Onboard load sensor for use in freight railcar applications

A system for determining the mass of a railcar comprising:

• one or more load sensor device(s) positioned on a bearing adapter of a railcar comprising:
• a casing;
• one or more strain gauges and one or more temperature sensors disposed in the casing;
• and
• a processor coupled to the one or more strain gauges and the one or more temperature sensors, wherein the processor collects data obtained by the one or more strain gauges and the one or more temperature sensors;
• wherein the casing has a shape and size configured to be embedded in a bearing adapter of the railcar;
• and
• a control box, wherein the control box is positioned inside the railcar, and wherein the control box is coupled to the one or more load sensor devices.

A bearing adapter for a railcar, the bearing adapter comprising:

• a body having a substantially planar top surface, an arced bottom surface, and sidewalls connecting the top surface to the bottom surface, wherein the top surface receives a portion of a railcar side frame during use, and wherein the arced bottom surface rests on a portion of a bearing assembly during use;
• and
• a load sensor device, at least partially embedded in a surface of the body, the load sensor device comprising;
• a casing;
• one or more strain gauges and one or more temperature sensors disposed in the casing;
• and
• a processor coupled to the one or more strain gauges and the one or more temperature sensors, wherein the processor collects data obtained by the one or more strain gauges and the one or more temperature sensors;