SPECTROGRAPH IS ON READY TRACK

The spectrograph for analyzing locomotive crankcase oils is being taken out of its "ivory tower" and put to work right next to the ready track on Chesapeake & Ohio/Baltimore & Ohio. This has already been accomplished on the B&O at Cumberland, Md., where it is now possible to do something immediately with the results from 4,000 crankcase oil samples and 500 compressor oil samples which are analyzed monthly. The results from this spectrographic chemical analysis, together with those from conventional viscosity, free-water and insolubles tests that are performed simultaneously, are fed into a real-time computer. Programmed into the computer are limits for the physical and chemical tests, as well as for the 13 spectrographically determined wear and contaminant elements. An oil analysis history is maintained in the computer for each B&O locomotive, serving as the basis for automatic detection of trends that would indicate progressive engine problems.

• Corporate Authors:

  Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation

  P.O. Box 350
  Bristol, CT  United States  06010
• Publication Date: 1971-12

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 8
• Serial:
  • Railway Locomotives and Cars
  • Volume: 145
  • Issue Number: 12
  • Publisher: Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Locomotives; Spectrographic analysis; Vehicle maintenance
• Uncontrolled Terms: Spectrography
• Old TRIS Terms: Locomotive maintenance
• Subject Areas: Maintenance and Preservation; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00047455
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 13 1974 12:00AM