2006-06-14 19:23:12 · 4 answers · asked by amrita_dinakar 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
A vehicle's wheels rotate at different speeds, especially when turning corners. The differential is designed to drive a pair of wheels with equal force, while allowing them to rotate at different speeds.
but in trains we do not generally do not find steep corners as they are not suitable to lay the tracks.
2006-06-14 19:46:14 · answer #1 · answered by Hardik 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Train engines have huge diesel motors that drive massive electric generators, (or alternators). The electricity is used to power very powerful electric motors that are attached directly to the axles. All of this adds up to an extremely powerful pulling machine that needs to be very heavy to maintain traction with the rails. The big 12 wheel engines run at about 4500 HP and weigh up to 420,000 pounds. A couple of these babies can get a 15,000 ton train up to 70 MPH in just a few minutes. Cool Huh?
2006-06-15 02:41:19 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only a guess, but I'd think it's because the huge amount of torque that a differential would need to pass would make it impractical. Too big to carry the loads required? Easier to allow some slip or have individual wheel set drive control? I've never seen very sharp radius curves on rails, either.
But, maybe computer controls for individual drive motors have been used for a while... as sort of a differential?
2006-06-15 02:47:54 · answer #3 · answered by JD 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The guy with the first answer is correct for all modern trains. They are actually driven by electric motors, with the electricity generated by the diesel motors, kind of like a peaking station.
2006-06-15 11:24:28 · answer #4 · answered by Jeffrey S 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