Technika a trh

32_SKF_c_en.qxd

6.9.2023

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Page 32

rail transport

Rail vehicle maintenance

going to a digital station

data collection from a range of other components. The system can also produce

a track condition map, with faults located,

identified and recorded with unrivalled

accuracy.

The Multilog IMx-Rail system can also be

integrated with SKF's cloud-based data

storage and sharing services and SKF's remote diagnostics services. Its versatility,

combined with SKF's expertise in monitoring rotating components in a wide range

of industries, enables rapid analysis and

prioritisation in rolling stock maintenance

planning.

Tested on the track

In rail transport, time is the decisive economic factor.

Many industries have long used condition-based maintenance (CBM), where parameters such as vibration and temperature are measured to detect anomalies at an

early stage. The monitoring aspect is

commonly referred to as condition monitoring.

Historically, the principle of maintenance in the rail sector has been to service

trains on a time or mileage basis. While

this approach has been used successfully

for many years, it does not take into

account whether the components actually require replacement. Inspections can

only be carried out when trains are not in

motion and servicing operations require

the prolonged shutdown of rolling stock

or interruption of operations on the line.

With an ageing fleet and increasing demands on train availability, maintenance

costs remain one of the sector's biggest

challenges.

Thanks to significant innovations and the

availability of technology, CBM maintenance is increasingly being used. Digitalization significantly helps in maintenance

T+T T e c h n i k a a t r h 5/ 2 0 2 3

and can enable customers to extend maintenance intervals. This can produce benefits for train availability, for example.

The less time rolling stock spends in service, the more it can be used to transport

passengers or freight, which is important

at a time when the sector is facing increasing pressure on demand. It can also help

to reduce overall life cycle costs and spare parts management by providing early

warning through assembly-free diagnostics of potential risks and accidents.

SKF has combined CBM maintenance

with its expertise in bearings and other

components to create a version of its extraordinarily successful Multilog IMx platform for the rail sector. This latest innovation combines rolling stock and track

condition monitoring in a single, easily customisable solution.

The next step in the digitalisation

of trains

Multilog IMx-Rail is a multi-channel, online, disassembly-free diagnostics system

that uses new rail-certified components.

This next step in the digitalisation of trains

allows operators to implement conditionbased maintenance that helps reduce total cost of ownership, increase availability,

reduce unplanned downtime and extend

service intervals.

The Multilog IMx-Rail can be implemented during the production stage as well as

the retrofit stage. It provides early warnings of potential problems with rolling

stock rotating parts such as wheel bearings, gearboxes and motors, and enables

The Multilog IMx-Rail system is already

proving its capabilities in operation. A typical example of an application on a standard commercial train is the mounting of

an autonomous system of sensors and

electronics on one of the vehicle chassis.

During daily operation, the system measures and records acceleration and vibration

signals, then processes the data and sends

all data wirelessly to a remote collection

point where the incoming information can

trigger the desired action.

A specialised software system, also provided by SKF, then uses sophisticated algorithms to analyse the sensor data, as

well as information on the position and

operating status of the train. A software

system called "@ptitude Observer" identifies, locates and accurately records abnormalities on the railway line that may cause

wear or damage to train wheels, passenger discomfort or noise in particular sections of the line. The maintenance staff can

then use the information to start a more

detailed inspection of the designated section of track.

The Multilog IMx-Rail system not only

helps operators assess the condition of

wheels and rails, but also allows them to

identify vibrations caused by other train

problems, such as bearing failures. This

approach is already being used by operators around the world to help them prevent breakdowns and optimise rolling

stock maintenance schedules.

As rail traffic grows, so does the importance of digitalisation and maintenancefree diagnostics solutions such as Multilog

IMx-Rail. Their implementation helps to

increase the efficiency and operability of

rolling stock.