Application of LCC11 from Australia

A dealer in Australia manufacturing a weighing system succeeded to install 80 x LCC11 load cells and 20 x AD4328 weighing indicators to a manufacturer of railway rolling stock. This application called for 20 weighing platforms each interfaced to an AD4328 which would then be monitored and controlled by a centralized computer system via RS-422 communications. The platforms were set under the individual wheels and designed to enable the measurement of weight distribution onto the individual wheels of the rolling stock. A bogey can be weighed at one measurement by this weighing system.

As most rolling stock is not symmetrical in design and component location, e.g. the placement of motors etc, it has traditionally been very difficult to determine the individual wheel weights. The determination of wheel weights is extremely important to ensure uniform track traction for each set of axels in order to avoid derailment by unbalanced weight distribution. Not only for safety reasons, but also for a longer service life, it is important to make sure of the weight distribution. These reasons make it important for a manufacturer to test-weigh in order to optimize safety and reliability before locomotives are operated.