![Stagecoach logo Stagecoach logo](/sites/default/files/styles/case_study_logo_255x156/public/logos/2022-02/stagecoach.jpg.webp?itok=_4t2qnnK)
Train door closing pinch force tester
![Door pinch cradle and original AFG gauge montage Door pinch cradle and original AFG gauge montage](/sites/default/files/styles/case_study_gallery_540w/public/case-study/2022-02/train-door-closing-gauge-original.jpg.webp?itok=h3cvWY-N)
![New design Train Door Closing Force Tester New design Train Door Closing Force Tester](/sites/default/files/styles/case_study_gallery_540w/public/case-study/2022-02/door-slam-tester-fixture-afg-cradle.jpg.webp?itok=1AzuBc4a)
Solution
- Digital force gauge
- Cradle with cantelever pinch mechanism
Benefits
- Reliable peak force checker
- Portable and small design, easy to use
Requirement
South West Trains required a system to measure the closing force (pinch) of their external flush fitting train doors.
Solution
A cantilever assembly was fitted to the rear of a 500 N Advanced Force Gauge. This enabled a direct compressive reading to be applied to the loadcell when the tips of the cantilever were placed in between the closing doors.
The pass/fail alarm feature on the gauge provided an immediate analysis of the result. The cantilever arrangement enabled the doors to be measured at a distance similar to the width of a human hand.
The operators hands were also well away from the test area, which would have proved difficult with a conventional loadcell solution.
This type of solution could be adapted for many similar applications by extending or reducing the length and profile of the cantilever beam.
Test equipment
- 500 N AFG Advanced Digital Force Gauge (or any appropriate Mecmesin gauge)
- Cantilever Fixture
![Door pinch cradle and original AFG gauge montage Door pinch cradle and original AFG gauge montage](/sites/default/files/styles/case_study_gallery_540w/public/case-study/2022-02/train-door-closing-gauge-original.jpg.webp?itok=h3cvWY-N)
![New design Train Door Closing Force Tester New design Train Door Closing Force Tester](/sites/default/files/styles/case_study_gallery_540w/public/case-study/2022-02/door-slam-tester-fixture-afg-cradle.jpg.webp?itok=1AzuBc4a)