HITACHI TILT TRAIN TECHNOLOGY

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1-1 Introduction of Carbody Tilting System
What is the “Tilting System”?
The system has been developed to increase the operational speed of the
trains on Japanese narrow gauge lines which have many curves. With this
system, car bodies are tilted at curves to compensate extra centrifugal
acceleration and thus trains can run at higher speed at curves than
conventional train without spoiling ride comfort.

The advantage of tilting system

1 Speed up at curve Saving travel time

2 Using existing line Lower the investment cost than

build new high speed track system

3 Improve ride comfort

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1-2 Introduction of Carbody Tilting System

Carbody Tilting System

Tilt rolling center Straight track Curved track

Carbody tilt angle±5°

Compressed air Conventional

Bolster spring train
Tilt beam
Air cylinder for carbody tilting
control
Roller
Bogie frame

Tilting train
Track surface

Cant

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2-1 Tilt Trains in Japan

Trend of Tilt Trains in Japan

Controlled tilt
Since 1973, carbody tilt system has （ from 1988 、 500cars ~ ）
Sapporo
been adopted and contributed Natural tilt
improvement of service speed at （ from 1973 、 less than
201cars ）
narrow gauge railroad. Series 281/283
DMU
Today, more than 500 cars with
controlled tilt are in service
operation in Japan. Series 383
EMU
Series HOT 7000 DMU
Series E351
Series 187 DMU Tokyo EMU
Osaka
Hakata
Series 283 EMU

Series 8000 EMU

Series 2000 DMU

Series 883/885 EMU

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2-2 Tilt Trains in Japan

Example of speed up
Operator Type Series Speed up in curve
（ Radius ＞ 600 m
comparison with conventional train）

JR-Shikoku EMU 8000 +30km/h

JR-Kyushu EMU 883/885 +30km/h
JR-East EMU E351 +25km/h

Curve passing speed in Japan （ km/h ）

Radius of Curve （ m ）
250 300 400 600 800
Conventional train 60 65 75 90 100
Tilt train 75 85 100 120 130
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2-2 Tilt Trains in Japan

Example of time saving

Operator JR-Kyushu JR-Kyushu JR-Shikoku

Type EMU EMU EMU
Series 883 885 8000
Section Hakata-Oita Hakata-Nagasaki Okayama-Matsuyama
Distance 201 km 154 km 214 km
Conventional Train 2h 29min 1h 57min 3h 10min
Tilting Train 1h 59min 1h 47min 2h 39min
Time Saving 30min 10min 31min
10 ~ 20% Time Saving !!

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3-1 Feature of Hitachi Tilting System

Japanese tilting vehicle matches the reverse curve tracks for following
reason.

Predictive tilt
・ Reduces tilting motion delay
control
・ Improves of riding comfort

Pneumatic ・ Saves space for mounting

mechanism ・ Clean and easy maintenance 　
・ Light weight

Fail-safe system
・ Improves reliability

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3-2 Feature of Hitachi Tilting System

1. Predictive Control
By using the data of curve conditions initially stored in the Command Controller, the
tilting control starts at a certain distance before the curve entrance to eliminate the time
lag in the tilting motion. The car body tilt angle is so controlled as to follow the target
values expressed as a function of the running distance of the car to make the car body
roll gently and smooth.

Effective for reverse curves

Running direction CC
unit Beginning of transition
curve
ATP ground
element Beginning of
circular curve
ATP carborne element A

The CC unit detects point A by The carbody begins to tilt

detecting the ATP ground element.
CC Unit: Command Controller
TC Unit: Tilt Controller
with commands from the TC unit.
The CC unit sends tilt timing
commands to the TC unit.
The carbody begins to return to upright End of circular
position by commands from the TC unit. curve
End of
transition curve

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3-3 Feature of Hitachi Tilting System

Predictive tilt control

● Actual Curve Profile

Super
elevation C

Entrance Circle curve Exit

Ground ATS Transition Transition
Curve Curve
● Target Tilt Angle

Minimizing angular Better riding

velocity of roll comfort !
The predictive tilt control system keeps car rolling angle to the target,
minimizes the carbody rolling speed.
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3-4 Feature of Hitachi Tilting System
Comparison of natural tilt to predictive controlled tilt

Natural Controlled
Tilting delay at
Carbody entrance transition
Tilt Angle curve

Carbody
Roll Velocity Exceeding Smoother at rates
5deg/sec below 5deg/sec

The predictive control resolves tilting delay at the entrance of a transition

curve and smoothens car body tilting motion so that the car can run at higher
speed at curves.
The value “5deg/sec” is the ride comfort index of the tilting system, which
was determined from results of experiments, conducted by Japanese
railways and manufactures. 10
3-5 Feature of Hitachi Tilting System

2. Pneumatic mechanism
Sharing the same power source with
the air brake system, the size of the
tilting system is compact (space
saving), which is preferable for the
limited under floor mounting space of
Compressed air
the rolling stocks used on narrow
gauged tracks. Tilting beam
Tilt control cylinder
Without using hydraulic power, the
system can realize clean and easy Roller
maintenance. Also the lightness of Bogie frame
the system contributes to the
reduction of the car weight, which is
a key feature for speed up and
assures less pressure or damage to
the track.

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3-6 Feature of Hitachi Tilting System

3. 　 Fail safe system

In case of the Japanese system, the tilt control is used in addition to the natural
tilt mechanism. Namely, the tilting of the car body is accomplished by applying
external moment to the car body, which is generated by air cylinders. If any
trouble arises with the tilt control system, the natural tilting mechanism can act
as a backup cutting off the pressure of the air cylinders.

Tilt control
Fail safe
＋ &
High reliability
Natural tilt mechanism

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 3-7 Feature of Hitachi Tilting System

4. Comparison between Japanese and European system

R ： Curve radius
Carbody Carbody tilt V ： Running speed
Tilt rolling center angle
g ： Gravity
Carbody （ MAX±5° ）
acceleration
Tilt center

Carbody tilt
angle Body weight Bolster spring
Body weight （ MAX±5° ） Bolster spring
Roll angle Tilt beam
Roll angle
Tilt beam

Roller Air cylinder for Oil cylinder for tilt

tilt Link

Bogie frame
Bogie frame Axle spring
Axle spring
Cant
Cant

Gauge
Gauge
Natural tilt mechanism Forced tilt mechanism
(Japanese System) (European System)
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3-8 Feature of Hitachi Tilting System
4. Comparison between Japanese and European system

Japanese System European System

Control system Tilt control Active control
+
Natural Tilt Mechanism
▼
Fail safe

Predictive control Feedback control

+
Feedback control
▼
Better Riding Comfort

Tilt mechanism Pneumatic (Air) Hydraulic (Oil)

▼ Additional Power Source
Space saving ▼
Light weight Less space
Clean maintenance Heavier weight

Gauge Narrow gauge Standard

（ 1,067mm ） （ 1,435mm ） 14
4 Conclusion

Best tilting technology for TRA's narrow gauge system will be

Hitachi's tilt control system with following features.

1. Predictive Control

2. Pneumatic mechanism

3. Fail safe system

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