Systems and methods for monitoring brake systems on railway assets

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11787382-B2
Application number	US-202016999555-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 21, 2020
Priority date	Aug 21, 2019
Publication date	Oct 17, 2023
Grant date	Oct 17, 2023

Abstract

Systems for monitoring brake systems on railway assets include a load measuring device. The load measuring device includes an instrumented coupling configured to be connected to the rigging of a brake system of the railway asset; and to an underframe of the railway asset. The load measuring device also includes a data collection unit configured to process an output of a sensor of the instrumented coupling and, based on the sensor output, determine the force being transmitted between the brake rigging and the underframe.

First claim

We claim:

1. A load measuring device for use on a railway asset, the railway asset comprising an underframe, a plurality of wheels coupled to and configured to rotate in relation to the underframe, and a brake system comprising a rigging configured to apply a braking force to one or more of the wheels, the load measuring device comprising an instrumented coupling comprising:
a first member configured to be connected to the rigging of the brake system;
a second member configured to be connected to the underframe;
a fastener configured to connect the first member to the second member, and to transmit a force between the first and second members; and
a sensor attached to the fastener and configured to generate an output relating to the force transmitted between the first and second members;
wherein the first member is configured to rotate in relation to the second member so that a sensing axis of the sensor remains substantially aligned with a direction in which an external force is applied to the load measuring device.

2. The load measuring device of claim 1 , wherein the first member and the second member are rigid.

3. The load measuring device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a strain sensor.

4. A load measuring device for use on a railway asset, the railway asset comprising an underframe, a plurality of wheels coupled to and configured to rotate in relation to the underframe, and a brake system comprising a rigging configured to apply a braking force to one or more of the wheels, the load measuring device comprising an instrumented coupling comprising:
a first member configured to be connected to the rigging of the brake system;
a second member configured to be connected to the underframe,
a fastener configured to connect the first member to the second member, and to transmit a force between the first and second members; and
a sensor attached to the fastener and configured to generate an output relating to the force transmitted between the first and second members;
wherein the sensor comprises a strain sensor; and
wherein the fastener comprises a bolt; and the strain sensor comprises a strain gauge fixed to the bolt.

5. The load measuring device of claim 1 , wherein the first member is configured to rotate in relation to the second member about three orthogonal axes, one of the orthogonal axes being coincident with the sensing axis of the sensor.

6. The load measuring device of claim 1 , further comprising a data collection unit mounted on one of the first and second members and communicatively coupled to the sensor.

7. The load measuring device of claim 6 , wherein:
the data collection unit comprises a sensor node;
the sensor node comprises a processor; a memory communicatively coupled to the processor; and computer-executable instructions stored on the memory; and
the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to calculate the force transmitted between the first and second members based on the output of the sensor.

8. The load measuring device of claim 7 , wherein the sensor node further comprises a transceiver communicatively coupled to the processor and configured to transmit a signal representative of the calculated force transmitted between the first and second members.

9. The load measuring device of claim 7 , wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to store the calculated force transmitted between the first and second members.

10. The load measuring device of claim 7 , wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to compare the calculated force transmitted between the first and second members to a predetermined baseline value for the calculated force transmitted between the first and second members.

11. The load measuring device of claim 7 , wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to sample the output of the sensor node at predetermined intervals.

12. The load measuring device of claim 7 , wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to infer the braking force based on the calculated force transmitted between the first and second members.

13. The load measuring device of claim 1 , wherein:
the force transmitted between the first and second members is proportional to the braking force; and
the output of the sensor is proportional to the force transmitted between the first and second members.

14. A system for monitoring a brake system of a railway asset, comprising the load measuring device of claim 1 .

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein;
the load measuring device further comprises a data collection unit mounted on one of the first and second members and communicatively coupled to the sensor;
the data collection unit comprises a processor; a memory communicatively coupled to the processor; and computer-executable instructions stored on the memory; and
the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to calculate the force transmitted between the first and second members based on the output of the sensor.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the data collection unit of the load measuring device is a first data collection unit, and the system further comprises a second data collection unit communicatively coupled to the sensor node and mounted on the railway asset.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the second data collection unit comprises a communication management unit.

18. The system of claim 17 , further comprising a powered wireless gateway communicatively coupled to the communication management unit.

19. The system of claim 16 , further comprising a second load measuring device of claim 1 communicatively coupled to the second data collection unit.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the second data collection unit is configured to consolidate data from the load measuring devices and/or to apply logic to the data to generate messages and warning alerts to a host.

21. The system of claim 16 , wherein the first data collection unit comprises a transceiver communicatively coupled to the processor and configured to transmit the calculated force to the data collection unit.

22. A load measuring device for use on a railway asset, the railway asset comprising an underframe, a plurality of wheels coupled to and configured to rotate in relation to the underframe, and a brake system comprising a rigging configured to apply a braking force to one or more of the wheels, the load measuring device comprising an instrumented coupling comprising:
a first member configured to be connected to the rigging of the brake system;
a second member configured to be connected to the underframe;
a fastener configured to connect the first member to the second member, and to transmit a force between the first and second members; and
a sensor attached to the fastener and configured to generate an output relating to the force transmitted between the first and second members;
wherein:
the first member comprises a body, and two arms extending from the body and configured to be connected to the rigging of the brake system; and
the second member comprises a body, and two arms extending from the body of the second member and configured to be connected to the underframe.

23. The load measuring device of claim 22 , wherein:
the body of t

Assignees

• Amsted Rail Co Inc

Inventors

• Michel Mark
• Novellino Peter

Classifications

• B60T17/228 Primary

  for railway vehicles · CPC title

• B60T8/1705

  for rail vehicles · CPC title

• B60T13/665

  the systems being specially adapted for transferring two or more command signals, e.g. railway systems (B60T13/662 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B61K7/04

  with clamping action · CPC title

• B61G5/00

  Couplings for special purposes not otherwise provided for · CPC title