Railcar handbrake monitor
First Claim
1. A system for monitoring the status of a railcar handbrake of a railcar, said system comprising:
- a railcar wheel brake moveable into contact with a railcar wheel for applying a braking force to slow or stop said railcar;
a brake linkage mounted to the railcar and connected to said wheel brake, the railcar handbrake being operatively connected to said brake linkage for operating said wheel brake;
monitoring device having;
a load bearing member attached to the brake linkage so that a force applied to the brake through said brake linkage is transmitted through said load bearing member to said brake;
a strain gauge mounted on said load bearing member to measure the force being transmitted through said load bearing member;
electrical circuitry in communication with said strain gauge for obtaining informaion regarding the status of the handbrake; and
a power source electrically connected to said electrical circuitry for providing power thereto.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device for monitoring the status of a railcar handbrake having a hand operated handle, which device has a load bearing member configured to be inserted in the linkage of a railcar handbrake system so that the force applied to the brake system passes through the load bearing member. A strain gauge mounted on the load bearing member measures the strain. The information from the strain gauge is indicative of the force applied by the handbrake to the brake and is used to determine the status of the handbrake. Means for determining motion of the railcar is also provided. In one form, if it is determined that the brake is on and the railcar is in motion, information, such as an alarm, is transmitted. A system and method of monitoring a railcar handbrake are also provided.
50 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A system for monitoring the status of a railcar handbrake of a railcar, said system comprising:
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a railcar wheel brake moveable into contact with a railcar wheel for applying a braking force to slow or stop said railcar; a brake linkage mounted to the railcar and connected to said wheel brake, the railcar handbrake being operatively connected to said brake linkage for operating said wheel brake; monitoring device having; a load bearing member attached to the brake linkage so that a force applied to the brake through said brake linkage is transmitted through said load bearing member to said brake; a strain gauge mounted on said load bearing member to measure the force being transmitted through said load bearing member; electrical circuitry in communication with said strain gauge for obtaining informaion regarding the status of the handbrake; and a power source electrically connected to said electrical circuitry for providing power thereto. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for monitoring the status of a rail comprising:
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a railcar wheel on which said railcar is supported; a wheel brake, mounted on the railcar moveable into contact with said railcar wheel for braking said railcar, and which wheel brake is operable by applying force thereto to increase a tension of the wheel brake against the railcar wheel; a handbrake mounted on the railcar and which is operable to apply the force to the wheel brake; a linkage connecting said handbrake to the wheel brake and through which the force s applied by the handbrake to the wheel brake; a load bearing member positioned in said linkage so that at least a portion of the force applied to the linkage is transmitted to said brake through said load bearing member; a strain gauge mounted on said load bearing member to measure the force in said load bearing member; electrical circuitry in communication with said strain gauge for obtaining information regarding the status of the handbrake; and a power source electrically connected to said electrical circuitry for providing power thereto. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of monitoring the status of a handbrake on a railcar which is operated for engaging a brake against a wheel of the railcar, said method comprising the following steps:
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(a) measuring a force applied to a linkage by use of a sensor, said linkage being mounted on the railcar and connecting said handbrake to said brake so that operation of said handbrake can apply said force to said linkage to move the brake against the wheel; (b) determining if the force measured in step (a) exceeds a predetermined threshold level chosen to indicate that the handbrake is on; (c) detecting motion of the rail car; and (d) if in step (b) it is determined that the handbrake is on, and in step (c) it is determined that the railcar is in motion, causing a transmission of information indicating motion of the railcar with the handbrake on. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of monitoring the status of a handbrake of a railcar, comprising:
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(a) providing a railcar wheel brake and a linkage mounted to the railcar, said handbrake being operatively connected to said wheel brake through said linkage so that operation of said handbrake provides a force for operating said wheel brake by moving said wheel brake against said railcar wheel; (b) measuring the force applied to said wheel brake due to operation of the handbrake by use of electrical circuitry; (c) determining if the force measured in step (b) exceeds a predetermined threshold level chosen to indicate that the handbrake is on; (d) detecting motion of the railcar; and (e) if in step (c) it is determined that the handbrake is on, and in step (d) it is determined that the railcar is in motion, causing a transmission of information indicating motion of the railcar with the handbrake on. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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Specification