Schenck Process achieved U.S. legal-for-trade (LFT) status for its MultiTrain LegalWeight – a single weighing section, coupled in-motion rail scale system. The certification process was completed in February 2018.
Previously, Schenck Process offered two-, three- and four-section LFT rail scale systems. A four-section rail scale system required 275 ft. of straight/level track. Now, with the single weighing section system, as little as 165 ft. of straight/level track is required. With the reduction in weigh sections, Schenck said it can reduce the cost to the customer by 25 to 33 percent per weighing section. The company also noted that it can support customers who have less track for scale area with the new LFT single weighing section.
What does coupled in-motion mean?
- Rail cars are weighed in motion; do not have to be static.
- The rail cars are coupled or connected and do not require decoupling.
- Increases speed of weighing, ease of weighing and ultimately increasing productivity per typical 100-car train (from 8 hours to < 30 minutes).
What does the NTEP legal-for-trade certification mean?
- The legal-for-trade certification required 0.2 percent weighing accuracy for individual car weights, and 0.1 percent accuracy for total train weight.
- NTEP certification allows the scale to be legal-for-trade, which means customers’ goods can be bought or sold based on weight.
In the past, scales have not been a consideration in the traditional rail market in the United States. There has been a shift in the market, and now there is a strong emphasis on productivity and verification of sales and purchases. The MultiTrain LegalWeight LFT single weighing section is a great solution and can be installed onto an existing or new system.
LegalWeight is a ballast supported dynamic weighing system designed for the weighing of railcars while coupled in-motion up to 14 mph – more than double the speed in weighing of competitor designs. This provides customers with the flexibility required to expand their rail yards or industry track to allow higher speeds increasing productivity and network capacity. LegalWeight incorporates continuously welded rail into its design in order to provide the fastest speeds in the industry.
What is a ballast supported scale?
- The scale is supported by and contained in the ballast rock of the track, which does not contain a concrete foundation.
- The scale integrates as track reducing ground support requirements from 4,000 psf for traditional rail scales to 2,800 psf for the LegalWeight system.
What does Continuously Welded Rail mean?
- Rail cuts, also called rail gaps, used by competitors’ limit the speed at all times to less than 6 mph.
- Eliminating rail gaps increases speed of weighing by 3x.
- Increases productivity by increasing throughput based on speed.
- Continuously welded rail allows transit at full line speeds, which can exceed 55 mph.
- Standard lightning protection design for safety.
LegalWeight can utilize the roll-back option to optimize the rail scale system for any train operation. Utilizing track switches, LegalWeight is able to determine speed and direction of travel. The roll-back option allows trains to stop/start as well as change direction of travel while crossing the scale.
Schenck can provide a simplified roll-back system for most applications and a full roll-back system to accommodate any train configuration. The simplified option is only for four-axle rail cars, locomotives must be located only in the front or end of the train, and locomotives must not stop or roll-back on scale section. The full roll-back system allows for all rail car types, all positions of locomotives in the train, and enables the system to handle stopping or rolling back of trains.
As an option, LegalWeight can provide unbalanced load detection for both front-to-back and side-to-side loading. When combined with Automatic Equipment Identification (AEI) tag information, unbalanced loads are detected before the car leaves the facility.
LegalWeight installs in less than one day with proven track maintenance techniques. There are no hazardous confined spaces under the scale to collect fumes and gases making the system ideal for use in harsh and hazardous environments. The system also includes the unique ability to relocate the rail scale system, as industry needs change.
The scale electronics can withstand temperatures of -22 F (-30 C) to 122 F (50 C). Schenck Process load cells are designed to work in extreme temperature environments and conditions.
MultiTrain LegalWeight is ideal for a range of industries including aggregated and bulk solid materials.
Schenck Process, www.schenckprocess.com/us
