Load transducers
Load transducers are the active elements of the strain gauge installation that transform a mechanical deformation into a variation of an electrical quantity in a circuit. Measurements using this type of transducer are based on the fact that when an electrical conductor is elongated or shortened, its electrical resistance changes. If we consider that the deformations of the transducer are directly proportional to the load applied to the transducer body, then we can interpret the variation of the electrical output signal as being directly proportional to the same load, thus being able to highlight by analogy the value of the force applied to the transducer body.
Digital strain gauge
If one or more electro-resistive transducers are connected via an amplifier and a data acquisition board to a computer system, and on this computer system we have installed specialized software for interpreting and processing the received information, we can talk about a digital strain gauge. It is actually a multi-channel scale.
Tensometric installation for balancing the wheel load on rolling stock
This is an installation composed of a number of electro-resistive transducers, made from type 49 railway rail coupons, usually placed within the track superstructure on a maintenance channel with pockets, arranged according to a diagram corresponding to the number and position of the wheels of the rolling stock that is to be weighed.
Using such a facility has a number of real advantages, such as:
- Possibility of simultaneous determination of loads on all wheels of rolling stock
- High measurement accuracy – accuracy 5-10 times higher than the accuracy class required for such applications
- Low maintenance
- Easy calibration
- Intuitive graphic representation of the weighed rolling stock
- Real-time visualization of changes determined by the adjustments made
- Database storage of values for all measurements made, both initial and final
Software for balancing wheel loads on motor and towed rolling stock
It is a dedicated software, designed and developed specifically for this application. It manages the entire installation, both on the measurement and calibration side, offering a friendly and intuitive graphical interface.
The measurement interface provides the following information:
- axle weight
- bogie weight
- wheelset weight
- total rolling stock weight
- average wheel weight (AWW)
- average axle weight (AAW)
- average wheelset weight (AWSW)
- minimum & maximum permissible wheel weight (AWW ±4%)
- minimum & maximum permissible axle weight (AAW ±2%)
- minimum & maximum permissible wheelset weight (AWSW ±4%)
TRTM – Tablet Remote Transmission Module
This module is an extension of the Tensometer and can only be used in tandem with it. Its role is to view the measurement interface displayed on the digital tensometer screen via a tablet, anywhere within the range of the router. It consists of the following:
- 10 inch tablet
- Wireless router
- Specialized software
The main advantage of using the TRTM module is that the operator no longer has to move from the installation to the equipment cabin to see the result of the rolling stock balancing after each intervention. He will see in real time the load values on the tablet screen, which is next to him in the channel, immediately after he has inserted the addition or removed the winch between the bogie frame and the metallastic support. This way of working results in a significant reduction in the time spent balancing the rolling stock. In some situations, when the rolling stock is very unbalanced and many successive interventions are necessary to bring it within parameters, by using TRTM, the working time can be reduced by up to 70%.
TITAN – STAND FOR TESTING HELICAL AND LEAF SPRINGS FROM WAGONS AND LOCOMOTIVES
Specs
- Maximum working load – 200 kN
- Maximum piston stroke – 500 mm
- Maximum measurable height of coil springs – 650 mm
- Maximum measurable length of leaf springs – 1200 mm
Features
- Automatic acquisition of the pressing force
- Automatic acquisition of the spring height at different force values depending on the spring model
- Automatic acquisition of the P parameter (deviation of the sheath from the vertical) for helical springs
- Allows verification of the minimum distance between the helical spring turns at Fmax
- Automatic generation of the test report with included diagram
- Verification procedure according to VPI standards included
