Abstract
KEYWORDS – brake, low temperature, distributor, caliper, materials
ABSTRACT
During decades, environmental requirements for railway braking systems were based on Western Europe specifications, especially in terms of temperature range. 20 years ago, a first step of enhancement has been performed to adapt these products to northern Europe and America, the low temperature standard becoming -40°C. The recent opening to the global market of Commonwealth of Independent States has pushed down this limit to -60°C.
This new technical challenge has not only consisted in achieving functional performances at this temperature, but also in ensuring equivalent lifetime and overhaul cycles. Special rubber compounds have been formulated and dedicated grades of metals have been used to answer these issues and validation tests, like climatic endurance, have been performed on specific test benches.
These developments allow Faiveley Transport to propose an unique and innovative complete brake system with an enlarged temperature range. This system is constituted of improved brake control and bogie brake components, which are as light and as compact as standard ones.