Bryansk Engineering Plant has delivered the shunting locomotive TEM18DÐœ â„–581 to JSC RZD for ‘experimental operations’ with the new ‘innovative bearings’.
This is the first Russian diesel locomotive equipped with traction electric motors with rolling bearings.
The use of rolling bearings instead of sleeve bearings is the priority guideline of the Russian Diesel Locomotive Engineering both for the new locomotives and for modernisation of JSC RZD’s locomotive fleet in operation.
Rolling bearings reduce the locomotive’s resistance to motion, which leads to ‘efficiency improvement and increase of traction power’.
Exclusion of the ‘permanent maintenance of rolling bearings significantly reduces operational costs’.
The life cycle of a rolling bearing is more than 5 million kilometers, ‘ensuring more reliable operation of this locomotive assembly’.
First inspection of the rolling bearings is defined after 18 months of locomotive operation with the addition of lubrication into the bearings.
Full replacement of lubrication is provided during regular maintenance 3 after 36 months of operation.
Operation of the diesel locomotive ТEМ18DМ № 581 with the new bearings will be done after one year of operation at the Sverdlovsk – Passjirskiy depot.
