Contactless wheel measurement system and method
First Claim
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1. A method of measuring an attribute of a wheel having a first side and a second side, the method comprising the steps of:
- obtaining wheel data by;
illuminating a first portion of the first side of the wheel with a first plurality of paths of light from a first light illumination device; and
sensing wheel data based on a first reflection of the first plurality of paths of light from the wheel; and
performing a calculation on the wheel data to measure the attribute of the wheel.
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Abstract
The present invention provides a wheel measurement method and system to measure an attribute of a wheel. Light illumination devices and light sensing devices provide wheel data. A computer then performs a calculation on the wheel data to measure the attribute of the wheel.
118 Citations
50 Claims
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1. A method of measuring an attribute of a wheel having a first side and a second side, the method comprising the steps of:
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obtaining wheel data by;
illuminating a first portion of the first side of the wheel with a first plurality of paths of light from a first light illumination device; and
sensing wheel data based on a first reflection of the first plurality of paths of light from the wheel; and
performing a calculation on the wheel data to measure the attribute of the wheel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
illuminating a second portion of the first side of the wheel with a second plurality of paths of light from a second light illumination device; and
sensing wheel data based on a second reflection of the second plurality of paths of light from the wheel.
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3. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining step further comprises the steps of:
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illuminating a portion of second side of the wheel with a second plurality of paths of light from a second light illumination device;
sensing wheel data based a second reflection of the second plurality of paths of light from the wheel.
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4. The method of claim 3, wherein the wheel is a railway wheel and the first side comprises a field side of the wheel and the second side comprises a gage side of the wheel.
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5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the first side of the wheel comprises an area with a width of about 4 inches.
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6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of paths of light include a plurality of substantially parallel lines of light.
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7. The method of claim 6, wherein the plurality of substantially parallel lines of light illuminate the first portion of the first side of the wheel in a substantially radial direction.
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8. The method of claim 6, wherein the plurality of substantially parallel lines of light are each approximately a quarter inch apart.
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9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:
determining a start time for the obtaining step.
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10. The method of claim 9, wherein the determining step includes:
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sensing the wheel at a first position;
sensing the wheel at a second position wherein the second position is a first known distance from the first position and a second known distance from an optimum measurement position;
calculating a time difference between the sensing at the first position and the sensing at the second position; and
calculating a start time for the obtaining step based on the time difference, the first known distance and the second known distance.
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11. The method of claim 10, wherein the calculating a start time step includes calculating a speed of the wheel.
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12. The method of claim 9, wherein the wheel is moving at a speed up to about fifty miles per hour.
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13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
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measuring a wheel brightness for the wheel; and
adjusting an illumination brightness for the first plurality of paths of light.
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14. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing a calculation step includes:
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determining a bad data point in the wheel data; and
ignoring the bad data point to measure the attribute of the wheel.
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15. The method of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the wheel is located on a first side of a lateral vertical wheel centerlite.
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16. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensed wheel data comprises at least four data points from an area having a width of about one inch.
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17. A wheel measurement system for measuring an attribute of a wheel having a first side and a second side, the wheel measurement system comprising:
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a light measuring system for obtaining wheel data with light, the light measuring system including;
a first light illumination device on the first side of the wheel for illuminating a first portion of the wheel with a first plurality of paths of light; and
a first light sensing device for sensing a first reflection of the first plurality of paths of light from the wheel and generating the wheel data; and
a control unit, in communication with the light measuring system, for measuring the attribute of the wheel from the wheel data. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
a second light illumination device on the first side of the wheel for illuminating a second portion of the wheel with a second plurality of paths of light; and
a second light sensing device for sensing a second reflection of the second plurality of paths of light from the wheel and generating wheel data.
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20. The wheel measurement system of claim 19, further including a wheel brightness system for sensing a brightness of the wheel;
- wherein the control unit adjusts the brightness of the first light illumination device and the second light illumination device based on the brightness of the wheel.
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21. The wheel measurement system of claim 17, wherein the light measuring system further comprises:
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a second light illumination device on the second side of the wheel for illuminating a second portion of the wheel with a second plurality of paths of light; and
a second light sensing device for sensing a second reflection of the second plurality of paths of light from the wheel and generating wheel data.
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22. The wheel measurement system of claim 21, wherein a plurality of wheel attributes are measured.
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23. The wheel measurement system of claim 22, wherein the plurality of wheel attributes include a rim thickness, flange thickness, a flange height, a wheel diameter and a wheel angle of attack.
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24. The wheel measurement system of claim 23, wherein the plurality of wheel attributes further includes a reference groove circle radius.
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25. The wheel measurement system of claim 17, wherein the control unit includes:
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a local control unit for controlling the first light illumination device and the first light sensing device; and
a system control unit, in communication with the local control unit, for calculating the attribute of the wheel.
