Berlin/Schleinford, 23 September 2010 - For several years now, Schaeffler Industry has been the main partner in the field of rolling bearings for high-speed trains. In developing these bearings we work closely with vehicle manufacturers and operators to optimise our products for specific operating conditions. Schaeffler Industry is the development partner and exclusive supplier of axle box bearings for the Velaro-RUS high-speed train in Russia and for the CRH3 high-speed rail project in China at speeds up to 350 km/h. In tests carried out according to EN12082, the Schaeffler Group confirmed that the axle box bearing can be applied at 380 km/h.

In addition, the Schaeffler Group develops and produces axle boxes and bearings for motors and gearboxes. The design of double row tapered roller bearing is the key to high bearing capacity of axle box bearing. Thanks to the high-speed bullet train concept, the bearing units are specifically designed for axle loads of 17.7 to 19 tons. The drive components and technical modules of the EMU are arranged under the floor of the entire train, rather than confined to the front and back two locomotives of the push-pull train. The mass distribution of the whole EMU is improved, so that the load acting on a single wheelset is relatively moderate. Due to the high speed, the design speed of the bearing reaches 2400 RPM. Easy to install TAROL units Tapered roller bearing units are mainly used in high-speed applications due to the possibility of special loads. The FAG TAROL units from Schaeffler Industry are easy to install.

TAROL units are shipped with adjusted clearance, greased and sealed, and are available in imperial and metric series as well as the necessary locking parts and fittings for quick and reliable installation. In addition, custom parts, spare parts and saddles can be provided according to customer needs. Schaeffler engineers also provide professional training to the customer's operators to ensure the correct installation of axle box bearings. In this way, the customer is certified and authorized to install axle box bearings. Special attention must be paid to the quality of the material under high loads and ultra-high speeds to ensure the correct lubrication of the bearing. To this end, the Schaeffler Group has worked with steel manufacturers to develop special standards to improve the purity of the steel used.

In addition, the Schaeffler Group uses its own special quenching processes, coating processes and coating types. When choosing the right lubricant, additives and viscosity are decisive factors. The Schaeffler Group works closely with lubricant manufacturers in this regard. At the same time, the amount of grease is also very important, especially in high-speed applications, too much grease will cause the bearing temperature to rise too high and too fast. Axle box shape optimization reduces load In addition to bearing units, Schaeffler Industry develops and manufactures axle boxes.