THE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF HEATED, IMPACT RESISTANT WINDSHIELDS FOR LOCOMOTIVES

With the increase in speed of modern-day rail and rapid transit systems and the regrettable upsurge in vandalism in some parts of the world, the development of windshield technology has been significant in recent years. The ideal windshield has to be capable of preventing the entry of missiles, stones, and even small bullets, without the risk of severe glass particle detachment from the inside surface. This structural requirement is coupled with the need for a de-icing and de-misting capacity which can be achieved by using virtually undetectable, metallic oxide electro-conductive coatings within the windshield. For the more awkward shapes of windshield, these coatings need to incorporate complex resistivity gradings. The modern windshield has been developed to meet these and other requirements only as a result of an intensive R and D program, which is described in the paper. The use of novel test methods is also highlighted. Of particular importance, particularly to older locomotives, is the ability to, retrospectively, fit inherently safer windshields without any structural alterations in the cab. This is made possible by the careful choice of plastic and glass content, with special attention being paid to glass temper levels. On some of the world's newer High Speed Trains, even greater strides have been noted with a move toward larger, curved, fully framed, and sealed windshield units, some of which are described in the paper.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Contributed by the Rail Transportation Division of ASME for presentation at the IEEE-ASME Joint Railroad Conference, St. Paul, Minnesota, April 11-13, 1978.
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Mechanical Engineers

  Two Park Avenue
  New York, NY  United States  10016-5990
• Authors:
  • Wright, R W
• Publication Date: 1978

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 16 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cabs (Vehicle compartments); Design; Heating (Structures); Locomotives; Occupant protection devices; Plastics; Safety; Tests; Vandalism; Windshields
• Uncontrolled Terms: Impact protection
• Old TRIS Terms: Locomotive cab design
• Subject Areas: Design; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00173779
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: American Society of Mechanical Engineers
• Report/Paper Numbers: 78-RT-5 Conf Paper
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 26 1978 12:00AM