Simulation of Induction Heating for Railway Wheel Set Elements During Assembly and Disassembly

Induction heating process during wheel assembly, as well as the heater design during railway wheel set axle equipment disassembly, are suggested. Simulation of railway wheel thermal elasticity is carried out in SolidWorks Simulation. Deformation processes at local induction heating are fast and affect the obtained joint dimensions. The obtained data make it possible to set the time and dimensional parameters of the assembly technological process. The design of an induction heating unit for axle equipment elements removal is proposed. In the view of workability, the inductors with cylindrical encircling coil made of a solid copper conductor or copper tube are considered the best. In order to make heating the most effective, the inner surface of coil must be as close as possible to the heated surface. At the same time, the heater moves freely upon the part. It is necessary to use inductors with magnetically conductive system to decrease the dispersion of the magnetic field in the air and to enrich its concentration in the part material. The part or the parts group being heated is an element of inductor magnetic system. It is recommended to perform heating of the whole package simultaneously—two bearing rings and a labyrinth sealing—to increase the process capacity of induction heating unit.