8/14/2019 Hitachi

1/15

1

HITACHI TILT TRAIN TECHNOLOGYHITACHI TILT TRAIN TECHNOLOGY

8/14/2019 Hitachi

2/15

2

What is the Tilting System?The system has been developed to increase the operational speed of the

trains on Japanese narrow gauge lines which have many curves. With this

system, car bodies are tilted at curves to compensate extra centrifugal

acceleration and thus trains can run at higher speed at curves than

conventional train without spoiling ride comfort.

The advantage of tilting system

Saving travel timeSpeed up at curve1

Lower the investment cost thanbuild new high speed track system

Using existing line2

Improve ride comfort3

1-1 Introduction of Carbody Tilting System

8/14/2019 Hitachi

3/15

3

Introduction of Carbody Tilting System

Carbody Tilting System

Conventional

train

Straight track Curved track

Tilting train

Tilt rolling center

Carbody tilt angle5

Compressed air

Tilt beam

Air cylinder for carbody tilting

controlRollerBogie frame

Cant

Track surface

1-2

Bolster spring

8/14/2019 Hitachi

4/15

4

Tilt Trains in Japan

Trend of Tilt Trains in Japan

Since 1973, carbody tilt system has

been adopted and contributed

improvement of service speed at

narrow gauge railroad.

Today, more than 500 cars with

controlled tilt are in service

operation in Japan.

Controlled tilt from 1988 500cars ~

Natural tilt from 1973 less than

201cars

Sapporo

Tokyo

Hakata

Series 281/283

DMU

Series 2000 DMU

Series 8000 EMU

Series E351

EMU

Series 383

EMUSeries HOT 7000 DMU

Series 883/885 EMU

2-1

Series 283 EMU

Series 187 DMU

Osaka

8/14/2019 Hitachi

5/15

5

Tilt Trains in Japan

Example of speed up

Operator Type Series Speed up in curve

Radius 600 mcomparison with conventional train

JR-Shikoku EMU 8000 +30km/hJR-Kyushu EMU 883/885 +30km/h

JR-East EMU E351 +25km/h

Curve passing speed in Japan km/h

Radius of Curve m 250 300 400 600 800

Conventional train 60 65 75 90 100

Tilt train 75 85 100 120 130

2-2

8/14/2019 Hitachi

6/15

6

Tilt Trains in Japan2-2

Example of time saving

10 ~ 20% Time Saving !!

Operator JR-Kyushu JR-Kyushu JR-Shikoku

Type EMU EMU EMU

Series 883 885 8000

Section Hakata-Oita Hakata-Nagasaki Okayama-Matsuyama

Distance 201 km 154 km 214 km

Conventional Train 2h 29min 1h 57min 3h 10min

Tilting Train 1h 59min 1h 47min 2h 39min

Time Saving 30min 10min 31min

8/14/2019 Hitachi

7/15

7

Feature of Hitachi Tilting System

Japanese tilting vehicle matches the reverse curve tracks for following

reason.

Reduces tilting motion delay

Improves of riding comfort

Predictive tilt

control

Saves space for mounting

Clean and easy maintenance Light weight

Pneumatic

mechanism

Improves reliabilityFail-safe system

3-1

8/14/2019 Hitachi

8/15

8

Feature of Hitachi Tilting System

1. Predictive ControlBy using the data of curve conditions initially stored in the Command Controller, the

tilting control starts at a certain distance before the curve entrance to eliminate the time

lag in the tilting motion. The car body tilt angle is so controlled as to follow the target

values expressed as a function of the running distance of the car to make the car body

roll gently and smooth.

Effective for reverse curves

3-2

ATP carborne elementThe CC unit detects point A by

detecting the ATP ground element.

The CC unit sends tilt timing

commands to the TC unit.

The carbody begins to tilt

with commands from the TC unit.

