Method and apparatus for measuring data for calculating the diameter of wheels, especially railroad wheel sets
First Claim
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1. A method for calculating the diameter (d) of a wheel, comprising the following steps:
- (a) providing a relative movement between a measuring station and said wheel relative to a defined reference plane,(b) establishing a distance-time function based on said relative movement,(c) defining a diameter dependent distance or length parallel to said reference plane in a measuring plane passing through said wheel perpendicularly to said reference plane,(d) measuring the time needed by said relative movement for passing through said defined diameter dependent distance or length to provide a measured length of time, and(e) calculating the diameter (d) of said wheel on the basis of said diameter dependent distance or length and on the basis of said measured length of time in accordance with said distance-time function.
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Abstract
The diameter of a wheel or wheels, such as railroad wheels, is measured while the wheel rolls through a measuring station or while a measuring station is moved past a wheel. Electromagnetic beams, such as light or laser beams, provide respective barriers or sensors. The spacing between the beams is fixed and the time needed to traverse the spacing is measured. The spacing has a definite relationship to the wheel diameter. A computer calculates the diameter based on the measured time and on the given wheel diameter related spacing. Even where only a portion of a wheel is available for sensing or scanning the present method may be used.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for calculating the diameter (d) of a wheel, comprising the following steps:
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(a) providing a relative movement between a measuring station and said wheel relative to a defined reference plane, (b) establishing a distance-time function based on said relative movement, (c) defining a diameter dependent distance or length parallel to said reference plane in a measuring plane passing through said wheel perpendicularly to said reference plane, (d) measuring the time needed by said relative movement for passing through said defined diameter dependent distance or length to provide a measured length of time, and (e) calculating the diameter (d) of said wheel on the basis of said diameter dependent distance or length and on the basis of said measured length of time in accordance with said distance-time function. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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- 5. An apparatus for measuring the diameter of a wheel having a rotational axis and axially facing wheel sides, comprising wheel support means (2) defining a reference plane (2'"'"'), said wheel having a measuring plane (3) extending through said wheel between said axially facing wheel sides perpendicularly to said rotational axis and perpendicularly to said reference plane, a measuring station comprising transmitter means including at least two members for transmitting at least two beams of electromagnetic radiation onto a wheel circumferential surface passing through said measuring plane of said wheel, means mounting said at least two transmitter members in fixed positions for spacing said two beams at a defined distance (C) from each other, receiver means arranged for receiving light returned or retransmitted by said wheel circumferential surface to produce time marker signals, time measuring means connected to said receiver means for measuring in response to said time marker signals a time duration needed for traversing said defined distance, and signal processing means including computer means for calculating said diameter on the basis of said defined distance and on the basis of said time duration determined by said time marker signals.
Specification