SnowProtec Brushes - Snow free switches for conventional and high speed tracks
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In close cooperation with Banverket, OSBORN designed a system based on robust lag brushes. The first test brushes were assembled in January 2003, and the original brushes are still in use! During these four years the design of the strap mountings, joint mountings; bolts and washers; etc have been adjusted finely in order to give the best possible effect.
The result has become a snow protection system that sets an entire new standard for simplicity, economy, and safety. SnowProtec Brushes meets the demands of operation and safety that Banverket requires and has thereby been introduced as standard of Banverket BVS 523.283.
"The new snow protections have increased the operation safety and simplified the snow clearance. I am positively surprised and very pleased", says Raimo Kajén, Track Engineer at Banverket in Gävle. "I have been working and evaluating the Snow Protection system since the first test brushes were assembled in 2003."
"From the beginning I was certainly sceptical to the technology, but after reviewing the evaluaton results taken over the last 3 years - I really can see the obvious benefits." Raimo tells us that he has had earlier experience of snow protection with cover principal. These other systems are also to a degree effective in retaining the heat from the pre-warmed switch which helps to increase the rate of snow melt, but they are not particularly good at protecting against drifting snow.
Indeed the problem actually becomes even worse with the sheets placed along the tracks. With SnowProtec Brushes the problems arising from drifting snow decrease substantially,resulting also in the reduced frequency of having to sweep the switches clear of snow.
"We have saved time and money", says Raimo. He also explains that the installation of the SnowProtec system has been completely straight forward. The brushes were delivered in 3 metre sections that were easily assembled on
site.
When the system is positioned in place there is absolutely no need to dismantle the brushes because of impending snow sweeping or track inspections. The brushes can be left in situ all year-around, and do not require servicing or general maintenance. Only occasionally might there be a need to check that brushes have not become loose.
The most important key issue is of course, operational safety, and Raimo can confirm that it has been considerably
improved with SnowProtec Brushes.
"We have had fewer stoppages due switch problems where we have used filament brushes as snow protection."
OSBORN International GmbH
A Branch of Jason GmbH
Technical Brushes and Surface Finishing Tools
Ringstrasse 10
35099 Burgwald
Website: www.osborn.de
Email: info@osborn.de
Osborn International is the world’s largest brush maker, operating in 12 countries and manufacturing more than 10,000 standard products for a huge diversity of applications. The company is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, employs over 1,300 people worldwide and has a turnover above 120mn USD. Its European headquarters are located in Burgwald, Germany.