Magnetic coupler uncoupling schemes

[mattinair]

So far I've put magnetic couplers on 4 cars> I've been using 2 or 3 motorized units with a magnetic coupler on the rear and no coupler at all up front(for pushing)> Assembling groups of cars on the siding is pretty easy> I've got the one uncoupler pictured below

DSCN1434_01.JPG (51.1 KiB) Viewed 5068 times

Disassembling groups of cars is going to be more difficult> It'l require a larger piece of magnet on the motorized unit and at least 2 uncouplers (push the whole group except the lead car past the uncoupler. raise the rod...the larger magnet on the motorized unit will assure the car leaves with the motorized units...at the 2nd uncoupler detach the car... go turn the motorized units around and push it to its destination...repeat...Whew!)

I'm working on schemes for placing uncouplers around the layout (RED "u"s)....the green "c"s are supposed to be cars....go figure

DSCN1403_01.JPG (66.62 KiB) Viewed 5068 times

[mattinair]

More on the decoupler.... I'm using the same servo controller type as I used on the switch servos.....but I've blacked out one of the LEDs on the push buttons...the one LED is red when the uncoupling peg is raised and green when it is lowered..

DSCN1517_01.JPG (91.74 KiB) Viewed 4953 times

There's almost no load on the servo so the wooden bracket is attached to the underside of the layout with a couple of pieces of servo tape.....I'm using a thin plastic rod running through a small aluminium tube for the peg....

DSCN1526_01.JPG (53.79 KiB) Viewed 4953 times

Here' a photo of the peg in the raised position....

DSCN1519_01.JPG (71.26 KiB) Viewed 4953 times

And here's the peg in lowered position....

DSCN1521_01.JPG (68.47 KiB) Viewed 4953 times

I've been playing with this first mockup and as long as I stop the train slowly and precisely it's working really well.....

[SmallCentral]

Nice job Simple and clever System from TVD for the servo

[mattinair]

Thanks
Yes I got the servo controllers from Tam Valley Depot ....
I'm using these little remote box controllers I got form Tguage.com

DSCN1452_01.JPG (45.42 KiB) Viewed 4911 times

....Also at least 2 motorized units because the back edge of the car to be uncoupled has to be less than 1/8th inch from the peg....
I've noticed alota people on this forum discussing various sensors etc for precisely stopping trains......
But for now I'm just going to darken the peg to make it less visible and install some dioramic feature adjacent to the peg to use as a guide..

[mattinair]

Looking at all the beautiful prototype layouts on this forum please keep in mind that my layout is a toy train set layout....
I've got 4 uncouplers installed one on each of the side lines one the main line and one on the reverse line....

DSCN1586_01.JPG (89.23 KiB) Viewed 4812 times