Rangecam Wheel Analyst

Rangecam Wheel Analyst combines wheel profiles with rail profiles, providing a tool to examine the wheel/rail interface.  It is also used to monitor wheel wear rates and optimize wheel truing. 

Wheel profiles are provided by KLD Labs’ WheelScan optical wheel measurement system.  Wheel Analyst is an add-on module to IM’s Track Analyst, Track View or Rangecam Office System. 

Visualizing the Wheel-Rail Interface

Wheel Analyst allows you to superimpose measured wheel profiles on measured rail profiles, and examine contact points and conformality.  This information can be used to design rail grinding templates and wheel truing profiles in order to optimize wheel-rail interaction.

Measured wheel profiles on rail profiles.  Charts show the wheel-rail gap.

Wheel Truing

Wheel Analyst measures the metal removal required to true the wheel. 

More than one target profile can be superimposed in order to select the best target profile — the one requiring the least metal to be removed in the truing process.   User options specify the rules by which the target profile is overlaid on the measured wheel.

Wheel Wear Trend Analysis

Wheel wear trend charts show the rate of change of critical wheel measurements.  Trends are shown for all available wheel measurements: flange angle, flange height and thickness, tread wear, tread width, field lip and wheel gauge.  This information is used to plan the wheel maintenance cycle and project the date when wheels should be replaced.

Comparisons over Time

Wheel Analyst can overlay multiple profiles of the same wheelset acquired at intervals ranging from one day to one year.  These overlays reveal changes to the wheel profile over time, such as hollowing, that may not be captured in specific measurements.

Compatibility

Rangecam Wheel Analyst works with wheel profile data from KLD Labs’ WheelScan wayside wheel measurement system.  Rail profile data may be from any source supported by Rangecam.  Only high-accuracy rail profiles are recommended for this application.  

Wheel Analyst is an add-on software module, fully integrated with IM’s Track Analyst, Track View or Rangecam Office System products.

Click here for a Wheel Analyst brochure!