NSK extends wheelset bearing life for Intercity Express 25 June 2014

NSK bearings fitted to the first batch of Hitachi Intercity Express Programme (IEP) trains are based on those used for the high-speed Shinkansen trains in Japan.

Tony Synnott, NSK European railway sector manager, says they meet targets for minimum maintenance, high reliability and extended service life – having been engineered to match the operating life of the wheels themselves, which is over 1 million miles.

"Put simply, these wheelset bearings are the interface between the static parts of a train's undercarriage and the rotating parts, including the power transmission and wheels," explains Synnott.

"What we have done with this project is to adapt some of the aspects of the designs that have worked extremely well in Japan," he continues.

"We've extended the maintenance requirements to coincide with wheel maintenance, thereby guaranteeing performance, while increasing train availability."

Synnott points to the use of special bearing-grade steel, developed by NSK, and equally special seals and lubricants, designed to handle the tough working environment of double-row taper rolling bearings subject to high loads, external contaminants, and temperature differentials and vibration.

Brian Tinham

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