Studies on rail track surface detector properties in the selected frictional coupling conditions

The paper covers description of principle of operation as well as functional properties of surface detector for rails used in underground mining plants and for other flat surfaces. Principle of operation consists in assessment of the frictional coupling between active components 'tracking wheel' and rail surface. The detector monitors the rail surface condition during its movement on the track. Signal on the detector's output carries information about local conditions of the track surface. Such information can be used, among others, in adaptive control of braking torque in vehicle braking systems. Such a function gives a chance of developing the system, which would eliminate dangerous extension of braking distance due to slippage, resulting from any dirt on the rail causing loss of adhesion. The article contains description of the system and design of rail surface detector as well as results from testing its properties in the selected conditions of frictional coupling.