Axlebox Bearings for Talent 2
BERLIN and SCHWEINFURT, Germany, Oct. 24 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- The Business Unit Rail of Schaeffler Group Industrial (INA/FAG) supplies the rolling bearings incorporated in the wheelsets of Bombardier's Talent 2 electric multiple unit. Railway operator Deutsche Bahn AG will start to run these trains throughout Germany within its regional and suburban transport systems as of 2009. All motor bogies and trailer bogies are equipped with high-precision cylindrical roller bearing units with dimensions d 130 mm x D 240 mm x B 160 mm (bore diameter x outside diameter x width). For decades, cylindrical roller bearings have proven their performance capacity in all kinds of rail vehicle wheelsets and they are particularly suitable for transmitting high radial forces. In cooperation with vehicle manufacturer Bombardier, the bearings undergo performance tests according to EN 12082 and UIC 515-5 on Schaeffler's own test rigs. Due to the high-precision components used, the test run and the latter operating time through to servicing will amount to 1.2 million kilometers covered.
Lubrication and sealing
The bearing unit is filled with high-quality FAG Arcanol L224, which complies with the conventional standards for trains according to EN 12081 and UIC 814 without any problems. The bearing is supplied with sealing shields. Together with the outer seals in the adjacent bogie components, they ensure efficient and effective sealing for long operating time.
Modular traction concept
Talent 2 has a modular design and can be configured variably to create two-car trains or trains with as many as six cars. The drive power is also variable and can be selected depending on the number of driven axles. Additionally, the vehicle can be configured for operation on different voltage systems in cross-border traffic (15 or 25 kilovolts alternating current or 3 kilovolts direct current). Entrance heights of 60 or 80 centimeters take the varying platform heights in different railway stations into consideration. The train can be reconfigured at any time to meet different operating requirements. With its high level of acceleration and up to two folding-sliding doors on each side of the car, the Talent 2 is expected to offer rapid regional and suburban transport.
In addition, the new train is well prepared when it comes to safety requirements, being fully compliant with every aspect of the future European TSI crash standard (collision scenarios 1-4).
With approx. 66,000 employees at more than 180 locations worldwide and consolidated sales of EUR8.9bn (2007), the Schaeffler Group is a leading global bearing manufacturer and automotive component supplier. Group members are Schaeffler KG with its brands INA and FAG, headquartered in Herzogenaurach, and the LuK Group which is based in Buhl/Baden. The Industrial Division provides bearing solutions to about 60 different industrial segments via its market-driven global organization and application engineering.
