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Explanation of the functionality of automated trafficators mechanism. Step-by-step instruction and a video tutorial provided.

Probably the most acclaimed feature of my Kenworth Mammoet model was the automated trafficators system, which made the model’s turn signals blink automatically whenever it made a turn. I’ve spent some time making the mechanism more compact and simplier than it originally was, which was eventually achieved with a sliding worm gear solution, the same that was used in my pneumatic autovalve.

The advantages of this mechanism  are: compact size, easy implementation and efficiency thanks to which it uses only a very limited amount of the motor’s torque to function. The mechanism can be used in a number of different setups – the example shown below was installed on the axle connecting motor to the steering mechanism, but it can be installed after the steering mechanism as well.

The disadvantages are: a small delay in blinking while changing direction, which can be helped by gearing up the axle that drives the mechanism, and a large chance that one of the switches stops in ‘on’ position. In this case one sets of lights will blink while the other one stays on instead off. It should be possible to use rubber bands to reset a switch to ‘off’ position once the direction is changed, but I found it difficult to select a rubber band of the exact desired strength. The rubber bands are not quite reliable in such applications, so I suppose it’s simply not worth the effort.

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