Balancing Brake Gear

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

I have simple brake gear for an 0-4-0 but I don't know the best way to get a balanced action.

The brakes on each side are joined by a cross bar, and I have tried putting a variable length connecting bar bewteen them but this clearly isn't good enough. I understand the best way is to have the pull from the weighshaft top the centre of a lever with two equal arms that then pull the centre of the two basr that connect the pairs of brakes. But how long/short should the balancing lever be, how far ahead of the brakes and should it pivot horizontally or vertically?

Neil

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

At the risk of talking to myself, all the examples I can find use quite long levers, but I can't see hey shorter ones won't do the job, if reasonably accurately made.

I've made a triangular link with three holes at roughly 3/16" centres to fit on the rear cross bar it has a link to the front cross bar and the centre hole will go to the brake lever.

I intend to use back-emf braking, so I only need the brakes to come on for 'show' and it only needs a very gentle movement to get the brakes on and off. I have made the lever to apply the brakes using a small solenoid (the manual crank is a no-no as it would be in the cab which will be full of battery!)

My brake blocks swing around a little to much… how far should they withdraw from the tyre when off, and is there an easy way of 'stiffening' them up – I thought of a small leaf spring inside the block?

Neil

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

Neil, sorry you have not had a specific reply from anyone.

On my loco the brake beams are suspended from hangers outside the chassis, they have a central pull and the hangers allow the brakes to take a neutral position just clear of the tyre.

This means that any difference on application is equalled across the beam.

The best way to firm up the brake pad would be a weak scissor spring that will stop any rattle and keep the pad flat faced to the tyre.

Clive

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

Thanks Clive,

I think I know what you mean by a scissor spring – I can see that working better than my idea of a single leaf.

Neil

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