Research on Past Work

Full-Scale Track Expansion Research

Team Members:

Dustin Lien

Nilupa Gunartne

Guojun Peng

Description

            The main focus for the full-scale track expansion this summer session is to design the “curved” section for the previous full-scale track. The design should also complement a “split” in between the two paths for the track. The split section in the track should easily be interfaced on the straight portion of the track, designed by the previous group. The last goal for the project is to design the curve track that would be easily replicable for mass production. Due to budget concerns, the project will try to replicate the actual design with wooden beams when fabricating the design.

Past Work

            It is important to note that the previous team only focused on the straight portion, as they said that the team was understaffed to handle the curved portion of the track. It is also important to note that the previous team modeled the track out of wood, because the expense cost would be unreasonable with their given budget. The wooden model was also scaled down to reduce cost and enable the team to store the model in the Spartan Superway Design Collaborative warehouse.

The previous full-scale track expansion team supported the track, where the bogey would be allowed to travel on the track. The track consists of two wooden beams for each wheel on the bogey, and the wheels would have enough clearance, where the wheels would be nearly centered on each beam. There is a small gap between each wooden beam for the bogey to suspend the trolley cart. The track is supported and held by two U-shaped beams, where the track is supported at each end. Regarding the actual design of the track, the general concept is similar to the wood model, but is imposed with the idea of using steel. The tracks would be supported using a cross section of steel beams to reinforce and hold the track up. The pillars of the steel columns would be bolted into the ground with the help of some additional steel bars to reinforce the column itself.

The design from the 1/12-scale track team modeled the track simplistically, but also designed the curved portion of the track. The design used a third rail, that was above the main tracks to guide the bogey in one of two directions. The track did not include an actual switch on the track, but it the switch was more dependent on the bogey design. The scaled-down model only included the third rail, that enabled the bogey to switch and guide the cart in the desired direction.

Useful Ideas

            The previous full-scale track wooden model would be used as the central idea for the design because the design should be an expansion on the design and should be integrated with the design. With integration in mind, the U-shaped beams should be used in a similar fashion to support the curved section of the track, the challenge would be designing U-shaped beams for the split. With a straight track, the U-shaped beams are easier to support the track because the track is centered with respect to the brackets. The U-shaped brackets also were analyzed and are affirmed to support the track.

            The design will also use the idea of the third rail from the 1/12-scale team because it allows the bogey to follow which path at will. This idea would have to be discussed with the bogey team to assure both design coincide. This idea is well worth the time to explore and use because it meets the design requirements of the split, and it allows the bogey/control team to control the direction travelled.

           

Commercial Products

            Train tracks have a similar concept where it uses a third rail to guide the train in a specific direction. This concept should be applied to the full-scale track because the third rail would restrict the cart in going one way, thus making the cart go the other direction. Instead of having the switch on the track itself, it would be above the track, and the bogey would be actually switching.