What is a railway insulator?

The railway insulator is an insulator product suitable for electrified railway tunnels with complex operating conditions. It is installed between steel rail and tie plate, for adjusting rail gauge and electrically insulating railroad rails, rail clips and rail bolts from the interior of a concrete sleeper.

It can effectively prevent pollution flashover accidents and reduce the workload of cleaning and maintenance. Due to its small size, especially when the tunnel clearance is small, it is irreplaceable for ceramic insulator and glass insulators.

Why insulated?

Rails are main parts of the rail tracks. They lead the train and transfer the pressure of the wheels to the sleepers. It must have a continuous smooth surface with minimum resistance. Currently in the electrified railways or automatic block zone the two rails double as signal lines of track circuits and loop line for locomotive traction. So rails must be insulated in case of stray current interference. Usually insulators and insulated rail joints are used in rail tracks.

What are the types of railway insulators?

The following is the classification method of railway insulators:

1. Classification by structure

Insulators are divided into: column (post) insulators, suspension insulators, pin insulators, butterfly insulators, tension insulators, anti-fouling insulators and bushing insulators. In addition, the cross arm can be regarded as a generalized insulator.

2. According to different functions

It is divided into ordinary insulators and anti-fouling insulators.

With years of experience designing and manufacturing railway insulators, SAA GRID has developed a new concept to improve safety and performance while optimizing cost considerations for our customers. SAA GRID is willing to cooperate with colleagues from all over the world and customers in the wider power field.