ATP ground

element

Beginning of transition

curve

Beginning of

circular curve

End of circular

curve

End of

transition curve

The carbody begins to return to upright

position by commands from the TC unit.

CC Unit: Command Controller

TC Unit: Tilt Controller

Running direction CC

unit

A

8/14/2019 Hitachi

9/15

9

Predictive tilt control

Actual Curve Profile

Target Tilt Angle

The predictive tilt control system keeps car rolling angle to the target,

minimizes the carbody rolling speed.

Minimizing angular Better riding

velocity of roll comfort !

Feature of Hitachi Tilting System

Ground ATS Entrance

Transition

Curve

Super

elevation C

Circle curve Exit

Transition

Curve

3-3

8/14/2019 Hitachi

10/15

10

Comparison of natural tilt to predictive controlled tilt

The predictive control resolves tilting delay at the entrance of a transition

curve and smoothens car body tilting motion so that the car can run at higher

speed at curves.

The value 5deg/sec is the ride comfort index of the tilting system, which

was determined from results of experiments, conducted by Japanese

railways and manufactures.

Feature of Hitachi Tilting System

Carbody

Tilt Angle

Carbody

Roll Velocity

Natural Controlled

Tilting delay at

entrance transition

curve

Exceeding

5deg/sec

Smoother at rates

below 5deg/sec

3-4

8/14/2019 Hitachi

11/15

11

Feature of Hitachi Tilting System

2. Pneumatic mechanismSharing the same power source with

the air brake system, the size of the

tilting system is compact (space

saving), which is preferable for the

limited under floor mounting space of

the rolling stocks used on narrow

gauged tracks.

Without using hydraulic power, the

system can realize clean and easy

maintenance. Also the lightness of

the system contributes to thereduction of the car weight, which is

a key feature for speed up and

assures less pressure or damage to

the track.

Tilting beam

Tilt control cylinder

Roller

Bogie frame

3-5

Compressed air

8/14/2019 Hitachi

12/15

12

Feature of Hitachi Tilting System

3. Fail safe systemIn case of the Japanese system, the tilt control is used in addition to the natural

tilt mechanism. Namely, the tilting of the car body is accomplished by applying

external moment to the car body, which is generated by air cylinders. If any

trouble arises with the tilt control system, the natural tilting mechanism can act

as a backup cutting off the pressure of the air cylinders.

Tilt control

Natural tilt mechanism

Fail safe

&High reliability

3-6

8/14/2019 Hitachi

13/15

13

Feature of Hitachi Tilting System

4. Comparison between Japanese and European system

Carbody

Body weight

Roller

Bogie frame

Tilt rolling center

Roll angle

Carbody tilt

angle

MAX5

Gauge

Natural tilt mechanism

(Japanese System)Forced tilt mechanism

(European System)

Bolster spring

Tilt beam

Air cylinder for

tilt

Axle spring

Cant

Body weight

Link

Bogie frame

Tilt center

Roll angle

Gauge

R Curve radius

V Running speed

g Gravity

acceleration

Bolster spring

Axle spring

Cant

3-7

Carbody

Oil cylinder for tilt

Tilt beam

Carbody tilt

angle

MAX5

8/14/2019 Hitachi

14/15

14

Feature of Hitachi Tilting System3-8

4. Comparison between Japanese and European system

Japanese System European System

Control system Tilt control Active control+

Natural Tilt Mechanism

Fail safe

Predictive control Feedback control

+Feedback control

Better Riding Comfort

Tilt mechanism Pneumatic (Air) Hydraulic (Oil)

Additional Power Source

Space saving

Light weight Less space

Clean maintenance Heavier weight

Gauge Narrow gauge Standard 1,067mm 1,435mm

8/14/2019 Hitachi

15/15

15

Conclusion

Best tilting technology for TRA's narrow gauge system will be

Hitachi's tilt control system with following features.

1. Predictive Control

2. Pneumatic mechanism

3. Fail safe system

4