Berlin/Schlieffenfurt, September 23, 2010: Over the past few years, Schaeffler Industrial has become a major partner in the research and development of high-speed train rolling bearings. When developing these types of bearings, we work closely with vehicle manufacturers and operators to optimize products to meet specific operating conditions. Schaeffler Industrial Division is the development partner and exclusive supplier of axle box bearings for the Velaro RUS high-speed train in Russia and the CRH3 high-speed railway project in China with a speed of up to 350 kilometers per hour. In the tests conducted according to the EN12082 standard, Schaeffler Group confirmed that axle box bearings can be used at a speed of 380 kilometers per hour.
In addition, Schaeffler Group has developed and produced axle boxes and bearings for motors and gearboxes. The design of double row tapered roller bearings is the key to the high load-bearing capacity of axle box bearings. Due to the adoption of the high-speed train concept, the bearing unit is specifically designed for axle loads ranging from 17.7 to 19 tons. The driving components and technical modules of the high-speed train are arranged under the floor of the entire train, not limited to the front and rear locomotives of the push-pull train. The high-speed train and trailer are arranged in a staggered manner, improving the mass distribution of the entire high-speed train, thereby making the load acting on a single wheelset relatively moderate. Due to the high speed, the design speed of the bearing reaches 2400 revolutions per minute. The TAROL unit, which is easy to install, mainly uses tapered roller bearing units in high-speed applications due to the possibility of special loads. The FAG TAROL unit provided by Schaeffler Industrial Division is easy to install.
When the TAROL unit leaves the factory, the clearance has been adjusted, grease has been added, and a seal has been installed. It can provide British and metric series as well as necessary locking parts and fittings, with fast and reliable installation. In addition, customized parts, spare parts, and load-bearing saddles can be provided according to customer needs. Schaeffler engineers can also provide professional training for customers' operators to ensure that customers can correctly install axle box bearings. In this way, the customer obtains certification and authorization for installing axle box bearings. Special attention should be paid to the quality of materials under high load and ultra high speed conditions to ensure proper lubrication of bearings. To this end, Schaeffler Group has collaborated with steel manufacturers to develop special standards to improve the purity of the steel used.
In addition, Schaeffler Group also adopts its own special quenching process, coating process, and coating type. When choosing the appropriate lubricant, additives and viscosity are the determining factors. Schaeffler Group has closely cooperated with lubricant manufacturers in this regard. At the same time, the amount of grease used is also very important, especially in high-speed applications where excessive grease can cause the bearing temperature to rise too high or too fast. The optimization of axle box shape reduces the load. In addition to bearing units, Schaeffler Industrial Division also develops and manufactures axle boxes.
