Adhesive weight

The Lokreibungslast (also friction load and friction weight) means the proportion of the mass of a locomotive which rests on driven axles. In mechanics, friction is a prerequisite for the transmission of power in roll or sliding movements: Without friction occurs at loose coupling no power transmission. The tractive force of a locomotive is therefore determined decisively by the friction load.

The mass of a locomotive is - as far as it permits the permissible axle load of the routes to be used - distributed to the driving axles. Their axle load is therefore ideally very close to the allowable limit. Locomotives where all axes are driven, it is identical with the Lokdienstlast; However, for locomotives equipped with idle running axles, so especially in most of the larger steam locomotives, it is in some cases significantly lower.

In the U.S. Chesapeake & Ohio Railway, this was particularly high, so that the machinery of the Class H -8 with only six driving axles were able to achieve 230.4 tons Lokreibungslast. Its highest axle load was 39.3 tons - a world record for steam locomotives.

Some steam locomotives of the Deutsche Reichsbahn ( DR series 06, series 41 and DR- 45 DR- series ) was the driving axle with adjustable balancing levers either on 18 t or 20 t be set; In the latter case, the drive axles were charged accordingly lower. This allowed for optimal traction on both main and secondary lines.

Today's modern electric locomotives with slip control and Einzelachsantrieb in which the axes are summarized in bogies come from without running axles, and thus their friction weight is the total weight.

• Schienenfahrzeugtechnik