BUFFERS WITH A LARGE WORK-ABSORPTION CAPACITY. BEHAVIOUR OF BUFFERS WITH RUBBER SPRINGS AT LOW TEMPERATURES

The B 36 Specialists Committee was entrusted with the task of carrying out static and dynamic tests on buffers at temperatures down to -40 degrees C. These tests were carried out: (1) by the Brake Testing Department (Bremsversuchsamt) of the DB at Minden (Westphalia); (2) by the Division d'Essais et du Materiel of the SNCF in the Test Station at Vitry-sur-Seine. The following buffers were tested: the SNCF-type with rubber springs, the Paulstra-Saga-Pirelli-type with rubber springs, the CFF- type with Vulkollan springs; the Saga-Pirelli-type with rubber- and friction springs; the CFF-Pirelli-Stabut-type with butyl-rubber springs. The tests have shown that at low temperatures, the hardness of the rubber is increased to a greater or smaller degree according to the quality of the material. As a result of this, the compression capacity of the rubber discs is diminished and this leads to a reduction of the strokes. During the static tests, this phenomenon manofested itself only to a small degree on account of the gradual slow increase of the forces. During the dynamic tests, the variations in the characteristics of the rubber were however very considerable. In the case of impacts at high speeds between empty or only partially loaded vehicles, one must consequently expect unusual shocks on account of the very rapid increase of the forces, though the amount of stored energy remains practically constant. The rubber experts should seek a quality of material, which, though less exposed to the influence of low temperatures, should preserve characteristics suitable for normal temperatures and which should show, even at extreme temperatures, the smallest possible residual deformation after compression.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Restrictions on the use of this document are contained in the explanatory material.
• Corporate Authors:

  International Union of Railways

  Office of Research and Experiments
  Utrecht,   Netherlands 
• Publication Date: 1962-7

Media Info

• Features: Appendices;
• Pagination: 9 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Dynamic tests; Low temperature; Occupant protection devices; Rubber; Springs (Vehicles); Static tests; Tests; Vehicle components
• Uncontrolled Terms: Impact protection; Performance analysis
• Old TRIS Terms: Buffers; Question b36; Rubber springs
• Subject Areas: Railroads; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00053008
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: International Union of Railways
• Report/Paper Numbers: B36/RP 2/E Intrm Rpt.
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 8 1994 12:00AM