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26. The wheel measurement system of claim 17, further comprising:
a wheel sensing system in communication with the control unit.
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27. The wheel measurement system of claim 26, wherein the wheel sensing system includes a wheel presence system for sensing a presence of the wheel;
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wherein the wheel presence system is a known distance from the light measuring system.
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28. The wheel measurement system of claim 27, wherein the wheel presence system includes:
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a first sensor disposed near path of the wheel; and
a second sensor disposed near the path of the wheel wherein the second sensor is a known distance from the first sensor.
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29. The wheel measurement system of claim 28, wherein the control unit determines a time that the wheel is in a range of the light measuring system.
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30. The wheel measurement system of claim 28, wherein the first sensor includes a magnetic sensor and the second sensor includes a magnetic sensor.
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31. The wheel measurement system of claim 26, wherein the wheel sensing system includes a wheel brightness system or sensing a brightness of the wheel.
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32. The wheel measurement system of claim 31, wherein the control unit adjusts the brightness of a light illumination device based on the brightness of the wheel.
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33. The wheel measurement system of claim 17, wherein the plurality of paths of light produce a plurality of substantially parallel lines of light.
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34. The wheel measurement system of claim 33, wherein the plurality of substantially parallel lines of light illuminate the first portion of the wheel in a substantially radial direction.
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35. The wheel measurement system of claim 17, wherein the first light illumination device and the first light sensing device are disposed below a rail.
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36. The wheel measurement system of claim 17, wherein the first light illumination device and the first light sensing device are attached to a rail.
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37. A wheel measurement system for measuring an attribute of a wheel having a first side and a second side, the wheel measurement system comprising:
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means for obtaining wheel data with light, the means for obtaining wheel data including;
means for illuminating a first portion of the first side of the wheel with a first plurality of paths of light from a single light illumination device; and
means for sensing heel data based on a first reflection of the first plurality of paths of light from the wheel; and
means for measuring an attribute of the wheel using the wheel data, wherein the means for measuring includes;
means for determining if the wheel data includes a bad data point; and
means for ignoring the determined bad data point to measure the attribute of the wheel. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
means for illuminating a second portion of the first side of the wheel with a second plurality of paths of light; and
means for sensing wheel data based on a second reflection of the second plurality of paths of light from the wheel.
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39. The wheel measurement system of claim 37, wherein the means for obtaining wheel data further includes:
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means for illuminating a second portion of the second side of the wheel with a second plurality of paths of light; and
means for sensing wheel data based on a second reflection of the second plurality of paths of light from the wheel.
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40. The wheel measurement system of claim 37, further comprising:
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means for detecting a presence of the wheel; and
means for determining a start time for the means for sensing a first reflection.
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41. The wheel measurement system of claim 37, further comprising:
means for detecting a brightness of the wheel.
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42. The wheel measurement system of claim 37, wherein the first plurality of paths of light include a plurality of substantially parallel lines of light.
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43. The wheel measurement system of claim 42, wherein the plurality of substantially parallel lines of light illuminate the first portion of the first side of the wheel in a substantially radial direction.
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44. A method of determining a start time for measuring an attribute of a wheel on a rail that supports the wheel with a measuring device, the method comprising the steps of:
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attaching a first magnetic sensor to the rail;
attaching a second magnetic sensor to the rail wherein the second magnetic sensor is a known distance from the first magnetic sensor and a known distance from the measuring device;
determining a first period that the wheel is detected by the first magnetic sensor;
determining a second period that the wheel is detected by the second magnetic sensor; and
calculating the start time for measuring using the first period, the second period and the known distance from the measuring device. - View Dependent Claims (45)
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46. A method of measuring an attribute of a wheel using a path of light, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining a brightness of the wheel using a first system;
adjusting a brightness of a path of light based on the brightness of the wheel, wherein the path of light is generated using a second system that is independent of the first system;
illuminating a portion of the wheel with the path of light;
sensing wheel data based on a reflection of the path of light from the wheel; and
performing a calculation on the wheel data to measure the attribute of the wheel. - View Dependent Claims (47)
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48. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for measuring an attribute of a wheel, the program product comprising:
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program code configured to control a light illumination device for illuminating the wheel with a plurality of paths of light;
program code configured to control a light sensing device that obtains wheel data based on a sensed reflection; and
program code configured to perform a calculation on the wheel data to measure the attribute of the wheel, wherein the program code configured to perform a calculation includes;
program code configured to determine if the wheel data includes a bad data point; and
program code configured to ignore the determined bad data point to measure the attribute of the wheel. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50)
program code configured to determine a start time for illuminating the wheel and a start time for obtaining the wheel data.
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50. The computer program product of claim 48, further comprising:
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program code configured to determine a brightness of the wheel; and
program code configured to adjust a brightness of a plurality of paths of light based on the brightness of the wheel.
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Specification