Weighing
All vehicles are automatically weighed with ether the patented measuring method using magnetoelastic effect or third party track scales.
During the measurement uneaven loading and overloading of individual axles can be detected.
Third party data integration / Weighing by third-party systems
The trenpex system is also capable of acquiring and processing data from third party systems, such as the two leading track scale manufacturers Tamtron and Schenck.
This Data from third-party systems (scales, contamination testing etc.) can be seamlessly integrated into the processing and made available via the portal and interface.
Thus, third-party track scales can be integrated into the trenpex system.
Dynamic track scales according to the Villari principle
Sensors based on the inverse magnetostrictive effect (also magnetoelastic effect or Villari effect) are used successfully in many industrial sectors. In the trenpex system, this effect was used for the first time to develop a dynamic track scale.
The use of the inverse magnetostrictive effect when used in a dynamic track scale offers considerable technological and, above all, practical and economic advantages over the measurement methods used in the previous state of the art. Only this innovation makes efficient and economical weighing possible.
Static vs. dynamic
A basic distinction is made between static and dynamic weighing. In static weighing, the vehicles are uncoupled, placed individually on a scale and weighed. This is time-consuming and not practical for complete weighing as part of efficient logistics processes.
In order to put the benefit of weighing in an economic relation to the time required, dynamic weighing has become established. In this process, the entire train is weighed while passing over a measuring point.
State of the art
According to the current state of the art, there are essentially two economically relevant technological approaches for implementing dynamic weighing:
- Several pressure cells between rails and sleepers
- Strain gauges applied to specially prepared rails
Both methods require considerable intervention in the track structure and/or special preparation of the rails for installation. Both methods usually involve a rail cut. The interruption of the rail continuity results in various disadvantages and restrictions of use on the track concerned.
The track scale of the trenpex system based on the magnetoelastic effect does not have the limitations of the measuring principles mentioned above and offers further decisive advantages.
Villari track scale
According to the Villari effect, ferromagnetic materials - such as a railroad track - change their magnetic properties under load. We have developed a sensor that measures this change, triggered by the force exerted on the rail during the passage of a train. From this, the weight of the train can be determined reliably and accurately.
The great advantage of this measuring principle, which is contactless in the technical sense, is that the rail itself becomes the so-called primary sensor. The sensor of the trenpex system is merely clamped to the rail. The advantages:
- No work is required on the track bed or on the rails themselves. In particular, there is in principle no rail cutting
- The response of the measuring principle is extremely fast. This allows the weight of the train to be determined even at higher overrun speeds
- According to the responsible authorities (in Bavaria), the installation "does not constitute an intervention in the superstructure" and thus does not require approval
Performance data
Accuracy
Currently, the measurement error of the scale under defined conditions - overrun speed up to 10 km/h and without active acceleration or deceleration - is less than 1%.
Due to the fast response of the measuring principle, weighing at significantly higher speeds is also possible in principle.
Calibratability
The process for obtaining the calibration capability has been started.