The Aqua-Track™ by CESCO

The Aqua Miser is used to speed up the development of weapons at the high-speed test track located on an U.S. Air Force Base. The test track utilizes a coated train like rail system to guide a rocket-powered sled toward a target at speeds up to (2) miles per second. The rail coating is to be removed and replaced between each rocket sled run. The Aqua Miser system replaced a conventional sand blasting method and reduced the turn time on the track providing for a greater number of test runs to be performed.

The Aqua Track system utilizes a digitally controlled, self-propelled railcar, equipped with a fully instrumented operator cab, a 60kW generator set for power, (2) Aqua Miser D115 pump systems, and a water supply tank. Fixture mounted guns directed the waterjets at the coated rails while the railcar moved at digitally set speeds. All functions could be controlled either from the operator cab, or from a radio powered remote control pendant.

The Aqua Track railcar due to its versatility and robust design is used to perform a number of operational and maintenance functions at the high-speed test track including the reapplication the rail coating.

AQUA-TRACK

Prior to 2003, the Transit Association experienced many costly delays, flat spots on wheels, and incidents of rail crossing gates not activating. These problems are attributed to a resin from falling leaves building up on the rails in the Fall season. The resin causes slippery rails, resulting in the trains sliding and over shooting the stations. The resin can also electrically isolate the wheel from the rail, which results in failed gate crossing activation. Recorded was over 300 delays in 2002 attributed to slippery rails.

In 2003, two CESCO 250 HP, 10,000-PSI pumps were mounted on a rail car with water blast nozzles located just above the rails. The water blast removes the embedded resin at a rate of up to 30 MPH. CESCO also provided a heated control cab for an operator to monitor and control the water blast operation. In 2003, the Transit Association recorded only 45 delays, an 85 % improvement over the previous year.

The high-pressure water blast system may reduce maintenance cost alone more than enough to pay for the system the first full season of operation.

CESCO Aqua-Track - view PDF and/or print detailed information about this and other CESCO equipment

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