Wheel measurement systems and methods

• US 7,478,570 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2006
• Issued: 01/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Electronic Machines Corp.
• Original Assignee: International Electronic Machines Corp.
• Inventors: Mian, Zahid F., Mullaney, Jeremy C., MacAllister, Robert, Peabody, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Raevis; Robert R
• Application Number:
  US11/536,137
• Publication Number:
  US 20070075192A1
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 73/865.9
• CPC Class Codes: B61K 9/12 Measuring or surveying wheel-rims measuring techniques G01
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/06 for measuring thickness

Abstract

An improved maintenance, inspection, and/or measurement solution is provided. An embodiment of the invention includes a handheld measurement device for measuring an object, such as a railway wheel on a train. The handheld measurement device can comprise a single unit to provide one handed operation and can include various features, such as onboard evaluation, a graphical user interface, and/or a self-health monitor. Additionally, aspects of the invention provide an inspection environment that incorporates preliminary measurement data, wireless communications, and/or historical data into the measurement and evaluation process.

Claims

1. A handheld measurement device comprising:

a system for obtaining a plurality of measurements for a wheel, wherein the system for obtaining includes a system for detecting when a set of sensing devices are correctly aligned with the wheel; and

a system for evaluating at least one of the plurality of measurements with at least one anticipated wheel property to determine a validity of the at least one of the plurality of measurements.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a system for requesting a re-measurement of the wheel based on the evaluating.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the system for evaluating includes:

a system for obtaining a set of previous measurements for the wheel; and

a system for comparing the set of previous measurements with at least one of the plurality of measurements.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the system for obtaining includes at least one linear sensor.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein one of the set of sensing devices is a sensor array.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a graphical user interface configured to display at least one of;

an operating status of the system for obtaining, a representation of the wheel, or the validity of the at least one of the plurality of measurements; and

a set of user interface controls configured to enable a user to select fUnctions for at least one of;

the graphical user interface or the system for obtaining

7. The device of claim 6, further comprising a system for graphically displaying on the graphical user interface a status of at least one of:

a wheel, an axle, a car, or an engine.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a system for managing an inspection schedule for a train, wherein a user obtains the plurality of measurements for each of a plurality of wheels on the train according to the inspection schedule; and

a system for managing a plurality of measurement modes, the plurality of measurement modes including a mode for performing measurements according to the inspection schedule and a mode for re-measuring a wheel.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising a system for monitoring an operability of the device.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising a wireless communications system in communications with at least one of the system for obtaining or the system for evaluating, the wireless communications system configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one of:

a wheel management system or a dynamic support system.