New on-line monitoring system of surface defects and profile wear

A complete WMS (wheel monitoring system) comprising monitoring of surface defects and profile wear combined with an AVI (automatic vehicle identification) system has been in operation at DSB S-Train since January 2000. The system is the replacement of a similar type of system, which DSB S-Train has been operating since the late 80'ties. The detection of the wheel surface defects is made by means of the 2nd generation Caltronic system using an array of accelerometers. The measurement of the wheel profile wear is made by means of laser scanners and cameras manufactured by another company. Because operating experience of the first generation WMS system has been achieved through a whole decade, it has been possible to implement many new features in the new system. These features comprise among others algorithms for diagnosis of the type of the defect like wheel flat, out-of-round wheel, and corrugated wheel. The result has been significant savings and quality improvements in car availability, wheel maintenance costs, wheel inspection costs, track maintenance costs, car component damage costs, and costs for noise and vibration reduction.