you thought of Pollt V drives. These are quieter than timing belt drives but just as compact.
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