Railway wheel ultrasonic testing apparatus
First Claim
1. An ultrasonic test fixture for a wheel, comprising:
- a plurality of drive rollers for supporting the wheel, wherein at least one of the plurality of drive rollers comprises;
a first annular section affixed around a drive shaft;
a second annular section slidingly engaged around the drive shaft, the second annular section adjacent to the first annular section to form an indentation between the first annular section and the second annular section for engaging the wheel;
a fastener connecting the first annular section to the second annular section, wherein the second annular section is axially displaceable relative to the first annular section; and
a resilient member to urge the second annular section toward the first annular section; and
a drive motor connected to the drive shaft to rotate the at least one of the plurality of drive rollers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for collecting ultrasonic test data from a railway wheel with an ultrasonic testing apparatus is described. The railway wheel is supported by two drive rollers, each having an indentation which engages with and rotates the wheel. An indexing transducer moves across the rotating wheel, collecting ultrasonic test data while a fixed transducer correlates a reference position on the wheel to the collected test data. To maintain the accuracy of the reference position to the collected test data, it is desirable to maintain the rotational stability of the wheel, minimizing any dynamic instability caused by dimensional tolerances in the wheel. To mitigate instabilities resulting from dimensional tolerances, the indentation of the drive rollers, which engage and drive the flange of the wheel, are variably spaced using a resilient member to maintain frictional contact between the wheel and the drive roller. This allows the indentation to accommodate the varying dimensional tolerances of the wheel flange, mitigating the possibility of dynamic instability resulting from departure of the wheel flange from the indentation.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An ultrasonic test fixture for a wheel, comprising:
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a plurality of drive rollers for supporting the wheel, wherein at least one of the plurality of drive rollers comprises; a first annular section affixed around a drive shaft; a second annular section slidingly engaged around the drive shaft, the second annular section adjacent to the first annular section to form an indentation between the first annular section and the second annular section for engaging the wheel; a fastener connecting the first annular section to the second annular section, wherein the second annular section is axially displaceable relative to the first annular section; and a resilient member to urge the second annular section toward the first annular section; and a drive motor connected to the drive shaft to rotate the at least one of the plurality of drive rollers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An ultrasonic test fixture for a wheel, comprising:
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a plurality of drive rollers for supporting the wheel, at least one of the plurality of drive rollers for rotating the wheel, wherein at least one of the plurality of drive rollers comprises; a cylindrical member affixed to a drive shaft; an annular section slidingly engaged around the drive shaft, the annular section adjacent to the cylindrical member to form an indentation between the cylindrical member and the annular section for engaging the wheel; a fastener connecting the cylindrical member to the annular section, wherein the annular section is axially displaceable relative to the cylindrical member; and a resilient member to urge the annular section toward the cylindrical member; and a drive motor connected to the drive shaft to rotate the at least one of the plurality of drive rollers. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of ultrasonic testing a wheel, comprising:
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supporting the wheel on a plurality of drive rollers, at least one of the plurality of drive rollers for rotating the wheel, wherein the at least one of the plurality of drive rollers comprises; a cylindrical member affixed to a drive shaft; and an annular section adjacent to the cylindrical member to form an indentation between the annular section and the cylindrical member to engage the wheel, wherein the annular section is axially displaceable relative to the cylindrical member to accommodate changes in the thickness of the wheel; maintaining a compressive force on the wheel with the cylindrical member and the annular section while the annular section is axially displaced; and rotating the shaft with a drive motor to rotate the at least one of the plurality of drive rollers.
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Specification