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US 5,129,606 AGranted
Railway wheel sensors
AssigneeJDR Systems Corporation
InventorsJames D. Rodems, Gary A. Carner, Patrick J. Magari
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention concerns a system for sensing train wheels which employs a slotted detector bar. Optical resistive and piezoresistive strain gauges may be coupled to the detector bar as well as enhanced mechanical and electrical components. Optional equipment including an optical sensor, and pulse and frequency modulators improve noise immunity and reduce power consumption.
Claims25
A sensing and detecting system for railway train wheels comprising:
- a detector bar of compliant material having a transverse slot therein, said bar becoming deformed in response to a deflecting force said deformation occurring to a greater extent in the vicinity of the slot than in portions of the bar adjacent the slot;
- means at opposite ends of the bar for securing the bar against a bottom face of a section of railway rail in service without mechanical adjustments required;
- strain gauge means having a variable characteristic affixed to the detecting bar in operative relation to the slot for providing a change in the characteristic of said strain gauge means in response to deformation of the section of railway rail in service to which the bar is secured;
- and
- amplifier means connected to the strain gauge means for producing a sensible output signal in response to the change in its characteristic caused by deformation of the strain gauge means due to passage the wheels of rolling stock over the section of railway rail in service without electrical adjustments required.
2 more elements
A sensing and detecting system for wheels of railway rolling stock comprising:
- a slotted detector bar having a top face with a transverse slot, a bottom face, a predetermined stiffness overall and a lesser stiffness in the vicinity of the slot;
- a strain gauge having a variable characteristic bonded to the bottom face of the detector bar opposite the slot;
- means for wedging the top face of the detector bar tightly into face-to-face contact beneath a base of a section of railway track in service;
- electronic circuit means electrically connected to the strain gauge and electrically connected to the track only by stray capacitance across the strain gauge;
- and
- cover means secured to the detector bar for defining an electromagnetically shielded enclosure for the electronic circuit means.
3 more elements
A sensing and detecting system for railway train wheels comprising:
- a detector bar of compliant material having a transverse slot therein, said bar becoming deformed in response to a deflecting force said deformation occurring to a greater extent in the vicinity of the slot than in portions of the bar adjacent the slot;
- means at opposite ends of the bar for securing the bar against a bottom face of a section of railway rail in service;
- strain gauge means having a variable characteristic affixed to the detecting bar in operative relation to the slot for varying the characteristic in response to deformation of the section railway rail in service to which the bar is secured;
- and
- amplifier means connected to the strain gauge means for producing a sensible output signal in response to the change in the characteristic caused by deformation of the strain gauge means due to passage the wheels of rolling stock over the section of railway rail in service.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.