Portable electronic wheel wear gauge
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An electronic train wheel wear gauge comprising:
- a portable gauge head having a generally inverted J-shape with a first section configured to hook over a flange on rim of a train wheel and contact a tread of the wheel substantially along a known gauging line and a second section extending generally parallel to and abutting an outer face of the rim when the gauge head is properly positioned on the wheel;
flange height sensing means located in the first section of said gauge head for interacting with a top surface of the flange, taking a measurement reading of flange height and providing a first electrical output signal representative thereof;
flange thickness sensor means located in the first section of said gauge head for interacting with a known gauging point on an inner face of the flange, taking a measurement reading of flange thickness and providing a second electrical output signal representative thereof;
rim thickness sensing means located in the second section of said gauge head for interacting with a radially inner edge of the outer face of the rim, taking a measurement reading of rim thickness and providing a third electrical output signal representative thereof; and
output means responsive to said first, second, and third output signals for providing wheel wear information to an operator of said gauge.
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Abstract
A portable, battery powered, electronic wheel wear gauge is described for use in train wheel wear measurements. The gauge consists of a portable computer controller electrically connected to a portable gauge head. The gauge automatically determines proper positioning of the gauge head with respect to a wheel and then automatically measures rim thickness, flange thickness, flange height and, optionally, rim diameter of a train wheel using suitable contact and non-contact sensors. The measurement readings are displayed and can be stored in a non-volative memory of the controller for subsequent transfer to another computer or a printer.
57 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electronic train wheel wear gauge comprising:
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a portable gauge head having a generally inverted J-shape with a first section configured to hook over a flange on rim of a train wheel and contact a tread of the wheel substantially along a known gauging line and a second section extending generally parallel to and abutting an outer face of the rim when the gauge head is properly positioned on the wheel; flange height sensing means located in the first section of said gauge head for interacting with a top surface of the flange, taking a measurement reading of flange height and providing a first electrical output signal representative thereof; flange thickness sensor means located in the first section of said gauge head for interacting with a known gauging point on an inner face of the flange, taking a measurement reading of flange thickness and providing a second electrical output signal representative thereof; rim thickness sensing means located in the second section of said gauge head for interacting with a radially inner edge of the outer face of the rim, taking a measurement reading of rim thickness and providing a third electrical output signal representative thereof; and output means responsive to said first, second, and third output signals for providing wheel wear information to an operator of said gauge. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An electronic wheel wear measurement system for measuring certain dimension of train wheels, comprising:
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a portable computer controller for acquiring measurement data, said controller being battery powered so that it can be carried around anywhere it is needed; and a portable electronic gauge head electrically connected to said controller, said gauge head having a generally inverted J-shape with a first section configured to hook over a flange on a rim of a train wheel and contact a tread of the wheel substantialy along a known gauging line and a second section extending generally parallel to and abutting an outer face of the rim when the gauge head is positioned on and in alignment with the wheel, said gauge head including positioning sensor means for providing an indication of alignment of the gauge head with respect to a wheel, said gauge head further including measurement sensor means interacting with known locations on said flange and rim for taking measurement readings of said certain dimensions and providing output signals representative of said measurement readings to said controller. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification