CONSIDERATION OF TURNOUT CONDITION MONITORING METHODS FOR NS TYPE POINT MACHINE

Abstract

 Railway turnouts involve multiple departments, including stations, rolling stock, tracks, and signals, while also having mechanically movable parts, necessitating periodic maintenance by each department. Therefore, we are aiming to optimize inspection cycles and prevent turnout failures in advance, by transitioning from conventional periodic maintenance to condition-based maintenance (CBM). Implementing CBM requires sensors for condition monitoring; however, NS-type electric point machines lack such mechanisms. In this study, we aimed to develop long-term installable sensors for turnouts equipped with NS-type electric point machines in operating railway lines, ensure stable data acquisition, and establish a system change for turnout inspections. Additionally, to obtain sensor values during turnout failures, we conducted verification tests under controlled conditions, simulating various adjustment defects and failure scenarios.