Remote detection of railroad wheel and bearing temperature apparatus and method
First Claim
1. An apparatus for detecting a temperature of a railroad train wheel or bearing, the apparatus comprising:
- a lens positioned in close proximity to a railroad track such that infrared radiation radiating from the wheel or bearing of a train traversing the track is collected by the lens and directed toward a focal point of the lens, wherein the collected radiation is indicative of the temperature of the wheel or bearing;
a fiber optic cable having a first end associated with the lens for receiving the collected radiation and having a second end, the fiber optic cable transmitting the received radiation from the first end to the second end, and wherein the focal point of the lens at the first end of the fiber optic cable; and
a detector positioned at a remote distance from the railroad track, the detector associated with the second end of the fiber optic cable for detecting the transmitted radiation, wherein the infrared radiation collected by the lens, transmitted by the fiber optic cable and detected by the detector is indicative of the temperature of the wheel or bearing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for detecting a temperature of a railroad train wheel or bearing comprises a lens positioned in close proximity to a railroad track such that infrared radiation radiating from the wheel or bearing of a train traversing the track is collected by the lens and directed toward a focal point of the lens. The collected radiation is indicative of the temperature of the wheel or bearing. A fiber optic cable has a first end associated with the lens for receiving the collected radiation and a second end. The focal point of the lens is at the first end of the fiber optic cable. The fiber optic cable transmits the received radiation from the first end to the second end. A detector is positioned at a remote distance from the railroad track and is associated with the second end of the fiber optic cable for detecting the transmitted radiation. The detected infrared radiation is indicative of the temperature of the wheel or bearing. The invention further comprises a method for detecting a temperature of the railroad train wheel or bearing, the apparatus comprising the steps of collecting in close proximity to a railroad track infrared radiation radiating from the wheel or bearing of a train traversing the track wherein the radiation is indicative of the temperature of the wheel or bearing. The invention further comprises the steps of transmitting the collected radiation to a location remote from the railroad track, detecting the transmitted radiation at the remote location, wherein the detected radiation is indicative of the temperature of the wheel or bearing, and generating an output signal that is indicative of the temperature of the wheel or bearing.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for detecting a temperature of a railroad train wheel or bearing, the apparatus comprising:
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a lens positioned in close proximity to a railroad track such that infrared radiation radiating from the wheel or bearing of a train traversing the track is collected by the lens and directed toward a focal point of the lens, wherein the collected radiation is indicative of the temperature of the wheel or bearing;
a fiber optic cable having a first end associated with the lens for receiving the collected radiation and having a second end, the fiber optic cable transmitting the received radiation from the first end to the second end, and wherein the focal point of the lens at the first end of the fiber optic cable; and
a detector positioned at a remote distance from the railroad track, the detector associated with the second end of the fiber optic cable for detecting the transmitted radiation, wherein the infrared radiation collected by the lens, transmitted by the fiber optic cable and detected by the detector is indicative of the temperature of the wheel or bearing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for detecting a temperature of a railroad train wheel or bearing, the apparatus comprising:
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a lens positioned in close proximity to a railroad track such that infrared radiation radiating from the wheel or bearing of a train traversing the track is collected by the lens and directed towards a focal point of the lens, wherein the collected radiation is indicative of the temperature of the wheel or bearing;
a fiber optic cable having a first end associated with the lens for receiving the collected radiation and having a second end, the fiber optic cable transmitting the received radiation from the first end to the second end;
a detector positioned at a remote distance from the railroad track, the detector associated with the second end of the fiber optic cable for detecting the transmitted radiation and wherein the infrared radiation collected by the lens, transmitted by the fiber optic cable and detected by the detector is indicative of the temperature of the wheel or bearing, and wherein the detector generates an output signal that is indicative of the detected radiation; and
a circuit comparing the output signal to a reference to determine if the temperature exceeds a reference temperature. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for detecting a temperature of a railroad train wheel or bearing, the apparatus comprising:
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means for collecting infrared radiation radiating from the wheel or bearing of a train traversing the track wherein the radiation is indicative of the temperature of the wheel or bearing and wherein the collecting means is positioned in close proximity to a railroad track;
means for transmitting the collected radiation from the collecting means to a location remote from the collecting means; and
means for detecting the transmitted radiation, wherein the detecting means has a location remote from the railroad track and from the collecting means, and wherein the detected radiation is indicative of the temperature of the wheel or bearing. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for detecting a temperature of a railroad train wheel or bearing, the apparatus comprising:
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collecting in close proximity to a railroad track infrared radiation radiating from the wheel or bearing of a train traversing the track wherein the radiation is indicative of the temperature of the wheel or bearing;
transmitting the collected radiation to a location remote from the railroad track;
detecting the transmitted radiation at the remote location, wherein the detected radiation is indicative of the temperature of the wheel or bearing; and
generating an output signal that is indicative of the temperature of the wheel or bearing. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification