SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PREDICTING MECHANICAL FAILURE
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- monitoring operating conditions of a vehicle system;
determining whether the operating conditions of the vehicle system match designated operating conditions;
responsive to determining that the operating conditions of the vehicle system that are monitored match the designated operating conditions, examining an electrical signature representative of an electric current supplied to a propulsion system of the vehicle system; and
identifying damage to propulsion system based on the electrical signature that is examined.
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Abstract
A system and method for monitoring a motor of a vehicle system monitor operating conditions of the vehicle system and determine whether the operating conditions of the vehicle system match designated operating conditions. Responsive to determining that the operating conditions of the vehicle system that are monitored match the designated operating conditions, an electrical signature representative of an electric current supplied to the motor of the vehicle system is examined and damage to one or more of the motor of the vehicle system or a mechanical coupling of the motor to one or more of a wheel or axle of the vehicle system is identified based on the electrical signature that is examined.
26 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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monitoring operating conditions of a vehicle system; determining whether the operating conditions of the vehicle system match designated operating conditions; responsive to determining that the operating conditions of the vehicle system that are monitored match the designated operating conditions, examining an electrical signature representative of an electric current supplied to a propulsion system of the vehicle system; and identifying damage to propulsion system based on the electrical signature that is examined. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 5, 6)
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4. The method of any other clause, wherein the designated operating conditions include both a designated speed at which a motor of the propulsion system rotates and a designated torque generated by the motor.
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7. A method comprising:
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monitoring operating conditions of a propulsion system of a vehicle system during a baseline time period; monitoring one or more electrical characteristics of current supplied to the propulsion system during the baseline time period; examining one or more electrical signatures of the propulsion system to identify at least one electrical signature having reduced variances in magnitude at one or more frequencies associated with damage to the propulsion system; and determining one or more sets of designated operating conditions of the propulsion system based on the one or more electrical signatures that are examined, wherein the one or more sets of designated operating conditions are used to determine which of subsequently monitored electrical characteristics of the current are to be examined to identify the damage to the propulsion system. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system comprising:
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one or more sensors configured to measure operating conditions of a vehicle system; and a controller configured to determine whether the operating conditions of the vehicle system match designated operating conditions, the controller also configured to examine an electrical signature representative of an electric current supplied to a motor of the vehicle system responsive to determining that the operating conditions of the vehicle system that are monitored match the designated operating conditions, wherein the controller also is configured to identify damage to one or more of the motor of the vehicle system or a mechanical coupling of the motor to one or more of a wheel or axle of the vehicle system based on the electrical signature that is examined. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification