System and Method for Processing a Profile of a Solid, Which Profile is Captured, Preferably in a Dynamic Manner, to Determine Its Wear

• US 20080212106A1
• Filed: 09/19/2005
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gutehoffnungshütte Radsatz GmbH
• Original Assignee: Gutehoffnungshütte Radsatz GmbH
• Inventors: Hoffmann, Manfred, Walter, Michael J., Hoffmann, Dieter, Brinkmann, Andreas, Nowaczyk, Christian
• Application Number:
  US11/663,363
• Publication Number:
  US 20080212106A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/606
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 5/28 for turning wheels or wheel sets or cranks thereon, i.e. wheel lathes
• CPC Class Codes: B61K 9/12 Measuring or surveying wheel-rims measuring techniques G01
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4207 in which a model is traced or scanned and corresponding data recorded
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/50214 Refurbish, refinish, reprofile, recondition, restore, rebuild profile

Abstract

A method for the processing of a profile of a solid which has been detected, dynamically, for the purpose of determining wear which has occurred. The data from the evaluated profile are used as a control variable for controlling at least one machine for surface machining on the solid.

Claims

1. A method for the processing of a profile of wheel of the type for running on a rail which has been detected, dynamically, for the purpose of determining wear which has occurred on the wheel, wherein that data from the evaluated profile of the wheel are used as a control variable for controlling at least one machine for surface machining of a surface of the wheel.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data from the detected profile are used as a control variable for controlling feed and delivery speeds for setting a material depth which is to be removed from the surface of the wheel by the at least one machine.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the data from further parameters, including one or more of geometric data from the wheel, technological data, tool data and work schedules, are used as control variables for controlling the at least one machine for the surface machining.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the data from the detected profile or the data from the further parameters are used for controlling the supply of material from a materials depot to the machine for the surface machining.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the data from the detected profile are used for needs analysis which is carried out using a knowledge-based needs analysis system and which is taken as a basis for controlling deliveries to the materials depot.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the surface machining is carried out for repair purposes as reprofiling of the wheel with which the detected profile is associated.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the application of the control variables for producing a new wheel for completely replacing a rail vehicle wheel which can no longer be reprofiled.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the control variables for producing a new wheel are provided from the profiles of a plurality of the wheels as a generalization for respective determined geometries for the new wheel.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the control variables are obtained from the profiles of a plurality of the wheels by means of averaging, or interpolation or by means of extrapolation based on a further running time or a desirable total running period for the wheel.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein a plurality of the control variables are provided for a respective determined use of materials or for a predetermined surface quality of the wheel.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the data from the profile are detected at a plurality of different sites.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the data from the profile are detected in a client from a client/server arrangement where the server is physically remote from the client.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the system start processes on the client, such as actuation of traffic lights for a rail vehicle, activation of a trigger for image triggering in a CCD camera, turning on a laser device used for obtaining the data from the profile or starting a recording loop for obtaining the data from the profile, are set in motion by means of a request from the server.

14. The method as claimed in claim 12 wherein a detection time (t_flash), for which signals output by the camera are selected for the purpose of obtaining the data from the profile, is determined in a recording loop which is implemented by incorporating a hardware component into a test stand situated on a platform for rail vehicles.

15. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the data from the profile are detected, particularly in the recording loop, by virtue of a laser distance sensor providing, at a starting time (t₀), a signal for starting conditions for the wheel, at a distance from the laser device, and detection on alteration in the distance over time or a light intensity distribution.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15 wherein the detection time (t_flash) for obtaining the data from the profile, at which a trigger impulse is output to a recording element, is determined from the signal for the starting conditions for the wheel by a signal evaluation section, as a result of which image triggering is effected, with an image matrix being detected and the detected image being supplied to a storage section.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16 wherein a digital signal processor (DSP) is used to determine the detection time (t_flash) for which signals output by the recording element are selected for obtaining the data from the profile.

18. The method as claimed in claim 16 wherein the detection time (t_flash) determined from the starting conditions is ascertained using the criterion of greatest possible proximity in time to the starting time (t₀).

