Wire Wear Monitoring System (WWS)

The Wire Wear Monitoring System (WWS) is designed for speeds of up to 250 km/h, allowing it to run on high-speed lines without disrupting regular traffic. Raw data is collected every millimeter and typically processed in real time into one value every 14 mm at 100 km/h.

Eight contact wires simultaneously 

The degree of wear of contact wires with a round profile can be deduced from the width of the sliding surface. The WWS uses two cameras to detect these sliding surfaces. The system can determine the residual thickness of up to eight contact wires simultaneously. Height and stagger are used to control the camera’s focus.

Active illumination

The WWS is enclosed in a double-cased housing. The interior housing is hermetically sealed (IP67) and climate controlled. Desiccant cartridges maintain a minimal humidity level in the housing. The system operates at ambient temperatures of −20 °C to 55 °C. The outer casing protects the sensor unit from mechanical impacts, as well as from rain, snow, and foliage. A cleaning unit, which is controlled from inside the inspection car, semi-automatically cleans the entrance window. This allows the system to be operat­ed without maintenance over a long period. The WWS operates practically independently of ambient light conditions. The illumination unit, equipped with high-power LEDs, is integrated into the interior sensor housing. The laser-based Contact Wire Recording System (CRS), which is part of the WWS, is eye-safe according to IEC 60825.

Operation

The WWS comes with the Contact Wire Recording System (CRS) and can also be combined with a CRS already in operation.

The WWS is also available as part of the Contact Wire Inspection System (CIS). This multi-sensor system combines measurement technology for wire wear and position, as well as pole detection, if desired.