New method of driving HO steam

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I was reading about heavy desiels recieving electronic controls that will eliminate the componets such as the timing chain, camshafts and rollers that are required to open and close the cylinder valves as the engine progresses thru the intake, compression/detonation and exhaust cycle. There are electronic motors that activate the valve using electrical power under the command of the ESC (Engine Systems Controller)

Here is my idea. Toss the can motors and the gearing out from inside the boiler of the HO scale steamer.

Install a electrically driven actuator inside the cylinders and use the rods to actually drive the HO Engine. Use the now empty space in the boiler for weight, computer circut boards or whatever else may need to go in there.

Good idea or bad idea?

2

From an engineers stand point, Bad Idea

The actuator is nothing more really than a solenoid pushing a rod. It’s a on/off proposition really (unless you use spring force feed back.) Slow accurate control would be next to impossible, and the added weight of the fly wheel to control speed would be missing.

Sorry to burst your bubble.

Actuators have been the pipe dream of the automobile industry for years as a way to replace cams. Unfortunately it’s just too complex and weighty for them to use either.

~Don