EN 16241:2014+A1:2016

Railway applications - Slack adjuster

This European Standard establishes general principles for designing, manufacturing and type testing slack adjusters.
NOTE 1   These requirements cannot be written in sufficient detail to ensure good workmanship or proper construction. Each manufacturer is therefore responsible for taking every necessary step to make sure that the quality of workmanship and construction is such as to ensure accordance with good engineering practice.
It is applicable to double acting slack adjusters designed to control the block (shoe) to tread (wheel) clearance of tread braked vehicles with conventional brake cylinders and rigging, without taking the track-gauge into consideration.
NOTE 2   The term used for this device by UIC is "Brake rigging adjuster".

Bahnanwendungen - Gestängesteller

Diese Europäische Norm enthält grundlegende Anforderungen an die Konstruktion, Fertigung und Typprüfungen von Gestängestellern.
ANMERKUNG 1 Diese Anforderungen können nicht so detailliert beschrieben werden, dass eine gute Bearbeitung oder fachgerechte Herstellung sichergestellt ist. Jeder Lieferant ist deshalb dafür verantwortlich, jeden notwendigen Schritt zu unternehmen, um die Qualität der Bearbeitung und Herstellung in Übereinstimmung mit allgemein anerkannten Regeln der Technik sicherzustellen.
Diese Europäische Norm gilt für in beide Richtungen wirkende Gestängesteller zur Aufrechterhaltung des Spiels zwischen Bremsklotzsohle und der Lauffläche des Rades von klotzgebremsten Fahrzeugen mit konventionellen Bremszylindern und -gestänge, ungeachtet der Spurweite.
ANMERKUNG 2 Der bei der UIC für diese Vorrichtung verwendete Begriff lautet "Bremsgestängesteller".

Applications ferroviaires - Régleur de timonerie

La présente norme européenne établit les principes généraux pour la conception, la fabrication et les essais de type des régleurs de timoneries.
NOTE 1   Ces exigences ne peuvent être décrites de façon suffisamment détaillée pour garantir une bonne qualité d'exécution ou une fabrication correcte. Chaque fabricant a, par conséquent, la responsabilité de prendre toutes les mesures nécessaires pour s’assurer que la qualité d'exécution et la fabrication soient conformes aux règles de l’art.
Le présent document s'applique aux régleurs de timonerie à double effet conçus pour maintenir automatiquement à une valeur constante le jeu entre la semelle (sabot) et le bandage (roue) des véhicules dotés de freins à sabot avec cylindre et timonerie de frein conventionnels, quel que soit l'écartement des voies.
NOTE 2   Le terme utilisé pour cet appareil par l'UIC est " régleurs de timoneries de frein".

Železniške naprave - Regulator zavornega vzvodja

Ta evropski standard vzpostavlja splošna načela za oblikovanje, izdelavo in tipsko preskušanje regulatorjev zavornega vzvodja.
OPOMBA 1: teh zahtev ni mogoče napisati dovolj podrobno, da se zagotovi dobro kakovost izvedbe ali pravilno izdelavo. Zato je vsak proizvajalec odgovoren za sprejetje vseh potrebnih ukrepov, da se zagotovi kakovost izvedbe in izdelave, ki je v skladu z dobro inženirsko prakso.
Uporablja se za dvojno delujoče regulatorje zavornega vzvodja, ki so zasnovani za nadzor prostora med ploščico (okovje) in tekalnim profilom (kolo) na vozilih z zaviranjem prek tekalnega profila z običajnimi zavornimi cilindri in drogovjem, brez upoštevanja profilnih tirnic.
OPOMBA 2: izraz, ki ga za to napravo uporablja Mednarodna železniška zveza (UIC), je »regulator zavornega drogovja«.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 01-Nov-2016
• ICS: 45.040 - Materials and components for railway engineering
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 256 - Railway applications
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 256/SC 3/WG 47 - Braking
• Current Stage: 9093 - Decision to confirm - Review Enquiry
• Start Date: 05-Mar-2025
• Completion Date: 17-Dec-2025
• Directive: 2008/57/EC - Directive 2008/57/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2008 on the interoperability of the rail system within the Community (Recast)
• Mandate: M/483 - Mandate for programming and standardisation addressed to the European standardisation bodies under directive 2008/57/EC in the field of the interoperability of the rail system within the European Union
• Ref Project: SIST EN 16241:2014+A1:2017 - Railway applications - Slack adjuster

