Railway Metrics and Dynamics Expands Product Portfolio with New Patent

The Swedish Patent and Registration Office (PRV) has announced its intention to approve the patent application for Railway Metrics and Dynamics' (RMD) self-developed weight sensor. These sensors can accurately and efficiently measure a railway vehicle's weight and how evenly the load is balanced during loading.

Weight sensors for railways offer many advantages. Before a freight train can depart, a wagon registration must be conducted. This involves documenting the type of wagons in the train set, how much the load weighs, and the position of each wagon in the train set. This is collectively known as "train composition."

The train composition and weights must be reported to the Swedish Transport Administration via the Topas system. Currently, reporting to Topas is done manually –either through an application or via a third-party interface and Common Interface.

RMD's weight sensors, however, can handle both the wagon registration and reporting entirely automatically in the future, eliminating the risk of human error.

Automatic Wagon Registration Without Sources of Error
Weight restrictions are crucial. Different wagons have different load capacities and loads of varying density, and different track sections have specific limitations. Accurate weight calculation is necessary, and the human factor poses a risk for incorrect estimations.

– With our weight sensors, wagons can be weighed with precision, which is significant since train charges are based on weight. Additionally, the position of the wagon in the train set is also known, which must be registered in advance, especially when transporting dangerous goods, says Jan Lindqvist, CEO of Railway Metrics and Dynamics.

Different types of goods, such as timber or recycled metal, are difficult to estimate in terms of weight. In the latter case, it is also challenging to determine whether the wagon is evenly loaded – something that is crucial to avoid excessive axle loads and thus stress on both the wagon, wheels, and tracks.

– The weight sensor has been developed over time and fits perfectly into our 'system of systems'. Automatic wagon registration saves a lot of time and eliminates the risk of errors. It is a necessity for the digitalization of the railway, concludes Jan Lindqvist.

The patent application for RMD's weight sensor is expected to be approved during the summer. The product is currently being manufactured to be tested in the fall.