Salient Features of LHB – Coaches
Important features of LHB coaches which make them superior to existing ICF design coaches are summarized below.
i. Coach Body - LHB coach is light weight construction made from low corrosive stainless steel. The weight of the coach is about 10 percent less as compared to the conventional coach resulting into lower haulage cost. Each vehicle is equipped with complete pantry to store hot meals and cold beverages except LWLRRM, LWFAC, SCN, GS etc. The modular construction and the integration of lights into interior ceiling and luggage racks are characteristics features of modern interior design. Windows are specious and modern equipment have been provided which make the coach far superior esthetically.
ii. Car body Shell - The car body shell is of economical weight steel construction with interlocking technique developed by M/s Alstom. Roof is of beaded sheet construction and floor sheet is corrugated made of austenitic stainless steel. Roof structure, side wall and end wall are made of ferritic stainless steel. IRSM-41 CORTEN steel has been used for under frame and other parts.
Heat and Sound Insulation
PU based spray insulation for corrosion protection and sound insulation on the interior surface of the car body shell.
Heat insulation of the floor, side walls lower area and end walls with Resonaflex insulating mats.
Use of Resonaflex –Alu & Baryskin V60DB in shell, de-coupling elements in flooring and elastomeric rubber-metal components in bogie results in superior noise insulation. Noise level inside coach is limited to 60 DB.
Sealed Window Glass Unit - Three types of windows have been used in LHB coaches.
i. Fixed window unit with sealed glass, 12 per coach - The sealed unit consists of outer 8.4 mm laminated glass and inner 4 mm tempered safety glass with 6 mm air gap with Krypton/Argon gas filling. Glasses are held by an aluminum extrusion frame with rubber profile. The aluminum frame is glued to the coach shell.
ii Emergency openable window - 4 per coach Emergency window is similar to the fixed unit. Four units are provided in each coach to allow emergency evacuation of passenger. A handle is connected to the rubber profile to open the glass unit of the emergency window. The breakage of glass unit while opening is prevented by a restraining chain.
iii Hopper type windows for lavatory - 3 per coach These windows are provided for lavatories of the LHB coaches
Roller Blinds in AC chair cars - Roller Blinds have been provided on the windows in AC Chair Cars instead of curtains. It is a sun protection fabric. The roller blind is manually operated. These blinds have three positions i.e. full open, half open and full closed. The wire tension enables an wrinkle free and easy use.
Luggage Racks in chair cars
The luggage racks are made from aluminum extrusion lengths and tempered safety glass. It can withstand distributed load of 1000 N (100 kgs) per meter length and pointed load of 850 N (85 Kgs) as per UIC 566.
Halogen reading lights for individual seats, fitted into outer extrusion and wiring hidden by polycarbonate lexan sheet with fire characteristics as per DIN 551/2.
Aluminum extrusions are used with anodized finish. Side cheeks of cast aluminum alloy are provided with powder coated finish. Reading lights and movable coat hooks are provided in luggage racks.
Composite Wood Flooring Panels. For flooring, 16 mm composite board made from cork panels glued to “MakeOre” wood have been used. Flooring panels are lightweight, strong, warp resistant and also resistant to vibration/impact forces. These boards are specially treated for fire resistance. These are also resistant to moisture, cigarette burns, staining, ageing, etc.
Seats in chair cars There are 78 chairs in the II AC chair car and 56 chairs in Executive class chair car. Weight of a single chair car for II AC chair car is approximately 21 kg against 28 kg in existing IR coaches.
The height of the seat cushion above floor level (450 mm), the width between the arm rests (420 mm in chair car and 500 mm in Exe.class) and the ergonomically designed upholstery provides excellent seat comfort without causing tiredness even on long journeys.
Main assembly comprises –
Welded seat frame
Seat cushion
Sleeplessly inclinable backrest (17 degree in upright and 37 degree in rest position)
Arm rest
Foldable table with bottle holder
Foot rest
Magazine net - There are 24 berths in First AC, 52 berths in AC 2 tier and 72 berths in AC 3 tier.
Passenger Emergency - Alarm In the earlier version of Chair Car coaches, 5 passenger emergency alarms per coach were provided at following locations:
2 in passenger compartment
3 in lavatories.
However in the present version of chair cars, these alarms are provided only at two locations and in Ist AC, 2 tire , 3 tire & sleeper coaches, Passenger Emergency Alarm is provided in every bay.
Coach Lighting - Fluorescent tubes are used for general lighting, vestibule, toilet, pantry and emergency working at 110VoltsAC/DC with inverter and polycarbonate diffusers.
Fluorescent tubes - 18 watts
Incandescent lamps -10 watts (for night lamp and pantry)
Halogen lamps - 10 watts (reading lights)
FIAT BOGIE.
The LHB coaches are provided with the FIAT bogies to run at a speed of 160 KMPH.
Limitations of ICF all Coil Bogie
- The longitudinal and lateral movements of the wheels cannot be controlled independently as generally required for Highspeed bogies.
- Since there is vertical space constraint between the top and bottom bolster, it is not possible to provide softer secondary suspension springs which are required for the high speed trains to control the dynamic movements of the bogie bolster and coach body.
- Headstocks increase the yaw inertia of the bogie frame and thereby, influence the tendency for hunting. The wheelbase of ICF all coil bogie is 2896 mm. This large wheelbase affects curve negotiations and thereby increases wheel flange wear. 131
- Since the brake forces are offered on the wheel tread by clasp brake, it could not give sufficient retardation during brake application which in turn increases the emergency braking distances. The life of the wheel is also reduced due to tread wear.
