Method and system for compensating for wheel wear on a train
First Claim
1. A method for determining a size of a wheel on a train comprising the steps of:
- determining a linear distance traveled by a train during a period of time by calculating a difference in positions reported by a positioning system located on the train at a start of the period and an end of the period;
repeating the determining step a plurality of times;
adding the linear distance from each of the determining steps to form a total distance; and
calculating the wheel size based on the total distance and a total number of wheel revolutions occurring during each of the determining steps.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for compensating for wheel wear uses position and/or speed information from an independent positioning system to measure some distance over which the train has traveled. Wheel rotation information is also collected over the distance. The wheel rotation information and distance and/or speed information are then used to determine the size of the train wheels. The method is performed periodically to correct for changes in wheel size over time due to wear so that the wheel rotation information can be used to determine train position and speed in the event of a positioning system failure.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for determining a size of a wheel on a train comprising the steps of:
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determining a linear distance traveled by a train during a period of time by calculating a difference in positions reported by a positioning system located on the train at a start of the period and an end of the period;
repeating the determining step a plurality of times;
adding the linear distance from each of the determining steps to form a total distance; and
calculating the wheel size based on the total distance and a total number of wheel revolutions occurring during each of the determining steps. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for determining a size of a train wheel comprising:
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a control unit;
a positioning system in communication with the control unit, the positioning system being configured to provide the control unit with positioning information pertaining to the train; and
a revolution counter connected to the control unit, the revolution counter being configured to measure rotation of a train wheel;
wherein the control unit is configured to perform the steps of;
determining a linear distance traveled by a train during a period of time by calculating a difference in positions reported by-the positioning system at a start of the period and at the end of the period;
repeating the determining step a plurality of times;
adding the linear distance from each of the determining steps to form a total distance; and
calculating the wheel size based on the total distance and a total number of wheel revolutions occurring during each of the determining steps. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for determining the size of a train wheel comprising the steps of:
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inputting a speed from a positioning system installed on a train;
obtaining rotation information from a tachometer;
determining a wheel size based on the rotation information and the speed. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for supplying a corrected wheel sensor signal comprising the steps of:
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determining a speed of a train;
determining a parameter of a signal that would be output by a wheel sensor connected to a wheel of a predetermined size if the wheel were on the train;
generating a corrected wheel sensor signal having the parameter;
supplying the corrected wheel sensor signal to at least one device configured to accept a wheel sensor signal from a wheel sensor connected to a wheel of the predetermined size. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification