Axle counter By- Rohan Srivastava

11IEE082

INTRODUCTION • The Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) is an ISO

9001 research and development organisation under the Ministry of Railways of India, which functions as a technical adviser and consultant to the Railway Board, the Zonal Railways, the Railway Production Units, RITES and IRCON International in respect of design and standardisation of railway equipment and problems related to railway construction, operation and maintenance.

•  After independence, a new organisation called Railway Testing and Research Centre (RTRC) was set up in 1952 at Lucknow, for undertaking intensive investigation of railway problems, providing basic criteria and new concepts for design purposes, for testing prototypes and generally assisting in finding solutions for specific problems. Later in 1957 it was integrated with CSO (Central standards Organisation) which formed RDSO.

Axle counter An axle counter is a device on a railway that detects the passing of a train between two points on a track. A counting head (or 'detection point') is installed at each end of the section, and as each train axle passes the counting head at the start of the section, a counter increments. A detection point comprises two independent sensors, therefore the device can detect the direction and speed of a train by the order and time in which the sensors are passed. As the train passes a similar counting head at the end of the section, the counter decrements. If the net count is evaluated as zero, the section is presumed to be clear for a second train.

Initially axle counters were imported from Germany to gain experience and to evaluate their suitability for adoption on Indian Railways.Having gained acceptability for introduction on a wide scale on IndianRailways, it was considered to take up indigenous development of axle counters, which was taken up by RDSO in collaboration with lIT, Delhi and DOE.Mark-I model was introduced in Indian Railways after extensive laboratory and field trials under various conditions. Later stage based on the field feedback, two models of axle counters known as single entry/exit (RDSO Mark-II) axle counter and Multi entry/exit axle counter were emerged and after extensive laboratory and field trials under various conditions, the design was finalised and commercialised through private sector as well as public sector.

Based on the feedback from field, a new axle counter has been developed by RDSO,known as “UNIVERSAL AXLE COUNTER”. It is universal system up to four entry / exit points of one section of straight road or Points zone portion and number of entry/ exit points are easily convertible at site as per the required application.

Functioning of Axle Counter

Fig: Mounting of Rail Contacts(Tx heads on the outside and Rx heads on the inside of the rail)

Four M8 bolts to be tightened with 13 mm spanner byapplying torque of 25 Nm

Three M12 bolts to be tightened with 19 mm spannerby applying torque of 45 Nm

Advantages The advantages of Axle counter that-

(a) It does not require wooden sleepers (where concrete sleepers are not available)

except for short track circuits to suppress the counts due to movement of insulated

trolleys.

(b) An axle counter system can cover a very long section up to 15 Kms.

(c) It does not get affected either by flooding of track or poor maintenance of tracks

unlike the track circuit, which is highly susceptible to these conditions.

(d) It does not require insulating rail joints, thus, rails can be continuously welded.

This reduces track maintenance cost, low wear and tear of tracks and vehicles and

to increase traveling comfort.

(e) Efficiency and safe working of axle counters does not depend up various track

parameters and climate condition such as length, ballast condition, drainage, stray

voltage and currents, track feed voltage and lead cables, etc. like track circuits.

Applications Axle counters have been finding more and more uses on modern safety

signaling systems in railways.

These are being used presently for the following

(a) Monitoring of berthing tracks in station areas and yards.

(b) Monitoring of point zones in station areas and yard.

(c) Automatic Signaling systems.

(d) Block working through axle counters using multiplexers (USBI) with

cable, OFC or radio communication (Last Vehicle Checking Device /Axle

Counter Block Working/Block Proving by Axle Counter).

(e) Level-crossing warning system using axle counter.

(f) Intermediate Block Signaling in Double line sections.

Bibliography • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axle_counter• http://www.rdso.indianrailways.gov.in/works/uploads/File/Handbook%20on

%20block%20proving%20by%20axle%20counter.pdf• IRISET MANNAUL• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research_Design_and_Standards_Organization• http://www.frauscher.in/en/axle_counter_in/?

gclid=CNnmlZ_R_8ECFRUnjgodlwIAAQ • https://www.google.co.in/url?

sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=8&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CE4QFjAH&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.altpro.com%2Fcontent%2Fdownload%2F440%2F3886%2Ffile%2FBO23_brochure-EN.pdf&ei=zNxoVJKVLMGiugTVuIFo&usg=AFQjCNGcVhHk2hHTNvhCSomDxY6blAGj3A&bvm=bv.79142246,d.c2E

• http://www.mobility.siemens.com/mobility/global/en/urban-mobility/rail-solutions/rail-automation/signaling-products/axle-counter-systems/pages/axle-counter-systems.aspx

The end