System of Hydraulic Dampers Diagnostics

The qualities of the railway vehicle running are determined to a considerable extent by the values of the resistance forces in the spring system. As it is known, the minimization of the dynamic forces that accompany locomotive and wagon running requires the availability of resistance forces of certain values. That has imposed the necessity to use a method, equipment and software to process the information obtained about the operation of a corresponding damper. They have to be precise and capable of data acquisition related to the exact identification of damper features. That was the reason for the authors to develop a stand, equipment and software for examining the hydraulic dampers in order to meet the requirements as defined. The software gives a possibility also of diagnostics of the condition of the main damper elements.