Profile monitoring system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016264160-A1
Application number	US-201514645561-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 12, 2015
Priority date	Mar 12, 2015
Publication date	Sep 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A profile monitoring system for a railroad car is provided. The profile monitoring system includes a fixture element configured to be coupled to a frame member at a predetermined location. The profile monitoring system also includes a tensioning device associated with the fixture element. The tensioning device is configured to be coupled to one end of a wire or cable, wherein the tensioning device is configured to maintain a predetermined tension in the wire or cable. The profile monitoring system further includes a sensing device coupled to the tensioning device, the sensing device is configured to sense a change in a tension in the wire or cable. The profile monitoring system includes a triggering module communicably coupled to the sensing device, the triggering module is configured to trigger an alarm based on the change in the tension in the wire or cable.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A profile monitoring system for a railroad car, the profile monitoring system comprising:
a fixture element configured to be coupled to a frame member at a predetermined location; a tensioning device associated with the fixture element, the tensioning device configured to be coupled to one end of a wire or cable, wherein the tensioning device is configured to maintain a predetermined tension in the wire or cable; a sensing device coupled to the tensioning device, the sensing device configured to sense a change in a tension in the wire or cable; and a triggering module communicably coupled to the sensing device, the triggering module configured to trigger an alarm based on the change in the tension in the wire or cable.

2 . The profile monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the tensioning device includes a turnbuckle.

3 . The profile monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the sensing device includes a spring element and a sensor element.

4 . The profile monitoring system of claim 3 , wherein the spring element is coupled to the tensioning device, and wherein the spring element is configured to be tensioned based on the tension in the wire or cable.

5 . The profile monitoring system of claim 3 , wherein the sensor element includes a proximity sensor.

6 . The profile monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising an output module coupled to the triggering module.

7 . A profile monitoring system for a railroad car, the profile monitoring system comprising:
a frame assembly having a first frame member and a second frame member, wherein a space is defined between the first and second frame members to allow the railroad car to pass through; a first fixture element and a second fixture element coupled to the first and second frame members respectively, each of the first and second fixture elements positioned at a predetermined location; a wire or cable connected between the first and second fixture elements; a tensioning device associated with at least one of the first or second fixture elements, the tensioning device configured to be coupled to one end of the wire or cable, wherein the tensioning device is configured to maintain a predetermined tension in the wire or cable; a sensing device coupled to the tensioning device, the sensing device configured to sense a change in a tension in the wire or cable; and a triggering module communicably coupled to the sensing device, the triggering module configured to trigger an alarm based on the change in the tension in the wire or cable.

8 . The profile monitoring system of claim 7 , wherein the tensioning device includes a turnbuckle.

9 . The profile monitoring system of claim 7 , wherein the sensing device includes a spring element and a sensor element.

10 . The profile monitoring system of claim 9 , wherein the spring element is coupled to the tensioning device, and wherein the spring element is configured to be tensioned based on the tension in the wire or cable.

11 . The profile monitoring system of claim 9 , wherein the sensor element includes a proximity sensor.

12 . The profile monitoring system of claim 7 further comprising an output module coupled to the triggering module.

13 . A method for monitoring a profile of a railroad car, the method comprising:
connecting one end of a wire or cable to a tensioning device associated with a fixture element; connecting the tensioning device to a sensing device; applying, a predetermined tension in the wire or cable by the tensioning device; sensing a change in a tension in the wire or cable by a sensing device; and triggering an alarm based on the change in the tension.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the applying step further comprises:
applying a spring tension in a spring element connected to the wire or cable, based on the tension applied in the wire or cable.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the sensing step further comprises:
sensing a break in the wire or cable based on a change in a state of the spring element connected to the wire or cable.

16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the sensing step further comprises:
sensing a change in a state of the spring element based on the change in the state of the wire or cable.

17 . The method of claim 13 further comprising:
identifying a current profile of the railroad car that does not match with a prefixed profile based on the triggering of the alarm.

18 . The method of claim 13 further comprising:
providing an alert notification to an operator based on the triggering of the alarm.

Assignees

• Electro Motive Diesel Inc

Inventors

• Tougas Thomas A

Classifications

• B61L5/206

  Signalling means for special purposes · CPC title

• B61L1/00 Primary

  Devices along the route controlled by interaction with the vehicle or train (detonators B61L5/20; operation of points or signals by passage of the vehicle B61L11/00, B61L13/00; operation of gates, or gates and signals, by approaching vehicle B61L29/18) · CPC title

• B61L27/57 Primary

  for vehicles or trains, e.g. trackside supervision of train conditions · CPC title

• B61L27/40

  Handling position reports or trackside vehicle data · CPC title