Underframe Equipment

Equipment mounted on engine underframes has to survive some of the worst environmental conditions on the network. Sealing is paramount to protect the equipment inside any enclosure, as is the protection given to pushbutton actuators where they are to be made available.

Craig & Derricott is well known for producing equipment to high ingress protection standards and robust and reliable componets. Nowhere does all this come together more importantly than in underframe equipment. Some of the items supplied in this area are:-

• Earthing Switches
• Engine Stop boxes
• Changeover switches

Earthing Switches (Earth-shoe boxes)

Earth shoe enclosures are mounted on the traction vehicle underframe and are designed to ensure earth bonding of the vehicle during maintenance or repair. Switches in these applications can be rated up to 2250A.

Engine Stop Boxes

These assemblies are designed to control the Starting & Stopping of DMU vehicles when under maintenance or repair. Sited on the vehicle underframe and housed in thick walled DMC enclosures, the actuators are from the C&D heavy duty 'i-push 32 Series' range and have additional protection provided by flexible neoprene shrouds.

'Shore Supply' Changeover Switches

The switches are located on the side of the auxiliary supply case and are for maintenance staff to plug in a shore supply to energise the compressor and MA set so that the heating, pneumatic and control functions of the train can be operated and tested. The assembly incorporates an interlock pushbutton which is protected with a neoprene shroud.