RUNNING SAFETY OF VEHICLES FITTED WITH THE AUTOMATIC COUPLER. CONSIDERATIONS CONCERNING THE TRANSVERSE PLAY IN THE SUSPENSION COMPATIBLE WITH A GOOD RIDING QUALITY ESPECIALLY FOR TWO-AXLED WAGONS, IN TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE RESULTS OF THE TESTS CARRIED OUT BY THE B93 AND B56 COMMITTEES

The study of the reports of the ORE Specialists Committee B 93 led the B 125 Committee to the conclusion that, in using a so-called "wear-profile" for the wheel-tyre and for a track-gauge comprised between 1,432 and 1,440 mm, the short single-link suspension (free transverse play plus/minus 7.5 mm) and the long double-link suspension (free transverse play of 20 to 22 mm) were equivalent from the point of view of riding quality, but that, for track-gauges exceeding 1,440 mm, the single short-link suspension resulted in an unacceptable riding quality for speeds higher than approximately 110 km/h. As there are no international regulations limiting the track-gauge to 1,440 mm, the Committee is of the opinion that, for the time being, preference should be given to the long, double-link suspension. After having been informed about a new scheme for a mixed, double-link suspension (with limited transverse play but still with considerable longitudinal play), which presented, theoretically, superior centering characteristics in the transverse direction than those of the present long suspension, the Committee proposes to carry out tests with this new type of suspension. A draft programme for these tests is appended to the report. The report also contains some thoughts concerning the question of the correlation between the tyre-profile on the one hand, and the track-gauge and rail-profile on the other, and also on the choice of value of the transverse play in the suspension.

• 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: 1971-10

Media Info

• Features: Figures;
• Pagination: 52 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Couplers; Gage (Rails); Railhead; Ride quality; Suspension systems; Train track dynamics; Two axle cars; Wheels
• Uncontrolled Terms: Lateral dynamics; Wheel profiles
• Old TRIS Terms: Automatic couplers; Question b125; Rail head profile; Track gauge
• Subject Areas: Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00053068
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: International Union of Railways
• Report/Paper Numbers: B125/RP 2/E
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 17 1976 12:00AM