Background and overview
JR East developed E231-800 series commuter DC electric multiple unit (EMU) in 2003 to displace superannuated 301 series EMU and 103-1200 series EMU used on Chuo-Sobu line and Teito Rapid Transit Authority Tozai line interrunning services. 7 ten-car sets comprising 6 powered vehicles and 4 trailer vehicles were built over the period from January 2003 until May 2003.
Car body
They have 2800mm wide bodies with bead-less skin. Their floor level is
1165mm and 15mm lower than 209-1000 series EMU to eliminate the level difference
between platforms and the floor for accessibility. The construction of
the body varies depending on the manufacturer. Vehicles built by Tokyu
Car Corporation are constructed with the outside sheets and inner beams
as usual with introducing some improvements. Vehicles built by Kawasaki
Heavy Industries employ "two-sheet construction method" that
the pressed stainless-steel sheet and the outside sheet are combined, and
those sheets themselves keep the strength. Cab ends having two clusters
of a rectangular headlight applying sealed beam light bulb and a LED rectangular
taillight located below the windscreen are covered with a Fiber Reinforced
Plastics (FRP) painted in silver and equipped with an emergency gangway
swung outward located at co-driver's side. Anti-fall plates between vehicles
are also introduced excepting the cab end. They are equipped with four
1300mm wide double-leaf automatic sliding doors, three drop windows between
the doors, and two fixed windows at the end on each side of the vehicle.
Door operating equipments, TKE150, featuring electric screw drive are fitted
above the door header of the sliding doors. 3-colour LED destination displays
are fitted on the side of their body. An air conditioner, AU726A-G3, rated
at 50,000kcal/h is fitted on the centre of their roof. No ventilators are
fitted on the roof.
Bogies
Powered bogies are DT61G, trailer bogies for class saha230-800 are TR246R, front trailer bogies of end vehicles TR246Q employs parking brake device, trailer bogies for the others TR246S featuring bolster-less secondary air suspension, axle arm type journal box supporting system and the single link draw gear. These bogies prepare to adopt the yaw dampers to ensure smooth ride characteristics. Twin Disc (TD) flexible joint employing deflecting plates made of carbon-fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) is applied for power transmission device. The gear ratio is 7.07. Their brake rigging is a single tread brake for powered and both directly the single disk and the single tread brake for trailer.
Traction unit and ancillary equipments
Class mohaE231-800 vehicles are equipped with a 3-step Variable-frequency drive (VFD) traction system, SC60C, which controls 8 traction motors, MT73, with a power output of 95kW on vehicle basis including class mohaE230-800 vehicles. This traction system features Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT), adopts pure electric brake to zero speed and fields-oriented control, and realizes improved acceleration performance at 3.3km/h, which is 0.8km/h/s higher than that of E231-0 series at 2.5km/h. Class mohaE230-800 powered intermediate vehicles are equipped with an auxiliary power unit, SC62A, with a power output of 210kVA featuring IGBT and a motor driven screw air compressor, MH3119-C1600S, excepting vehicles located in car's No. 6 under their floor. Class mohaE231-800 powered intermediate vehicles are equipped with a single arm current pickup, PS33B, on their roof. They feature Train Information Management System (TIMS) applying RS485 interface and managing the traction control, in-train announcement apparatus, voice communication for train crews and passengers, air conditioner control, and so on. They employ the electric commanding brake with regenerative braking to zero speed. They feature total brake control on overall a train set and regenerative brake priority by TIMS to realize regeneration rate improvement. The end vehicles are equipped with an ATC signaling system, RSC3, and an ATS-P signaling system, TS135, under the floor.
Accommodation
They consist of longitudinal bench seating featuring cantilever construction throughout having 450 mm wide per person. Handrails are fitted at both end and middle of seats. The cushion of seating is made of polyester resin mold with taking recyclability. A LED display for providing passenger information, and a door chime are fitted on the door header of the sliding doors. Roller blinds are discontinued because of introducing heat absorbent windowpane.
Operations
They entered JR Chuo-Sobu line of JR East and Teito Rapid Transit Authority Tozai line interrunning services in 2003. They are now used on the rapid and regional services between Mitaka and Tsudanuma via Tokyo Metro Tozai line. |
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