Requirements in rail vehicle technology

During the overhaul of rail vehicles, safety-critical components are reconditioned — a field closely related to the aerospace sector: in both cases, it is about reliable cleaning in overhaul and revision. Characteristic are high grease loads on bearings as well as operational soiling, which must be removed before inspection and reassembly.

Typical components and materials

From this sector, we mainly clean:

Components: rolling bearings and axle-box bearings, bogies and running-gear parts
Materials: steel, cast iron, non-ferrous metals and coated parts
Contamination: above all greases — often in large quantities — as well as operational soiling

Suitable processes

Which process fits best depends on the component, the contamination and the batch size — we advise in a technology-neutral way. For this sector, the following are particularly relevant:

Wet-chemical cleaning — aqueous cleaning, also designed for high grease loads
High-pressure cleaning & deburring — removal of stubborn operational soiling with the high-pressure water jet
Ultrasonic cleaning — thorough cleaning of bearings and fine geometries in an immersion bath

Downstream processes: what the cleaning pays into

Cleaning is typically followed by inspection (including NDT), re-greasing, coating, assembly and reinstallation. Because each of these steps requires a defined, clean surface, the cleanliness target is defined from the next process step.

Measurement and quality assurance

Cleanliness testing is predominantly defined on the customer side; however, a check can also be integrated into the process at equipment level. Traceability is — as throughout overhaul operations — an important topic.

Case example

In the rail wagon overhaul area, an installation is in service that degreases the rolling bearings of the wheels — these contain a great deal of grease. The media used are aqueous cleaners designed for the high grease load.

Frequently asked questions

Which rail components does TeSe clean? Above all rolling bearings and axle-box bearings, bogies and running-gear parts — mainly as part of the overhaul.

How are heavily greased bearings cleaned? With aqueous cleaners designed for high grease loads — supplemented if required by high-pressure or ultrasonic cleaning.

Is the cleaning part of an overhaul process? Yes. As in the aerospace sector, it is about reconditioning in overhaul/revision, followed by inspection, re-greasing and reinstallation.

Test a process at TeSe

Whether a process meets your sector’s requirements on the actual component is shown by the trial: 1–2 hours of testing free of charge. In-depth feasibility studies: CHF 1’200 per day, 50 % creditable when purchasing a machine.