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#Industry News

How Inclinometers Keep High Speed Trains Upright

High Precision Tilt Sensors for Rail Transportation

High speed trains are invaluable worldwide for connecting millions of people to far destinations with convenience and efficiency. Even though it may feel like the train is constantly traveling in a straight line, it isn’t. With precise technology, high speed trains can take necessary turns without reducing speed, throwing passengers around or toppling over.

What Happens As A Train Turns

When an object in motion changes direction, something has to compensate for the centripetal force that pulls it laterally. Race tracks are built with high banking to help cars overcome centripetal force and stay on the track. This same tactic is applied to train tracks so that a train can maintain its speed and provide a smooth ride.

Tilted Rail Tracks

Without a tilted track, the lateral force would push passengers into a wall at every turn. Based on the speed of the train and angle of the curve, one side of the track is raised to a certain degree to stabilize the train. When laying the track, high precision sensors, such as an LSOX, are utilized within rail maintenance of way equipment to measure the tilt of the track in order to best serve the train and its passengers.

How Turbulence Is Detected In Tracks

When a set of track needs to be level, rail maintenance of way equipment can detect very slight unevenness. To pick up these minuscule imperfections, sensors like the LSOX, which has a 1 microradian resolution, can identify how much bumpiness there is and where it is found. Based on the freedback from the sensor, engineers can make important adjustments to the track to create a comfortable and safe ride before the train even hits the rails.

Tilt is a crucial detail within countless applications. Contact Jewell Instruments to learn how you can control it for your specific project.

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