EM 6815 EN - Solutions For Traction Motors

Solutions for traction motors
Photo: KODA ELECTRIC a.s.
The Power of Knowledge Engineering
Put yourself at the leading edge
of traction motor design.

The operating conditions for traction motor bearings
Meet your challenges with SKF
are very different from those normally encountered
Backed by over 85 years of traction motor bearing
in electric motors in other industries. Traction motors
expertise, SKF has been supporting the reliability and
must be robust, reliable, light and compact. They must
lower life cycle cost targets of all kinds of drive systems.
also cope with difficult environments with a high level
The latest stage of the development are prelubricated
of contamination and humidity, as well as variations in
bearing units with integrated seals and sensors. With
speed, temperature, load, vibration and shocks.
expertise in bearings, services, seals, lubrication systems
SKF traction motor bearing application from 1922 catalogue.
Reliability is an essential requirement for modern

traction motor bearings with long maintenance intervals.
SKF has developed solutions to increase reliability by
and mechatronics, SKF can offer unique highly reliable

system solutions, such as:
avoiding bearing damage caused by electric current
locating bearing arrangements
passage.
non-locating bearing arrangements

sealed and prelubricated bearing units equipped
with sensors
Left side: Sensorised hybrid TMBU Traction Motor Bearing Unit

equipped with ceramic balls, the incremental sensor detects absolute
positioning for electric control devices, direction of rotation, speed for
brake control systems and temperature to monitor reliability.
Front page: Traction motor from KODA ELECTRIC a.s. for low floor
tramways.
Traction motor application principles

Nose suspended traction motor
Non drive side
traction motor
bearing
Drive side traction

motor bearing
AC traction motor designs
Integrated AC traction motor designs
Down-sized traction motor bearings
Further reduced traction motor bearing sizes
Speed measuring equipment
The nose suspended motor is the

traditional traction design. Collectors
and brushes are used especially for DC
propulsion systems. The overhanging
pinion on the drive side causes heavy
radial forces on the adjacent bearing.
Brush
Collector
Due to the introduction of the 3phase

AC propulsion technique, speed limiting
collectors and brushes could be
dispensed with and maximum motor
speed was increased to improve power.
A speed sensor is flanged onto the
opposite side to provide speed signals to
the inverter system. In many cases the
active iron length of the rotor and stator
was lengthened to increase power by
using the same traction motor boundary
dimensions.
Reduced
distance
Elastic coupling
Reduced traction motor bearing sizes
To manage higher traction motor

speeds and to reduce the effect of the
overhanging pinion, the adjacent bearing
is lubricated with the oil from the
gearbox. In some cases a non-locating
N design cylindrical roller bearing is
incorporated to reduce oil splashing and
to lower operating temperatures.
The integration of the traction motor

and the drive system into a complete
unit enables accommodating the pinion
bearing in the gearbox. This design
principle eliminates the effect of the
overhanging pinion completely. The
radial forces are reduced and smaller
bearings can be selected to achieve
higher traction motor speeds.
Another design principle are traction

motors with one bearing arrangement
only. In most cases a non-locating
bearing is used. A special design enables
having additional flanges on the inner
ring of the cylindrical roller bearing for
handling purposes only. The traction
motor is flanged to the gearbox via an
elastic coupling.
Traction motor with cardan shaft

propulsion
Traction motor for low-floor vehicles

Absolute positioning sensor
Integrated traction motor design for

low floor vehicles
Wheel tyre
Cardan shaft
Traction motor bearing units
Especially for multiple units and mass

transit vehicles, traction motors are used
that are connected to the gearbox via a
cardan shaft. In this case the radial loads
are relatively low and determined by the
rotor weight and some dynamic effects
only.
The latest development in traction
motor bearing design is the application
of Traction Motor Bearing Units
(TMBU) that are space saving, sealed
and prelubricated bearing units. In
some cases the active iron length of
the rotor and stator is increased to
gain more power by using the same
boundary dimensions of the traction
motor. TMBUs with integrated speed
sensors help to save even more space
and enable a much compacter traction
motor design.
Traction motor bearing units
Today, most tramcars are designed as

