METHOD FOR ACTUATING A TRACK CONDITIONING UNIT OR A WHEEL FLANGE LUBRICATING SYSTEM

Abstract

A method for actuating a track conditioning unit or a wheel flange lubricating system of a rail vehicle. The track conditioning unit provides auxiliary agent to sub-regions of a rail on which the rail vehicle is travelling, in order to increase friction between the wheel and the rail. A wheel flange lubricating system provides a fluid to a wheel sub-region of the rail vehicle or to a rail sub-region, in order to reduce friction between the wheel and the rail. A relative movement between a railcar body and a bogie of the rail vehicle is detected using path measurement, in order to detect a bend in the track. Based on the path measurement, the track conditioning unit or the wheel flange lubricating system is actuated in a targeted manner according to the bend, such that the auxiliary agent or fluid is applied in a resource-saving yet effective manner.

Claims

1-4. (canceled)

5. A method for actuating a track conditioning unit or a wheel flange lubricating system of a rail vehicle, the method comprising: selectively applying, with a track conditioning unit being a part of the rail vehicle, an auxiliary agent as necessary to a sub-region of a rail on which the rail vehicle is traveling, in order to increase friction between a wheel and the rail; selectively applying, with a wheel flange lubricating system being a part of the rail vehicle, a fluid as necessary to a wheel sub-region of the rail vehicle or to a rail sub-region, in order to reduce friction between the wheel and the rail; continuously detecting a relative movement between a railcar body and a bogie of the rail vehicle in order to detect a bend in the track, by detecting the relative movement by a displacement measurement on dampers that are disposed between the railcar body and the bogie for predetermined spatial directions in order to damp the relative movement between the railcar body and the bogie; and based on the displacement measurement, selectively actuating the track conditioning unit or the wheel flange lubricating system in a targeted manner depending on the bend in the track, to apply the auxiliary agent or the fluid in a resource-saving manner.

6. The method according to claim 5, which comprises using sensors for carrying out the displacement measurement.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the sensors carry out the displacement measurement based on a principle selected from the group consisting of an optical, inductive, ultrasound-based, and capacitive measurement principle.

Description

[0028] The present invention will be explained in more detail below by way of example and with reference to a drawing.

[0029] FIG. 1 shows the method according to the invention, in which, with the aid of a displacement measurement, a wheel position of a rail vehicle in the transverse direction relative to the rail is detected in an indirect way.

[0030] Use is made of the effect that a bogie 5 carrying the wheel rotates in a direction 1 relative to the railcar body 4 when traveling through a curve.

[0031] This rotation is determined via a displacement measurement. For example, displacement measuring sensors WMS are provided, which are coupled to a roll damper 2 or to a transverse damper 3.

[0032] In a preferred development, the displacement measurement sensors WMS are an integral constituent part of the roll damper 2 or the transverse damper 3.

[0033] The damper displacements determined by measurement are used to detect a transverse offset between wheel and rail or to detect bends in the track.

[0034] From the displacement measurement, it is possible in particular to derive information [0035] relating to the type of bend (i.e. is this a right-hand bend or a left-hand bend), [0036] relating to the bend radius, and [0037] relating to a transverse offset between the wheel and rail.

[0038] It is therefore possible to actuate the track conditioning unit correctly in accordance with a transverse offset and the type of track bend.

[0039] In addition, it is possible to operate the wheel flange lubricating system in a bend-sensitive manner, i.e. in the event of a bend detection or relatively small bend radii, to actuate the wheel flange lubrication in a targeted manner and with a defined metering rate.