RAIL LUBRICANTS - HIGH PERFORMANCE RAIL FRICTION MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS
A Growing Portfolio of Gauge Face Greases, Rail Lubricants and Trackside Application Equipment
More passengers, increased frequency and higher speeds. The strain on rail networks has never been greater, which means effective rail protection has never been more important. RS Clare understands the importance of innovative friction management solutions to support our customers as they face greater challenges to lessen the time their engineers spend on track, reduce maintenance costs to achieve long term savings and protect our environment.
Our EcoCurve range of curved rail lubricants, GaugeShield and TracShield application equipment and H20X top of rail friction modifier have been designed to reduce the amount of time engineers need to spend on track by prolonging rail life to support safer operations and lessen maintenance costs.
That’s why a growing number of rail operators rely on RS Clare for track lubricants that outlast and outperform. Already supplying the UK’s national network, London Underground, city trams and light railways, we’re making strong headway around the globe as the go-to specialists for the most advanced and cost-effective lubricants.
Rail Lubricants - Global Partnership
In addition to our curved rail range of lubricants through our global partnership with Loram we have introduced trackside application equipment and a top of rail friction modifier into our friction management solution. The GaugeShield trackside lubricator offers precise gauge face grease application and the TracShield patented trackside friction management system for top of rail delivers enhanced performance and accuracy. Friction modifier H20X is molybdenum based and uses water as a carrier, offering stability across a wide temperature range and excellent carry down properties.
RS Clare are approved by RISQS (Rail Industry Suppliers Qualification Scheme).
RS Clare are approved by RISQS (Rail Industry Suppliers Qualification Scheme).
MEETING THE HIGHEST ECO-STANDARDS
Engineered to EU Ecolabel standards, our unique technology EcoCurve range offers unrivalled environmental performance.
Read our green grease guide 5 things you need to know about eco-friendly rail greases to find out more about how environmental performance is defined and measured.
ALL-SEASONS CURVED RAIL LUBRICATION
ONE GREASE GRADE FOR ALL SEASONS
Download Our Rail Friction Management Solutions Brochure
Our range of Rail friction management solutions includes Ecolabel accredited curved rail grease, top of rail friction modifiers, gauge face greases, lubricants for infrastructure and application equipment.
Explore our full range of high-performance rail lubricants and trackside application equipment in our Rail brochure.
GAUGEFACE LUBRICATION: HOW IT WORKS AND WHY WE NEED IT
CURVED RAIL LUBRICANTS ARE AN ESSENTIAL COMPONEENT OF THE RAIL INDUSTRY, PLAYING A CRITICAL ROLE IN ENSURFING RELIABLE, SAFE OPERATION OF VEHICLES AND PROTECTING INFRASTRUCTURE.
While the strain on rail networks to control costs has never been greater, innovative friction management solutions are essential to lessen the time engineers spend on track, reduce maintenance costs to achieve long term savings, whilst also protecting our environment.
DESIRABLE CHARACTERISTICS OF A CURVED RAIL LUBRICANT
An optimal curved rail lubricant will deliver high levels of performance in each of the areas set out below, and inevitably the higher the performance capability of the lubricant, the higher the cost to the customer. The desired balance between cost and performance will vary according to market and customer requirements; however, it is good practice to assess the through-life costs and benefits of a lubrication system rather than the simple up-front cost of a lubricant.
- Low Coefficient of Friction (CoF)
The lubricant should ensure CoF at the wheel/rail interface, typically less than 0.15.
- Wide Operating Temperature Range
Desirable to maximise the temperature range over which a lubricant’s viscosity remains consistent, which in turn ensures pumpability through common dispensing systems. Given a wide enough temperature range a single product can be used all year round which is important in environments with wide seasonal variations. Correct viscosity is also essential to avoid pump cavitation, ensure consistent application on demand, and achieve consistent and stable beading from applicator equipment.
- Carry Down
The distance from the point of application over which the lubricant remains effective. Generally, the further the carry-down achieved the better, although this characteristic is heavily influenced by factors such as track condition, vehicle axle loading and number of axles over a given period.
- Application Rate
Closely linked to carry-down, application rate for a given product to achieve required performance. Ideally, lower application rates are desirable as this can:
- Reduce purchase quantities
- Reduce the number of applicators needed over a given length of track
- Reduce the refil frequency and associated logistics and resource costs
- Improve safety by reducing on-track time for maintainers
- Good Adhesion and Cohesion
Adhesion means the ability of the lubricant to stick to a wheel or track and cohesion the ability to stick to itself. These are important to minimise the amount of “splash-off” when a train initially picks up lubricant, and “fling-off” from the trains rotating wheels during the carry down phase. Good cohesion also affects a lubricant’s elastic properties and helps minimise the amount of lubricant “squeezed” out of a contact patch under pressure.
- Controlled Release of Lubricant
Controlled release of lubricant without excessive oil bleed characterises a grease’s ability to deliver the lubricant in the working zone as well as its stability in storage. Key to this are the thickener structure and content, and also the manufacturing process. Variations in the manufacturing process can lead to significant performance differences between products with similar formulations and are often the basis of proprietary product data. An effective thickener structure remains stable and ensures low oil separation which is important to ensure the lubricant retains its designed performance characteristics over its designed storage life, and also to ensure separation does not occur in applicator tanks. Good cohesion also helps prevent separation.
- Extreme Pressure (EP)
Good EP characteristics maximise the wear protection offered by a lubricant under heavy load and are usually achieved by special EP additives and/ or by certain thickener systems. EP performance is indicated by 4 ball weld and/or scar testing although other tests are available.
- Corrosion Protection
The lubricant should offer corrosion protection to the rails and wheels.
- Wash-Off
A further desirable characteristic is good resistance to water wash-off to ensure that the lubricant film is maintained in wet conditions.
- Safe Handling
Our rail lubricants are non-hazardous and non-toxic, ensuring the safety of the operators who handle them.
- Environmental Factors
Although the importance of the environmental impact of this type of product varies between markets and customers, the fact that these are total loss systems where all the lubricant enters the environment means “Eco Credentials” are becoming increasingly important for many users. In the EU the benchmark performance criteria is EU Ecolabel, although there are a range of other relevant standards such as Blue Angel. A further common test for biodegradability of lubricants is OECD 301b. Care should be taken to fully understand how the claimed Environmental performance of a product meets the environmental requirements of a customer, as widely used terminology with specific meanings such as “Bio-based” and “readily biodegradable” are sometimes used on a generic basis and can be misleading as to how environmentally friendly a product really is.
HOW IS THE LUBRICANT APPLIED?
Trackside lubrication:
The first delivery system of rail lubricants is trackside lubrication. This is a delivery system that is designed for application via trackside lubricators positioned at critical points along the railway track to lubricate the gauge corner of rail curves.
On-board spray:
The second is delivered via on-board spray This is particularly suited to sensitive and highly visible urban sites and involves curve-sensing controls.
Solid Stick
The third one is also an on-board system, delivered via a solid stick. This is a simple and clean system that is easy to maintain.
Read some of our latest case studies to find out more about how we have helped our customers to reduce wheel/rail wear, reduce noise issues and control friction at the wheel/rail interface.
DID YOU KNOW?
YOU DON'T HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN PROTECTION AT THE WHEEL/RAIL INTERFACE OR PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT
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