Railways has introduced the highly sensitive and accurate technique in 15 locations on pilot basis to detect faults in coaches, wagons and locomotives while on run.
The technology first ever will have acoustic (sound based) method of diagnostics. They are known as Acoustic Bearing Detectors (ABD) & Wheel Impact Load Detectors (WILD). When used in combination together they are known as Online Monitoring of Rolling Stock (OMRS) systems. This technique involves placing arrays of microphones and sensors that record the audible noise and forces generated by the running coaches, wagons and locomotives.
One such system, which is a combination of ABD, OMRS & WILD systems, is installed near Bakkas in Lucknow division of Northern Railway as a pilot project. It has successfully detected a number of wheel bearing faults avoiding the problem of wheel bearing becoming hot which results in the stoppage of the train at the station or worse still-in between two stations.
Conventional method to maintain passenger coaches, wagons and locomotives is to physically examine when these are in stationary condition at the maintenance depots. Under the new technique, the faults in the Rolling stock can be detected while on run which is a big advantage as it will make maintenance faster reducing turn around time for Rolling stocks thereby ensuring availability of high number of wagons/coaches etc. for operation.
The OMRS equipment is so sensitive and accurate that it is often able to indicate the specific sub-component that is not behaving the way it should, and thus causing abnormal noise. This can be monitored remotely using mobile communication facilities. In the conventional method, it is impossible to detect this problem unless major assemblies are completely dismantled and checked in the maintenance depot.