Development of Improved Wheel Friction Block with Integrated Flange Lubrication and Tread Adhesion Functions

Abstract

This paper describes the development of a wheel friction block that integrates the functions of wheel flange lubrication and tread adhesion improvement. We devised a configuration in which friction material with adhesion increasing material on the tread and material containing solid lubricant with MoS₂ at the flange are applied vertically by a tread cleaning device. The developed blocks were tested for an express train in operation and traveled about 200,000 km. As a result, the wear rate of the wheel flanges was reduced by an average of about 40% compared to the wheel flanges of vehicles not equipped with the developed blocks.