Müller-BBM‘s new measuring device for wheel roughness, m|wheel, is deployed for highly sensitive detection of wheel roughness and wheel flats on railway wheels, which play a decisive role in rolling noise emission and increased wear of rail-bound vehicles. The device is equipped with a high-precision range sensor working with a resolution of a ten-thousandth part of a millimetre. It is small and lightweight, easily adjusted and can be connected comfortably to a measurement computer via USB, which also provides the power supply. A measurement is started automatically and stops after exactly one turn of the wheel, also automatically. Any roughness is displayed on the monitor of the measuring computer in real time. m|wheel can be used for all types of rail-bound vehicles and, thanks to its robust construction, it can be operated inside maintenance halls as well as outdoors. It is fixed to the rail magnetically, the measuring track is continuously adjustable. For setting and control of the measurements, a user-friendly software with a graphic user interface is provided. At the end of a measurement, the results and the corresponding third-octave and order spectra are displayed on the monitor. The roughness spectra can be compared with the limiting curves according to the applicable standards.

Supporters and readers of the technical publication MessTecAutomation of GIT-Verlag can vote for one of the seven nominees until March 5. The final decision and the award ceremony will take part on March 10 in Stuttgart.