SpeedMass
In-motion weighing system
Introduction
The SPEEDMASS® In-Motion weighing system is a low maintenance data acquisition system designed to weigh rail vehicles while in motion. SPEEDMASS® has a number of advantages over the conventional pit-type weigh bridge:
- Lower cost
- Speed of installation
- Improved productivity through reduced weighing cycle time
- Less susceptible to lightning
- Low Maintenance
Functions
Weight calculation
SPEEDMASS® uses a set of rail transducers welded onto existing rails, which are then calibrated to compare the mass of a weighed train to the weight indicated by the SPEEDMASS®.
Train Detection
The start and end of the train is detected by a set of inductive loops installed on either side of the transducers, connected to a detector unit and interfaced to the controller. This provides a maintenance-free system which not only detects the train but the direction of travel.
Controller
Data is handled via a central processing unit stored on a simple flash drive that is plugged straight into a single board computer, providing an integrated, user-friendly data analysis package. The system includes amplification of weight signals from the rail transducers and analogue to digital conversion. Up to four separate channels can be interfaced into the converter.
Options
SPEEDMASS® can be tailored to your environment and requirements. Choose from:
- Manual initiation of start weighment and end weighment
- Automatic initiation of start weighment and end weighment
- Automatic identification of a locomotive for elimination from total train mass
- Automatic identification of all the vehicles in a train for automatic train matching
- Remote communication software to transmit train information to a remote computer
Technical Specifications
SPEEDMASS® In-Motion Weighing System
| Accuracy Based on total train Speed up to 20 Km/Hr | ± 1% |
|---|---|
| Method of weighing | Wheel by wheel or Full Draught Weighing |
| Active length of weighing section | 500 mm |
| Mechanical Construction | No |
| Construction and Installation Downtime | 8 hours - no civil work |
| Number of loadcells/transducers | 2 transducers externally manufactured onto two sections of standard rail - each nominally 3m in length |
| 2 double transducers for full draught weighing manufactured onto two sections of standard rail - each nominally 3m in length | |
| Division Size | 20 kg |
| Maximum gradient | 1:300 |
| Temperature Compensation | Self Temperature compensation |
SPEEDMASS® Controller
| Hardware Platform | Intel 486/Pentium processor with 4Mb RAM – Single Board computer with 8 Mb on board Flash Disk |
|---|---|
| A/D Conversion | Dual/Quad 16 bit 100kHz 1 part in 65000 |
| Digital Inputs | Opto Isolated 5-30VDC - hardware interrupt generation - 12 Inputs |
| Digital Outputs | Opto Isolated, OPTO22 or SPDT relays - 12 Outputs |
| Communications | RS232/RS422/RS485 |
| Ethernet |
Operator input
| Customers/Products | Databases in standard DBF/Paradox format hold customer and product information |
|---|---|
| Weighment Details | User defined input screen for the manual input of weighment details |
Modes of operation
| Manual | Operator definition of a complete weighing cycle |
|---|---|
| Automatic | Use of sensors to start and end weighments |
| Track switches | Only used if all other elimination does not work |
| Inductive loop detectors | Dual detectors used to detect presence and direction of train |
| AVI | Automatic Vehicle Identification using transponders for vehicle elimination and/or vehicle tracking |
| Calibration Static | Initial settings are determined by DIP switches on the loadcell amplifier. Final calibration is performed digitally |
|---|---|
| In motion calibration performed using a train of known mass as per the assize regulations | |
| Dynamic Offsets | Dynamic offsets can be set for both directions of travel |
| Directional Speed | Dynamic correction factors can be set for any number of desired speed bands |
| Diagnostics | The following routines can be used to test the controller: Digital I/O, Analogue I/O, Printer, Serial port. |
| Overvoltage/Lightning protection | Surge protection at the rail and/or the control room depending on the distance. Faraday Cage protection of weighbridge and control room linked by dedicated earth cable |
| Loadcell amplifier | 1 to 4 channel isolated/non-isolated amplifier Upto 10 60R loadcells per amplifier |
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