Method and system for compensating for wheel wear on a train

• US 7,593,795 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2006
• Issued: 09/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Mobility, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Quantum Engineering, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Shockley, James Francis, Kane, Mark Edward, Hickenlooper, Harrison Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Cuong H
• Application Number:
  US11/560,277
• Publication Number:
  US 20070112482A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 701 19- 20, 701/70, 701213-215, 104/96, 104/118, 104/154, 324166-167, 342/107, 342/357.1, 375146-147, 246/122.R, 731/78.R
• US Class Current: 701/19
• CPC Class Codes: B61K 9/12 Measuring or surveying wheel-rims measuring techniques G01
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 2205/04 Satellite based navigation systems, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/021 Measuring and recording of train speed
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/025 Absolute localisation, e.g. providing geodetic coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/026 Relative localisation, e.g. using odometer
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/02 by conversion into electric waveforms and subsequent integration, e.g. using tachometer generator G01C22/002, G01C22/004, G01C22/006 take precedence

Abstract

A method and system for compensating for wheel wear uses position and/or speed information from an independent positioning system to measure some distance over which the train has traveled. Wheel rotation information is also collected over the distance. The wheel rotation information and distance and/or speed information are then used to determine the size of the train wheels. The method is performed periodically to correct for changes in wheel size over time due to wear so that the wheel rotation information can be used to determine train position and speed in the event of a positioning system failure.

Claims

1. A method for supplying a signal to a device configured to process a wheel sensor signal from a wheel sensor connected to a wheel of a predetermined size comprising the steps of:

determining a speed of a train without the use of a wheel sensor connected to a wheel of the predetermined size;

determining a parameter of a signal indicative of a speed of the train that would be output by a wheel sensor connected to a wheel of a predetermined size if the wheel were rotating at a rate corresponding to the speed of the train;

generating a wheel sensor signal having the parameter;

supplying the wheel sensor signal to at least one device configured to process a wheel sensor signal corresponding to a wheel sensor connected to a wheel of the predetermined size.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the speed of the train is obtained using a positioning system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the positioning system is configured to supply a speed.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the speed of the train is determined by:

obtaining a first position from the positioning system at a first time;

obtaining a second position from the positioning system at a second time;

calculating a linear distance between the first and second positions;

calculating an elapsed time between the first and second times;

calculating a speed of the train based on the linear distance between the first and second positions and the elapsed time between the first and second times.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein a plurality of linear distances are calculated for a plurality of positions reported by the positioning system and the speed is based on the plurality of linear distances and a plurality of corresponding elapsed times.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

determining a total number of wheel revolutions occurring during each of the elapsed times for a wheel sensor configured to measure a rotation of a wheel on the train; and

calculating a wheel size based on the total number of wheel revolutions, a total of the plurality of linear distances and a total elapsed time.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the wheel size is used to determine the speed of the train.

8. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of:

determining a total number of wheel revolutions during the elapsed time from a wheel sensor configured to measure a rotation of a wheel on the train; and

calculating a wheel size based on the total number of revolutions, the elapsed time and the linear distance.

9. A system for supplying a signal to a device configured to process a wheel sensor signal from a wheel sensor connected to a wheel of a predetermined size, the system comprising:

a control unit; and

a signal generator connected to the control unit;

wherein the control unit is configured to perform the steps of;

determining a speed of a vehicle on which the control unit is located without use of a wheel sensor connected to a wheel of the predetermined size;

determining a parameter of a signal that would be output by a wheel sensor connected to a wheel of a predetermined size if the wheel were rotating at a rate corresponding to the speed; and

controlling the signal generator to generate a wheel sensor signal having the parameter;

wherein the wheel sensor signal is output to a device configured to process a wheel sensor signal from a wheel sensor associated with a wheel of the predetermined size.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a positioning system connected to the control unit, wherein the speed of the train is determined from a message from the positioning system.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the positioning system is configured to indicate a speed in the message.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the control unit is configured to determine the speed of the train by performing the steps of:

obtaining a first position from the positioning system at a first time;

obtaining a second position from the positioning system at a second time;

calculating a linear distance between the first and second positions;

calculating an elapsed time between the first and second times;

calculating a speed of the train based on the linear distance between the first and second positions and the elapsed time between the first and second times.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein a plurality of linear distances are calculated for a plurality of positions reported by the positioning system and the speed is based on the plurality of linear distances and a plurality of corresponding elapsed times.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the control unit is further configured to perform the steps of:

determining a total number of wheel revolutions occurring during each of the elapsed times for a wheel sensor configured to measure a rotation of a wheel on the train; and

calculating a wheel size based on the total number of wheel revolutions, a total of the plurality of linear distances and a total elapsed time.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the wheel size is used to determine the speed of the train.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the control unit is further configured to perform the steps of:

determining a total number of wheel revolutions during the elapsed time from a wheel sensor configured to measure a rotation of a wheel on the train; and

calculating a wheel size based on the total number of revolutions, the elapsed time and the linear distance.