Train defect detecting and enunciating system

• US 4,491,290 A
• Filed: 08/06/1982
• Issued: 01/01/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Harmon Industries, Inc. (GE Aerospace)
• Original Assignee: Robert D. Douglas
• Inventors: Douglas, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, III, Glen R.
• Application Number:
  US06/406,021
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• Field of Search: 246/169 A, 246/169 D, 246/DIG. 1, 246/DIG. 2, 340/682, 340/600, 340/584, 250/340, 250/342
• US Class Current: 246/169.00A
• 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 23/02 for indicating along the route the failure of brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/021 Measuring and recording of train speed
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 3/227 using electromagnetic radiation

Abstract

A train monitoring system for detecting hot boxes, dragging equipment and the like at the rail site, determining the location on the train of a monitored defect and annunciating the defect and location from a digital automated voice generator to the train crew as well as along a telephone line to a central location. Recording of the defect with time and date of same is provided. The system also has provision for self check via an external simulated train.

Claims

1. A method of detecting hot axle bearings on cars of a train, which comprises the steps of:

(a) obtaining measurements indicative of the heat of the axle bearings on one side of a car of a train,

(b) averaging the two lowest measurements from said axle bearings on said one car side to obtain a first average measurement,

(c) comparing each of the remaining axle bearing measurements on one side of said car with said first average measurement and providing an alarm if any remaining axle bearing measurements on one side of said car exceed said first average measurement by a predetermined amount whereby said axle bearing is classified as being overheated.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said comparing step (c) includes the steps of:

(1) determining the particular axle bearing causing an alarm, and

(2) enunciating the location by axle count of the overheated axle bearing from one end of the train.

3. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

(d) establishing a running average measurement based on said first average measurements of prior friction bearings of prior cars of said train,

(e) comparing said running average measurement with said first average measurement,

(f) determining prior to step (c) whether the comparison in step (e) exceeds a predetermined level whereby the axle bearings of one side of a car are classified as roller bearings, said axle bearings otherwise being classified as friction bearings,

(g) altering the prior running average measurement with said first average measurement if a friction bearing (is determined by step (f)) according to a predetermined averaging function, and storing said altered running average measurement.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein, if step (f) results in a "roller bearing" classification, said comparing step (c) includes the steps of:

(1) determining the particular roller bearing causing an alarm, and

(2) enunciating the location by axle count of the overheated roller bearing from one end of the train.

5. A method according to claim 3 wherein, if step (f) results in a "friction bearing" classification, said comparing step (c) includes the steps of:

(1) determining the particular friction bearing causing an alarm; and

(2) enunciating the location by axle count of the overheated friction bearing from one end of the train.

6. A method according to claim 3 wherein said comparing step (c) includes the step of:

(1) determining the particular friction or roller bearing causing an alarm; and

(2) enunciating the location by axle count of the overheated friction or roller bearing from one end of the train.

7. A system for detecting hot axle bearings, which comprises:

(a) means for obtaining measurements indicative of the temperature of axle bearings on a single side of a car of a train,

(b) means for determining the passage of the last wheel of a single car of a train,

(c) means responsive to said means for determining the passage of the last wheel of a car for averaging the two lowest measurements from said axle bearings of a single side of said car to obtain a single side car average measurement, and

(d) means to provide an alarm when any of the remaining axle bearing measurements on one side of a car exceeds said single side car average measurement by a predetermined amount whereby said axle bearing is classified as being overheated.

8. A system according to claim 7 wherein said means to provide (d) includes:

(e) means to count the wheels of each car and, responsive to an alarm to indicate the wheel and car side causing the alarm, and

(f) means responsive to said alarm for automatically enunciating the location of said overheated axle bearing from one end of the train.

9. A system according to claim 8 further including:

(e) a data base having a running friction bearing average measurement stored therein,

(f) means to compare said single side car average measurements with said running friction bearing average measurement, and

(g) means for determining when said comparison of said single side car average measurement exceeds a predetermined level of said running friction average measurement whereby the bearings of said axles of one side of a car are classified as roller bearings.

10. A system according to claim 9 wherein said means to provide (d) includes:

(f) means to count the wheels of each car and, responsive to an alarm to indicate the wheel and car side causing the alarm, and

(g) means responsive to said alarm automatically enunciating the location of said overheated roller axle bearing from one end of the train.

