FSG sensors are used worldwide. Thanks to their precision, reliability, and durability, they have established themselves in numerous different industries.

The Inclination Sensors in FSG's portfolio are no exception: they are used in construction machinery, agricultural technology – and rail transport, among other applications. Here, they are an integral part of the tilting technology of modern rail vehicles or integrated into systems for track construction and maintenance.

The current generation of Inclination Sensors from FSG relies primarily on MEMS – micro-electromechanical systems that incorporate an electronic accelerometer, enabling highly accurate tilt measurements. Depending on the application, models are used that integrate a second sensor: an electronic gyroscope. The combination of MEMS and gyroscope allows FSG Inclination Sensors to achieve maximum precision even under challenging operating conditions. For example, the models in the Premium Series, PE-MEMS-X-CAN-G-GS70 and PE-MEMS-XY-CAN-G-GS70, are capable of compensating for and filtering out vibrations and shocks, delivering reliable data. This makes them ideally suited for use in rail vehicles, even at higher speeds.

Redundancy provides fail-safety – a must in rail transport

For applications with high safety standards, such as those found in rail transport and railway technology, FSG offers Inclination Sensors with redundant systems that monitor themselves.

A typical application in express and high-speed trains is tilting technology. There, Inclination Sensors provide data for controlling the hydraulically adjustable bogies of the individual cars. When negotiating curves, the cars are raised lengthwise on one side in the direction of travel to counteract lateral acceleration. This increases passenger comfort, and at the same time, tilting technology allows the train to take curves faster. The optimal balance between speed and comfort results from the perfectly coordinated deflection of the individual hydraulic cylinders.

Trams also use tilting technology, but in a different way: they are leveled when they reach the stop – the necessary data is provided by Inclination Sensors, such as those from FSG. Only when the tram has come to a complete stop and is level do the doors open.

Precision in the construction and maintenance of rails

In track construction and maintenance, comfort and speed are less important than precision. Gyro-stabilized Inclination Sensors from FSG ensure precise alignment in grinding carriages, allowing damaged areas to be optimally repaired by grinding. Grinding rollers are guided laterally and from above against the rail at specific angles, and the profile is corrected during a slow grinding process. This generates sometimes strong vibrations that would interfere with a conventional sensor; the gyro compensates for these vibrations, ensuring consistently precise data.

Rail transport also utilizes construction machinery such as rail-mounted cranes and so-called two-way excavators. To ensure their stability, the undercarriage's inclination must be measured. This allows the necessary compensation angle to be calculated, which is then used to align the chassis. FSG tilting systems have always been the first choice for leading construction machinery manufacturers.

FSG at InnoTrans 2024 (September 24-27)

Home game! As a leading manufacturer of sensor technology headquartered in the German capital, FSG will be showcasing its portfolio of high-performance products for rail transport at InnoTrans 2024 in Berlin. These include Inclination Sensors, as well as potentiometers, Rotary Encoders, cable-extension sensors, and innovative operating devices.