With the zentrak MODULAR DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM (MDS), voestalpine Railway Systems introduces a modular diagnostic system that monitors rolling stock using a variety of sensor types. Depending on the application, infrared, fiber-optic, acoustic, and/or optical sensors are used. This allows, for example, overheated axle bearing housings or overloading to be detected.
Various sensor technologies can be combined:
Brings industrial image processing directly to the tracks. Cameras installed alongside the tracks capture trains to generate high-quality image data. Thanks to integrated infrared flash technology, the system delivers sharp images and reliable results both during the day and at night.
Monitors the temperature of axle bearings. Overheated axle bearing housings indicate bearing defects, which in the worst case can lead to broken axles and derailment.
Monitors the temperature of wheels and brakes. If these show significantly elevated values, this indicates, for example, locked brakes. This subsequently leads to flat spots on the wheels, which in turn can damage the infrastructure.
Measures the dynamic forces exerted by the wheel on the rail. These are usually caused by tread defects such as flat spots, but also by out-of-roundness or spalling, which lead to increased forces and stress.
Automatically measures the static wheel forces of passing vehicles. This allows for the determination of axle load, asymmetrical loading and overloading, as well as vehicle and train weight
Detects dangling parts such as loose couplings, brake hoses, or chains that can damage the infrastructure.
Detects bearing defects early through acoustic measurements on freight and passenger vehicles. Detection occurs at a stage where there are no direct operational impacts, such as a reduction in train speed. This enables early maintenance planning and supports efficient wheelset management.
The use of identical hardware and software components reduces the need to stock spare parts, making system operation more efficient. Furthermore, the simple combination and linking of monitoring functions improves decision-making and information gathering.