Condition monitoring system, condition monitoring unit and method for monitoring a condition of a bearing unit for a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016152255-A1
Application number	US-201514946787-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 20, 2015
Priority date	Nov 27, 2014
Publication date	Jun 2, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A condition monitoring system for bearing units for vehicles, the system including at least one condition monitoring unit for measuring at least one operating parameter of one bearing unit and a control unit for receiving and processing signals obtained from the condition monitoring unit. The system additionally includes a circuit for detecting a geographic position, wherein the condition monitoring unit is configured to be at least one of activated and deactivated depending on the detected geographic position.

First claim

1 . A condition monitoring system for bearing units for vehicles, the system comprising:
at least one condition monitoring unit for measuring at least one operating parameter of one bearing unit; a control unit for receiving and processing signals obtained from the condition monitoring unit; and a circuit for detecting a geographic position of the vehicle, wherein the condition monitoring unit is configured to be at least one of activated and deactivated depending on the detected geographic position.

2 . The condition monitoring system according to claim 1 , the control unit further comprising a memory for storing route data of the vehicle, the route data including a plurality of possible route sections along which the vehicle can travel,
wherein the control unit is configured to activate the condition monitoring unit when the vehicle is travelling in one route section out of a predetermined set of route sections and to deactivate the condition monitoring unit in route sections not included in the predetermined set of route sections.

3 . The condition monitoring system according claim 1 , the control unit further comprising a memory for storing route data of the vehicle, the route data including a plurality of possible route sections along which the vehicle can travel,
wherein the control unit is configured to evaluate at least one characteristic of the route sections of the route data and to activate the condition monitoring unit when the vehicle is travelling in a route section with characteristics meeting at least one predetermined criterion and to deactivate the condition monitoring unit in route sections not meeting the at least one predetermined criterion.

4 . The condition monitoring system according to claim 1 , the control unit further comprising a memory for storing at least one radius and coordinates of a plurality of waypoints,
wherein the control unit is configured to at least one of activate and deactivate the condition monitoring unit when the distance between at least one of the waypoints and the detected geographic position is smaller than the radius.

5 . The condition monitoring system according to claim 1 , wherein the memory is configured to store a travelling direction in relation with at least one of the waypoints, wherein control unit is configured to activate and/or deactivate the condition monitoring unit when the distance between at least one of the waypoints and the detected geographic position is smaller than the radius and when further the travelling direction of the vehicle matches the travelling direction stored in relation to said at least one waypoint.

6 . The condition monitoring system according to claim 1 , the circuit for detecting the geographic position includes a circuit for receiving signals of satellites of a global positioning system.

7 . The condition monitoring system according to claim 1 , wherein the condition monitoring unit is configured to communicate with the control unit in a wireless way.

8 . The condition monitoring system according to claim 1 , wherein the circuit for detecting a geographic position is part of the condition monitoring unit attached to the bearing unit.

9 . The condition monitoring system according to claim 1 , wherein the circuit for detecting a geographic position is part of the control unit of the vehicle.

10 . The condition monitoring system according to claim 1 , wherein the condition monitoring unit is configured to be attached to a hub unit of a train,
wherein the control unit is configured to monitor the condition of a plurality of hub units of the train.

11 . The condition monitoring system according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to trigger simultaneous measurements across multiple condition monitoring units at a given geographical location.

12 . The condition monitoring system according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to use the data collected by the condition monitoring units for the purpose of measuring track quality as a tool for infrastructure monitoring.

13 . A condition monitoring unit for use in a condition monitoring system, the condition monitoring system comprising:
at least one condition monitoring unit for measuring at least one operating parameter of one bearing unit; a control unit for receiving and processing signals obtained from the condition monitoring unit; and a circuit for detecting a geographic position of the vehicle, wherein the condition monitoring unit is configured to be at least one of activated and deactivated depending on the detected geographic position, and the condition monitoring unit comprising:
a controller configured to operate in an energy saving sleep mode and in an active mode,
wherein at least some of the parameters being monitored in the active mode are not monitored in the sleep mode, wherein the controller is configured to switch the condition monitoring unit from the sleep mode to the active mode and from the active mode into the sleep mode based on signals received by the controller.

14 . The condition monitoring unit according to claim 13 , wherein the controller is configured to switch the condition monitoring unit from the sleep mode to the active mode upon receipt of a wake-up signal from a control unit of a vehicle in which the condition monitoring system operates and to switch the condition monitoring nit from the active mode into the sleep mode upon receipt of a sleep signal from the control unit.

15 . A method for monitoring a condition of a bearing unit for a vehicle using at least one condition monitoring unit for measuring at least one operating parameter of one bearing unit and a control unit for receiving and processing signals obtained from the condition monitoring unit,
the method comprising steps of: detecting a geographic position of the vehicle; and at least one of activating and deactivating the condition monitoring unit depending on the detected geographic position.

Assignees

• Cuthbertson Stephen
• Franchitti Julian
• Patwari Rashmy
• Skf Ab

Inventors

• Cuthbertson Stephen
• Franchitti Julian
• Patwari Rashmy

Classifications

• B61L25/025 Primary

  Absolute localisation, e.g. providing geodetic coordinates · CPC title

• B61L25/023 Primary

  Determination of driving direction of vehicle or train · CPC title

• B61K9/04

  Detectors for indicating the overheating of axle bearings and the like, e.g. associated with the brake system for applying the brakes in case of a fault · CPC title

• B61L2205/04

  Satellite based navigation systems, e.g. global positioning system [GPS] · CPC title

• G01M13/00 Primary

  Testing of machine parts · CPC title