ROLLER BEARING AXLEBOXES-PASSAGE OF ELECTRIC CURRENT THROUGH AXLE ROLLER BEARINGS

One organization found a large number of axle roller bearings damaged by grooves which were formed on both the rollers and the inner ring. The damage was subsequently found to be due to the passage of electric current which flows from the locomotive down the main heating lead through the heaters and then across the roller bearings on its way to the rails and back to the locomotive. Quite small currents can cause this damage particularly if the grease used has unfavorable electrical properties. The only reliable solution is to fit flexible copper connections between the coach body and truck and at least one sliding contact which connects the truck electrically to the wheelset and thereby provides a low resistance circuit so that the bearings are effectively shunted.

• 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: 1965-5

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 24 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bearings; Electric locomotives; Electrical properties; Locomotives; Lubricants; Railroad electrification; Technology; Trucks; Vehicle design
• Geographic Terms: Sweden; Switzerland
• Old TRIS Terms: Question b95
• Subject Areas: Design; Motor Carriers; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00040407
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: B95/RE/E
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 8 1994 12:00AM