The Latest in Signal Mounting Technology is Delivered

The first deliveries of the new Unipart Dorman Assisted Lift Trunnion (ALT) were recently made for re-signalling works at Banbury in Oxfordshire.

This latest generation signal mounting trunnion has been designed and delivered in close consultation with the lead customer, Siemens Rail Automation and is yet another fine example of Unipart Dorman’s policy of listening carefully to the customer to create an initial design and then, using an agile feedback process, fine tuning it to ensure it meets all of the customer's aspirations in the most cost effective manner.

Building on the award winning Unipart Dorman Integrated Lightweight Signal’s Trunnion features, the new ALT uses a custom designed progressive rate internal spring system which provides mechanical assistance to operators as they manually raise and lower the signal. One of the main features that was required in the design solution was for this spring to be inside the ALT bore, not mounted externally. Additionally it was imperative that the spring was to apply the assisting force gradually and not require excessive effort at either end of the travel, these exacting requirements were achieved by using a bespoke spring system designed using the latest 3D load modelling.

Unipart Dorman’s core commitment to always provide the best possible product, used this feedback allied to our close collaborative relationship with our fabrication supplier, to streamline the design for manufacture process, which guaranteed that the ALT was maximised for cost effectiveness. Extensive use of Unipart Way tools and techniques was pivotal in managing the ALT’s evolution from a very basic concept drawing based on market demand and feedback, through to successful delivery of the finished product to site.      

The original concept was initially limited to use with 3 or 4 aspect mainline signal heads, but thanks to the in depth load calculations and modelling carried out, this range has now been extended to other signals in the Unipart Dorman Integrated Lightweight Signal range and a number of Classic LED signals including Level Crossing Wig Wags.

Unipart Dorman’s Assisted Lift Trunnion is the latest in a long line of new innovations and further extends our contribution to enhancing the safety of the nation’s rail network. 

To find out more visit us at Rail Live where we will be demonstrating the whole system.