Dynamic wheel diameter determination system and method
First Claim
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1. A system for automatic wheel diameter determination, the system comprising:
- a first proximity plate having a first length and comprising a detectable material, the first proximity plate being positioned at a first location along a direction of motion of a vehicle;
a sensor on the vehicle configured to generate a first signal including an indication of detection of the detectable material of the first proximity plate at a start of the first length and an indication of loss of detection of the detectable material of the first proximity plate at an end of the first length;
a signal generator on the vehicle configured to generate a second signal indicating a number of revolutions of a wheel on the vehicle; and
a controller configured to receive the first signal and the second signal and determine a diameter of the wheel based on the first length, the indication of detection of the detectable material of the first proximity plate, the indication of loss of detection of the detectable material of the first proximity plate, and the number of revolutions of the wheel.
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Abstract
A system and method provide the capability to dynamically measure the diameter of a train wheel. An onboard sensor signals detection and loss of detection of a proximity plate having a predetermined length and placed along a direction of travel of the train. A signal generator generates a signal indicating the number of revolutions of the wheel. Based on the sensor signals indicating detection and loss of detection of the proximity plate, the length of the proximity plate, and the corresponding number of wheel revolutions, a controller automatically calculates the wheel diameter.
18 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system for automatic wheel diameter determination, the system comprising:
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a first proximity plate having a first length and comprising a detectable material, the first proximity plate being positioned at a first location along a direction of motion of a vehicle; a sensor on the vehicle configured to generate a first signal including an indication of detection of the detectable material of the first proximity plate at a start of the first length and an indication of loss of detection of the detectable material of the first proximity plate at an end of the first length; a signal generator on the vehicle configured to generate a second signal indicating a number of revolutions of a wheel on the vehicle; and a controller configured to receive the first signal and the second signal and determine a diameter of the wheel based on the first length, the indication of detection of the detectable material of the first proximity plate, the indication of loss of detection of the detectable material of the first proximity plate, and the number of revolutions of the wheel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An on-board controller for a vehicle comprising:
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a processor; and a non-transitory computer readable medium connected to the processor, wherein the non-transitory computer readable medium is configured to store instructions for; receiving a first signal generated by a sensor on a vehicle, the first signal including an indication of detection of a detectable material of a first proximity plate at a start of a first length of the first proximity plate and an indication of loss of detection of the detectable material of the first proximity plate at an end of the first length, the first proximity plate being positioned at a first location along a direction of motion of the vehicle; receiving a second signal generated by a signal generator on the vehicle, the second signal indicating a number of revolutions of a wheel on the vehicle; and determining a diameter of the wheel based on the first length, the indication of detection of the detectable material of the first proximity plate, the indication of loss of detection of the detectable material of the first proximity plate, and the number of revolutions of the wheel. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A method of automatically determining wheel diameter, the method comprising:
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generating, by a sensor on a vehicle, a first signal including an indication of detection of a detectable material of a first proximity plate at a start of a first length of the first proximity plate and an indication of loss of detection of the detectable material of the first proximity plate at an end of the first length, the first proximity plate being positioned at a first location along a direction of motion of the vehicle; generating, by a signal generator on the vehicle, a second signal indicating a number of revolutions of a wheel on the vehicle; receiving, by a controller, the first signal and the second signal; and determining, by the controller, a diameter of the wheel based on the first length, the indication of detection of the detectable material of the first proximity plate, the indication of loss of detection of the detectable material of the first proximity plate, and the number of revolutions of the wheel. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system for automatic wheel diameter determination, the system comprising:
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a sensor on a vehicle, the sensor configured to generate a first signal including; an indication of detection of a detectable material of a proximity plate positioned at a location along a direction of motion of the vehicle, the indication of detection corresponding to a start of a length of the proximity plate, and an indication of loss of detection of the detectable material of the proximity plate, the indication of loss of detection corresponding to an end of the length of the proximity plate; a signal generator on the vehicle configured to generate a second signal indicating a number of revolutions of a wheel on the vehicle; and a controller configured to receive the first signal and the second signal and determine a diameter of the wheel based on the length of the proximity plate, the indication of detection of the detectable material of the proximity plate, the indication of loss of detection of the detectable material of the proximity plate, and the number of revolutions of the wheel.
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Specification