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Twiflex T40 Hydraulic Brake Caliper for Rail Wagons
One of the prime processes of steel making is the conversion of coal to coke by burning
out the sulphur and other impurities which would otherwise contaminate the steel. At the
Teeside Works in the UK it takes place over a period of 17 hours in a number of large coke
ovens each holding 28 tonnes of coal.
Large pusher machines are used to discharge red hot coke into rail wagons where it is
water cooled before being transferred to the stockpiles. The 20 tonne locomotives pulling
these wagons are controlled electrically through the drive motor, but in the event of an
emergency or power failure, four Twiflex T40 hydraulic brake calipers are applied to safely
stop the wagon.
The vehicle brakes originally fitted were unreliable in conditions which could result in the
locomotives driving through piles of hot coke. Because of the toughness and reliability of
the T40 hydraulic brake caliper, the Teeside works is converting all their coke oven wagon
locomotives to Twiflex braking.
Highlights
- Four T40 hydraulic brake
calipers on coke oven rail
wagons
- Chosen for toughness
and reliability in hostile
operating conditions
- Long life in harsh
environments