Friday 4 September, 2009

NCR : Rlys Developing Sensors
To Detect Hot Axle


ALLAHABAD : In another endeavour on the safety of passengers, the Indian Railways is developing special types of sensors which would detect the overheating of axle in the running trains and alert the railway staff to take preventive measures. This would go a long way in providing safety to the passengers in the running trains.

Due to the continuous movement of the wheels of the coaches and wagons, the ball bearings often break, leading to the increase in the temperature of axle. This is commonly known as `hot axle'. There are different causes of hot axle like overloading and faulty condition of bearings. During the hot axle, the wheels become very hot the movement of the trains comes to a halt due to the jamming of the wheels.

Detection of the hot axle is vital for the smooth running of the trains. However, with the installation of special type of infra red sensors, it would be easy for identifying axle boxes running hot due to various factors.

It is pertinent to mention that Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) is working on the development of a wayside detection system using infra red sensors for identifying axle-boxes running hot due to ball bearing failures and wheels having abnormally high temperature.

Currently, the railways has developed systems for detecting hot wheel/box, using pyrometers and indigenised the hardware. Field trials with prototype are also underway.

NCR spokesperson Rajesh Dutt Bajpai said that the infra red sensors would in detecting hot axle, which would result in ensuring better safety to the passengers.

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