Optical wheel evaluation

• US 20070064244A1
• Filed: 01/04/2006
• Published: 03/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Electronic Machines Corp.
• Original Assignee: International Electronic Machines Corp.
• Inventors: Mian, Zahid, MacAllister, Robert, Schneider, Thomas, Mullaney, Jeremy
• Granted Patent: US 7,564,569 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/601
• CPC Class Codes: B61K 9/12 Measuring or surveying wheel-rims measuring techniques G01
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/25 by projecting a pattern, e.g. one or more lines, moiré fringes on the object G01B11/255 takes precedence ; image analysis for depth or shape recovery G06T7/50

Abstract

A solution for optically evaluating a wheel along at least one circumference of the wheel is provided. Image data is obtained while the wheel moves along a path having a length of at least one circumference of the wheel. The path and/or wheel can be illuminated to enhance the resulting image data. One or more attributes of the wheel are measured based on the image data. The attributes can then be used to detect one or more defects in the wheel. In one embodiment, the wheel is a rail wheel, and a rail segment is illuminated. The rail can be specially configured to enhance a contrast between the rail and the rail wheel and/or to provide a consistent path for the rail wheel to travel.

Claims

1. A method of evaluating a wheel, the method comprising:

illuminating a path of the wheel, wherein a length of the path includes at least one circumference of the wheel;

obtaining image data for the wheel as it moves along the path; and

measuring at least one attribute of the wheel based on the image data.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether at least one defect is present in the wheel based on the image data.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining an operational status of the wheel when at least one defect is present.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the illuminating step includes projecting a plurality of lines of light onto the path.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of lines of light is substantially vertical.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting a presence of the wheel, wherein the illuminating and obtaining step are initiated based on the detected presence.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a speed of the wheel, wherein at least one of the illuminating and obtaining steps are adjusted based on the speed.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining image data step includes emphasizing a vertical dimension of the image data.

9. A system for evaluating a wheel, the system comprising:

means for illuminating a path of the wheel, wherein a length of the path includes at least one circumference of the wheel;

means for obtaining image data for the wheel as it moves along the path; and

means for measuring at least one attribute of the wheel based on the image data.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising means for determining whether at least one defect is present in the wheel based on the image data.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising means for determining an operational status of the wheel when at least one defect is present.

12. The system of claim 9, further comprising means for detecting a presence of the wheel, wherein the illuminating and obtaining step are initiated based on the detected presence.

13. The system of claim 9, further comprising means for determining a speed of the wheel, wherein at least one of the illuminating and obtaining steps are adjusted based on the speed.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the means for obtaining includes means for emphasizing a vertical dimension of the image data.

15. A method of evaluating a rail wheel, the method comprising:

illuminating a rail segment, wherein a length of the rail segment includes at least one circumference of the wheel;

obtaining image data for the rail wheel as it moves along the rail segment; and

measuring at least one attribute of the rail wheel based on the image data.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining whether at least one defect is present in the rail wheel based on the image data.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising determining an operational status of the rail wheel when at least one defect is present.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one defect includes an out-of-roundness defect and a flat spot.

19. A system for evaluating a rail wheel, the system comprising:

means for illuminating a rail segment, wherein a length of the rail segment includes at least one circumference of the wheel;

means for obtaining image data for the rail wheel as it moves along the rail segment; and

means for measuring at least one attribute of the rail wheel based on the image data.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising means for determining whether at least one defect is present in the rail wheel based on the image data.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising means for determining an operational status of the rail wheel when at least one defect is present.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the means for illuminating and the means for obtaining are installed on a measurement platform that includes:

a plurality of ties supporting the rail segment, wherein each tie is separated from an adjacent tie by at most six inches; and

a concrete support slab supporting the plurality of ties, wherein the concrete support slab is at least one foot thick.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the rail segment includes reflective material.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the rail segment comprises a pyramid-crown shape.