As of December, the Velaro RUS high speed train now connects St. Petersburg with the Urals. This train, which is built by Siemens, uses HEROSE valves. Two of the eight trains ordered have already been delivered and are now undergoing a rigorous testing programme in Russia
Each train of the Velaro series consists of ten coaches. The braking systems of these trains are each supplied with air via two compressors. These air supply systems each include two HEROSE safety valves. Volker Maass, HEROSE Deputy Sales Manager: “The braking systems of the Velaro are built for Siemens by Knorr-Bremse in Munich. At the end of 2007, this customer enquired whether we could develop and supply the necessary valves.”
HEROSE was able to do this. Volker Maass: “On the basis of the 06217 valve, which has been used for many years by the Deutsche Bahn, we developed the Type 06219 for the Velaro.” The essential difference between these valves is that the further development can withstand temperatures down to minus 55 degrees – an essential requirement for use in Russia. What exactly were the requirements? “In order to ensure the sealing and precise trigger pressure even under extreme climatic conditions, we had to redesign the plates of the safety valve and to adapt the sealing material,” say Volker Maass.
In order to test these requirements, HEROSE set up a climatic chamber in Bad Oldesloe. The new valve passed all tests, both in the cold chamber in Bad Oldesloe and in a comparable (but much larger) facility in Munich. Karl Hering, Air Supply Product Manager for Knorr-Bremse: “In this chamber we tested the functioning of the entire compressor assembly.” Knorr-Bremse developed an oil-free compressor for the Russian market, which in contrast to oil lubricated compressors can be cold-started.
The Knorr-Bremse Group, with headquarters in munich, is the world´s leading manufacturer of brakes for rail and commercial vehicles. As a technological pacemaker, for more than 100 years the company has made decisive contributions to the development, production and sales of modern braking systems. Other products include doorsystems and air conditioning systems for rail vehicles.. In 2008 the group had a turnover of 3.38 billion Euro and employed about 15,000 people throughout the world. Knorr-Bremse is an international group with more than 60 sites in 25 countries. Braking systems manufactured by the company, which was founded in Berlin in 1905 by Georg Knorr, are used in high speed trains such as the German ICE as well as in many suburban trains, trams, tube trains and goods trains throughout the world.
HEROSE is confident that the development of this extreme cold-resistant 06219 valve will open up new markets. Volker Maass: “Railways in Scandinavian countries or in Canada also have similar climatic conditions to Russia.”
Photo: Siemens AG
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