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University Paderborn combines railway net with propulsion via wear free technology - Heinz-Herbert Berger: “Series orders bad, special orders good.”
Norbert Peter, Aigenstadl. With the delivery of 251 linear motors for “Neue Bahntechnik Paderborn” Tauscher in Aigenstadl is part of a revolutionary railway technology. But still: Damped optimism. The company was founded 1975 and produces inductive components with around 90 employees in Aigenstadl and Blatna (CZ).
A successful month was in October 2002, because then Heinz-Herbert Berger delivered new linear motors for a test series at the university Paderborn. “The shuttle of the new railway technology Paderborn combines two technologies. Normal leading and carrying on already existing railway grids and a modern propulsion via wear free linear motors. Furthermore a higher driving comfort should be achieved by new bogie technologies.”
One thing is clear: If the concept of Paderborn succeeds, it will be a revolution of the whole railway system. Checking the general technological progress of the last 50 years, nothing has changed in the last 150 years. The principal of propulsion via tire-rail contact is still the same. The leading and carrying is only done by the small surfaces between the tires and rails.
This principal reached its limit after a long era of partial optimisations. “The time for new solutions that use the possibilities of new technologies has come.”
To redeem the challenges of the future, the scientists of Paderborn suggest a new modular railway system, which combines modern bogie technologies with the advantages of the Transrapid and the use of already existing railway grids. The combination of information technology, sensors and actors makes a completely new “mechatronic system railway” possible. The propulsion module of the railway vehicle is based on synchronous linear motors. The actual propulsion is not in the vehicle anymore. The three-phase windings in the stator generate a magnetic field, which moves on along the rails. The secondary part of the motor (armature) is on the vehicle. This reduces the unsprung masses in the vehicle.
Propulsion of the linear motor: The magnetic force between stator and armature accelerates the vehicle. The magnetic force between stator magnetic field and armature magnetic field accelerate and slow down the vehicle. The tires are only used to lead and steer, which reduces the wear of the tires enormously. The synchronous linear motor makes an energy transmission into the vehicle via the magnetic field possible. Current rails are not necessary. Furthermore the motor can be adapted to the landscape, meaning bigger dimensions at rises etc.
The application of this new technology enables the manufacturing of cheap, flexible vehicles, with which an automatic operation is possible. This opens new perspectives for the railway of tomorrow. “Six weeks ago we delivered 251 linear motors for this new railway technology.” With overtime and full ambition of all employees it was possible to meet the delivery wishes of the customer.
At the same time a further order from Disney, USA, cam in. A roller coaster for the Disney Ressorts in Orlando needed 84 waterproof linear motors.
But: “The general situation is not the best at the moment. Customers refrain from investments. But we have a lot of small customers in different sections - this distributes the order risk. This is of course better than just being dependant on one big customer.
Tauscher customers are all from the investment industry like medicine, audio, machine engineering, controls, energy supply and switch boards, lighting industry, welding devices. The delivery program has toroidal transformers, small transformers and chokes of all sizes and constructions, large transformers up to 50 kVA power, HF-components with powder cores, transducers. Certified is the company by ISO 9001. The production in Aigenstadl is done with modern know-how. The manufacturing is done by toroidal core winding machines, cylinder coiling machines, varnishing systems, potting systems, dry ovens, machines for transformer metal sheets, welding machines and PPS-production control. All components are tested fully automatic with computers. “By development of the production technologies we now build transformers up to 20 000 V and currents up to 10 000 A. On the other hand we are able to verify the smallest discharges and insulation faults down to a millionth ampere and pico Coloumb.”
In total Tauscher sees the order situation parted. The series production for standard transformers is bad, while special productions run good.
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