Rail vehicle axle-box bearing damage detection considering the intensity of heating alteration

The article observes problems of detection of rolling bearing damages in rail vehicles. Two methods of bearing damage detection are examined – according to heating of axleboxes and by vibro-diagnostic manner. The disadvantage of vibro-diagnostic method is that a contact vibration sensor is used for vibration diagnostics, intervention into rail vehicle structure is required. The method according to heating of axle-boxes also has drawbacks. The same temperature value of axle-box in various conditions may characterize different bearing technical state. The Authors studied a possibility to use temperature change intensity parameters as the diagnostics criteria. Based on the examples of axle-box temperature measurement data, Authors developed and proposed a methodology for detecting axle-box bearings defects. The Authors suggest the use the method according to heating of axle-boxes. The given example proofs that the fact of the presence of their damages can be unambiguously identified by the intensity of temperature change of the axle-boxes.