Sensing method, system and assembly for railway assets

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12371077-B2
Application number	US-202117510096-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 25, 2021
Priority date	Jan 24, 2018
Publication date	Jul 29, 2025
Grant date	Jul 29, 2025

Abstract

System and methods for detecting an operational status of a valve or passageway on a railway asset. The methods may comprise: resiliently biasing a magnet in a direction away from a wireless sensor node coupled to the passageway; determining that the passageway is in an open position when the wireless sensor node is neutrally polarized (the data collection device being neutrally polarized when the magnet is distant therefrom); causing the magnet to move in a direction towards the wireless sensor node responsive to a cover of the passageway being closed; and determining that the passageway is in a closed position when the wireless sensor node is magnetically polarized (the wireless sensor node being magnetically polarized when the magnet is proximate thereto).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A valve assembly, comprising:
a valve comprising an operative component configured to facilitate a change in a position of the valve between an open position and a closed position;
an actuator comprising a magnet coupled to and configured to rotate with the operative component, wherein the magnet rotates with the rotatable operative component about a common axis; and
a data collection device coupled to the valve, aligned with the actuator, and configured to detect a position of the magnet, wherein said position is indicative of rotational displacement of the operative component, thereby indicting whether the valve is in the open position or the closed position;
wherein the data collection unit is in a magnetically neutral condition when the valve is in the open position, and in a magnetically polarized condition when the valve is in the closed position.

2. The valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises a position indicator coupled to the operative component that is configured to indicate whether the valve is in the open position or the closed position.

3. The valve assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the actuator is mounted on the position indicator.

4. The valve assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the actuator is mounted on the valve without any modifications to a physical structure of the position indicator.

5. The valve assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the actuator comprises a housing with a cavity formed therein in which a portion of the position indicator is disposed and adhesively secured.

6. The valve assembly according to claim 2 , wherein at least one alignment tab projects out from a housing of the actuator to facilitate alignment of the actuator and the position indicator during installation of the actuator on the position indicator.

7. The valve assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the at least one alignment tab is removable from the actuator so that operation of the valve is unaffected by the at least one alignment tab.

8. The valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a gap is provided between the actuator and the data collection unit.

9. The valve assembly according to claim 8 , wherein movement of the operative component of the valve causes a distance between the actuator and data collection unit to change.

10. The valve assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the distance increases when the valve is transitioned from the closed position to the open position, and the distance decreases when the valve is transitioned from the open position to the closed position.

11. The valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the data collection device is coupled to the valve without any physical modifications to the valve.

12. The valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the data collection unit is further configured to wirelessly communicate with a remote device when movement of the actuator is detected or a particular distance exists between the data collection unit and the actuator.

13. The valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises a plate configured to protect the valve from damage when contact is made with an external object, and the data collection device is coupled to the plate.

14. A method for detecting an operational status of a passageway on a railway asset, comprising:
using a resilient member to mechanically support a wireless sensor node and an actuator in a given position relative to each other and allow a magnet to be transitioned between a distal position and a proximal position;
placing the magnet in the distal position by using the resilient member to resiliently bias the magnet in a direction away from a wireless sensor node coupled to the passageway;
determining that the passageway is in an open position when the wireless sensor node is neutrally polarized, the data collection device being neutrally polarized when the magnet is in the distant position;
causing compression of the resilient member using a passageway cover;
causing the magnet to move in a direction towards the wireless sensor node responsive to compression of the resilient membera cover of the passageway being closed;
placing the magnet in the proximal position by causing further compression of the resilient member; and
determining that the passageway is in a closed position when the wireless sensor node is magnetically polarized, the wireless sensor node being magnetically polarized when the magnet is in the proximal positionproximity therete.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the passageway comprises a manway.

16. The method according to claim 14 , further comprising coupling the wireless sensor node to the passageway without any modifications to a physical structure of the passageway.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the wireless sensor node is coupled to the passageway via an adhesive and at least one magnet.

18. A passageway, comprising:
a nozzle;
a cover coupled to the nozzle and transitionable between an open position and a closed position;
a data collection device assembly coupled to the nozzle, and comprising a wireless sensor node and a resilient member mechanically supporting the wireless sensor node and an actuator in a given position relative to each other while allowing a magnet to be transitioned between a distal position and a proximal position;
wherein the magnet is placed in the distal position by being resiliently biased by the resilient member in a direction away from the wireless sensor node, and transitions from the distal position to the proximal position by moving in a direction towards the wireless sensor node responsive to compression of the resilient member caused by the cover being closed;
wherein the wireless sensor node is configured to detect that the cover is in the open position when the wireless sensor node is neutrally polarized as a result of the magnet being in the distal position and detect that the cover is in the closed position when the wireless sensor is magnetically polarized as a result of the magnet being in the proximal position.

19. The passageway according to claim 18 , wherein the passageway comprises a manway.

20. The passageway according to claim 18 , wherein the wireless sensor node is coupled to the passageway without any modifications to a physical structure of the nozzle.

21. The passageway according to claim 20 , wherein the wireless sensor node is coupled to the nozzle via an adhesive and at least one magnet.

22. The passageway according to claim 18 , wherein the data collection device assembly further comprises a protective cover coupled to the passageway without any modifications to a physical structure of the nozzle.

23. The passageway according to claim 22 , wherein the protective cover is coupled to the nozzle via at least one magnet.

Assignees

• Amsted Rail Co Inc

Inventors

• Lidgett Justin M
• Martin Andrew H
• Taillon Armand P
• Weiner Evan

Classifications

• B61L27/70

  Details of trackside communication · CPC title

• F16K37/0083

  by measuring valve parameters · CPC title

• G01D5/12

  using electric or magnetic means (G01D5/06 takes precedence) · CPC title

• Y02T30/00

  Transportation of goods or passengers via railways, e.g. energy recovery or reducing air resistance · CPC title

• B61D7/24

  Opening or closing means · CPC title