Relations

• Merged From: EN 16241:2014 - Railway applications - Slack adjuster
• Effective Date: 27-Jul-2016
• Merged From: EN 16241:2014/FprA1 - Railway applications - Slack adjuster
• Effective Date: 27-Jul-2016

Overview

EN 16241:2014+A1:2016 (CEN) defines general principles for the design, manufacture and type‑testing of slack adjusters used on railway vehicles. It applies to double‑acting slack adjusters that control the block (shoe) to tread (wheel) clearance on tread‑braked vehicles with conventional brake cylinders and rigging. (UIC terminology: “Brake rigging adjuster”.) The standard supports conformity with EU Directive 2008/57/EC and provides requirements and test methods to demonstrate reliable operation in service.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Function and scope
  • Maintains block‑to‑tread clearance; applicable to exposed or protected mountings.
• Clearance control
  • Slack adjusters must maintain block to tread clearance within ±2 mm.
• Take‑up and pay‑out behaviour
  • Take up: excessive clearance must be taken up in no more than 3 brake cycles.
  • Pay out: restore clearance when insufficient, with safeguards to avoid reacting to temporary contamination (ice/snow).
• Shock and vibration
  • Must resist unwanted take‑up/pay‑out under longitudinal shocks and vibration per EN 61373 (category 2, body‑mounted equipment).
  • Existing designs may be accepted with documented 10 years’ service experience (min. 3 operators, ≥500 units each).
• Mechanical envelope and loads
  • Space envelopes defined for devices up to 75 kN and for 75–130 kN load capability (dimensional limits and pin sizes).
  • Slack adjuster must not absorb more than 2 kN of the brake application force.
• Service life and testing
  • Life test across 35 kN to the maximum rated load and full adjustment range to verify operational life and maintenance intervals.
  • Operation at extreme temperatures: −40 °C to +70 °C.
  • Type testing procedures: sampling, dimensional/physical checks, operational tests, extreme temperature tests, maximum load absorption, life cycle testing.
• Marking, designation and in‑service assessment
  • Requirements for identification, routine tests and in‑service trials (informative annex).

Applications and who uses this standard

EN 16241 is essential for:

• Brake component manufacturers designing or producing slack adjusters.
• Rolling stock designers and integrators specifying brake rigging components.
• Test laboratories and certification bodies performing type approval and routine tests.
• Railway operators and maintenance teams assessing in‑service performance, retrofit compatibility and procurement compliance. Practical uses include writing technical specifications, performing type testing, demonstrating conformity for vehicle acceptance, and defining maintenance intervals.

Related standards

• EN 61373 - Railway applications: Rolling stock equipment - Shock and vibration tests.
• EN 60721‑3‑5 - Classification of environmental parameters for ground vehicle installations.
• EU Directive 2008/57/EC - Interoperability of the rail system.

Keywords: EN 16241:2014+A1:2016, slack adjuster, railway brake rigging, type testing, block to tread clearance, EN 61373, service life, brake component design.

