- Author
-
Brooks, J. L.
- Title
- Heat-Activated Alarm System for Railroad Boxcars Carrying Explosives. Final Report. October 1974-September 1977.
- Coporate
- Civil Engineering Lab (Navy), Port Hueneme, CA
- Report
-
CEL-TN-1512
December 1977
27 p.
- Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Keywords
-
railroads
|
temperature warning system
|
explosives
|
transportation
|
safety
|
friction
|
heat
|
fire safety
|
heat detectors
- Identifiers
- boxcars; thermostats; wheels; braking
- Abstract
- An alarm system concept designed to alert train operators of excessive heating of any of the wheels of a boxcar laden with high-explosives has been developed. The excessive heat was determined to be caused by friction between a wheel and brake shoe that does not properly release while the train is in motion. The alarm system consists of heat sensors that are located on the boxcar above each wheel. These are wired to an alarm transmitter mounted near the top of the boxcar. This concept requires that each boxcar laden with high explosives be outfitted with the sensors and a transmitter. A receiving system is then located in the train caboose to decode the alarm signals, identify the boxcar, and sound the alarm. The system hardware, tests, and evaluation are described.