Systems and methods for monitoring brake systems on railway assets
AssigneeAmsted Rail Company, Inc.
InventorsMark Michel, Peter Novellino
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims63
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.
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.
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.
A railway asset, comprising:
- an underframe;
- a plurality of wheels coupled to and configured to rotate in relation to the underframe;
- a brake system comprising a rigging configured to apply a braking force to one or more of the wheels;
- a bracket mounted on the underframe and configured to provide an anchoring point for the rigging;
- and a load measuring device comprising an instrumented coupling, the instrumented coupling comprising:
- a first member connected to the rigging of the brake system;
- a second member connected to the bracket;
- a fastener configured to connect the first member to the second member, and to transmit between the first and second members a force reactive to the braking force;
- and
- a sensor attached to the fastener and configured to generate an output relating to the reactive force;
- 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 the reactive force is applied to the instrumented coupling.
A railway asset, comprising:
- an underframe;
- a plurality of wheels coupled to and configured to rotate in relation to the underframe;
- a brake system comprising a rigging configured to apply a braking force to one or more of the wheels;
- a bracket mounted on the underframe and configured to provide an anchoring point for the rigging;
- and a load measuring device comprising an instrumented coupling, the instrumented coupling comprising:
- a first member connected to the rigging of the brake system;
- a second member connected to the bracket;
- a fastener configured to connect the first member to the second member, and to transmit between the first and second members a force reactive to the braking force;
- and
- a sensor attached to the fastener and configured to generate an output relating to the reactive force;
- wherein:
- the first member comprises a body, and two arms extending from the body and 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 connected to the bracket.
A method for determining the status of a brake system of a railway asset, the railway asset comprising an underframe, and a plurality of wheels coupled to and configured to rotate in relation to the underframe;
- the brake system comprising a rigging configured to apply a braking force to one or more of the wheels, the method comprising:
- providing a load measuring device comprising an instrumented coupling and a data collection unit, the instrumented coupling comprising:
- a first member;
- a second member;
- 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 mounted on the fastener, communicatively coupled to the data collection unit, and configured to generate an output relating to the force transmitted between the first and second members;
- connecting the first member to the rigging of the brake system;
- connecting the second member to an anchoring point for the rigging, the anchoring point being located on the underframe of the rail asset;
- allowing the first member 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;
- and
- based on an output of the sensor, determining a reactive force exerted on the device in response to the application of the braking force using the data collection unit.
A brake system for a railway asset, comprising:
- a brake rigging configured to be mounted on, and to articulate in relation to an underframe of the railway asset;
- a plurality of brake pads mounted on the brake rigging and each being configured to generate a braking force when contacting a respective wheel of the railway asset;
- a brake cylinder coupled to the brake rigging and configured to move the brake rigging so that the brake rigging urges the brake pads into contact with the respective wheels;
- a brake valve configured to provide pressurized air to the brake cylinder to actuate the brake cylinder;
- and
- a load measuring device comprising an instrumented coupling and a data collection unit, the instrumented coupling comprising:
- a first member configured to be connected to the brake rigging;
- 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, communicatively coupled to the data collection unit, 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.
A railway asset, comprising:
- an underframe;
- a plurality of wheels coupled to and configured to rotate in relation to the underframe;
- a brake system comprising a rigging configured to apply a braking force to one or more of the wheels;
- a bracket mounted on the underframe and configured to provide an anchoring point for the rigging;
- and a load measuring device comprising an instrumented coupling, the instrumented coupling comprising:
- a first member connected to the rigging of the brake system;
- a second member connected to the bracket;
- a fastener configured to connect the first member to the second member, and to transmit between the first and second members a force reactive to the braking force;
- and
- a sensor attached to the fastener and configured to generate an output relating to the reactive force:
- 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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.