108 results about "Railroad wheel" patented technology

A low power self-organizing network is made up of a plurality of wireless communication nodes communicating wirelessly with each other. The nodes each have a sensor providing a respective sensor data value indicative of a physical parameter in the environment of that node. The wireless network discontinues communication with any nodes in which the sensor data value is outside a range of network sensor data values. The network is preferably a group of vehicles moving together, especially a train in which each node is associated with a respective wheel of a railroad car. The nodes are low-power devices that communicate using wireless communications according to a Zigbee protocol. The nodes each have an additional sensor sensing a physical parameter the respective wheel thereof and determines from said electrical signal a degree of degradation of a bearing of the wheel, and transmits data of the degree of degradation to the main node. The main node communicates with another computer system using a higher power communication system and transmits thereto data indicative of degradation of said bearings.

A remote, non-contact system for detecting a defect in a railroad wheel as the wheel is stationary or moving along a railroad track includes; (1) a pulsed, laser light source for generating an ultrasonic wave in the wheel, the ultrasonic wave having a direct portion and reflected and transmitted portions if the direct portion encounters a defect in the wheel, (2) an optical component in the path of the light from the light source for forming the light into a specified illumination pattern so that the generated ultrasonic wave has a specified wavefront, (3) an air-coupled transducer or a group of transducers for sensing the acoustic signal emanating from the wheel that results from the ultrasonic wave traveling through the wheel, and (4) a signal processor, responsive to the sensed acoustic signal, capable of distinguishing whether the sensed signal has a component that indicates the existence of a reflected portion in the ultrasonic wave, wherein the presence of such a component in the acoustic signal indicates the existence of a defect in the railroad wheel.

An apparatus and method is provided for detecting a temperature range or a temperature of a railroad train wheel or bearing wherein infrared radiation radiating from the wheel or bearing of a train traversing a railroad track is indicative of a temperature range of the wheel or bearing. The apparatus comprises a sensor for sensing infrared radiation radiating from the wheel or bearing within two or more infrared wavelength ranges. The sensor generates signals indicative of the sensed infrared radiation in each of the wavelength ranges. A processor determines a temperature range or a temperature of the wheel or bearing from the generated signals. The method detects a temperature range of a railroad train wheel or bearing wherein infrared radiation radiating from the wheel or bearing of a train traversing a railroad track is indicative of the temperature range of the wheel or bearing. The method includes sensing infrared radiation radiating from the wheel or bearing within two or more wavelength ranges of the infrared radiation. Signals are generated that are indicative of the sensed infrared radiation in each infrared wavelength range. A temperature range or a temperature of the wheel or bearing is determined from the generated signals.

An acoustic sensor acquires acoustic data corresponding to a rotating component of a machine during operation of the machine. The acoustic sensor can be configured to enhance acoustic signals in a range of frequencies corresponding to at least one evaluated condition of the rotating component and / or enhance the acoustic signals received from a directional area narrowly focused on the rotating component. The rotating component is evaluated using the acoustic data acquired by the acoustic sensor. In an embodiment, the machine can be a vehicle traveling past a parabolic microphone. In a more specific embodiment, the vehicle is a rail vehicle and the rotating component is a railroad wheel bearing.

A solution for evaluating the condition of a rail component based on resonant response profiles across a set of bands of vibrations. The vibrations can be induced into the target component during normal operation of the target component. The resonant response profile of the rail component can vary depending on wear or damage, and thus can be used to determine whether the rail component can safely remain in use. An embodiment comprises an isolated segment of rail of a length selected to allow a single railroad wheel on it at a time, with a set of devices which can acquire the resonance signals from the wheel.

A solution for evaluating the condition of a rail component based on resonant response profiles across a set of bands of vibrations. The vibrations can be induced into the target component during normal operation of the target component. The resonant response profile of the rail component can vary depending on wear or damage, and thus can be used to determine whether the rail component can safely remain in use. An embodiment comprises an isolated segment of rail of a length selected to allow a single railroad wheel on it at a time, with a set of devices which can induce specific vibrations into the wheel as it passes, and another set of devices which can acquire the resonance signals from the wheel.