19. The method as claimed in claim 16 wherein the starting conditions for the wheel at the starting time (t₀) are ascertained by using the signals which are output by the recording element to obtain a pattern, particularly a binary-encoded mask, and stipulating the detection time preferably using the criterion of presence, of this pattern.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19 wherein the pattern is obtained and recognized by detecting a light intensity distribution, particularly in the form of a transparency distribution, which is present on the wheel at the starting time (t₀) or at the detection time (t_flash) in a histogram and, using a lookup table (LUT), subjecting it to image transformation, including a threshold value operation.

21. The method as claimed in claim 19 wherein an alpha channel is used to obtain and recognize the pattern, including the binary-encoded mask.

22. The method as claimed in claim 19 wherein the pattern is obtained and recognized using methods of intelligent image processing.

23. The method as claimed in claim 12 wherein condition checks attached to a timer or to a number of predetermined measurements in the client, in the recording loop, are carried out as abortion criteria for obtaining the data from the profile.

24. The method as claimed in claim 12 wherein when the data from the profile have been obtained, when the image recording has been stopped, the data from the profile, particularly stored image data, are sent from the client to the server.

25. A system for the further processing of a profile of a wheel of the type for running on a rail which has been detected dynamically, for the purpose of determining wear of the wheel which has occurred, characterized by system components which, by virtue of their couplings and interactions, implement the control of at least one machine for surface machining of a surface of the wheel using the data from the detected profile of the wheel.

26. The system as claimed in claim 25, wherein the system components which, by virtue of their couplings and interactions, implement the control of further machines for the surface machining, including an automatic lathe for mechanical surface machining of the wheel, using the data from the detected profile of the wheel.

27. The system as claimed in claim 25 wherein the system components which, by virtue of their couplings and interactions, implement machine-specific actuation of a supply of material.

28. The system as claimed in claim 25 wherein the hardware interfaces, as which include electrical interfaces, are provided for transmission control for the data from the detected profile to the machines for the surface machining and for transmission control for the data from the detected profile for supply of material.

29. The system as claimed in claim 25 wherein a plurality of subsystems which are located, in particular, at different physically separate sites and which comprise at least one subsystem formed by a materials depot and a subsystem for production control.

30. The system as claimed in claim 29 wherein the subsystem for production control comprises at least one coordination system for reciprocal coordination of information signals and a plurality of communication systems with predominantly linear flow of information from one system element to the other.

31. The system as claimed in claim 30 wherein a communication system respectively has a system element for data conditioning and a hardware interface for transmission control for the data from the detected profile to the machines for the surface machining and for supply of material.

32. The system as claimed in claim 25 wherein the couplings and interactions between the system components are implemented using remote data transmission, supported by a computer, via the Internet (INET) or local area networks.

33. The system as claimed in claim 25 wherein a subsystem which contains an interface, which implements a link via the Internet or a local area network, for the purpose of data transfer, for transmitting data detected at a plurality of different locations from profiles, in a system element.

34. The system as claimed in claim 33 wherein the subsystem used for data transfer of the detected data from the profiles contains a server in a client/server arrangement, the data from the profiles being detected using the client.

35. The system as claimed in claim 33 wherein the subsystem used for data transfer of the detected data from the profiles as a further system element, a database storing the data detected at the different locations from profiles, in the form of wear data of the wheel possibly with a connection to km coverages and nominal and/or learning curves.

36. The system as claimed in claim 33 wherein the subsystem used for data transfer of the detected data from the profiles, contains a needs analysis system as a system element.

37. The system as claimed in claim 35 wherein the needs analysis system is in interaction firstly with the database and secondly with materials depot.

38. The system as claimed in claim 36 wherein the knowledge-based databases, are implemented in the needs analysis system.

39. The system as claimed in claim 38 wherein the databases implemented in the needs analysis system contain data obtained empirically through extrapolation or interpolation of measured values for the wear of the wheel or data which are based on a wear model which has been set up on the basis of theory.

40. The system as claimed in claim 25 wherein a digital signal processor, one arranged in the client, for determining a detection time (t_flash) at which the data from the profile are detected.

41. The system as claimed in claim 25 wherein a display integrated in a subsystem, in which data from the detected profile, nominal curves, from the wear, information relating to measurement locations or locations to be machined or result summaries from a comparison between the detected profile and a limit value or warning value are indicated in the form of graphical representations or verbal information.