Device for Attachment to a Rotating Part of a Railway Axle

• US 20110146409A1
• Filed: 03/05/2008
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABet SKF
• Original Assignee: ABet SKF
• Inventors: Defossez, Marc, Moretti, Roberto, Graf, Jens, Sema, Sivano
• Granted Patent: US 8,757,000 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/636
• CPC Class Codes: B61K 9/04 Detectors for indicating the overheating of axle bearings and the like, e.g. associated with the brake system for applying the brakes in case of a fault
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/525 related to temperature and heat, e.g. insulation
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/527 related to vibration and noise
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2326/10 Railway vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/10 Suspensions, axles or wheels

Abstract

The invention refers to a device for attachment to a rotating part (1) of a railway vehicle incorporating an arrangement, which is adapted, during movement of the railway vehicle, to detect and evaluate parameters related to the railway vehicle service and/or to an incipient fault state of wheel bearings (2) in the railway vehicle, and which device (12) is arranged to emit signals representative for the detected and evaluated parameters.

Claims

1-17. -17. (canceled)

18. A monitoring device for a railway vehicle, the vehicle including at least one rotating part and at least one bearing, the device comprising:

an electronic unit configured to attach to the at least one rotating part and including a transducer configured to detect and evaluate at least one parameter, the at least one parameter relating to at least one of rotation of the rotating part and vibration of the bearing, and configured to emit signals representative of the detected and evaluated parameter.

19. The device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the rotating part is a wheel axle end cap.

20. The device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the end cap has a side facing an axle end and a recess extending into the side and the electronic unit is disposed in the recess.

21. The device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the end cap has an inspection opening extending through the end cap and positioned in alignment with a signal means arranged inside the electronic unit.

22. The device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the electronic unit further includes a protective plug configured to detachably close the inspection opening in the end cap.

23. The device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the electronic unit includes an electronic capsule positioned outside of the end cap and a safety washer for retaining the position of the capsule.

24. The device as claimed in a claim 21, wherein the electronic capsule is connected with one of the washer and the end cap.

25. The device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the railway vehicle includes a wheel axle and wheels and the rotating part is attached to the wheel axle between the wheels.

26. The device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the electronic unit the transducer is adapted to detect temperature.

27. The device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the electronic unit includes analyzing means for evaluating at least one of speed, total mileage run, vibration related to bearing performance, vibration related to wheel condition, bearing operating temperature and structural vibrations.

28. The device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the device includes at least one of a battery, a power generator, and an energy transforming device for powering the electronic unit.

29. The device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the device includes signal means for emitting signals representative of a condition of one of the rotating part and the bearing.

30. The device as claimed in claim 29, wherein the signal means includes at least one light emitting diode.

31. The device as claimed in claim 29, wherein the signal means are configured to emit optical codes readable by a probe.

32. The device as claimed in claim 29, wherein the signal means are configured to wirelessly transmit the signals.