low-floor vehicles. This design principle
helps passengers to enter the car easily.
Special traction motor designs and drive
system arrangements have to be applied
because of space limitations.
There are some highly specialized

traction motor designs that are applied
for modern drive systems. One of
the most challenging designs is the
integrated traction motor function within
the wheel arrangement.
The latest design is based on a hollow

shaft arrangement and an integrated
cardan shaft that directly drives the
independent wheel. On both sides a
hybrid TMBU is applied to gain space in
axial direction. The integrated absolute
positioning sensor with additional speed
detection contributes further to the
space saving approach. One TMBU is
based on a cylindrical roller bearing
design and the other one on a deep
groove ball bearing design.
In this case the bearing inner rings

are fitted onto the axle that is part of
the bogie design. The wheel is part of
the rotating outer part of the traction
motor. The bearing arrangement has
to accommodate all wheel forces and
dynamic effects in radial and axial
directions.
Solutions for locating and non-locating

Locating bearings provide axial location for traction motor
shafts in both directions. In most cases deep groove ball
bearings are used. For heavier radial loads, cylindrical roller
bearings in the NJ design with an HJ angle ring or the NUP
design are typically used.
Deep groove ball bearings
Non-locating bearings must accommodate shaft movement

in the axial direction, to avoid damaging induced heavy axial
loads when, for example, thermal expansion of the shaft
occurs.
Integrated drive system designs where the traction motor
and the gearbox are mounted directly can be achieved with a
traction motor arrangement based on only one bearing. This
bearing can be a locating or non-locating bearing. The flanged
gearbox accommodates the corresponding bearing function.
Traction motor bearings are usually equipped with a one or
two-piece machined brass cage. For a number of specific
applications, SKF supplies cylindrical roller bearings equipped
with a polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cage.
Because of tighter shaft fits and operational temperature
differences between the inner and outer rings, clearance
classes like C4 and C5 are commonly used.
Deep groove ball bearings are used as locating bearings

in traction motors. Deep raceway grooves and the close
conformity between the raceway grooves and the balls enable
these bearings to accommodate axial loads in both directions,
in addition to radial loads, even at high speed.
bearing arrangements
Cylindrical roller bearings
Non-locating cylindrical roller bearing designs
NU design
N design
Locating cylindrical roller bearing designs

NJ design + HJ angle ring
NUP design
For non-locating bearing arrangements in traction motors

cylindrical roller bearings are used, typically NU or N designs.
The NU design is the most common; the outer ring has two
integral flanges while the inner ring has no flanges. Axial
displacement of the shaft relative to the housing can be
accommodated in both directions.
Traction motors running with higher speeds and designed for
oil lubrication are equipped in some cases with a N design
bearing. These cylindrical roller bearings provide a lower
operating temperature in comparison with NU design
bearings.
Solutions for higher reliability

Due to the introduction of frequency converter controlled
motors for propulsion systems in locomotives and multiple
units, demands on traction motor bearings have significantly
increased. High frequency stray electric currents are
unavoidable in most current applications. The passage of
electric current through rolling bearings can lead to damage in
a short period of time.
INSOCOAT VL0241
Electrically insulated outer ring
SKF offers three basic design solutions for electrical insulation

of traction motor bearings, depending on the application
requirements. The electrical impedance is a vector function
based on the Ohmic resistance, frequency and capacitance.
The capacitance is a measure of the amount of electric charge
stored for a given electric potential.
Function of frequency and capacitance
Hybrid
bearing design
INSOCOAT
inner ring coated
INSOCOAT
outer ring coated
virtually eliminates premature bearing failures caused by

