Electromagnetic system for improving the adhesion of wheels to rails

Abstract

The article describes the design of a system used for the improvement of the adhesion of locomotive wheels to rails; the principle of which is based on the electromagnetic feeding of the contact area with the bulk material that has magnetic properties and high hardness (iron scale Fe₃O₄ and magnetite FeO×Fe₂O₃). The experimental results of laboratory and bench tests confirming the effectiveness of the proposed system compared with the existing devices using quartz sand to improve the adhesion of wheels to rails are presented. It is concluded that the use of an electromagnetic system for improving the particle supply to the wheel/rail interface is promising.