Product category:
Level Sensors and Leak Detectors
News Release from: Procon Engineering | Subject: VC3500 shear beams
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 31 May 2001
Shear beams keep Flying Scotsman on the
level
Equipment supplied by weighing specialist Procon Engineering is playing a vital role in ensuring the safe operation of the recently restored, world renowned, 160 ton steam legend, the Flying Scotsman
There is no doubt that rail safety is high on the public agenda and operators are subject to stringent regulations - even those of veteran steam locomotives Equipment supplied by weighing specialist Procon Engineering is playing a vital role in ensuring the safe operation of the recently restored, world renowned, 160 ton steam legend, the 'Flying Scotsman'
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 5 Jun 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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The 'Scotsman' has an impressive CV having become the first locomotive to reach an authentic 100 mph back in 1934 and more recently circumnavigating the world.
From 1928 it lent its name to the first non-stop Kings Cross to Edinburgh train., Fortunately, when it was purchased from British Rail in 1963, the new owner included a clause in the contract excluding the Scotsman from the post 1968 mainline steam ban.
However, as the century drew to a close, the old lady had started showing distinct signs of weariness.
Fortunately for enthusiasts, the locomotive was rescued by its latest owner, flamboyant entrepreneur Dr Tony Marchington.
Now following an investment of over three quarters of a million pounds and thousands of hours of painstaking work by an enthusiastic team of engineers, Locomotive 4472 has been restored to its former glory.
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Three years after the project started, the Scotsman is now back on the rails enthralling its many fans up and down the country.
One of the key elements in the safe operation of the locomotive is ensuring equal load distribution at the wheels.
In the past this was checked using a cumbersome and slow Kelbus mechanical lever system, the calibration taking several days to complete.
Wishing to improve on this, chief engineer Roland Kennington, turned to weighing specialists Procon Engineering for help.
As he explains " It is important to check load distribution both across each axle and along the locomotive.
Unequal distribution across an axle can cause the locomotive to be unstable on bends while incorrect load distribution at any set of wheels can cause the locomotive to be ' light on its feet' whereby the drive wheels can slip.
The load distribution on the front four wheel bogie is particularly critical and too little load could cause the bogie to jump off the rails at points with dire consequences." The solution devised by the experienced Procon engineers was simple, cost effective, yet ingenious.
The company, which incorporates Defiant and Negretti Weighing, has established itself as a solution provider over the past four decades for all types of weighing- from simple scales up to complete batching and blending systems.
Short sections of rail within the engine shed in Southall were cut out and refitted directly onto load cells.To accommodate the varying wheel loads of four to 11 tons along the locomotive, each short rail section is mounted on two 10 tonne capacity VC3500 shear beams connected to a GS 101 weight indicator, giving a maximum capacity of 20 tonne each side.
Each rail acts as an independent scale, enabling the engineers to measure and adjust the load distribution across each axle to within 500 kg- half the allowed tolerance laid down in the original design specifications.
The rail sections are kept in line by a system of horizontal tie bars which provide lateral support without affecting weighing performance.
The double ended shear beams, clearly shown in the photograph, are ideal for such applications.
The integral mounting assemblies make installation extremely easy and their design ensures optimum load distribution.
The tiny deflection of the load cells ensures that the level of the locomotive does not change when only one axle is being weighed which could affect the result.
This is in contrast to the old system which required a scale at each wheel to overcome this problem.
The complete system was calibrated in Procon's workshops prior to installation.
Roland Kennington is extremely pleased with the solution that Procon came up with.
"Their scale allows us to check and adjust the axles very quickly.
Given the short time frame and tight budget restraints we placed on Procon, they have come up trumps.
Legislation requires the load distribution to be checked at least once a year or after any mechanical changes to the locomotive.
However,as well as checking the axles statically, we can also run the locomotive slowly over the scale and visibly check the load distribution on a regular basis to make sure the train always runs in peak condition.
The design of the system also gives us the opportunity to connect a printer to the scales if we need to provide permanent records in the future.".
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