Optical wheel evaluation
First Claim
1. A method of evaluating a wheel, the method comprising:
- illuminating a path along which the wheel is anticipated to move, wherein a length of the path is at least one circumference of the wheel and the wheel will rotate at least one full revolution as it moves along the path when operating properly;
obtaining image data for the wheel as it moves along the path, the image data including data on the wheel as it is located in a plurality of positions along the path, the plurality of positions including two positions on the path that are separated by at least one circumference of the wheel and a plurality of positions between the two positions; and
measuring at least one attribute of the wheel based on the image data.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
67 Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A method of evaluating a wheel, the method comprising:
-
illuminating a path along which the wheel is anticipated to move, wherein a length of the path is at least one circumference of the wheel and the wheel will rotate at least one full revolution as it moves along the path when operating properly; obtaining image data for the wheel as it moves along the path, the image data including data on the wheel as it is located in a plurality of positions along the path, the plurality of positions including two positions on the path that are separated by at least one circumference of the wheel and a plurality of positions between the two positions; and measuring at least one attribute of the wheel based on the image data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A system for evaluating a wheel, the system comprising:
-
means for illuminating a path along which the wheel is anticipated to move, wherein a length of the path is at least one circumference of the wheel and the wheel will rotate at least one full revolution as it moves along the path when operating properly; means for obtaining image data for the wheel as it moves along the path, the image data including data on the wheel as it is located in a plurality of positions along the path, the plurality of positions including two positions on the path that are separated by at least one circumference of the wheel and a plurality of positions between the two positions; and means for measuring at least one attribute of the wheel based on the image data. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method of evaluating a rail wheel, the method comprising:
-
illuminating a rail segment, wherein a length of the rail segment is at least one circumference of the wheel and the wheel will rotate at least one full revolution as it moves along the rail segment when operating properly; obtaining image data for the rail wheel as it moves along the rail segment, the image data including data on the wheel as it is located in a plurality of positions along the rail segment, the plurality of positions including two positions on the rail segment that are separated by at least one circumference of the wheel and a plurality of positions between the two positions; and measuring at least one attribute of the rail wheel based on the image data. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A system for evaluating a rail wheel, the system comprising:
-
means for illuminating a rail segment, wherein a length of the rail segment is at least one circumference of the wheel and the wheel will rotate at least one full revolution as it moves along the rail segment when operating properly; means for obtaining image data for the rail wheel as it moves along the rail segment, the image data including data on the wheel as it is located in a plurality of positions along the rail segment, the plurality of positions including two positions on the rail segment that are separated by at least one circumference of the wheel and a plurality of positions between the two positions; and means for measuring at least one attribute of the rail wheel based on the image data. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
Specification