Rail & Transport
Vulcanite manufactures and exports products to railway companies worldwide. Our core business is primary and secondary suspension components but also includes bushes, bearings, gangway seals, drawgear pads, bump stops and much more.
Product categories:
Primary Suspension
The primary suspension is located between the axle and the bogie. These spring elements transmit loads from the wheelsets to the bogie frame. The principal function of the primary suspension is to isolate the bogie from dynamic loads caused by track irregularities and guidance of the wheelsets. Primary suspension springs include chevrons, coil springs, journal bearings and conical springs.
Secondary Suspension
Secondary suspension components are located between the bogie and car body. They support the load of the car and allow the bogie to turn as the vehicle corners. The secondary suspension reduces dynamic accelerations acting on the car body which determines passenger comfort.
Bushes & Bearings
Bushes and bearings allow for transfer of loads while providing resilience and vibration damping.
Other Railway Products
Vulcanite supplies other railway products including gangway seals, bellows, resilient couplings, wheel isolators, drawgear packs and track isolators.
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Primary Suspension
Chevron Springs
Chevron springs are widely used for axlebox primary suspensions of light rail, passenger and freight vehicles as well as locomotives. They are installed in pairs in a V-shaped configuration to provide compliance in the vertical, lateral and longitudinal directions. They are simple in design and provide good service life and low maintenance. They are the improved version of the traditional metal coil springs.
(H < 50 mm)
(H: 50 mm to 100 mm)
(H: 100 mm to 140 mm)
(H > 140 mm)
Interleaved Springs
A simplified version of a chevron spring where the lateral stiffness is required to be low.
Rubberised Coil Springs
An alternative to the traditional metal coil springs found in some freight and passenger vehicles. They provide vertical sprung suspension. The rubber casing offers damping to the coil metal spring, increases its stiffness properties, reduces noise and protects the metal against corrosion and fretting fatigue.
Conical Springs
Similar in concept to chevron springs but provide the same stiffness in lateral and longitudinal directions. They also permit a large variation in vertical and horizontal stiffness while fitting into a small space.
Rolling Rubber Springs
Consist of a rubber ‘donut’ inside a tapered housing. The rubber ring is not bonded to the metal. These springs allow a wide variety of adjustments based on the size of the rubber donut, the size of the mandrel, and the preload applied during installation.
Journal Pads
These round rubber elements are vibration-insulating as well as shock-absorbing components that are arranged in pairs, as two halves around the bearing axle.
Frame Support Pads
An earlier version of a conical spring. It provides insulation and dampening in the vertical, lateral, and longitudinal direction.
Suspension Bushes
Absorb acceleration and deceleration shocks leading to improved vehicle dynamics and passenger comfort.
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Secondary Suspension
Side Bearer Mounts
Installed as a pair to provide bolster suspension. They provide stability and a wide range of mobility, important when the vehicle is turning when fully loaded.
Layer Springs
Especially ideal for absorbing large loads due to the configuration of several metal plates bonded to rubber layers.
Emergency Springs
Provide cushioning when airbags fail to work or are not operating.
Bolster Springs
These components are installed in groups of four to provide bolster suspension. They can be installed vertically or inclined at an angle to increase their overall stiffness. They provide stability and a wide range of mobility, important when the vehicle is turning fully loaded.
Buffers and Bump Stops
Typically made of a hard rubber compound to absorb sudden shocks, prevent overrun and reduce movement without considerable rebound.
Gearbox & Motor Mounts
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Control vibration and sound transmission of rotary components, particularly during acceleration and deceleration.
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Bushes & Bearings
Spherical Bearings
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Ideal for providing dampening in joints without lubrication, due to its spherical shape, where movement in all directions is required.
Spherical Bushes
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Ideal for providing dampening in joints without lubrication, due to its spherical shape, where movement in all directions is required.
Cylindrical Bearingss
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Appropriate for dampening axial, radial, torsional and conical loads on links.
Cylindrical Bushes
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Appropriate for dampening axial, radial, torsional and conical loads on links.
Drive Links & Bushings
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Appropriate for dampening axial, radial, torsional and conical loads on links.
Radius Arm Bearings
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Utilised to guide a wheelset over the axle guide. Failure of this function can lead to derailment.
Anti-Roll Bar Bearings
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Used to support anti-roll bars and torsion bar suspension systems.
Rubber Bushings
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Appropriate for dampening axial, radial, torsional and conical loads on links
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Other Railway Products
Gangway Seals & Diaphragms
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A resilient, non-structural and flexible component used to seal between cars on passenger vehicles.
Bellows
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Resilient and flexible seals to protect joints against dust and liquids.
Resilient Couplings
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Resilient couplings allow the transmission of torque between two shafts while absorbing any shock generated during acceleration or deceleration.
Wheel Isolators
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Typically used inside the wheels of light rail vehicles. They provide vibration insulation and shock absorption while protecting the wheels against abrasive wear and tear. They reduce the level of noise and improve passenger’s comfort.
Drawgear Packs
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Drawgear packs or pads are modular rubber components that are installed at the coupling between cars to absorb large dynamic and impact loads in both draw and buff modes.
Buffers and Stops
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Typically made of a hard rubber compound to absorb sudden shocks, prevent overrun and reduce movement without considerable rebound.
Track Isolator Rubbers
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Drawgear packs or pads are modular rubber components that are installed at the coupling between cars to absorb large dynamic and impact loads in both draw and buff modes.