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glossary:blong [2013/05/12 11:05]
Bob Vetterlein |
glossary:blong [2020/09/14 17:41] (current)
grovenor [The Block Oriented N-Gauge (BloNg)] |
| ==== The Block Oriented N-Gauge (BloNg) ==== | ====== The Block Oriented N-Gauge (BloNg) ====== |
| This system is of historical significance only, but as the forerunner of the MERG superBloc system its origins may be of interest.\\ [[:glossary:start|Back to Main Glossary index]] | This system is of historical significance only, but as the forerunner of the MERG superBloc system its origins may be of interest. Note that the BC3 (Superbloc) kits have been discontinued but all information is held in MERG to allow self build.\\ [[:glossary:start|Back to Main Glossary index]] |
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| The system automates the Absolute Block principle whereby trains drivers are constrained by signals that indicate the occupancy of the section ahead. Each Block Section is electrically isolated from its neighbours and is powered by its own controller, colloquially known as "a BloNg". All such "BloNgs" are powered form a common, nominally 20V DC power supply, which establishes a zero-volt reference. Each "BloNg" incorporates track circuit detection whose state is transmitted on a single signal wire to the Block Section in the rear to set the state of its Block Signal to Danger (if occupied) or Clear otherwise (ie to red or green). | The system automates the Absolute Block principle whereby trains drivers are constrained by signals that indicate the occupancy of the section ahead. Each Block Section is electrically isolated from its neighbours and is powered by its own controller, colloquially known as "a BloNg". All such "BloNgs" are powered from a common, nominally 20V DC power supply, which establishes a zero-volt reference. Each "BloNg" incorporates track circuit detection whose state is transmitted on a single signal wire to the Block Section in the rear to set the state of its Block Signal to Danger (if occupied) or Clear otherwise (ie to red or green). |
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| The BloNg controller suffered from two weaknesses: locomotives with different characteristics did not all stop exactly in front of a signal, and trains had to reach the master speed in the overlap before entering the next block. This latter was less of a problem in N-Gauge but it restricted its use for 00 where it is more difficult to provide long enough blocks to scale. The superBloc BC3 controller corrected both these features by adding an extra wire between controllers that causes a train to enter the block ahead at the speed it left the previous block. In all other respects it is electrically compatible with "the BloNg" and can be retrofitted in its place. SuperBloc inherits all the features of the BloNg system, and new features are being added all the time. | The BloNg controller suffered from two weaknesses: locomotives with different characteristics did not all stop exactly in front of a signal, and trains had to reach the master speed in the overlap before entering the next block. This latter was less of a problem in N-Gauge but it restricted its use for 00 where it is more difficult to provide long enough blocks to scale. The superBloc BC3 controller corrected both these features by adding an extra wire between controllers that causes a train to enter the block ahead at the speed it left the previous block. In all other respects it is electrically compatible with "the BloNg" and can be retrofitted in its place. SuperBloc inherits all the features of the BloNg system. |
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