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- #1001 Switchman Uncoupling Tool 2 Pcs. $1.99
- #1011 Accumate Standard Size Magnetic Coupler 2 Pair $1.59
- #1012 Accumate Standard Size Magnetic Coupler 12 Pair $8.98
- #1013 Accumate Medium Shank Magnetic Coupler with Coupler Boxes $1.98
- #1015 Accumate Standard Size Magnetic Coupler 2 Pair with Coupler
Boxes $1.79
- #1075 Accumate Standard Size Magnetic Coupler 60 Pair $37.00 Buy
Online
- #1020 PROTO:HO Scale Size Coupler
- 2 pair w/draft gear boxes & screws $2.98 AVAILABLE
AT YOUR HOBBY RETAILER
- #1030 PROTO:HO Scale Size Coupler
- 12 pair w/draft gear boxes & screws $15.98 AVAILABLE
AT YOUR HOBBY RETAILER
- #1080 PROTO:HO Scale Size Coupler - 50 pair w/draft gear boxes
& screws $59.98 BUY
ONLINE
- #1002 Drill Jig for PROTO:HO Scale Size Coupler - $2.98 BUY
ONLINE
Proto: HO Accumate® Information:
Pushing to the final frontiers of railroad
model detailing, ACCURAIL has developed the first HO scale magnetic coupler
that is a correctly scaled and proportioned representation of the prototype.
Previous offerings in this field have suffered from poor appearance due
to incorrect proportions; the width and length of the coupler are more
than one third oversize, while the height is actually undersize, in an
attempt to reduce the overall bulk of the coupler. Because of the increase
in length, model cars coupled in a train have more than the correct amount
of space between cars. In addition, the standard mounting box that has
been in use for these couplers for over forty years is wider than a correctly
scaled replica of the car center sill, making the detailing of this important
area of the model impossible.
The PROTO HO ACCUMATE ®
is correctly sized, and is shaped
to model the appearance of the actual AAR type E coupler. The length of
the coupler, when mounted in its own draft gear box, is designed to provide
the scale striker to coupler pulling face distance. The draft gear box
itself is detailed to represent the prototype sills, draft lugs, and coupler
yoke. This box is long enough to extend all the way to the body bolster
on a model of a typical car, but can be cut shorter if need be. In this
shortened form, the PROTO HO ACCUMATE
® is
adaptable to HOn3.
Although the PROTO HO ACCUMATE®
features a reduced profile, this profile is designed to mate with the
standard couplers used in HO scale. While the width of the coupler shank
has been decreased to fit the narrow draft gear, a corresponding increase
has been made in the depth of each half-shank, so the resulting shanks
have 95% of the cross section, and therefore strength, of the standard
ACCUMATE ®
One of the potential drawbacks of
a non-standard draft gear box is the difficulty of retrofitting existing
equipment, and this, too, has been addressed. The new scale width draft
gear is narrow enough to fit entirely in-between the sides of the standard
coupler box molded into the floor of most kits today, and the PROTO
HO draft gear box can be installed on the existing surface while still
maintaining the correct coupler height. Even the location of the new
mounting screw holes has been considered, and was carefully placed to
miss any existing holes.
[Entire coupler box assembly]
[Closeup] [Assembly
using existing coupler box]
[Comparison photo 1] [Comparison
photo 2]
Standard Accumate® Information
Introducing the patented ACCUMATE® coupler from Accurail®, the results
of eighteen months of design and development work. We have met our goal
to design a model railroad coupler that is simple, functional, and economical
to manufacture.
The ACCUMATE® consists of two shank pieces that pivot around a common
post, herein referred to as the hook, which carries the knuckle profile,
and the blade. When coupled, the hooks are sprung into engagement, much
like the common horn-hook style coupler, the blades provide the buffing,
or pushing, surface. An interlock between the hook and blade limit their
motion relative to one another, and provide for a stable surface to be
pushed against.
The integrally molded springs are sized to bias the hook toward the coupled
position, and are located within the coupler box where there is enough
room for springs designed to operate at a low level of strain, as in the
familiar horn-hook. A stop molded onto the blade prevents the hooks from
springing past the gathering range of the knuckle profile.
A mild steel pin is mounted to the underside of the hook so that a magnet
mounted in the track can draw it aside to effect uncoupling. In addition,
the inside of the knuckle profile is shaped generally circular, so that
a specially shaped tool, the SWITCHMAN® can be inserted and rotated
to easily spring the couplers apart without jamming or snagging as is
the case with existing pivoted knuckle designs.
Note that the knuckle profile has NO draft angle. This is important
because this feature significantly increases the number of cars that can
be pulled in a train, as the draft angle in operation becomes a camming
angle that tends to lift one coupler over and out of its mate. See the
recent MicroTrains® advertising in the Hobby press for a discussion
of this topic and their solution to it.
This is simply the BEST model railroad coupler design for the serious
hobbyist. Easy, reliable, hands-off uncoupling anywhere on the layout
with the use of the specially designed SWITCHMAN® uncoupling tool,
while retaining the advantages of remote magnetic operation, too. Draftless
knuckle profile allows operation of long, heavy trains without the effects
of "coupler rideup". Mates with all brands of magnetic couplers currently
on the market.
More features of the ACCUMATE® coupler:
- No tiny springs or small metal stampings to lose or destroy.
- No tiny feathers of plastic to deform when cars are left in a compressed
configuration
- They can be easily uncoupled manually with the use of an ingenious
device known as the SWITCHMAN®. The special shape on the end
of this little gem is inserted between the knuckles, given a twist,
and voila! the cars come uncoupled. Try that with the other
couplers in the field and you're sure to be frustrated
- The ease of operation makes this coupler infinitely easier to use
than the current train-set coupler (X2F) which is almost impossible
to uncouple.
- Made of tough 21st century resins, not pot-metal!
U. S. Patent #s. 5,620,106 and 5,931,322
Accurail and Accumate are registered trademarks of Accurail Inc.
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