The working efficiency of locomotive traction electric motors of direct current is largely determined by the reliability of the collector-brush assembly. The paper presents the results of simulation of the contact interaction "brush-collector" in the traction electric motor of an electric locomotive. The influence of the structural features of the brush holder, the conditions and operating modes on the contact area "brush-collector", and the quality of switching is considered. Technical solutions for improving the current collection quality in the contact "brush-collector" and ensuring the working efficiency of traction electric motors of locomotives are proposed.

The number of failures, the percentage of faulty electric locomotives, and the number of unplanned repairs remain high at the enterprises for repair of traction rolling stock of the network of the main-line Russian railways. It was found that the main reasons for this situation are the unsatisfactory quality of current repairs and maintenance, the insufficient level of mechanization and automation of labor-intensive repair processes. The paper considers an existing positive example of the use of robotic equipment in assembly production for the repair of traction rolling stock. The analysis and classification of sensor control devices for industrial robots is performed. A method for controlling the driving devices of the repair equipment is proposed by obtaining a spatial-geometric image of the object’s surface before the beginning of technological processing by the method of active laser triangulation scanning. The principle of the action of three-dimensional scanning is described; a number of equipment with its technical characteristics and software used during the research in the laboratory of the university is listed. The result of the experiment of the proposed method on the model of the truck frame of the electric locomotive is presented. The metrological characteristics of the measurement results are calculated, allowing comparing and assessing the accuracy of the model obtained and the mock-up of the rolling stock truck. Based on the results of these calculations, it can be said with certainty that all errors and deviations of the results from true values lie within the limits of the norm and this technology can be used to design a vision system for robotic equipment.

The paper discusses the traction parameters of an electric locomotive of a new generation. The existing schemes of sections served by electric locomotives and locomotive crews at the studied railway operating domain are presented. A comparison of the main parameters of DC and single-phase AC electric locomotives, the operation of which is currently organized at sections with trains of estimated weight in the longterm traction mode on the ground slopes with different steepness, is made. The scheme of the proposed organization of operation of dual-voltage electric locomotive and locomotive crews is presented. Traction parameters of a dual-mode electric locomotive are calculated, taking into account the plan and profile of the track at the proposed sections of operation, the specific basic resistance to the movement of the locomotive and the train at the estimated speed, the specific accelerating and decelerating forces of the train. When dual-mode electric locomotives are put into operation, it will be possible to reduce the fleet of locomotives in operation, the number of locomotive runs due to their lengthening, and the number of locomotive crew relief points, reduce the transit time of freight trains, increase technical and service speed, average daily mileage and average daily performance of the locomotive, reduce power consumption for traction. The operation of such electric locomotives contributes to the development of technologies for rail traffic management and the improvement of quantitative and qualitative indicators of various railway facilities.