InnoTrans 2010

Air spring system with data storage

ContiTech is the first manufacture to succeed in integrating an electronic data carrier into its air spring bellows. The transponder chip defies the high temperatures prevailing in the manufacturing process as well as the pres-sure and elongation occurring when the bellows are in service. Chip tech-nology opens up whole new possibilities: "Vital product information can now be monitored electronically and remains fully accessible even years later, – despite contamination and wear in the intervening time," – notes Friedrich Hoppmann, head of the ContiTech Railway Engineering segment, citing the advantages. Every air spring system can be unmistakably identified at any time. The service information is stored and updated whenever the system is serviced. This allows for optimum replacement of air spring systems. The chip also protects the manufacturer and operator from product counterfeits, of the kind showing up even at InnoTrans more and more frequently. For rail transport, this amounts to a big step in the direction of greater safety.

Sensor technology – Electronically controlled air spring systems

For test purposes, ContiTech integrated a non-contact height and pressure sensor into the air springs on a passenger train car. The sensor provides the technical basis for the use of electronically controlled systems with elec-trically actuated valves. To date, level is currently pneumatic valves have been used for ride-height control. These valves are actuated by means of a system of levers. Conventional level control of this kind causes increased air loss because it is permanently active and also adjusts for dynamic level changes occurring while the vehicle is in motion. Electronic control consid-erably reduces the frequency of adjustment processes because it acts only when there are load changes due to passengers getting on or off.