stray electric currents
Impedance
Ohmic resistance
SKF INSOCOAT traction motor bearings are widely used for all
kind of applications, especially for small and medium traction
motors. The bearing design is based on standard bearing
types, both cylindrical roller bearings and deep groove ball
bearings. In most cases the outer ring is electrically insulated
with an aluminium oxide layer.
INSOCOAT VL2071
Electrically insulated inner ring
Hybrid bearings HC5
The inner ring insulation design principle offers an improved

insulation performance, especially for larger traction motors.
The aluminium oxide coating is applied on the inner ring
outside surfaces: the bore, the chamfers and side faces.
Hybrid bearings offer a further improvement of the electrical

insulation properties, especially for modern high frequency
inverter system applications. These bearings are equipped
with rolling elements made of bearing grade silicon nitride.
improved electrical insulation properties in comparison with

the coated outer ring design VL0241
superior electrical insulation properties even at very high

frequencies
lower electrical capacitance due to a smaller coated surface

area
extended maintenance intervals, due to longer grease life

compared with all-steel bearings
higher electrical impedance
energy saving capabilities because of lower friction and

higher precision
extended maintenance intervals because of lower operating
temperature
Solutions with sealed and prelubricated

To achieve lower life-cycle cost, more and more sealed and
greased bearing units are being used in railway applications.
The TMBU Traction Motor Bearing Unit concept offers new
opportunities for space savings, easier mounting, longer
maintenance intervals and improved performance.
Locating TMBU design
The TMBU is a sealed and prelubricated bearing unit

designed for flange mounting on the housing. A special
grease is selected to achieve extended grease life even at
high operating temperatures. The bearing unit is equipped
with non-contact labyrinth seals, frictionless and without
wear.
To increase the reliability, electrical insulation is realized by
using either an INSOCOAT coating or hybrid design with
ceramic/silicon nitride rolling elements.
The TMBU concept offers space saving opportunities
especially in axial direction. More traction motor power for
given motor size can be achieved by using TMBUs.
The TMBU design for locating bearing arrangements is

based on a deep groove ball bearing design. This sealed and
prelubricated bearing unit has an integrated flange on the
outer ring to be bolted on to the traction motor shield.
Electrical insulation can be provided either by applying a hybrid
design based on ceramic balls or with an electric insulating
INSOCOAT layer on the bore of the inner ring.
space saving, fewer parts
unit concept enables very easy mounting
sealed and greased for extended maintenance intervals
10
d bearing units equipped with sensors

Non-locating TMBU design
TMBU sensor capabilities
The sensorised TMBU concept offers several detection and

measurement opportunities:
absolute positioning detection for traction motor control
devices
The TMBU Traction Motor Bearing Unit design for nonlocating bearing arrangements is based on a cylindrical roller
bearing design. This sealed and prelubricated bearing unit has
an integrated flange on the outer ring to be bolted on to the
traction motor shield.
Electrical insulation can be provided either by applying an
electric insulating INSOCOAT coating on the bore of the inner
ring, or by using a hybrid bearing equipped with silicon nitride
rollers.
space saving, fewer parts
unit concept enables very easy mounting
detection of direction of rotation

speed measurement for brake control systems
temperature measurement to monitor reliability
The incremental sensor unit is integrated into the sealing
system of the outer ring of the bearing unit. This design is
very space-saving, especially in axial direction compared with
conventional sensor devices.
space saving design, fewer parts
high resolution and accuracy
robust and long life design
sealed and greased for extended maintenance intervals

Output position signal clockwise
and counter-clockwise
11
References
Photo: SBB
Photo: DB AG/Wolfgang Klee
Photo: SBB
Italian Pendolino ETR 460 tilting train

generation, max. speed 250 km/h,
traction motors made by Alstom, total
power 6 000 kW, in operation since
1992.
German DB ICE 3 high speed train, max.

speed 330 km/h, traction motors made
by Siemens, power 16 x 500 kW, in
operation since 1999.
Swiss Railways SBB FLIRT RABe 521/

