Tribological Properties of the Journal Bearings Used in Tamping Unit of Railways Tamping Machines

Abstract

A tamping machine is a machine used to pack the track ballast under railway tracks to make the tracks more durable. As well as being faster, more accurate, more efficient and less labour-intensive, tamping machines are essential for the use of concrete sleepers since they are too heavy to be lifted by hand. Tamping machines, also correct the alignment of the rails to make them parallel and level, in order to achieve a more comfortable ride for passengers and freight and to reduce the mechanical strain applied to the rails by passing trains. In this study, tribological properties of CuSn14 tin bronze used journal bearing system in aggregate of tamping machine were examined experimentally at different speeds and loads. Pin-on disc test apparatus was used for experiments. Experiments have been conducted so as to be able to determine the tribological properties in the event of using CuAl10Fe5Ni5 aluminum bronze considered as an alternative instead of tin bronze. The obtained results were compared with each other.

Keywords

• aluminum bronze
• friction
• tin bronze
• wear