A method for monitoring performance of at least one component on a moving platform, the method including receiving sensor data for the at least one component, along with supplemental data, at a processing node; and processing the sensor data, the processing using the supplemental data to filter the sensor data.

A system for nondestructive evaluation of a test object includes a platform, an electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) to create acoustic vibrations that travel along the test object; an infrared detector positioned to record thermal images of a plurality of test areas on the test object to detect flaws in the test object as the platform and the test object move relative to each other; and a control connected to actuate the EMAT and the infrared detector, synchronize the creation of vibrations with the recording of thermal images, receive a signal from the infrared detector indicative of the thermal image of the surface of the test object, and record locations of the flaws appearing on the thermal images of the test areas, all as the platform and the test object move relative to each other.

The invention concerns a method for inspection of rolling elements (W) by means of ultrasound, wherein the rolling elements (W) are taken individually to an ultrasound measuring device (4), wherein the rolling elements (W) are moved in the ultrasound measuring device (4) and subjected to an ultrasound measurement and wherein depending on a result of the ultrasound measurement the individual rolling elements (W) are classified as defective or nondefective. The subject matter of the invention is also a rolling element inspection layout for performance of the method, having at least one ultrasound measuring device (4) with a holder for the individual rolling elements (W), at least one ultrasound head (10) and a drive unit for the movement of the individual rolling elements (W).

An arrangement for shaft sealing and to a method for monitoring the sealing of the shaft seal are provided. The arrangement includes a rotating slide ring and a stationary slide ring, with a sealing gap having a lubricating film therebetween. The arrangement includes at least one sound transducer for generating and/or receiving exciting sound waves in the form of Lamb Rayleigh waves in at least one slide ring. The signals of the sound transducer are evaluated by an evaluation unit to determine the condition of the lubricating film in the gap.

A double-robot system for detecting a flaw of a rim or a spoke includes a movable cart, a lifting platform, a lifting rotating mechanism, and robots. The lifting platform is movably connected to the movable cart in a vertical direction. The lifting rotating mechanism is disposed on the lifting platform. A wheel lifting arm is disposed on each of the left side and the right side of the lifting rotating mechanism. The wheel lifting arms are used for lap joint on a rail where a wheel in detection is located. One robot is fixedly connected to each of the front side and the rear side of the lifting rotating mechanism. Each robot is provided with a tread carrier. The lifting rotating mechanism is also provided with two inner carriers.

A couplant and an arrangement of a couplant include a transducer and a construction component. The couplant is adapted to couple the transducer to a surface of the construction component. The couplant comprises basically 15% to 75% mass portion of hard metal.

A nondestructive inspection apparatus includes a focused ultrasonic probe which transmits burst waves to a surface of a spherical body in water, a signal output portion which outputs the burst waves to the focused ultrasonic probe, a probe position changing mechanism which rotates the spherical body arranged in water so as to change a position at which the burst waves from the focused ultrasonic probeare incident, and a signal detection portion which detects a harmonic waveform generated when a closed crack or a metal inclusion oscillates by waves excited in the spherical body by the burst waves through mode conversion. A closed crack or a metal inclusion in the vicinity of a surface of the spherical body can thus be detected and imaged as necessary.

A non contact sensor for use in magnetostrictive testing of a solid ferrous structure. In its simplest form, the sensor has a set of permanent magnets arranged in a row with their poles in the same direction, an electrical coil wrapped around the set of magnets, wrapped in direction parallel to the common poles of the magnets, thereby forming a top portion above the set of magnets and a bottom portion below the set of magnets, and a metal shield interposed between the top portion of the coil and the set of magnets. The sensor is operable such that a time varying current in the coil causes guided waves to travel to the structure and to be reflected from anomalies in the structure even when there is no ferromagnetic coupling material between the sensor and the structure.

A method and apparatus of condition monitoring and detection of vibration generated from at least two different sources using a single sensor/transducer is provided. The method and apparatus provides switchably adapting signal processing, such as amplification and frequency filtering, to one at a time of the at least two different signal sources. An example of which is vibration sources. This adapts the analogue signal from the sensor/transducer to the analogue to digital converter and any further optional analogue signal processing, so that it is possible to maximize use of available dynamic range of these and without any saturation of these. Suitably, the signal processing to analyze the vibration signals is also appropriately adapted to the vibration source in question.

An on-board monitoring system for bogies or railroad trucks monitors components over time. The system is modular comprising a first modular device for mounting on the vehicle next to a component to be monitored and passing data on to one or more further modular devices. Focussed data acquisition and ongoing monitoring of a component becomes possible. Data transmission and analysis is also considered.