Manual Controlled
Silo Truck
Manual operated Silo Truck, equipped with a pneumatic system for loading/unloading the Silo.
This pneumatic system is powered by a Power Functions medium motor, driving a pneumatic pump.
The system contains 5 cylinders and 24 pneumatic tubes, powered by a medium motor connected to a pneumatic pump.
As well, the same medium motor drives the cabin tilting or the rear outriggers extension, depending on a switch box selection.
Other manual functions are driving & steering, and extending the rear bumper necessary due to the overhaul of the silo.
Both rear twin-wheels have differentials, powering a 8 cylinder fake motor, a large fan in the bumper and 2 mini fans in the grille.
Of course, the silo bucket can be opened or closed.
This pneumatic system is powered by a Power Functions medium motor, driving a pneumatic pump.
The system contains 5 cylinders and 24 pneumatic tubes, powered by a medium motor connected to a pneumatic pump.
As well, the same medium motor drives the cabin tilting or the rear outriggers extension, depending on a switch box selection.
Other manual functions are driving & steering, and extending the rear bumper necessary due to the overhaul of the silo.
Both rear twin-wheels have differentials, powering a 8 cylinder fake motor, a large fan in the bumper and 2 mini fans in the grille.
Of course, the silo bucket can be opened or closed.
Functions
Technical
Steering axles 1 & 2
Working V8 engine with
3 cooling fans
Double differentials
Pneumatic Silo tipping
Pneumatic Silo lifting
powered by medium motor
Automated cabin tilting
or outriggers extension
selected by a switch-box
powered by medium motor
Working V8 engine with
3 cooling fans
Double differentials
Pneumatic Silo tipping
Pneumatic Silo lifting
powered by medium motor
Automated cabin tilting
or outriggers extension
selected by a switch-box
powered by medium motor
Manual
Cabin door open/close
Foldable seats to access
sleeping bed
Rear bumper extension
Foldable seats to access
sleeping bed
Rear bumper extension
Specifications
Dimensions
Length - 56 cm
Width - 14,5 cm
Silo loaded
Height - 22,5 cm
Silo raised
Height - 34,5 cm
Weight - ~3,2 kg
Width - 14,5 cm
Silo loaded
Height - 22,5 cm
Silo raised
Height - 34,5 cm
Weight - ~3,2 kg
Parts
2.835
Building Info
541 pages - PDF
Credit Card, iDEAL or PayPal
Example Instructions
Parts Inventory
Photo - Video shoot: Industrial area Amsterdam Rijnkanaal, Breukelen & Loenersloot, The Netherlands
Bumper retracted
Development process
A mobile Silo Truck was several years on my designing wish-list. I never started to design this truck earlier, as I was convinced that a 'full 90 degree' tipping of the silo platform required the 'long pneumatic cylinders' (11 studs long instead of 5 studs for the standard cylinder), being not available until 2015.
Simultaneously operation of 2 pneumatic 'twin-cylinder' stages
The silo tipping is performed in 2 stages. both operated simultaneously.
The 1st stage is the traditional tipping of the platform with a twin-cylinder setup, nothing unusual. However, this 1st stage is connected on a 'sliding unit' in the truck's chassis (!)
This sliding unit is driven by 2 horizontal cylinders, pushing the 'sliding unit' to the rear side of the truck; the 2nd stage.
The beauty of this solution is the pneumatic system balances itself in the force needed for extraction, both horizontal and vertical, as both stages are connected to the same air in/outlets
Why such a solution?
This has all to do with the short distance (only 6 studs) between the platform's rotating point on the truck's chassis, and the mounting point of the twin-cylinders on the platform. Simple said: the shorter the distance, the more force (momentum) is required to tip the platform. In real life, cylinders do have a long stroke and much more force as the cylinder extraction is based on oil (un-compressible).
In LEGO®, 2 flaws needed to be addressed; the short cylinder stroke and extraction based on air (compressible).
The silo itself was developed first in the MLcad (CAD/CAM) program, to be able to calculate the overall silo weight.
After a couple of redesigns the weight was downsized from 850 to ~685 gram. Not much, but significant in the LEGO® scale!
A mobile Silo Truck was several years on my designing wish-list. I never started to design this truck earlier, as I was convinced that a 'full 90 degree' tipping of the silo platform required the 'long pneumatic cylinders' (11 studs long instead of 5 studs for the standard cylinder), being not available until 2015.
Simultaneously operation of 2 pneumatic 'twin-cylinder' stages
The silo tipping is performed in 2 stages. both operated simultaneously.
The 1st stage is the traditional tipping of the platform with a twin-cylinder setup, nothing unusual. However, this 1st stage is connected on a 'sliding unit' in the truck's chassis (!)
This sliding unit is driven by 2 horizontal cylinders, pushing the 'sliding unit' to the rear side of the truck; the 2nd stage.
The beauty of this solution is the pneumatic system balances itself in the force needed for extraction, both horizontal and vertical, as both stages are connected to the same air in/outlets
Why such a solution?
This has all to do with the short distance (only 6 studs) between the platform's rotating point on the truck's chassis, and the mounting point of the twin-cylinders on the platform. Simple said: the shorter the distance, the more force (momentum) is required to tip the platform. In real life, cylinders do have a long stroke and much more force as the cylinder extraction is based on oil (un-compressible).
In LEGO®, 2 flaws needed to be addressed; the short cylinder stroke and extraction based on air (compressible).
The silo itself was developed first in the MLcad (CAD/CAM) program, to be able to calculate the overall silo weight.
After a couple of redesigns the weight was downsized from 850 to ~685 gram. Not much, but significant in the LEGO® scale!
Bumper extended