523, max. speed 160 km/h, traction
motors made by TSA Traktionssysteme,
power 4 x 500 kW, in operation since
2004.
SKF traction motor bearings:

Locating bearing:
INSOCOAT deep groove ball bearing
Non-locating bearing:
Cylindrical roller bearing

Locating bearing:
INSOCOAT cylindrical roller bearing
SKF traction motor bearing:

Locating bearing:
INSOCOAT TMBU Traction Motor
Bearing Unit
Photo: Talgo
Photo: KTX
Photo: BB
Spanish Talgo 350 high speed train,

max. speed 350 km/h, traction motors
made by Siemens, power 8 x 1 000 kW,
in operation since 2005.
Korean KTX high speed train, operational

by Rotem, power 12 x 1 130 kW, in
Austrian BB Taurus electrical

locomotive 1016/1116, max. speed
230 km/h, traction motors made by
Siemens, power 4 x 1 600 kW, in

Single bearing arrangement:

Locating bearing:
Four point contact ball bearing and
cylindrical roller bearing

Locating bearing:
12
Photo: DB AG/Gnter Jazbec
Photo: Siemens
Chinese Railways DJ4 electrical locomotive, max. speed 120 km/h, traction
motors made by Siemens and Zhuzhou
Electric Locomotives Works, power
8 x 1 200 kW, in operation since 2006.
Indian WDG-2A diesel-electric freight

locomotive, max. speed 100 km/h,
traction motors made by BHEL, total
power 3 100 HP / 2 300 kW, in
German DB 152 electrical locomotive,

made by Siemens, power 4 x 1 600 kW,
in operation since 2001.

Locating bearing:

Locating bearing:

Locating bearing:
Photo: DB AG/Wolfgang Klee
Photo: SBB
German DB-Railion 189 electrical

freight locomotive suitable for different
European electric systems, max. speed
Siemens, power 4 x 1 600 kW, in
American diesel-electric locomotives are

typically hauling very long freight trains,
total power rating 3 000 HP / 2 200 kW
up to 6 000 HP / 4 500 kW.
Swiss SBB Re 460 electrical locomotive,

made by ABB, power 4 x 1 525 kW, in

Single bearing arrangement:

Locating bearing:

Locating bearing:
13
References
Photo: Siemens
Photo: Siemens
Slovenian Desiro EMR 312, max.

by Siemens, power 4 x 412 kW, in
Indian 3-phase electric freight

locomotive WAG-9, max. speed
ABB, power 6 000 HP / 4 474 kW, in
USA - Houston TX, MetroRail, Avanto

light rail vehicle, max. speed 105 km/h,
traction motors made by Siemens, in

Locating bearing:

Locating bearing:

Photo: KODA ELECTRIC a.s.
Photo: Grazer Verkehrsbetriebe
Photo: Gunter Mackinger
Czech Republic - Prague 15T low floor

tramway, max. speed 60 km/h, traction
motors made by KODA ELECTRIC a.s.,
power 16 x 60 kW.
Austria - Graz, Cityrunner, low floor

tramway, max. speed 70 km/h, traction
motors made by KODA ELECTRIC a.s.,
power 8 x 50 kW, in operation since
2001.
Austria - Salzburg, low floor trolley bus,

max. speed 65 km/h, traction motor
made by KODA ELECTRIC a.s., power
1 x 172 kW, in operation since 2000.

