Applications with igus® components in the railway industry

iglidur® plain bearings are built into train and tram brakes as they enable trouble-free operation where impacts and dirt occur and do not corrode. Use within wide temperature ranges between -100°C and 250°C are made possible by special materials that have been developed for extreme temperatures.

As iglidur plain bearings are made of non-conductive high-performance polymers, they can be used as insulating components in bearings on collectors. Due to their incorporated solid lubrication, the plain bearings do not require additional lubrication and are therefore maintenance-free. In collectors, the iglidur materials G, H370, J, W300, X and Z are installed.  Each of these materials has certain advantages, such as  low moisture absorption or resistance to particularly low or high temperatures.  

iglidur plain bearings and drylin linear technology ensure clean adjustment, low coefficient of friction and low-noise movements without the need for any additional lubrication. This is due to the incorporated dry lubricants, which are contained within the igus materials. If the components have to be in line with DIN 45545, iglidur RW370 can be used.  

Along the railway line and in the train itself there are circuit breakers and earthing switches. Whether with medium or high voltage - a safe mechanical separation and connection must be guaranteed in the switches at all times. To make this possible even under demanding weather conditions, drylin drive systems and lead screw are used.  

A smooth maintenance process is important to get the vehicle fleet back on track again quickly.  Pre-assembled energy chain systems, the so-called readychains, only have to be mobilised and connected.  

Under the carriage body a strong protection from falling rocks is necessary. In addition, the cables have to be guided safely so that the batteries can be pulled out without problems for maintenance. Therefore, robust energy chains and cables are often used for train battery boxes. Both components are also available as so-called  readychain.  

chainflex cables,dryspin lead screw technology and energy supply systems are used to make entry systems maintenance-free and, above all, durable. Defective doors can constitute a hazard to passengers in emergency situations and, in everyday life, are hindrance to speedy passenger boarding and alighting.

With heavy and light rails, the passenger is faced with the first igus parts at entry.  chainflex cables, dryspin lead screw technology and energy supply systems are used to make entry systems maintenance-free and, above all, reliable. Defective doors can constitute a hazard to passengers in emergency situations and, in everyday life, are hindrance to speedy passenger boarding and alighting. 

Traversers connect tracks in workshops and in the open with each other to move wagons and control cars and locomotives. While the traverser is in motion, a safe energy supply must be guaranteed at all times, e.g. by means of signal lamps or a control panel. To guarantee the permanent functionality of the traverser despite frequent use, chainflex cables are used.  

At washing systems for regional and express trains, igus components must show what they are capable of. Permanent use is combined with contact with water and cleaning agents. No problem for the igus components.  iglidur plain bearings are available in 50 different high-performance polymers.

In order to build new tracks for trains or trams, complex machinery is needed. Bearing points in track construction machines are exposed to considerable mechanical forces, vibrations, dirt and weather influences. All these factors are no longer a problem if iglidur plain bearings are used. For high mechanical forces such as edge loads or shocks, there are specially developed iglidur materials that withstand static loads up to 200MPa and dynamic loads up to 140MPa.  

igus products are not just used in trains and trams. They are also used in road-rail vehicles, such as snowploughs and maintenance vehicles. By means of hydraulic cylinders the bogie of these vehicles can be lowered. In the cylinders, materials and piston rings made of iglidur  materials are used. They are characterised by their vast service life and in addition are maintenance-free.  

In measuring machines for rail profiles, self-adjusting igubal bearings are used. Due to their angular compensation, they are ideal for manual adjustments. Furthermore, drylin SLW linear guides are installed for the adjustment of width and height, as they are cost-effective and weight-saving. drylin R carbon fibre shafts with drylin R polymer housing bearings are applied in machines to save weight.
 

To adjust the height of a grinding machine, dryspin lead screws are used. The lead screw nut consists of proven iglidur materials, which contain dry lubricants. Therefore, they require no additional lubrication and are also maintenance-free. As the lead screws are made of stainless steel, dryspin lead screws do not rust. To save a particularly high amount of weight, anodised aluminium lead screws can be used.