2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16
The first domestic electric locomotives appeared in the 30s of the last century. But the mass development of machines of this class began only after 20 years. VL80 series electric locomotives have become one of the most common AC powered locomotives.
Development and modifications
Projects of all machines of the series were developed by employees of the Institute of Electric Locomotive Engineering. The production of electric locomotives was carried out at a specialized plant in Novocherkassk, and the plant produced mechanical elements and main electric motors on its own. Elements of the electrical system were supplied from other related enterprises. A photo of the first instance of an electric locomotive of a new family, taken on one of the railways of the Rostov region, is presented below.
The first electric locomotives were assembled in 1961. The production of machines continued for more than 30 years, during which various changes were made to the design.
Enhanced traction
One of the later modifications was the VL80s electric locomotive, produced since 1979. The main feature of the machine was the ability to work incomposed of several sections. The locomotive was controlled centrally from any cab. The first copies could only work in double and quad versions.
In 1982, prototypes of VL80s electric locomotives appeared, which could work as part of assemblies of two, three or four separate parts. Serial production of the modernized machines began the following year - with a copy with serial number 697. According to the passport documentation, the maximum operating weight of the electric locomotive increased to 192 tons.
Subsequently, early machines were converted in a similar way during scheduled and overhauls. The only difference between these machines is the absence of a rheostatic braking mode in the third section. A total of 2,746 vehicles of the VL80s model were assembled, the last copy was shipped in 1995 to the Khabarovsk-2 depot. At the same time, it became the latest electric locomotive of the VL80 family. Currently, the car is assigned to the Liski depot of the South-Eastern Railway. A photo of the electric locomotive is shown below.
Design
The device of the VL80s electric locomotive was based on the technical solutions of the previous model 80t. All electrical control circuits were equipped with reusable circuit breakers. The ventilation system channels were reduced in size and moved to the roof, which made it possible to provide more free passage along the left corridor inside the electric locomotive. The photo below shows a car with serial number 18 assigned to the Karasuk depot of the West Siberianrailroad. Despite its age, the electric locomotive is in active operation.
The machines used the so-called cradle suspension, in which the VL80s electric locomotive bogie was connected to the body on four spring-loaded rods. The rods had a slight slope towards the center of the bogie to compensate for body vibrations.
Brake system
One of the key changes in the design of the VL80s was the introduction of a rheostatic braking system. Such a brake is based on the absorption by braking resistors of the electricity generated during deceleration. Resistors have two switchable resistance stages. To switch traction motors from the mains to the resistors, so-called brake switches are used.
When braking, the field windings of the motors are connected in series to the excitation rectifier system. This system allows you to smoothly adjust the degree of excitation in the engines switched to the generator mode, by changing the degree of braking of the VL80s electric locomotive. When braking, the air supply from the ventilation system to the braking resistors is switched. The braking system control unit is installed only in the head section of the electric locomotive.
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