Part 5: Bell Chute Modifications

This section consists of a set of drawings that show how I modified the Walthers bell chute to include the hardware that supports the lower (large) and upper (small) bells.

Except for the diameters of the Plastruct tubing, I did not include any actual measurements (this is a freelance project, remember!). But I did insert a 1-inch rectangle to show the objects' approximate size in HO scale.

1: Obtain the original bell chute from the Walthers Blast Furnace kit.

2: Extend the front of the chute with sheet styrene. This will accommodate the steeper slope of the skip hoist.

3: Construct a bell support frame using strip styrene pieces (shaded in grey); use channel strip for the top guide section. Cement to each side of the extended chute.

4: Add a top arch extension to the frame, to provide a lever pivot point for the large (lower) bell tube.

5: Acquire 3 diameters of Plastruct tubing: 1/8-inch for the large bell support tube, 3/16-inch for the small bell support tube, and 1/4-inch for the lower guide ring. The bell tubes should be cut approximately 4 inches in length; accuracy isn't critical here, since the bottom ends will be hidden inside the chute.

6: Telescope the tubing sections as shown in the illustration. DO NOT CEMENT!

7: Construct counter-weighted levers and attach them to the tops of each bell tube. Be sure to offset them so they may [theoretically] move freely past each other, as shown in the top views. Also cut and attach the guide ring mounting brackets which position the guide ring over the center of the chute's bottom opening.

8: Attach the tubing sections to the frame as shown in the diagram. Then cut a Plastruct 45-degree-angle cone to a bottom diameter of approximately 2 inches (see image below).

9: Attach the chute to the top of the cone and you now have a complete top bell assembly.
I realize the model in the photo is not identical to the drawings, I assembled this long before I knew I'd be writing about it. But it does, at least, give a general impression of the finished product.

-KJL 05/10/02

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1:	Obtain the original bell chute from the Walthers Blast Furnace kit.
2:	Extend the front of the chute with sheet styrene. This will accommodate the steeper slope of the skip hoist.
3:	Construct a bell support frame using strip styrene pieces (shaded in grey); use channel strip for the top guide section. Cement to each side of the extended chute.
4:	Add a top arch extension to the frame, to provide a lever pivot point for the large (lower) bell tube.
5:	Acquire 3 diameters of Plastruct tubing: 1/8-inch for the large bell support tube, 3/16-inch for the small bell support tube, and 1/4-inch for the lower guide ring. The bell tubes should be cut approximately 4 inches in length; accuracy isn't critical here, since the bottom ends will be hidden inside the chute.
6:	Telescope the tubing sections as shown in the illustration. DO NOT CEMENT!
7:	Construct counter-weighted levers and attach them to the tops of each bell tube. Be sure to offset them so they may [theoretically] move freely past each other, as shown in the top views. Also cut and attach the guide ring mounting brackets which position the guide ring over the center of the chute's bottom opening.
8:	Attach the tubing sections to the frame as shown in the diagram. Then cut a Plastruct 45-degree-angle cone to a bottom diameter of approximately 2 inches (see image below).
9:	Attach the chute to the top of the cone and you now have a complete top bell assembly. I realize the model in the photo is not identical to the drawings, I assembled this long before I knew I'd be writing about it. But it does, at least, give a general impression of the finished product.