COLD WEATHER TRANSIT TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM. VOLUME 6: WINTERIZATION OF SELF-VENTILATED TRACTION MOTORS ON RAPID TRANSIT VEHICLES

The Cold Weather Transit Technology (CWTT) Program was initiated to develop new and effective methods for assuring the dependable operation of transit systems in severe cold, ice, and snow. The CWTT program is being implemented by UMTA through a grant to the University of Notre Dame with the Vought Corporation as the prinicipal contractor. The objectives of this study was to investigate the perceived traction motor failure problem, the evaluation and development of prototype hardware to overcome the problem, and the subsequent evaluation of that hardware in an operating transit system environment. This report documents the successful development and evaluation of a system designed to reduce the failure rate of self-ventilated traction motors used in cold climate cities. Forced ventilation with clean, dry air appeared to provide a suitable solution. Tests were conducted on filters and separators that could eliminate the contaminants and provide the clean dry air. All devices proved unsatisfactory. A low velocity inlet separator was developed in the laboratory where it proved highly successful in separating snow and freezing mist. This new system was then committed to prototype design for installation on two rapid transit cars of the Chicago Transit Authority. These cars have been operated through 1983 with a high degree of success. Cost benefit analysis of the system indicated that it could be economically incorporated into a transit system's self-ventilated traction motor propelled cars.

• Corporate Authors:

  Vought Corporation

  Systems Division, P.O. Box 5907
  Dallas, TX  United States  75222

  Urban Mass Transportation Administration

  400 7th Street, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Koonce, B L
• Publication Date: 1983-11

Media Info

• Pagination: 162 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air filters; Cold weather; Failure; Filters; Moisture content; Motors; Operations; Rapid transit cars; Separators; Snow; Traction; Traction drives; Ventilation systems
• Identifier Terms: Chicago Transit Authority; Urban Mass Transportation Act
• Old TRIS Terms: Umta section 6
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Public Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00382269
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: UMTA-IN-06-0009-83-6Final Rpt.
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Apr 30 1984 12:00AM