Standards Content (Sample)

2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.Železniške naprave - Regulator zavornega vzvodjaBahnanwendungen - GestängestellerApplications ferroviaires - Régleur de timonerieRailway applications - Slack adjuster45.040Materiali in deli za železniško tehnikoMaterials and components for railway engineeringICS:Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z:EN 16241:2014+A1:2016SIST EN 16241:2014+A1:2017en,fr,de01-januar-2017SIST EN 16241:2014+A1:2017SLOVENSKI
STANDARD
EUROPEAN STANDARD NORME EUROPÉENNE EUROPÄISCHE NORM
EN 16241:2014+A1
November
t r s x ICS
v wä r v r Supersedes EN
s x t v sã t r s vEnglish Version
Railway applications æ Slack adjuster Applications ferroviaires æ Régleur de timonerie
Bahnanwendungen æ Gestängesteller This European Standard was approved by CEN on
s x November
t r s u and includes Amendment
s approved by CEN on
z August
t r s xä
egulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alterationä Upætoædate lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CENæCENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN memberä
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CENæCENELEC Management Centre has the same status as the official versionsä
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austriaá Belgiumá Bulgariaá Croatiaá Cyprusá Czech Republicá Denmarká Estoniaá Finlandá Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedoniaá Franceá Germanyá Greeceá Hungaryá Icelandá Irelandá Italyá Latviaá Lithuaniaá Luxembourgá Maltaá Netherlandsá Norwayá Polandá Portugalá Romaniaá Slovakiaá Sloveniaá Spainá Swedená Switzerlandá Turkey andUnited Kingdomä
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre:
Avenue Marnix 17,
B-1000 Brussels
t r s x CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CEN national Membersä Refä Noä EN
s x t v sã t r s v ªA sã t r s x ESIST EN 16241:2014+A1:2017

In-service trial . 17 SIST EN 16241:2014+A1:2017

Relationship between this European Standard and the Essential Requirements of EU Directive 2008/57/EC . 18 Bibliography . 20 SIST EN 16241:2014+A1:2017

Figure 1 4.1.3 Take up Slack adjusters shall take up excessive block to tread clearance in a minimum number of cycles of the brake (application and release), but this shall not be more than 3 cycles. This requirement is tested in accordance with 6.3.3.2. 4.1.4 Pay out Slack adjusters shall pay out, if the block to tread clearance is insufficient, to restore the correct block to tread clearance. This situation may come about due to a change in the vehicles laden state. This pay out shall not increase the distance between brake block and wheel when releasing after the first brake application when the insufficient block to tread clearance is detected, but only after the release following the second brake application if the distance remains insufficient. This is to prevent the clearance being increased due to the presence of ice, snow or other foreign bodies. This requirement is tested in accordance with 6.3.3.3. SIST EN 16241:2014+A1:2017

Key * Length adjusted to the vehicle C Measurement mark G 36 mm pin diameter Pins shall be a case hardened steel where Rm is greater or equal to 370 N/mm2 NOTE Rm is the tensile strength of the steel. K 83 mm Slack Adjuster type 1 2 L Length 2 325 mm 1 875 mm M Take up 580 mm 440 mm 1 Alternative attachment arrangements for the brake rigging (XX) Figures in brackets ( ) are nominal values. Figure 2 — Space envelope – loads (forces) up to 75 kN SIST EN 16241:2014+A1:2017

Key * Length adjusted to the vehicle C Measurement mark G 40 mm pin diameter Pins shall be a case hardened steel where Rm is greater or equal to 370 N/mm2 NOTE Rm is the tensile strength of the steel. K 83 mm Slack Adjuster type 1 2 3 L Length 2 390 mm 1 940 mm 1 640 mm M Take up 580 mm 440 mm 280 mm 1 Alternative attachment arrangements for the brake rigging (XX) Figures in brackets ( ) are nominal values. Figure 3 — Space envelope – loads (forces) from 75 kN to 130 kN 4.1.7 Maximum load absorption The slack adjuster shall not absorb more than 2 kN of the brake application force. This requirement is tested in accordance with 6.3.5. 4.2 Service life A life test shall be carried out on the slack adjuster to demonstrate it is fit for service on railway vehicles and to verify the maintenance requirements for the operational design life so these can be taken into SIST EN 16241:2014+A1:2017
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