Device for measuring the temperatures of axles or bearings for locating hot-boxes or overheated brakes in rolling stock

• US 6,695,472 B1
• Filed: 04/18/2002
• Issued: 02/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: VAE Aktiengesellschaft
• Original Assignee: VAE Aktiengesellschaft
• Inventors: Nayer, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): VERBITSKY, GAIL KAPLAN
• Application Number:
  US10/110,856
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 374/141, 374/121, 374/130, 374/132, 374/153, 250/342, 250/339.14, 250/339.11, 250/339.02, 250/338.1, 250/341.1, 385/12
• US Class Current: 374/141
• CPC Class Codes: B61K 9/06 by detecting or indicating heat radiation from overheated axles

Abstract

In a device for measuring the temperatures of axles and/or bearings to locate hot-boxes or overheated brakes in rolling stock, in which the infrared rays of the measuring points are directed onto an infrared receiver (8) via an oscillating mirror (9), whereby infrared rays emitted transversely to the longitudinal direction of the rails are detected in the scanning plane defined by the oscillation of the oscillating mirror (9), at least two deviation mirrors (1, 2) are arranged within the scanning plane at a distance (a) from one another transverse to the longitudinal direction of the rails. The deviated infrared rays of the deviation mirrors (1, 2) are detected in a chronological sequence in accordance with the oscillation of the oscillating mirror (9).

Claims

1. A device for measuring temperatures of parts of rolling stock on rails to locate hot-boxes or overheated parts of the rolling stock, comprising

an infrared receiver (8) for measuring infrared rays, onto which infrared rays emitted within measuring points (b, c) are directed;

an oscillating mirror (9) arranged to direct the infrared rays onto the infrared receiver (8), so that infrared rays emitted transversely to the longitudinal direction of the rails (16) are detected by the infrared receiver (8) in a scanning plane defined by the oscillation of the oscillating mirror (9), and

at least two deviation mirrors (1, 2) arranged within the scanning plane at a distance (a) from one another, transverse to the longitudinal direction of the rails (16), so as to direct the infrared rays to said oscillating mirror (9), allowing the infrared receiver (8) to detect the infrared rays in a chronological sequence in accordance with the oscillation of the oscillating mirror (9).

2. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the deviation mirrors (1, 2) rotates around an axis extending normal to a plane of a mirror surface of the deviation mirror (1, 2).

3. The device of claim 1, wherein planes of mirror surfaces of the deviation mirrors (1, 2) are arranged substantially parallel with one another.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein planes of mirror surfaces of the deviation mirrors (1, 2) are arranged substantially parallel with one another.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the deviation mirrors (1, 2) are arranged at different vertical distances relative to a plane defined by a base of the rolling stock.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the deviation mirrors (1, 2) are arranged at different vertical distances relative to a plane defined by tops of rail sleepers supporting the rails (16).

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the deviation mirrors (1, 2) are arranged within a hollow rail sleeper (11), and wherein the hollow rail sleeper (11) has openings (12, 13) arranged in the vertical direction above the deviation mirrors (1, 2) for passage of infrared rays.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the oscillating mirror (9) and the infrared receiver (8) together comprise a detector (3) having an entrance lens (5), wherein the optical axis (4) of the entrance lens (5) of the detector (3) extends substantially parallel with a plane defined by the a base of the rolling stock.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein planes of surfaces of the deviation mirrors (1, 2) are arranged to be inclined by approximately 45°

relative to a plane defined by a base of the rolling stock.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the optical axis (4) of the entrance lens (5) of the detector (3) is axially arranged within a hollow rail sleeper (11) in the longitudinal direction of the hollow rail sleeper.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the optical axis (4) of the entrance lens (5) of the detector (3) is axially parallelly arranged within a hollow rail sleeper (11) in the longitudinal direction of the hollow rail sleeper.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein the optical axis (4) of the entrance lens (5) of the detector (3) is axially arranged within a hollow rail sleeper (11) in the longitudinal direction of the hollow rail sleeper.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein the optical axis (4) of the entrance lens (5) of the detector (3) is axially parallelly arranged within a hollow rail sleeper (11) in the longitudinal direction of the hollow rail sleeper.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the deviation mirrors (1, 2) are each arranged below the measuring points (b, c).

15. The device of claim 2, wherein the deviation mirrors (1, 2) are each arranged below the measuring points (b, c).

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the deviation mirrors (1, 2) are arranged within the vertical projection of the measuring points (b, c).

17. The device of claim 2, wherein the deviation mirrors (1, 2) are arranged within the vertical projection of the measuring points (b, c).

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the deviation mirrors (1, 2) are convex deviation mirrors.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein the deviation mirrors (1, 2) are concave deviation mirrors.

20. A device for measuring temperatures of parts of rolling stock to locate hot-boxes or overheated parts of the rolling stock, comprising

an infrared receiver (8) for measuring infrared rays onto which infrared rays emitted within measuring points (b, c) are directed;

an oscillating mirror (9) arranged to direct the infrared rays onto the infrared receiver (8), so that infrared rays emitted transversely to the longitudinal direction of the rails (16) are detected by the infrared receiver (8) in a scanning plane defined by the oscillation of the oscillating mirror (9); and

at least two deviation mirrors (1, 2) arranged within the scanning plane at a distance (a) from one another, transverse to the longitudinal direction of the rails (16), so as to direct the infrared rays to the oscillating mirror (9), allowing the infrared receiver (8) to detect the infrared rays in a chronological sequence in accordance with the oscillation of the oscillating mirror (9); and

wherein

each of the deviation mirrors (1, 2) rotates around an axis extending normal to a plane of a mirror surface of the deviation mirror (1, 2);

the deviation mirrors (1, 2) are arranged at different vertical distances relative to a plane defined by a base of the rolling stock;

the deviation mirrors (1, 2) are arranged within a hollow rail sleeper (11);

the hollow rail sleeper (11) has openings (12, 13) arranged in the vertical direction above the deviation mirrors (1, 2) for passage of infrared rays;

the oscillating mirror (9) and the infrared receiver (8) together comprise a detector (3) having an entrance lens (5), wherein the optical axis (4) of the entrance lens (5) of the detector (3) extends substantially parallel with a plane defined by the base of the rolling stock;

the planes of surfaces of the deviation mirrors (1, 2) are arranged to be inclined by approximately 45°

relative to a plane defined by the base of the rolling stock; and

the deviation mirrors (1, 2) are each arranged below the measuring points (b, c).