Thermal imaging of the disc brake and drive train in an electric locomotive in field conditions

Abstract

The article presents the results of thermovision tests of the disc brake and the drive system components located in its vicinity on the 111Ed electric locomotive in field conditions. For the mentioned vehicle, the research methodology was developed and the temperature distribution of the brake disc and components and assemblies located in its vicinity during braking was measured. In the article, special attention was paid to the configuration of the thermal imaging camera to the real conditions occurring during the test. This is important because due to the rotating brake disc, it is difficult to verify the temperature value with another contact measuring device. In exceptional situations, temperature measurement using thermocouples is used, but it requires an extensive additional measurement system and signal recording, which is more expensive. Although the thermal imaging camera measures the temperature indirectly, the correct configuration of the camera settings to the real conditions may affect the measurement error by several percent.