SMART THERMAL IMAGING AND INSPECTION DEVICE FOR WHEELS AND COMPONENTS THEREOF AND METHOD
First Claim
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1. A smart thermal imaging and inspection device for a wheel, which comprises:
- an infrared camera located adjacent to the wheel, wherein said infrared camera is positioned to have field of view which is traversed by the wheel to enable capturing infrared spectrum image data corresponding to emissivity;
a visual camera located adjacent to the wheel, wherein said visual camera is positioned to have field of view which is traversed by the wheel to enable capturing visible spectrum image data;
a computer based device having an image processor operably connected to each said camera for receiving said infrared spectrum image data and said visible spectrum image data, said image processor operably associated with memory and software for storing said image data, analyzing said image data and generating a signal indicative of one of a normal and abnormal condition of the wheel.
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Abstract
A smart thermal imaging and inspection of wheels for the automatic inspection and analysis of railroad car wheels but can also be used for wheeled object that contain a bearing. The inventive device includes a thermal imaging camera, visual imaging camera, imaging processing unit. Users interface which allows for all parameters to be set.
54 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A smart thermal imaging and inspection device for a wheel, which comprises:
- an infrared camera located adjacent to the wheel, wherein said infrared camera is positioned to have field of view which is traversed by the wheel to enable capturing infrared spectrum image data corresponding to emissivity;
a visual camera located adjacent to the wheel, wherein said visual camera is positioned to have field of view which is traversed by the wheel to enable capturing visible spectrum image data;
a computer based device having an image processor operably connected to each said camera for receiving said infrared spectrum image data and said visible spectrum image data, said image processor operably associated with memory and software for storing said image data, analyzing said image data and generating a signal indicative of one of a normal and abnormal condition of the wheel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
- an infrared camera located adjacent to the wheel, wherein said infrared camera is positioned to have field of view which is traversed by the wheel to enable capturing infrared spectrum image data corresponding to emissivity;
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12. A smart thermal imaging and inspection device for an object, which comprises:
- an infrared camera located adjacent to the object, wherein said infrared camera is positioned to have field of view which is traversed by the object to enable capturing infrared spectrum image data corresponding to emissivity;
a visual camera located adjacent to the object, wherein said visual camera is positioned to have field of view which is traversed by the object to enable capturing visible spectrum image data;
a computer based device having an image processor operably connected to each said camera for receiving said infrared spectrum image data and said visible spectrum image data, said image processor operably associated with memory and software for storing said image data, analyzing said image data and generating a signal indicative of one of a normal and abnormal condition of the object. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 27)
- an infrared camera located adjacent to the object, wherein said infrared camera is positioned to have field of view which is traversed by the object to enable capturing infrared spectrum image data corresponding to emissivity;
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23. A method of inspecting an object, which comprises the steps of:
- employing an infrared camera adjacent to the object, wherein said infrared camera is positioned to have field of view which is traversed by the object to enable capturing infrared spectrum image data corresponding to emissivity;
employing a visual camera located adjacent to the object, wherein said visual camera is positioned to have field of view which is traversed by the object to enable capturing visible spectrum image data;
employing a computer based device having an image processor operably connected to each said camera for receiving said infrared spectrum image data and said visible spectrum image data, said image processor operably associated with memory and software for storing said image data; and
analyzing said image data and generating a signal indicative of one of a normal and abnormal condition of the object. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
- employing an infrared camera adjacent to the object, wherein said infrared camera is positioned to have field of view which is traversed by the object to enable capturing infrared spectrum image data corresponding to emissivity;
Specification