SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING RAILCAR PERFORMANCE

• US 20170050651A1
• Filed: 05/18/2016
• Published: 02/23/2017
• 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: Martin, Andrew H., LeFebvre, William D., Wilson, Brent M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,981,673 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/665 the systems being specially adapted for transferring two or more command signals, e.g. railway systems B60T13/662 takes precedence
• 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
• 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: B61L 15/0018 Communication with or on the vehicle or train
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0027 Radio-based, e.g. using GSM-R
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0081 On-board diagnosis or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 2205/04 Satellite based navigation systems, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/025 Absolute localisation, e.g. providing geodetic coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/40 Handling position reports or trackside vehicle data
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/57 for vehicles or trains, e.g. trackside supervision of train conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/023 provided with specially adapted connectors connectors per se H01R

Abstract

A system for monitoring operation of a railcar having one or more sensing units, mounted on the railcar, for monitoring operating parameters and or conditions of the railcar, and a communication management unit, in wireless communication with the sensing units, wherein the system can make a determination of an alarm condition based on data collected the sensing units. A temperature sensor device for use in such a system is also provided.

Claims

1-36. -36. (canceled)

37. A method of monitoring operational characteristics of a railcar comprising the steps of:

a. receiving data or processed information regarding said operational characteristic from one or more sensing units on said railcar, said sensing units monitoring an operational characteristic of said railcar;

b. applying a heuristic to said received data to determine deviations from nominal operating conditions;

c. assigning a severity level to said deviations from nominal operating conditions; and

d. determining an alarm condition based on said assigned severity level.

38. The method of claim 37 further comprising the initial step of establishing wireless communication with said one or more remote sensing units.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein said one or more remote sensing units form a mesh network.

40. The method of claim 38 wherein steps a-d are executed by a processing unit located on said railcar.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein said processing unit located on said railcar is a part of said mesh network.

42. The method of claim 38 further comprising the step of transmitting said alarm condition to a location remote from said railcar.

43. The method of claim 38 further comprising the step of transmitting said data received from said one or more sensing units to a location remote from said railcar.

44. The method of claim 38 further comprising the steps of:

a. receiving data from a plurality of railcars;

b. applying a heuristic to said received data to determine deviations from nominal operating conditions;

c. assigning a severity level to said deviations from nominal operating conditions;

d. determining an alarm condition based on said assigned severity level;

e. transmitting said raised alarm to a display unit on a train of which said plurality of railcars are a part.

45. The method of claim 42 further comprising the steps of

a. determining a recommended course of action based on said alarm condition;

and

b. transmitting said recommended course of action to a display unit on a train of which said railcar is a part.

50. The method of claim 37 wherein steps (a) through (d) can be carried out at different event engines distributed among at least two of said sensor unit, a communication management unit, and a mobile or land base station.

47. A method of monitoring a temperature of a desired part of a railcar, comprising:

(a) sensing the temperature of a part of the railcar other than the desired part by use of a temperature sensor in thermal communication with said other part;

(b) determining the temperature of the desired part by use of the temperature sensed in step (a);

(c) determining if said temperature of the desired part is outside an acceptable range of temperatures; and

(d) transmitting an alarm if in step (c) it is determined that the temperature of the desired part is outside an acceptable range.

48. A method of monitoring a temperature of a desired part of a railcar in accordance with claim 47, further comprising the step of determining the temperature of the ambient air, which temperature is used in the determination of step (b).

49. A method of monitoring a temperature of a desired part of a railcar in accordance with claim 47, wherein steps (a) through (d) are carried out by a single unit attached to said railcar.