TUBULAR AXLE INDUCTION MOTOR FOR RAIL TRACTION

By mounting an induction motor within a large diameter tubular railway axle British Rail Research & Development engineers are working on a drive system for railway vehicles which will overcome many of the disadvantages of the more traditional motors used currently for rail traction applications. Motor designers, mechanical engineers and electronics specialists at the railway Technical Centre, Derby, have designed a motor and power control system which eliminates the troublesome commutator and brushgear problems of d.c. series or a.c. commutator motors, removes the need for a gearbox and also provides a very effective braking action. The severe environment which exists within a railway axle dictates that only a rugged a.c. induction motor could be used for the development and an "inside-out" configuration has been employed, using the axle walls as the rotor revolving around the fixed inner stator. Special power conditioning equipment using thyristor inverters has been designed to provide the variable frequency variable voltage supply necessary to obtain the best torque/speed characteristics from the motor. Four prototype motors of a size which computer studies show would be suitable for powering multiple unit type trains are under construction for testing next year.

• Corporate Authors:

  Allens (Clerkenwell), Limited

  Wheatsheaf House, 39 High Street
  Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire,   England 
• Publication Date: 1977-2

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 30-31
• Serial:
  • Energy Digest
  • Volume: 6
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: Allens (Clerkenwell), Limited

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternating current motors; Axles; Electric power conditioning; Electric railroads; Induction motors; Inverters; Motors; Propulsion; Railroad cars; Thyristors; Traction; Traction drives; Vehicle power plants
• Uncontrolled Terms: Propulsion systems
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00163298
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Engineering Index
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 29 2003 12:00AM