Self-power Technology for Sensorized Rail Axle Boxes with SKF

Made up of complex mechanical and electrical systems, with hundreds of moving parts – maintenance of railway vehicles along its life is a considerable cost for train owners. Hence, reducing and optimizing maintenance costs is central in the industry. A proactive approach instead of a reactive or traditional approach of time- and mileage-based maintenance intervals ensures operators can better use their components’ potential service life. However, even the monitoring sensors have a limited life cycle requiring replacement, and the misalignment of the maintenance schedules of different parts often presents operators with challenges.

Today, the sensors cannot, generally, remain in service for a long timespan as the axle box bearings themselves, resulting in an inefficient scheduling of the maintenance work. Integrating modern self-power solutions into the sensors can increase energy availability without significantly increasing product size and weight. Hence, the functionalities and lifespan of the sensors can be improved to boost the solution’s efficiency. SKF is now looking for a new generation technology partner to co-develop a wireless solution to secure never-ending energy recharging in the sensor or new battery technologies to get unlimited functionalities and match-bearing lifespan.