11. A system according to claim 8 further including:

(e) a data base having a running friction bearing average measurement stored therein,

(f) means to compare said single side car average measurements with said running friction bearing average measurement, and

(g) means for determining when said comparison of said single side car average measurement does not exceed a predetermined level of said running friction average measurement whereby the bearings of said axles of one side of a car are classified as friction bearings.

12. A system according to claim 11 wherein said means to provide (d) includes:

(h) means to count the wheels of each car and, responsive to an alarm to indicate the wheel and car side causing the alarm, and

(i) means responsive to said alarm for automatically enunicating the location of said overheated friction axle bearing from one end of the train.

13. A system for detecting hot axle bearings, which comprises:

(a) a data base having a running friction bearing average measurement stored therein,

(b) means for obtaining measurements indicative of the temperature of axle bearings on a single side of a car of a train,

(c) means for determining the passage of the last wheel of a single car of a train,

(d) means responsive to said means for determining the passage of the last wheel of a car for averaging the two lowest measurements from said axle bearings of a single side of said car to obtain a single side car average measurement,

(e) means to compare said single side car average measurements with said running friction bearing average measurement,

(f) means for determining whether said comparison of step (e) exceeds a predetermined level whereby the bearings of axles on one side of a car are classified as roller bearings, said axle bearings otherwise classified as friction bearings,

(g) means for altering said running friction bearing average measurement in said data base with said single side car average measurement for friction bearings (as determined by step (f)) according to a predetermined averaging function to provide an altered running friction bearing average measurement and replacing the prior said running friction average measurement in said data base with said altered running friction bearing average measurement, and

(h) means to provide an alarm when any of the remaining axle bearing measurements on one side of a car exceeds said single side car average measurement by a predetermined amount whereby said axle bearing is classified as being overheated.

14. A system according to claim 13 wherein said means to provide (g) includes:

(h) means to count the wheels of each car and, responsive to an alarm to indicate the wheel and car side causing the alarm, and

(i) means responsive to said alarm for automatically enunciating the location of said overheated axle bearing from one end of the train.

15. A system according to claim 13 wherein said means to provide (h) includes:

(i) means to count the wheels of each car and, responsive to an alarm to indicate the wheel and car side causing the alarm, and

(j) means responsive to said alarm, if step (f) resulted in a "roller bearing" classification, for automatically enunciating the location of said overheated roller axle bearing from one end of the train.

16. A system according to claim 13 wherein said means to provide (h) includes:

(i) means to count the wheels of each car and, responsive to an alarm to indicate the wheel and car side causing the alarm, and

(j) means responsive to said alarm, of step (f) resulted in a "friction bearing" classification, for automatically enunciating the location of said overheated friction axle bearing from one end of the train.

17. A method of sampling the axle count and inter axle space data of the passage of cars in a train wherein each car includes spaced trucks carrying wheels, comprising the steps of:

(a) locating the first axle of a single car of said train to commence axle count and inter axle space data,

(b) determining the time period between axles of said single car,

(c) storing a representation of the time period determined,

(d) comparing said representation with a previously stored such representation,

(e) determining an inner truck space of said single car when the representation of the time period exceeds said previously stored representation by a predetermined multiple, and

(f) counting a number of succeeding axles equal to the number of axles counted prior to the determined time period of said inter truck space signalling the complete passage of said single car.

18. A method as set forth in claim 17 further including the step of

(g) storing the axle count and truck data on a car by car basis.

19. A method as set forth in claim 17 further including the steps of

(g) determining the average speed of at least some of said axles,

(h) determining the distance between each adjacent pair of axles, and

(i) calculating the train length.

20. A method of detecting hot axle roller and friction bearings on cars of a train, which comprise the steps of:

(a) counting the axles of said cars of said train,

(b) obtaining measurements indicative of the temperature of the axle bearings on each of said cars,

(c) determining the inter axle time of passage data from a passing car,

(d) storing said axle count and inter axle time data and axle bearing temperature data on an axle by axle basis.

(e) determining the passage of a car from said axle count and inter axle time data,

(f) classifying the axle bearing as a roller bearing or a friction bearing from said axle bearing temperature data,

(g) providing reference alarm thresholds for respective roller and friction bearings measured in step (b), and

(h) providing an alarm when said axle bearing temperature data from said axle bearing equals or exceeds respective said alarm thresholds for respective roller and friction bearings.