Locating bearing:
Hybrid TMBU Traction Motor Bearing
Unit with integrated positioning and
speed sensor (deep groove ball bearing)
Hybrid TMBU (cylindrical roller bearing)

Locating bearing:

Locating bearing:
INSOCOAT TMBU Traction Motor
Bearing Unit (deep groove ball bearing)
INSOCOAT TMBU (cylindrical roller
bearing)
14
Cylindrical roller bearings for traction motors

Standard product range for light loads1
d 50 220 mm
B
Principal dimensions2
D
Preferred executions
Standard bearing
INSOCOAT
design
outer ring coated
VL0241
INSOCOAT
inner ring coated
VL2071
mm
Hybrid design
HC5
Basic designation
50
80
16
NU 1010 EC
55
90
18
NU 1011 EC
60
95
18
NU 1012
65
100
18
NU 1013 EC
70
100
20
NU 1014 EC
75
115
20
NU 1015
80
125
22
NU 1016
85
130
22
NU 1017
90
140
24
NU 1018
95
145
24
NU 1019
100
150
24
NU 1020
110
170
28
NU 1022
120
180
28
NU 1024
130
200
33
NU 1026
140
210
33
NU 1028
150
225
35
NU 1030
160
240
38
NU 1032
170
260
42
NU 1034
180
280
46
NU 1036
190
290
46
NU 1038
200
310
51
NU 1040
220
340
56
NU 1044
1)
2)
Non-standard sizes can be offered on request

The dimensions listed are indicative only, contact SKF for detailed product specification.
15

Standard product range for medium loads1
d 50 220 mm
B
D
mm
Standard bearing
INSOCOAT
design
outer ring coated
VL0241
INSOCOAT
inner ring coated
VL2071
Hybrid design
HC5
Basic designation
50
90
20
NU 210 EC
55
100
21
NU 211 EC
60
110
22
NU 212 EC
65
120
23
NU 213 EC
70
125
24
NU 214 EC
75
130
25
NU 215 EC
80
140
26
NU 216 EC
85
150
28
NU 217 EC
90
160
30
NU 218 EC
95
170
32
NU 219 EC
100
180
34
NU 220 EC
110
200
38
NU 222 EC
120
215
40
NU 224 EC
130
230
40
NU 226 EC
140
250
42
NU 228 EC
150
270
45
NU 230 EC
160
290
48
NU 232 EC
170
310
52
NU 234 EC
180
320
52
NU 236 EC
190
340
55
NU 238 EC
200
360
58
NU 240 EC
220
400
65
NU 244 EC
1)
2)

16

Standard product range for heavy loads1
d 50 220 mm
B
D
mm
Standard bearing
INSOCOAT
design
outer ring coated
VL0241
INSOCOAT
inner ring coated
VL2071
Hybrid design
HC5
Basic designation
50
110
27
NU 310 EC
55
120
29
NU 311 EC
60
130
31
NU 312 EC
65
140
33
NU 313 EC
70
150
35
NU 314 EC
75
160
37
NU 315 EC
80
170
39
NU 316 EC
85
180
41
NU 317 EC
90
190
43
NU 318 EC
95
200
45
NU 319 EC
100
215
47
NU 320 EC
110
240
50
NU 322 EC
120
260
55
NU 324 EC
130
280
58
NU 326 EC
140
300
62
NU 328 EC
150
320
65
NU 330 EC
160
340
68
NU 332 EC
170
360
72
NU 334 EC
180
380
75
NU 336 EC
190
400
78
NU 338 EC
200
420
80
NU 340 EC
220
460
88
NU 344 EC
1)
2)

17
Deep groove ball bearings for traction motors

Standard product range for light loads1
d 50 220 mm
B
D
mm
Standard bearing
INSOCOAT
design
outer ring coated
VL0241
INSOCOAT
inner ring coated
VL2071
Hybrid design
HC5
Basic designation
50
90
20
6210
55
100
21
6211
60
110
22
6212
65
120
23
6213
70
125
24
6214
75
130
25
6215
80
140
26
6216
85
150
28
6217
90
160
30
6218
95
170
32
6219
100
180
34
6220
110
200
38
6222
120
215
40
6224
130
230
40
6226
140
250
42
6228
150
270
45
6230
160
290
48
6232
170
310
52
6234
180
320
52
6236
190
340
55
6238
200
360
58
6240
220
400
65
6244
1)
2)