Steels having a pearlitic structure and containing 0.65 to 0.80 weight percent carbon, 0.90 to 1.10 weight percent silicon, 0.85 to 1.15 weight percent manganese, 0.001 to 0.030 weight percent phosphorus, 0.009 to 0.013 weight percent niobium, 0.05 to 0.15 nickel, 0.20 to 0.30 weight percent molybdenum, 0.10 to 0.30 weight percent vanadium and 0.005 to 0.040 weight percent sulfur with the remainder of said steel being iron and incidental impurities, can be used to make railway wheels that are particularly resistant to rolling contact fatigue and, hence, shelling.

Steels having a pearlitic structure and containing 0.65 to 0.80 weight percent carbon, 0.90 to 1.10 weight percent silicon, 0.85 to 1.15 weight percent manganese, 0.001 to 0.030 weight percent phosphorus, 0.009 to 0.013 weight percent niobium, 0.05 to 0.15 nickel, 0.20 to 0.30 weight percent molybdenum, 0.10 to 0.30 weight percent vanadium and 0.005 to 0.040 weight percent sulfur with the remainder of said steel being iron and incidental impurities, can be used to make railway wheels that are particularly resistant to rolling contact fatigue and, hence, shelling.

This invention relates generally to vehicular transportation for humans and freight by roadway and railway. More specifically, this invention relates to a unique combination of a novel roadway wheel and pneumatic tire assembly, incorporating a known automatic inflate-deflate system and a novel lightweight railway wheel; both wheels then coupled and concentrically assembled on a common axle with special provisions for the known automatic inflation and deflation of the pneumatic roadway tire.

The invention provides a heat treatment method of a medium carbon low-alloy steel railway wheel, comprising the following processes: heating by quenching a railway wheel at 840-860 DEG C after rollingand slow cooling, cooling by spraying water after discharging, tempering at 500+ / -10 DEG C, carrying out power frequency induction heating at 890-910 DEG C, and carrying out pressure-air cooling. Theheat treatment method aims to remarkably reduce depth of an abnormal structure area on near surface of a tread or completely eliminate the abnormal structure layer on the basis of maintaining original mechanical properties of the wheel, so as to improve use performance of the wheel and lower cutting process cost.

It is described a system and method to monitor railway wheels, which includes obtaining images of the railway wheel by means of stereo cameras and performing a three-dimensional and two-dimensional model of the railway wheel by means of these images. This two-dimensional model is subjected to analysis of the profile of the railway wheel, comparing it with a two-dimensional model of an ideal wheel and thus measuring the effective wear of its profile. The three-dimensional model is subjected to analysis of the surface of the railway wheel, also comparing it with a three-dimensional model of an ideal wheel and thus measuring the effective wear of its surface.

The invention discloses a portable railway wheel tread parameter detection instrument. The portable railway wheel tread parameter detection instrument consists of a base, a cover, a flange tread measuring mechanism, a rim thickness measuring device, a positioning device, a control device, a touch screen and a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface, wherein the flange tread measuring mechanism comprises a laser sensor and a horizontal moving mechanism; the rim thickness measuring device comprises a positioning mechanism, a measuring head, an electronic ruler and a manual vertical moving guide rail pair; the flange tread measuring mechanism, the rim thickness measuring device and the positioning device are fixedly arranged on the base. The portable railway wheel tread parameter detection instrument is used for detecting the parameters of a railway wheel such as flange thickness, flange height, tread abrasion, rim thickness, rim width, vertical flange abrasion, QR value and tread scratch depth. Laser measurement and the touch screen are adopted, thereby achieving the characteristics of storability of measured data, high accuracy, light weight, convenience in operating and carrying and storability of output data. The portable railway wheel tread parameter detection instrument is suitable for detecting tread parameters under the condition of not lowering down the wheel in plants, workshops, train examination, repair track maintenance, motor car stations, urban subways and the like.

A method includes shrink fitting a ring member about a railroad wheel body and metallurically bonding the ring member to the railroad wheel body. A wheel assembly includes an inner portion obtained from a worn railroad wheel, a ring member disposed about the inner portion, and suitable electroplating material disposed on at least one of the faying surfaces. The wheel assembly may be heated under suitable conditions to provide diffusion bonding across interfacing faying surfaces to produce an integral wheel structure. Appropriate quenching, tempering, and finishing processes may be utilized to obtain desired properties. An article formed thereby includes an inner body portion obtained from a worn railroad wheel and a metallurically bonded outer circumferential portion. The outer portion may comprise a composition selected for desired wear characteristics.