On-Board Failure-Protection Requirements for Railroad-Vehicle Equipment.

摘要

An analysis of the 1975railroad-equipment-caused accidents was made. Data reported to the FRA were the primary source of derailment information;however,data from other sources were also used. Individual cause codes were consolidated into groups which had a common characteristic that might be used to detect the presence of the defect. Fifteen cause codes were identified to account for two of every three accidents. Existing on-board failure-detection systems were evaluated. A developmental on-board equipment failure-prevention system was identified. Purchase costs are given in terms of yearly damage loss due to accidents,allowable system-payback period,and fraction of accidents the system is intended to prevent. A development effort in the area of on-board sensor technology is recommended. This effort is directed toward the production of a multi-sensor protection system which may provide a maximum reduction in equipment failures while also being cost-effective.