Railcar Handbrake Monitor

• US 20120046811A1
• Filed: 08/23/2010
• Published: 02/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amsted Rail Company Incorporated (Amsted Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Amsted Rail Company Incorporated (Amsted Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Murphy, Wayne, Martin, Andrew, Robinson, Jeevan
• Granted Patent: US 9,026,281 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/19
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/221 Procedure or apparatus for checking or keeping in a correct functioning condition of brake systems hydraulic pressure systems in general F15B19/00, F15B21/04; testing structures or apparatus G01M
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/228 for railway vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B61H 13/02 Hand or other personal actuation

Abstract

A device for monitoring the status of a railcar handbrake having a hand operated handle, which device has a load bearing member configured to be inserted in the linkage of a railcar handbrake system so that the force applied to the brake system passes through the load bearing member. A strain gauge mounted on the load bearing member measures the strain. The information from the strain gauge is indicative of the force applied by the handbrake to the brake and is used to determine the status of the handbrake. Means for determining motion of the railcar is also provided. In one form, if it is determined that the brake is on and the railcar is in motion, information, such as an alarm, is transmitted. A system and method of monitoring a railcar handbrake are also provided.

Claims

1. A device for monitoring the status of a railcar handbrake of a railcar which has a brake linkage for applying a brake to a railcar wheel, said device comprising:

a load bearing member configured to be inserted in the brake linkage so that a force applied to the brake through said brake linkage passes through said load bearing member;

a strain gauge mounted on said load bearing member to sense the force on said load bearing member;

electrical circuitry in communication with said strain gauge for obtaining information regarding the status of the handbrake; and

a power source electrically connected to said electrical circuitry for providing power thereto.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said load bearing member comprises two inter-links adjacent to one another and a connector removably attached to each of said inter-links.

3. A device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said strain gauge is mounted to at least one inter-link.

4. A device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said electrical circuitry is configured to determine whether the handbrake is on based on the force sensed on said load bearing member.

5. A device in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a housing supported on said load bearing member, said electrical circuitry being mounted within said housing.

6. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said electrical circuitry further comprises a wireless communication device for transmitting information regarding the status of the handbrake.

7. A device in accordance with claim 5 wherein a section of said load bearing member passes through said housing, said strain gauge being mounted on said section of said load bearing member.

8. A device in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a motion detection device for detecting motion of the railcar.

9. A device in accordance with claim 8 wherein said motion detection device is selected from the group consisting of a global positioning system (GPS) device, an accelerometer, and a mechanical motion sensor.

10. A system for monitoring the status of a railcar handbrake of a railcar, comprising:

a device for monitoring the status of a railcar handbrake as set forth in claim 1; and

a communication management unit (CMU) which is positionable on the railcar, said CMU communicatively connected to said monitoring device to receive therefrom information regarding the status of the handbrake, said CMU further comprising a wireless communication device for transmitting information regarding the status of the handbrake to a remote receiver.

11. A system for monitoring the status of a railcar handbrake of a railcar in accordance with claim 10 further comprising a motion detection device for detecting motion of the railcar.

12. A system for monitoring the status of a railcar handbrake of a railcar in accordance with claim 11 wherein said CMU includes said motion detection device.

13. A system for monitoring the status of a railcar handbrake of a railcar in accordance with claim 11 wherein said monitoring device includes said motion detection device.

14. A system for monitoring the status of a railcar handbrake of a railcar, wherein the railcar has a wheel brake that engages a wheel and which wheel brake is operable by applying force thereto to increase a tension of the wheel brake against the wheel, the railcar further having a handbrake mounted on the railcar and which is operable to apply the force to the wheel brake, wherein the handbrake has a linkage connected to the wheel brake and through which the force is applied by the handbrake to the wheel brake;

said system comprising;

a load bearing member positioned in said linkage so that at least a portion of the force applied to the linkage passes through said load bearing member;

a strain gauge mounted on said load bearing member to measure the force in said load bearing member;

electrical circuitry in communication with said strain gauge for obtaining information regarding the status of the handbrake; and

a power source electrically connected to said electrical circuitry for providing power thereto.

15. A system for monitoring the status of a railcar handbrake in accordance with claim 14 further comprising a motion detection device for detecting motion of said railcar.

16. A system for monitoring a railcar handbrake in accordance with claim 15 further comprising at least one wireless communication device to communicate information regarding the status of the handbrake.

17. A system for monitoring the status of a railcar handbrake in accordance with claim 16 comprising a monitoring device that includes said load bearing member, strain gauge and electrical circuitry.

18. A system for monitoring the status of a railcar handbrake in accordance with claim 17, further comprising:

a communication management unit (CMU) mounted on the railcar, said communication unit being communicatively connected to said railcar handbrake monitoring device for receiving information therefrom, said CMU having said at least one wireless communication device for transmitting information about the status of said railcar handbrake to a remote receiver.

19. A system for monitoring the status of a railcar handbrake in accordance with claim 17, wherein said monitoring device includes said wireless communication device.

20. A system for monitoring the status of a railcar handbrake in accordance with claim 14 wherein said electrical circuitry is configured to determine whether the force measured by the strain gauge is above a predetermined threshold level indicating that the handbrake is on.

21. A system for monitoring the status of a railcar handbrake in accordance with claim 17 wherein said monitoring device includes said motion detection device, and wherein said circuitry is configured to determine if the handbrake is on and if the railcar is in motion, and if so, communicate this determination elsewhere.

22. A method of monitoring the status of a railcar handbrake operated by applying force to a linkage for engaging a brake against a wheel of a railcar, said method comprising the following steps:

(a) sensing the force applied to said linkage by use of a sensor;

(b) determining if the force sensed in step (a) exceeds a predetermined threshold level chosen to indicate that the handbrake is on;

(c) detecting motion of the rail car; and

(d) if in step (b) it is determined that the handbrake is on, and in step (c) it is determined that the railcar is in motion, causing a transmission of information indicating motion of the railcar with the handbrake on.

23. A method of monitoring the status of a railcar handbrake in accordance with claim 22 wherein step (a) is carried out by a strain gauge.

24. A method of monitoring the status of a railcar handbrake in accordance with claim 22 wherein step (b) is carried out by a monitoring device attached to said linkage, said monitoring device including said sensor and electrical circuitry electrically connected to said sensor.

25. A method of monitoring and reporting the status of a railcar handbrake in accordance with claim 24 wherein step (d) is carried out by a communication device separate from and communicatively connected to said monitoring device.

26. A method of monitoring the status of a railcar handbrake in accordance with claim 22 further comprising the step of transmitting information indicating the amount of the force applied to the linkage.