Specifications

The features and specifications of equipment given on the below are illustrative only. They are not a guarantee of performance in a particular case. For more information, please contact us.

Feature
CAT
RCA
MSRCA
HSRCA
Weight & portability Portable, 9kg instrument, 19kg when in case. Operated by one person Vehicle mounted or self-contained bogie
Hi-rail or vehicle mounted
Vehicle mounted
Measuring speed Walking speed: 2-5km/h Up to 20km/h demonstrated Up to 45km/h demonstrated Typically 30-140km/h; lower speed possible with reduced accuracy, particularly at long wavelengths
Measuring principle Contacting transducer Contacting transducer Contacting transducer Axlebox accelerometers
Measurement of Single rail Both rails simultaneously Both rails simultaneously Both rails simultaneously
Requirements regarding train or vehicle None: portable system Minimal wheel irregularities Equipment is made to fit: hydraulics desirable Minimal wheel irregularities; Electronic tachometer; Good primary suspension: minimal friction elements
Typical accuracy in 30-100mm wavelength range Better than 0.001mm RMS in 30-100mm wavelength range
Better than 0.010mm RMS in 30-100mm wavelength range
Better than 0.003mm RMS in 30-100mm wavelength range Better than 10dB, 5-300mm
Computing requirements Laptop, 1GHz Pentium or better Laptop or desktop, 1GHz Pentium or better Laptop or desktop, 1GHz Pentium or better Laptop or desktop, 1GHz Pentium or better
Software Proprietary, Windows based Proprietary, Windows based Proprietary, Windows based Proprietary, Windows based
Data collection, signal processing & display [1] - Profile of one rail at 1mm or 2mm interval and 0.01 micron resolution

- Filtered profiles [2]

- RMS amplitudes in “block” or moving window [2]

- Peak-to-peak amplitudes in block or moving window [2]

- Percentage exceedence [4]

- One-third octave band spectra
- Profile of both rails at 2mm interval and 1 micron resolution

- Filtered profiles [2]

- RMS amplitudes in “block” or moving window [2]

- Peak-to-peak amplitudes in block or moving window [2]

- Percentage exceedence [4]
- Profile of both rails at 2mm interval and 1 micron resolution

- Filtered profiles [2]

- RMS amplitudes in “block” or moving window [2]

- Peak-to-peak amplitudes in block or moving window [2]

- Percentage exceedence [4]

- RMS amplitudes in “block” [3]

- Percentage exceedence [4,5]

- 1/3-Octave band spectra

Automatic detection discrete irregularities (e.g. welds) Available as extra-cost option No No Extra-cost option, ranked into up to 7 ranges of severity
Annotation of records with features of line (bridges, etc.) No Yes Yes Yes
Annotation of records with features of line (bridges, etc.) - Corrugation surveys and troubleshooting

- Quality Assurance for grinding

- Accurate measurement of short lengths of track (2- 5km/h)

- Measurements for acoustics work

- Verification and calibration of other equipment: RCA, MSRCA and HSRCA
- Corrugation surveys for metros or other relatively small railway systems

- Quality assurance for grinding

- Accurate measurement of moderate lengths of track

- Corrugation surveys for larger railway systems or systems on which hi-rail vehicles are already used

- Production of grinding/reprofiling programmes

- Quality assurance for grinding/reprofiling

- Measurement of complete rail systems to assess grinding requirements

- Noise surveys and 'mapping'

- Assessment of locations in track giving high dynamic loads (for damage to vehicle components and track)

- Assessment of locations compliant with requirements of EN15610:2009, ISO EN 3095, etc.


Notes:

  1. All software can export ASCII files of calculated data e.g. for post-processing with other software.
  2. For wavelength ranges 10-30mm, 30-100mm, 100-300mm, 300-1000mm, 1000-3000mm, 30- 300mm, 300-3000mm and 150-1500mm.
  3. For up to 7 non-overlapping, user-specified wavelength ranges
  4. The “percentage exceedence” is the percentage of the measured length over which a measurement of the profile exceeds a specified limit. The measurement can in principle be of any quantity e.g. raw or filtered profile, RMS or peak-to-peak average displacement in a moving window.
  5. For the HSRCA, percentage exceedences can be calculated for up to seven specified amplitude limits.