Product category:
Valve Hardware (Filters, Flow Controls, Positioners etc)
News Release from: Parker Hannifin - Filter Division | Subject: Classic Laser CM condition monitoring system
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 20 February 2006
Particle counters keep trains rolling
Condition monitoring equipment being used by US rail transportation company to protect its rail engines and wagons from the dangers of contaminated hydraulic fluids.
The latest range of Parker Hannifin's condition monitoring equipment is being used by Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway, USA, a rail transportation firm, to protect its rail engines and wagons from the dangers of contaminated hydraulic fluids With nearly 50,000 route kilometres, 5000 locomotives and 190,000 freight cars on the system, BNSF cannot risk delays due to prolonged maintenance or break-downs, and has standardised on Parker Hannifin's particle counters
Around 80% of all hydraulic systems fail because of contamination, most of this being debris and dirt that enters through air breathers, rod and wiper seals, covers and reservoirs.
This can affect the operating efficiency of the hydraulic oil and of the moving parts in valves, cylinders and other devices, leading to gradual degradation in system performance and, in extreme cases, to the sudden failure of components or seals.
Previously, to check the quality of its hydraulic oils, the BNSF maintenance team sent samples of oil to laboratories for testing; this took at least three days for the reports to be returned and was expensive, costing the company thousands of dollars a year.
To overcome this problem, BNSF switched to the use of Parker Hannifin's portable CM20 condition monitoring systems.
These let maintenance personnel carry out testing on-site, with the results being ready in minutes.
The equipment enabled BNSF to adopt a comprehensive predictive maintenance programme, with all major maintenance-of-way equipment being monitored at 300 hours of operation, while the opportunity to carry out sampling locally enabled efficiency to be increased, with overheads and time saved.
However, after 13 years of service, the CM equipment required updating and BNSF has improved the contamination control system by purchasing Classic Laser CM to use alongside the original CM20 equipment.
These products also allow easy sampling and accurate results within a simple two minute test cycle.
Connection to the hydraulics system is by a dedicated in-line sensor or single point sampling device.
The equipment can accommodate existing CM accessories and carrying cases, so BNSF upgraded to the newer technology at a reduced cost.
Len Licursi, Parker's Technical Sales and Service Manager, worked closely on this project and explained: "BNSF is the most forward thinking maintenance operation in the railroad segment".
"It was the first to embrace the use of state-of-art equipment for contamination and vibration monitoring on a periodic basis, throughout its network".
"The level of trust and satisfaction in the original CM20 product led it to see the advantages of the Classic LCM's new features, for example continuous testing, level testing and the use of dedicated alarm relays".
The unit has hands-free testing, with a 300 test cycle, via an LCD handset, with print-outs being obtained from the integral 16 column printer.
Connection to a computer is made easy by the built-in RS232 interface.
"You cannot have a predictive maintenance programme without addressing your hydraulic oil condition," said Wayne Kolkman, BNSF's Supervisor of Predictive Maintenance.
"The CM20 and the new Classic LCM units provide us with the knowledge that our hydraulic systems are the cleanest in the industry".
"As a direct result of this, we annually save many thousands of dollars".
"Less downtime means greater system availability".
"Our purchase of the CM20 units has been repaid many times over the years".
"We plan to replace the last of our aging, but still functional, CM20 units with the new Classic Laser CM over the next two years".
"The units are very easy to use with training taking an hour or less".
"Parker's support means very little downtime for the units and a quick turn around when they require calibration". Request a free brochure from Parker Hannifin - Filter Division ...
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