video record
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Description
This complements the Transportation Case Study. John Cannell introduces the programme which details how engineers tackle the job of re-designing a large existing mechanical system. The example take...n is the redesigning of the suspension of present-day trains so that they can run much faster, safer and more comfortably. This particular re-design has culminated in the Advanced Passenger Train. The programme starts by describing some ol the events which led to a re-awakening of interest in rail transport. The basic problems of guidance and instability of coned wheelsets are shown on film and demonstrated in the studio. Alan Wickens, Director of Laboratories at the Railway technical Centre, Derby, describes the effect of creep forces and goes on to show how these forces are incorporated into a theoretical model of the wheelset and suspension. The solution of the equation gives rise to a new suspension system concept and film is shown of the way in which this system copes with track irregularities. The programme concludes with a brief description of the APT.
Metadata describing this Open University video programme
Module code and title: T100, The man-made world: a foundation course
Item code: T100; 29
First transmission date: 06-08-1972
Published: 1972
Rights Statement:
Restrictions on use:
Duration: 00:23:00
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Producer: Edward Goldwyn
Contributors: John Cannell; Alan Wickens
Publisher: BBC Open University
Keyword(s): Advanced Passenger Train; Creep forces; Rail viability; Re-design; Train suspension; Unstable coned wheelsets
Footage description: Shot of railway wheel rotating on a roller bed. Its instability is pointed out. J.Cannell introduces the programme.It will cover the problem of designing trains which will run regularly and safely at 200 m.p.h. Shot of the Tokyo-Osaka fast passenger train. (Tokaido Line) Shot of a European fast passenger train. Commentary lists fast train services in other countries. Shot of train on the electrified London to Manchester line. Shot of motorway and motorway interchange ( "cloverleaf"), Comnentary gives some of the advantages of railway travel and rail networks. Aerial shot of Heathrow airport. Shots of several locomotives from 1895 to present day. Commentary is a short history of high speed rail travel in Britain. Importance of good tracks for high speed rail travel discussed. The need to design fast trains which can use present tracks is taken up. Shots of existing railway track in Britain. Shots of joined plastic tea beakers being rolled down a wooden track. Severe kinematic oscillatory movement results. This model illustrates the problem of stability of coned railway wheels. Cannell with more sophisticated model rail set up. He has a highly coned wheel set (1 in 5 taper) which he rolls along the track. Connell with a non-tapered wheel set. It cannot steer itself around the bend since the wheel flanges come into contact with the track. Film sequences from British Rail's Vehicle Dynamics Roller Test Rig at Derby. A conventionally designed U wheel tank wagon is tested on a test bed which simulates movement over a rail. Film sequences of coach wheel testing on actual rail.The phenomenon of hunting (kinematic oscillations) is seen in both of the above tests. J. Connell discusses the various movements of the wheel set. Shot of wheel set on test bed. Alan Wickens, discusses creep forces between wheel and rail. He uses a model which shows the flexibility of the wheel in producing creep. Wickens draws a graph with a lateral force/slip axis. On this he plots a creepage curve. Connell draws wheel sets on a large sheet of paper to illustrate the results of yaw and lateral motion. Connell plots curves for wheel set oscillations at various speeds.
Master spool number: 6HT/70653
Production number: 00521_2536
Videofinder number: 2172
Available to public: no