Rolling stock and railway maintenance companies face the ongoing challenge of efficiently disassembling ring sets and labyrinth rings during wheelset maintenance. These components require precise heating to achieve the necessary expansion for removal.
DISMOUNTING RING SETS AND LABYRINTH RINGS FROM TRAIN WHEELS.
THE CHALLENGE.
Traditional removal methods often rely on mechanical pullers, open-flame heating, or cutting the rings. Pullers can subject components to high mechanical forces, increasing the risk of damage to both the rings and the wheelset shaft. Open-flame heating can result in overheating and alter the material properties of the rings, preventing their reuse. Cutting the rings avoids these risks but destroys the component, increasing replacement costs.
Railway operators and maintenance facilities therefore require a reliable, repeatable, and non-destructive removal method that minimizes downtime and supports cost-effective maintenance.
OUR SOLUTION.
TM Induction Heating developed a dedicated solution leveraging its EXTRATHERM generators in combination with custom fixed coils, specifically engineered based on the applicable dimensions.
The system heats ring sets and labyrinth rings quickly and uniformly through induction heating. By creating controlled thermal expansion, components can be removed safely without excessive mechanical force, open flames, or the need for cutting. Each installation is tailored to the customer’s wheelset configuration, ensuring optimal heating performance and process repeatability.
PROVEN RESULTS.
The EXTRATHERM induction heating solution enables maintenance teams to remove ring sets and labyrinth rings in a fast, controlled, and non-destructive manner. Key benefits include:
- Elimination of ring cutting during removal
- Preservation and reuse of ring sets and labyrinth rings
- Reduced risk of damage to wheelset shafts
- Prevention of overheating and material degradation
- Fast and uniform heating with precise temperature control
- Reduced maintenance time and equipment downtime
- Clean operation without open flames, smoke, or combustion
- Lower maintenance costs through component reuse
- Energy-efficient heating through direct heat generation
SEE THE PROCESS IN ACTION.
Maintaining rolling stock?
Tell us about your wheelset configuration and we will engineer a custom, non-destructive induction heating solution that fits your maintenance process.
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