System and method for monitoring railcar performance
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A sensor device for monitoring temperature on a railcar, comprising:
- a housing mountable on a railcar;
a temperature sensor;
electrical circuitry in communication with said temperature sensor for obtaining information regarding the temperature being sensed, said electrical circuitry positioned within said housing;
a power source electrically connected to said electrical circuitry for providing power thereto, said power source positioned within said housing;
a probe external to said housing and which probe includes said temperature sensor and a magnet positioned to magnetically attract the part of the railcar against which the probe will be placed; and
a communication device capable of broadcasting information regarding the temperature sensed, said communication device positioned within said housing;
wherein the power consumption of said sensor device is managed by placing said sensor device in a standby state and periodically awakening said sensor device to collect readings from said temperature sensor and to transmit the information regarding the temperature sensed via said communication circuitry.
3 Assignments
1 Petition
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for monitoring operation of a railcar having one or more sensing units, mounted on the railcar, for monitoring operating parameters and or conditions of the railcar, and a communication management unit, in wireless communication with the sensing units, wherein the system can make a determination of an alarm condition based on data collected the sensing units. A temperature sensor device for use in such a system is also provided.
51 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A sensor device for monitoring temperature on a railcar, comprising:
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a housing mountable on a railcar; a temperature sensor; electrical circuitry in communication with said temperature sensor for obtaining information regarding the temperature being sensed, said electrical circuitry positioned within said housing; a power source electrically connected to said electrical circuitry for providing power thereto, said power source positioned within said housing; a probe external to said housing and which probe includes said temperature sensor and a magnet positioned to magnetically attract the part of the railcar against which the probe will be placed; and a communication device capable of broadcasting information regarding the temperature sensed, said communication device positioned within said housing; wherein the power consumption of said sensor device is managed by placing said sensor device in a standby state and periodically awakening said sensor device to collect readings from said temperature sensor and to transmit the information regarding the temperature sensed via said communication circuitry.
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2. A system for monitoring a railcar, comprising:
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a plurality of sensor devices located on the railcar for monitoring parameters or conditions of the railcar, each of said sensor devices being separate from one another and including a sensor for monitoring one of said parameters or conditions of the railcar; said plurality of sensor devices including at least one temperature sensor device having; a housing; a temperature sensor in thermal communication with an item of the railcar for which the temperature is being monitored, which item is external to said housing; electrical circuitry in communication with said temperature sensor for obtaining information regarding the temperature being sensed, said electrical circuitry positioned within said housing; a power source electrically connected to said electrical circuitry for providing power thereto, said power source positioned within said housing; a communication device capable of broadcasting information regarding the temperature sensed via wireless communication, said communication device positioned within said housing; and a communication management unit, mounted on the railcar, capable of two way wireless communication with each of said plurality of sensor devices for receiving information therefrom, said communication management unit having a wireless communication device for broadcasting information about the parameter or condition being monitored. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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5. A system for monitoring the operation of a railcar comprising:
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a. one or more sensor units mounted on said railcar, each of said sensor units monitoring an operating parameter of said railcar wherein each of said sensor units comprises a sensor, a power source, a processor, memory, communications circuitry, and software, stored in said memory and executed by said processor, said software performing the functions of collecting data from said sensor at periodic intervals; and b. a communication management unit, mounted on said railcar, said communication management unit in wireless communication with said one or more sensor units; wherein said communication management unit applies heuristics to analyze data collected from said one or more sensor units (a) to determine if an actual failure exists and (b) to predict potential or imminent failures based on a statistical analysis of said collected data. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 31, 32)
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23. A monitoring device for monitoring temperature on a railcar, comprising:
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a housing mountable on a railcar; a temperature sensor configured to be in thermal communication with a portion of the railcar to be monitored for temperature, which portion is external to said housing; electrical circuitry in communication with said temperature sensor for obtaining information regarding the temperature being sensed, said electrical circuitry positioned within said housing; a power source electrically connected to said electrical circuitry for providing power thereto, said power source positioned within said housing; and a communication device capable broadcasting information regarding the temperature sensed, said communication device positioned within said housing; wherein the power consumption of said monitoring device is managed by placing said monitoring device in a standby state and periodically awakening said monitoring device to collect readings from said temperature sensor and to transmit the information regarding the temperature sensed via said communication circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification