Development of an onboard monitoring device for freight car shock-absorbing device’s technical condition

Abstract

Good technical condition of rolling stock is an important consideration for increasing safety in train traffi c. Safety is the state’s priority in the development and modernization of the railroad industry. The goal of this study is to develop an onboard monitoring device for a freight car’s shock-absorbing device’s technical condition. This justifi es the need to control the serviceability of the unit and the urgency to equip freight cars with onboard monitoring systems. The following tasks were set and resolved: collection and analysis of information on the dynamics of changes in the number of faults of freight cars serviced at the sites of the current uncoupling repair of Russian companies from 2008 to 2018; study the expediency of the primary control of serviceability of different units of the freight car; collection and analysis of information including statistical data, scientifi c publications, and thesis on the effect of a failed shock-absorbing device on other units of the freight car and reduction of the train’s overall traffi c safety. The study enabled development and manufacturing of a mockup onboard monitoring device freight car shock-absorbing device’s technical condition, with its functional capabilities described. To increase the diagnostics accuracy, technology defi ning failure criteria of the controlled unit and reduction of its operation effectiveness is developed. The main recommendations for using the proposed onboard device are also provided. The principal advantages of the device are underlined and reasons for freight rolling stock owners to equip their cars with the developed system are advanced.

Keywords

• traffic safety
• car
• transportation of cargo
• monitoring system
• shock-absorbing device
• failures interaction
• fault criteria