Challenges

CLOSED ON: 23 SEP 2020  |  REWARD: INR 8,00,000
Reward money is paid in exchange of legally acquiring the solution, implementing it to solve the problem and meeting the success criteria. Milestones for paying the reward money would depend upon the complexity of challenge and maturity of the proposed solution, which would be discussed with the solver as soon as the proposed solution is selected by us.
Closed

Short Description:

We are looking for solutions which helps in avoid burning of rubber pads in wagons.

Challenge Details

Steel coils are transported to different parts of India on rail rakes from steel plants. These specially designed wagons have rubber liners(pads) to avoid damage to the surface of steel coil and avoid the movement of steel coils during transit (refer figure 1a).  

Typically, wagons have about 32 rubber pads. These rubber pads are fixed by using adhesives and rivets at 4 corners (refer figure 1b and figure 1c).

Rubber pads specification is as below;

  • Dimensions (thickness x width x length): 10 mm x 150 mm x 500 mm  
  • Withstands temperatures up to 150o C (beyond which the rubber starts melting).
  • Standard – IS:1891 (Part 2) – Current standard of Rubber pads.
  • Grade – Heat & Abrasion Resistant

At plants, Hot rolled coils, when manufactured, are in the range of 550°C to 750°C. Each coil weighs around 16 MT to 30 MT. These coils are cooled to ambient temperatures before loading them on to the wagons. However, at times, due to operational reasons, the coils are loaded when they are still hot (around 250°C). This leads to burning of rubber pads (refer figure 1b). Burnt rubber pads could damage the steel coils as it comes in contact with the metal body in the wagon.

We are looking for solutions which will prevent burning of rubber pads. Cooling the coils completely down to ambient temperatures is not a viable option.

Solution should be

  • cost effective
  • environment Friendly
  • easy to use

Have any query or need more clarification about this challenge?