18
Deep groove ball bearings for traction motors

Standard product range for medium loads1
d 50 220 mm
B
D
mm
Standard bearing
INSOCOAT
design
outer ring coated
VL0241
INSOCOAT
inner ring coated
VL2071
Hybrid design
HC5
Basic designation
50
110
27
6310
55
120
29
6311
60
130
31
6312
65
140
33
6313
70
150
35
6314
75
160
37
6315
80
170
39
6316
85
180
41
6317
90
190
43
6318
95
200
45
6319
100
215
47
6320
110
240
50
6322
120
260
55
6324
130
280
58
6326
140
300
62
6328
150
320
65
6330
160
340
68
6332
170
360
72
6334
180
380
75
6336
190
400
78
6338
220
460
88
6344
1)
2)

19
4FBMT
-VCSJDBUJPO
TZTUFNT
#FBSJOHT
BOEVOJUT
.FDIBUSPOJDT
4FSWJDFT
The Power of Knowledge Engineering

Drawing on five areas of competence and application-specific
expertise amassed over more than 100 years, SKF brings
innovative solutions to OEMs and production facilities in every
major industry worldwide. These five competence areas include
bearings and units; seals, lubrication systems, mechatronics
(combining mechanics and electronics into intelligent systems),
and a wide range of services, from 3-D computer modelling
to advanced condition monitoring and reliability and asset
management services. A global presence provides SKF customers
uniform quality standards and universal product availability.
SKF and INSOCOAT are registered trademarks of the SKF Group.

All other trademarks are the property of their owner.
SKF Group 2008
The contents of this publication are the copyright of the publisher and may not be
reproduced (even extracts) unless permission is granted. Every care has been taken to
ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication but no liability can be
accepted for any loss or damage whether direct, indirect or consequential arising out of
the use of the information contained herein.
Publication 6815 EN
Printed in Austria on environmentally friendly paper.

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Solutions for traction motors

Photo: KODA ELECTRIC a.s.

The Power of Knowledge Engineering

Put yourself at the leading edge

of traction motor design.

Meet your challenges with SKF

are very different from those normally encountered

Backed by over 85 years of traction motor bearing

in electric motors in other industries. Traction motors

expertise, SKF has been supporting the reliability and

must be robust, reliable, light and compact. They must

lower life cycle cost targets of all kinds of drive systems.

also cope with difficult environments with a high level

The latest stage of the development are prelubricated

of contamination and humidity, as well as variations in

bearing units with integrated seals and sensors. With

speed, temperature, load, vibration and shocks.

expertise in bearings, services, seals, lubrication systems

SKF traction motor bearing application from 1922 catalogue.

Reliability is an essential requirement for modern

and mechatronics, SKF can offer unique highly reliable

avoiding bearing damage caused by electric current

locating bearing arrangements

non-locating bearing arrangements

Left side: Sensorised hybrid TMBU Traction Motor Bearing Unit

Traction motor application principles

Drive side traction

AC traction motor designs

Integrated AC traction motor designs

Down-sized traction motor bearings

Further reduced traction motor bearing sizes

Speed measuring equipment

The nose suspended motor is the

Due to the introduction of the 3phase

Reduced traction motor bearing sizes

To manage higher traction motor

The integration of the traction motor

Another design principle are traction

Traction motor with cardan shaft

Traction motor for low-floor vehicles

Integrated traction motor design for

Traction motor bearing units

Especially for multiple units and mass

Traction motor bearing units

Today, most tramcars are designed as

There are some highly specialized

The latest design is based on a hollow

In this case the bearing inner rings

Solutions for locating and non-locating

Deep groove ball bearings

Non-locating bearings must accommodate shaft movement

Deep groove ball bearings are used as locating bearings

Locating cylindrical roller bearing designs

For non-locating bearing arrangements in traction motors

Solutions for higher reliability

SKF offers three basic design solutions for electrical insulation

Function of frequency and capacitance

virtually eliminates premature bearing failures caused by

Hybrid bearings HC5