The wheels of railway vehicles are subjected to extreme stresses and strains that inevitably lead to wear and deterioration. Flat sections and damage to the contact areas are typical indicators of this degradation. The immediate result of this wear is greater variation in the vertical forces between the wheel and the rail.
Aguila (WILD/WIM) is a system designed to detect flat spots, eccentric wheels and other wheel damage that could damage railway infrastructure (WILD) and impair the smooth running of the train, potentially leading to overheated axle boxes and damage to trackside monitoring systems. Aguila monitors the wheels of railway vehicles to ensure that they rotate in a true circle; if they do not, corresponding messages are sent to the control room. The system can also operate as a dynamic weighbridge (WIM).
The measurement principle is based on track-mounted sensors using unique fibre optic technology. The system directly measures the force exerted by the wheels on the rail, with the values obtained directly between the sleeper and the rails. Thanks to the sensor location and direct measurement principle, there are NO blind spots, not even above the sleepers, regardless of wheel diameter.
The Aguila WIM/WILD can be installed on metro lines, freight lines carrying heavy-haul trains, conventional lines and high-speed lines.
Summary of the benefits offered by the AGUILA :
Low installation overheads
The use of fibre optic sensors minimises installation overheads; the sensor is simply placed between the rail and the sleeper in a straightforward procedure.
Both installation and maintenance can be carried out quickly in any weather.
Safety
AGUILA ensures reliable detection of damage to the contact area because the system continuously monitors the entire circumference of the wheels.
Easy to maintain
The system does not need to be removed for tamping.
Versatility
In addition to monitoring flat wheels, the AGUILA system can also be used as a dynamic weighbridge.
AGUILA System Features and Benefits
- Detection of all types of wheel defects (eccentric wheels, flat sections, etc.)
- Fibre optic technology (immune to electromagnetic interference)
- Unique measurement principle. The system measures force directly at its source (no indirect measurement using rail bending).
- No blind spots thanks to the unique measurement principle, regardless of wheel diameter.
- Simple to install and maintain (installation in 1 day).
- Wheel loads of up to 40 t.
- Records train weight and monitors overloads and asymmetrical loads.
- Train weight reproducibility: +/- 1 to 3%.
- Tampable (ballast tamping without removing the sensors).
- Integrated Ballast Analysis System (BAS).
Innovation and Precision in Railway Technology
- Fibre optic technology (immune to electromagnetic interference)
- Unique measurement principle. The system measures force directly at its source (no indirect measurement using rail bending).
- No blind spots thanks to the unique measurement principle, regardless of wheel diameter.
- Wheel loads of up to 40 t.
- Train weight reproducibility: +/- 1 to 3%.
- Integrated Ballast Analysis System (BAS).
- Integrated auto-calibration and self-check functions.
- Maximum number of axles: 3000.
- Speed range: 5-400 km/h.
- Measurement length from 4 to 48 F-sensors (2.4 m - 28.8 m, at a sleeper spacing of 0.6 m).
- Unique and stable positioning of the F-sensors between sleeper and rail (the sensors cannot slip or be displaced).
- Peak force measurement up to 650 kN.
- Compliant with EN 55011:98 + A1:99 + A2:02, Class B (Emissions test), EN 50121-4:00 (EMC), EN 15654-1:2015.
- Development according to EN 50128.