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.
Claims20
A bearing hub assembly for a rail vehicle 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 enabled 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.
A rail vehicle, comprising:
- a chassis;
- a rail guide wheel apparatus coupled to the chassis, the rail guide wheel apparatus operatively connected to a pair of rail wheels;
- a bearing hub assembly coupled to the rail guide wheel apparatus, the bearing hub assembly comprising:
- a body portion configured to couple to an outside surface of the rail guide wheel apparatus;
- a disc portion operatively coupled to the body portion and configured to couple to an inside surface of one of the rail wheels, wherein the disc portion is enabled 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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.