Methods and systems employing strain gauge signals to determine the dynamics of moving railcars

A method of determining dynamic properties of a moving railcar, the method comprising the steps of:

• coupling at least one strain gauge to a section of railroad track;
• amplifying a signal from the at least one strain gauge to produce an amplified signal;
• monitoring the amplified signal for a rate of voltage increase that is greater than a predetermined value that is indicative of the moving railcar passing directly over the at least one strain gage;
• determining a baseline voltage level from the amplified signal until the rate of voltage increase of the amplified signals exceeds the predetermined value;
• the baseline voltage level being equal to the minimum voltage of the amplified signal prior to the rate of voltage increase of the amplified signals exceeding a predetermined value;
• and
• determining a peak voltage level of the amplified signal after the rate of voltage increase of the amplified signals exceeds the predetermined valve.

A measuring system for determining properties associated with a moving railcar, the system comprising:

• at least one strain gage adapted for coupling to at least one of two parallel rails of a railroad track;
• an amplifier circuit for receiving and amplifying signals from the at least one strain gauge, resulting in amplified signals;
• a first processing means for processing the amplified signals and for
• (i) monitoring the amplified signals for a rate of voltage increase that is greater than a predetermined value that is indicative of the moving railcar passing directly over the at least one strain gage;
• (ii) determining a baseline voltage level from the amplified signals until the rate of voltage increase of the amplified signals exceeds the predetermined value;
• the baseline voltage level being equal to the minimum voltage of the amplified signals prior to the rate of voltage increase of the amplified signals exceeding a predetermined value;
• (iii) determining a peak voltage level after the rate of voltage increase of the amplified signals exceeds the predetermined valve;
• and
• a second processing means for receiving the baseline voltage level and a differential voltage equal to the difference between the peak voltage level and the baseline voltage level from the first processing means and for determining a weight reading by multiplying the differential voltage by a constant that equates voltage to weight.

A measuring system for determining properties associated with a moving railcar, the system comprising:

• at least two strain gauges adapted for coupling to at least one of two parallel rails of a railroad track, the at least two strain gauges being coupled to the at least one of the parallel rails at a known distance apart;
• an amplifier circuit for receiving and amplifying signals from the at least two strain gauges, resulting in amplified signals;
• a first processing means for processing the amplified signals and for
• (i) monitoring the amplified signals for each of the strain gauges for a rate of voltage increase that is greater than a predetermined value that is indicative of the moving railcar passing directly over the each of the strain gauges;
• (ii) determining for each strain gauge a baseline voltage level from the amplified signals until the rate of voltage increase of the amplified signals exceeds the predetermined value;
• the baseline voltage level being equal to the minimum voltage of the amplified signals prior to the rate of voltage increase of the amplified signals exceeding a predetermined value;
• (iii) determining for each strain gauge a peak voltage level after the rate of voltage increase of the amplified signals exceeds the predetermined valve;
• a second processing means for
• (i) receiving the baseline voltage level and a differential voltage equal to the difference between the peak voltage level and the baseline voltage level for each strain gauge from the first processing means
• (ii) determining a weight reading by multiplying the differential voltage by a constant that equates voltage to weight for each strain gauge;
• and
• (iii) determining a time difference between receiving the peak voltage level from one of the strain gauges and the peak voltage level from the other of the strain gauges, the time difference being indicative of a time required for an axle of the moving railcar to travel the known distance.

A measuring system for determining properties associated with a moving railcar, the system comprising:

• at least two strain gauges adapted for coupling to at least one of two parallel rails of a railroad track, the at least two strain gauges being coupled to the at least one of the parallel rails at a known distance apart;
• an amplifier circuit for receiving and amplifying signals from the at least two strain gauges, resulting in amplified signals;
• a first processing means for processing the amplified signals and for
• (i) monitoring the amplified signals for each of the strain gauges for a rate of voltage increase that is greater than a predetermined value that is indicative of the moving railcar passing directly over the each of the strain gauges;
• (ii) determining for each strain gauge a baseline voltage level from the amplified signals until the rate of voltage increase of the amplified signals exceeds the predetermined value;
• the baseline voltage level being equal to the minimum voltage of the amplified signals prior to the rate of voltage increase of the amplified signals exceeding a predetermined value;
• (iii) determining for each strain gauge a peak voltage level after the rate of voltage increase of the amplified signals exceeds the predetermined value;
• a second processing means for
• (i) receiving the baseline voltage level and a differential voltage equal to the difference between the peak voltage level and the baseline voltage level for each strain gauge from the first processing means
• (ii) determining a weight reading by multiplying the differential voltage by a constant that equates voltage to weight for each strain gauge;
• (iii) determining a time difference between receiving the peak voltage level from one of the strain gauges and the peak voltage level from the other of the strain gauges, the time difference being indicative of a time required for an axle of the moving railcar to travel the known distance;
• (iv) determining a speed of the railcar from the determined time difference .