Robust Sensor System for Condition Monitoring of Lubricated Rail Vehicle Components

Abstract

Sensor systems for monitoring lubricated components must provide a high-level of robustness against various environmental impacts like temperature, humidity, and vibrational load to operate reliably over a long-term period. Therefore, a lab-to-field development environment was established to mimic the influence of these factors under controlled laboratory conditions. The sensor-based monitoring of water in grease-lubricated axle box bearings on wheelsets for railway application is presented to account for water content as critical lubricant parameter, as water can damage or even destroy bearings.