Abnormal vehicle dynamics detection
First Claim
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1. A method of evaluating a railroad vehicle, the method comprising:
- a computer system acquiring vibration data from a plurality of vibration sensing devices located at a plurality of locations along a length of at least one rail along which the railroad vehicle is traveling;
the computer system generating enhanced signal data from the vibration data acquired by the plurality of vibration sensing devices;
the computer system evaluating the enhanced signal data for any anomalous vibration features detected by more than one of the plurality of vibration sensing devices at highly temporally coherent times as compared to variations in vibration features due to background vibrations caused by the railroad vehicle traveling along the at least one rail;
in response to identifying a plurality of anomalous vibration features in the vibration data, the computer system evaluating the plurality of anomalous vibration features for an indication of a presence of at least one defect on the railroad vehicle, wherein the at least one defect produces a periodic signal; and
the computer system identifying the railroad vehicle as including a defect in response to identifying the indication of the defect on the railroad vehicle.
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Abstract
A solution for evaluating a vehicle, such as a railroad vehicle, is provided. Vibration data relating to the railroad vehicle can be acquired by vibration sensing devices located adjacent to a rail. Enhanced signal data can be generated from the vibration data acquired by the vibration sensing devices. The enhanced signal data can be evaluated for any anomalous features, such as vibration peaks. When multiple anomalous features are present, these features can be further evaluated to determine whether they indicate a presence of a defect on the railroad vehicle that is producing a periodic signal.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of evaluating a railroad vehicle, the method comprising:
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a computer system acquiring vibration data from a plurality of vibration sensing devices located at a plurality of locations along a length of at least one rail along which the railroad vehicle is traveling; the computer system generating enhanced signal data from the vibration data acquired by the plurality of vibration sensing devices; the computer system evaluating the enhanced signal data for any anomalous vibration features detected by more than one of the plurality of vibration sensing devices at highly temporally coherent times as compared to variations in vibration features due to background vibrations caused by the railroad vehicle traveling along the at least one rail; in response to identifying a plurality of anomalous vibration features in the vibration data, the computer system evaluating the plurality of anomalous vibration features for an indication of a presence of at least one defect on the railroad vehicle, wherein the at least one defect produces a periodic signal; and the computer system identifying the railroad vehicle as including a defect in response to identifying the indication of the defect on the railroad vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A railroad vehicle management system comprising:
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a plurality of vibration sensing devices located adjacent to at least one rail of a set of rails on which railroad wheels travel, wherein the plurality of vibration sensing devices have a known spacing at a plurality of locations along a length of the at least one rail; and a computer system including means for evaluating the railroad vehicle, wherein the means for evaluating is configured to; acquire vibration data from the plurality of vibration sensing devices; generate enhanced signal data from the vibration data acquired by the plurality of vibration sensing devices; evaluate the enhanced signal data for any anomalous vibration peaks, wherein each anomalous vibration peak is identified based on the anomalous vibration peak being detected by more than one of the plurality of vibration sensing devices at highly temporally coherent times as compared to variations in vibration peaks due to background vibrations caused by the railroad vehicle traveling along the at least one rail; in response to identifying a plurality of anomalous vibration peaks in the vibration data, evaluate the plurality of anomalous vibration peaks for an indication of a defect on the railroad vehicle; and identify the railroad vehicle as including a defect in response to identifying the indication of a defect on the railroad vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of evaluating a railroad wheel for a defect, the method comprising:
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a computer system acquiring vibration data from a plurality of vibration sensing devices located adjacent to and at a plurality of locations along a length of a rail along which the railroad wheel is traveling; the computer system generating enhanced signal data by combining at least some of the vibration data acquired by the plurality of vibration sensing devices; the computer system evaluating the enhanced signal data for any anomalous vibration features, wherein each anomalous vibration feature is identified based on the anomalous vibration feature being detected by more than one of the plurality of vibration sensing devices at highly temporally coherent times as compared to variations in vibration features due to background vibrations caused by the railroad vehicle traveling along the at least one rail; and in response to identifying a plurality of anomalous vibration features in the vibration data, the computer system evaluating the plurality of anomalous vibration features for an indication of the defect on the railroad wheel based on a time spacing between the plurality of anomalous vibration features. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification