Encoder bearing hub assembly for rail vehicles
AssigneeHarsco Technologies LLC
InventorsJohn Wiggins, Eric Carter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure generally relates to a bearing hub assembly of a rail guide wheel apparatus for a rail vehicle. The bearing hub assembly may couple rail wheels to the rail guide wheel apparatus. The rail guide wheel apparatus may be included on a Hi-Rail vehicle or any other vehicle configured to travel along railroad tracks. The bearing hub assembly includes a sensor that is integrally mounted within the bearing hub assembly. The sensor collects information associated with rotation of the rail wheels. Information collected by the sensor may be used to determine a speed, direction, location, and/or distance traveled of the rail vehicle.
Claims18
A system comprising:
- a bearing hub assembly comprising:
- a body portion configured to couple to an outside surface of a rail guide wheel apparatus;
- a disc portion operatively coupled to the body portion and configured to couple to an inside surface of a rail wheel, wherein the disc portion is configured to rotate with the rail wheel and relative to the body portion;
- and
- a sensor disposed on the body portion, wherein the sensor is configured to capture sensor data associated with rotation of the disc portion;
- and
- a server configured to:
- receive the sensor data from the sensor;
- compare the sensor data to a first threshold;
- and
- identify a maintenance event based on the sensor data exceeding the first threshold and present information associated with the maintenance event.
A system, comprising:
- a chassis;
- a rail guide wheel apparatus coupled to the chassis;
- a pair of rail wheels rotatably coupled to the rail guide wheel apparatus, the pair of rail wheels configured to operate over a rail track;
- a bearing hub assembly coupled to the rail guide wheel apparatus, the bearing hub assembly comprising:
- a body portion coupled to an outside surface of the rail guide wheel apparatus;
- a disc portion operatively coupled to the body portion and coupled to an inside surface of a first rail wheel of the pair of rail wheels, wherein the disc portion is configured to rotate with the first rail wheel and relative to the body portion;
- and
- a sensor disposed on the body portion, wherein the sensor is configured to capture sensor data associated with rotation of the disc portion;
- and
- a server configured to:
- receive the sensor data from the sensor;
- compare the sensor data to a first threshold;
- and
- identify a maintenance event based on the sensor data exceeding the first threshold and present information associated with the maintenance event.
A data server for operating with a bearing hub assembly of a rail vehicle, the server comprising:
- one or more processors;
- and a memory storing one or more instructions that, when executed by the one or more processor, cause the one or more processors to:
- receive sensor data, via a sensor, associated with rotation of a disc portion of a bearing hub assembly, wherein the disc portion is coupled to a rail guide wheel of a rail vehicle;
- compare the sensor data to a first threshold;
- and identify a maintenance event based on the sensor data exceeding the first threshold and present information associated with the maintenance event.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.