WHEEL MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20070075192A1
• Filed: 09/28/2006
• Published: 04/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Electronic Machines Corp.
• Original Assignee: International Electronic Machines Corp.
• Inventors: Mian, Zahid, MacAllister, Robert, Peabody, William, Mullaney, Jeremy
• Granted Patent: US 7,478,570 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 246/1.R
• CPC Class Codes: B61K 9/12 Measuring or surveying wheel-rims measuring techniques G01
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/06 for measuring thickness

Abstract

An improved maintenance, inspection, and/or measurement solution is provided. An embodiment of the invention includes a handheld measurement device for measuring an object, such as a railway wheel on a train. The handheld measurement device can comprise a single unit to provide one handed operation and can include various features, such as onboard evaluation, a graphical user interface, and/or a self-health monitor. Additionally, aspects of the invention provide an inspection environment that incorporates preliminary measurement data, wireless communications, and/or historical data into the measurement and evaluation process.

Claims

1. A handheld measurement device comprising:

a system for obtaining a plurality of measurements for a wheel; and

a system for evaluating at least one of the plurality of measurements with at least one anticipated wheel property to determine a validity of the at least one of the plurality of measurements.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a system for requesting a re-measurement of the wheel based on the evaluating.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the system for evaluating includes:

a system for obtaining a set of previous measurements for the wheel; and

a system for comparing the set of previous measurements with at least one of the plurality of measurements.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the system for obtaining includes a system for detecting when a set of sensing devices are correctly aligned with the wheel.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the system for obtaining includes at least one linear sensor.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the system for obtaining includes a sensor array.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a graphical user interface; and

a set of user interface controls.

8. The device of claim 7, further comprising a system for graphically displaying on the graphical user interface a status of at least one of:

a wheel, an axle, a car, or an engine.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a system for managing an inspection schedule for a train; and

a system for managing a plurality of measurement modes.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising a system for monitoring an operability of the device.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising a wireless communications system for communicating with at least one of:

a wheel management system or a dynamic support system.

12. A measurement system comprising:

a handheld measurement device including;

a system for managing an inspection schedule;

a system for obtaining a plurality of measurements for a wheel; and

a system for managing a plurality of measurement modes.

13. The measurement system of claim 12, further comprising a system for managing wheel measurement for a plurality of trains in communication with the handheld measurement device.

14. The measurement system of claim 12, further comprising a system for obtaining a set of preliminary measurements for the wheel.

15. The measurement system of claim 12, further comprising a dynamic support system for the handheld measurement device.

16. The measurement system of claim 12, wherein the handheld measurement device further includes a system for evaluating at least one of the plurality of measurements with at least one anticipated wheel property.

17. The measurement system of claim 12, wherein the handheld measurement device further includes a system for monitoring an operability of the device.

18. A handheld measurement device comprising:

a system for obtaining a plurality of measurements for an object; and

a system for monitoring an operability of the device based on a set of operational environment attributes of the measurement device.

19. The handheld measurement device of claim 18, further comprising a system for evaluating at least one of the plurality of measurements with at least one anticipated object property.

20. The handheld measurement device of claim 18, further comprising a wireless communications system for communicating with an object management system.

21. The handheld measurement device of claim 18, further comprising a system for managing an inspection schedule for a plurality of related objects.

22. The handheld measurement device of claim 18, further comprising a system for managing a plurality of measurement modes.

23. The handheld measurement device of claim 18, further comprising a system for graphically displaying an inspection status of at least one of:

the object or a plurality of related objects.