What are these???

[Anonymous]

There is a hot box detector for model trains at http://www.twistedtrains.com . They don't really find a hot bearings or other defects, but simulate these. Pretty Cool

[Anonymous]

I just took another look at the HBD picture, you can't see the "A" & "B" gating transducers because they are mounted on the rail near the bottom of the picture. It doesn't matter which rail they are on, it just so happens in this picture they are on the nearest rail out of view. The "C" & "D" transducers would be located maybe 40 feet (ours are 75 feet) north and south of the scanners,or, east and west if that's how the railroad travels.

[Anonymous]

Rkarn:

Yes, each and every axle is scanned. The 2 transducers (magnets) that are near the scanners make the counts and helps with the scanning of each axle for any over-heated bearings. You can't see them in the picture posted, because they are inside of the gage of the track. Our rules are: check the bearing that alarmed and one bearing on either side, just in case a miscount happens. The model pictured is the Servo 8808. Harmon finally bought out Servo and we purchased the Cyberscan 2000 to replace our Servo 8808. The Cyberscan 2000 will store 196 trains into its memory, like a data recorder. It will tell you the date & time the train went over it, what direction it was traveling in, how fast it was going, what train it was for the day passing by (the 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc), average heat for each side, then, the heat detected for each and every axle. It measures the amount of heat over the outdoor ambient temperature. If an axle said 22º, that would mean it was [(22º) + (outdoor ambient temp)]. I've been working with these for 21 years now. We originally had the Servo 7707 which used vacuum tubes, including one inside of the actual sensor! We have these on average every 18 miles. The "A" and "B" transducers near the scanners have their internal magnets spaced 24 inches apart. As the wheel rolls thru taht 24 inches, that's when the heat samples are being collected. Harmon states 32 samples are taken during that 24 inches of travel. Imagine how fast that is happening when our high speed trains are rolling at 125mph over the hotbox detectors! The D.E.D. (dragging equipment detector) the lower photo does the job just as its name implies. If the train is dragging something, it will knock over those spring loaded paddles and drop the home signal at the interlocking the train is approaching. Usually, that's why those are installed, to protect interlockings. The reason is so that a train that may be dragging something, or, something is hanging down from the train, won't roll thru an interlocking and tear up the switches. The D.E.D. used to have these hollow letter "T"s that actually broke off when they were struck - makes for a bad day if you're near those! The "T'"s were part od a series circuit with +12VDC, and, if one broke, it would drop a relay. Even with the spring loaded draggers, like in the photo, we have to stand clear of them when a train passes by - those things can act like a big scraper that cn cause things to fly at you!

[Anonymous]

Hi amtrak-tom,

QUOTE: Inside the track gage are magnetic sensors (transducers) that sense the metal wheels passing into their fields.

Is the transducer the one that make axle count???

QUOTE: As the wheels move between these 2 transducers, about 32 wheel samples are taken

I didn't get it. Isn't it make a 100% check?

Karn[:)]
Karn[:)]

[Anonymous]

The upper photo is the Hot Box Detector (HBD). There is an infra-red sensitive resistor inside the unit. The "bolometer" and "pyrometer" are usually the main 2 types of sensors used. The "bolometer" is the earliest version. Inside the track gage are magnetic sensors (transducers) that sense the metal wheels passing into their fields. The further most out transducers sense the train approaching, which turns off the internal scanner heaters to reduce electrical noise, opens the shutters and waits for the train to start passing by the sensors. The 2 transducers closest to the scanners are the "gating transducers". As the wheels move between these 2 transducers, about 32 wheel samples are taken - that's the infra-red heat signals generating from the bearings being compared to the underside of the car as an ambient temperature comparison. Ours are set to alarm if one bearing is 104ºF warmer than the opposite wheel on the same axle. Or, if any bearing reads 161ºF. The data is sent to a mainframe computer located at the CETC command centre, and, if it's an alarm condition, the computer drops the home signal automatically at the interlocking. The dispatcher contacts the train crew and tells them which axle alarmed. We tried "talkers", but, decided not to use them on the northeast corridor. The Hot Box systems are checked weekly for various voltages, check the internal mirrors and lens to ensure they are clean, make sure everything is tight on the rails, and, they are calibrated monthly.

[Big_Boy_4005]

I thought they always made a report, even if it was "NO DEFECTS" and the time. Maybe I'm just used to my local detectors.

[jeffhergert]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005

QUOTE: Originally posted by macguy

No special equipment, the detector talks right over the radio.

Yup, it will be on the regular road channel for that section of the railroad. It is handy to know where the detectors are along the line if you are out train watching. They can tell you when a train is coming even if the crew has nothing to say.

Unless the detector talks on defect only. Then silence is golden. At least for the train crew.[:D]
Jeff

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by macguy

No special equipment, the detector talks right over the radio.

Yup, it will be on the regular road channel for that section of the railroad. You just need a regular scanner set to railroad frequencies. If you don't have one, Radio Shack sells programables that can be set up to listen to railroad channels, if they are legal where you live.

It is handy to know where the detectors are along the line if you are out train watching. They can tell you when a train is coming even if the crew has nothing to say.

[Anonymous]

No special equipment, the detector talks right over the radio.

[Anonymous]

Anybody cal tell the frequency the transmitter at the defect detector transmit to the crew? Also is there any receiver used particularly in the cab used for this purpose? Thanks!

Karn[:)]

[Puckdropper]

There's a recording of several defect detectors on:
http://www.spikesys.com/Sounds/other.html

I'd hear them all the time when I was young and in Arlan's video store (rental) in Flanagan. I've got a lot of good memories there... (Sadly, Arlan passed away earlier this year.)

[Anonymous]

Ok...When ever a train goes over the hot box detector, and finds a hot box, it will go....for example BEEEEEEEEEP, BEEEEEEEEEP Conrail, NewLondon, Hotbox, North Side Axle 2-5-8. Train Speed 47. Then Repeat Again. Then, The Crew calls me and tells them that they have a hot box, and I say ok, bring it to a stop, and check out the axle. If the crew finds that the axle is ok....they go 30mph to the next detector. If they come back and find that the wheel is hot, we have to find a place to set the car off.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: The hotbox detector looks for hot bearings, the dragging equipment detector is a smash board that senses dragging equipment, usually brake rigging that is falling off....especially on the CN.

And what action that equipments will do after detecting an unusual event? Just send the info to the dispatcher or the engineer? Stop the train? Or something else?

Karn[:)]

[MP57313]

BNSF has signs next to their dragging equipment detectors that say *DED

[Randy Stahl]

The hotbox detector looks for hot bearings, the dragging equipment detector is a smash board that senses dragging equipment, usually brake rigging that is falling off....especially on the CN.
Randy

[Anonymous]

And what are those for please? Thanks.

Karn

[Jackflash]

Sensors for a defect detector, jackflash

[Randy Stahl]

Hot box detector and dragging equipment detector
Randy

[Anonymous]

The top one looks like an LGB part #17100.

[Anonymous]

I would be very appreciate if anyone can tell me what this is for



and this...



Thanks!

Karn[:)]