# US 9,518,947 B2 · System and method for detecting wheel bearing condition > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,518,947 B2 - Document ID: US9518947B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/512,185 - Filed: 2014-10-10 - Published: 2016-04-14 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2014-10-10 - Assignees: Progress Rail Services Corporation - Applicants: Progress Rail Services Corporation - Inventors: Mark J. Bartonek; Donald J. Arndt; Roland F. O'Connell - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9518947B2 ## CPC - G01N 25/72: Investigating presence of flaws - B61F 15/20: Details - B61K 9/04: Detectors for indicating the overheating of axle bearings and the like, e.g. associated with the brake system for applying the brakes in case of a fault - B61K 9/06: by detecting or indicating heat radiation from overheated axles - B61K 9/12: Measuring or surveying wheel-rims - G01J 5/0022: {for sensing the radiation of moving bodies} - B61L 27/57: for vehicles or trains, e.g. trackside supervision of train conditions - G01J 5/48: Thermography; Techniques using wholly visual means - G06T 2207/10048: Infrared image - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - B61F: RAIL VEHICLE SUSPENSIONS, e.g. UNDERFRAMES, BOGIES OR ARRANGEMENTS OF WHEEL AXLES; RAIL VEHICLES FOR USE ON TRACKS OF DIFFERENT WIDTH; PREVENTING DERAILING OF RAIL VEHICLES; WHEEL GUARDS, OBSTRUCTION REMOVERS OR THE LIKE FOR RAIL VEHICLES (for vehicles in general B60; axles or wheels B60B; vehicle tyres B60C) - B61K: AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR RAILWAYS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G01J: MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY (light sources F21, H01J, H01K, H05B; investigating properties of materials by optical means G01N) - B61L: GUIDING RAILWAY TRAFFIC; ENSURING THE SAFETY OF RAILWAY TRAFFIC (brakes or auxiliary equipment B61H, B61K; point or crossing construction E01B) - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL ## Abstract The present disclosure is directed to a method for detecting a condition associated with a wheel bearing on a train car. The method may include detecting a size and a location of the wheel bearing. The method may also include detecting a temperature associated with the wheel bearing based at least in part on the size and the location of the wheel bearing. The method may further include determining a wheel bearing condition based on the detected temperature. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for detecting a condition associated with a wheel bearing on a train car, the method comprising: generating a thermal image with a sensor; determining with a processor a size and a location of the wheel bearing based on the thermal image; determining with the processor a temperature associated with the wheel bearing based at least in part on the size and the location of the wheel bearing and based on the thermal image; determining with the processor a wheel bearing condition based on the temperature; and selectively implementing with the processor a control action associated with the train car based on the wheel condition. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining the temperature associated with the wheel bearing includes extracting thermal imaging data based on the size and the location of the wheel bearing and using the thermal imaging data to determine the temperature associated with the wheel bearing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further including spatially filtering the thermal image to determine the size and the location of the wheel bearing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein implementing the control includes implementing the control action only when the temperature associated with the wheel bearing is greater than a threshold temperature. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further including determining whether an obstruction is located a predetermined distance from the wheel bearing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein implementing the control further includes implementing the control action only when no obstruction is located the predetermined distance from the wheel bearing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, inhibiting implementation of the control action when the obstruction is located the predetermined distance from the wheel bearing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the obstruction includes a portion of the train car that covers at least part of the wheel bearing. ### Claim 9 A system for detecting a condition associated with a wheel bearing on a train car, the system comprising: at least one sensor configured to generate at least one thermal image; and a processor configured to: determine a size and a location of the wheel bearing based on the at least one thermal image; determine a temperature associated with the wheel bearing based at least in part on the at least one thermal image and the size and the location of the wheel bearing; determine a wheel bearing condition based on the detected temperature; and implement a control action associated with the train car based on the wheel bearing condition. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to extract thermal imaging data based on the size and the location of the wheel bearing, and use the thermal imaging data to determine the temperature associated with the wheel bearing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to spatially filter the at least one thermal image to determine the size and the location of the wheel bearing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to implement the control action only when the detected temperature is greater than a threshold temperature. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether an obstruction is located a predetermined distance from the wheel bearing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to implement the control action only when no obstruction is located the predetermined distance from the wheel bearing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to inhibit implementation of the control action when the obstruction is located the predetermined distance from the wheel bearing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the obstruction includes a portion of the train car that covers at least part of the wheel bearing. ### Claim 17 A method for detecting a condition associated with a wheel bearing on a train car, the method comprising: receiving at least one thermal image from at least one sensor; determining a size and a location of the wheel bearing based on the at least one thermal image; determining a temperature associated with the wheel bearing based at least in part on the at least one thermal image and the size and the location of the wheel bearing; determining whether an obstruction is located a predetermined distance from the wheel bearing; determining a wheel bearing condition based on the detected temperature and a location of the obstruction; and implementing a control action associated with the train car based on the wheel bearing condition.