A system and method for monitoring the operating condition of a wheelset on a railcar comprising a sealed unit mounted on or near a wheelset of the railcar for collecting data from the wheelset and performing AI analyses on the collected data to determine the operational condition and predict failure modes for the wheelset. Results are communicated off-railcar wirelessly via one or more of several different methods.

A system and method for monitoring the operating condition of a wheelset on a railcar comprising a sealed unit mounted on or near a wheelset of the railcar for collecting data from the wheelset and performing AI analyses on the collected data to determine the operational condition and predict failure modes for the wheelset. Results are communicated off-railcar wirelessly via one or more of several different methods.

A system and method for monitoring the operating condition of a wheelset on a railcar comprising a sealed unit mounted on or near a wheelset of the railcar for collecting data from the wheelset and performing AI analyses on the collected data to determine the operational condition and predict failure modes for the wheelset. Results are communicated off-railcar wirelessly via one or more of several different methods.

This application relates to methods and apparatus for the detection of anomalies in the wheelsets of rail vehicles, for instance for detection of defects such as wheel flats (303) of a wheel (301). The method using a distributed acoustic sensor (106) having a sensing optical fiber (104) deployed along at least part of a rail track (201) as a train (202) moves along that part of the track. The distributed acoustic sensor detects acoustic signals from a plurality of longitudinal sensing portions of the sensing optical fiber. A processor 108 analyzes the acoustic signals to determine the train speed v. Having determined the train speed the processor also analyzes the acoustic signals for a characteristic acoustic signal so as to detect an anomaly in a wheelset where the characteristic acoustic signal is based on the determined train speed. In particular the method may involve at least a first section of track where the train travels with a first speed v1 and a second section of track where the train travels with a second different speed v2 the characteristic acoustic signal may be a repetitive signal at a frequency that varies proportional to the train speed.

This application relates to methods and apparatus for the detection of anomalies in the wheelsets of rail vehicles, for instance for detection of defects such as wheel flats (303) of a wheel (301). The method using a distributed acoustic sensor (106) having a sensing optical fiber (104) deployed along at least part of a rail track (201) as a train (202) moves along that part of the track. The distributed acoustic sensor detects acoustic signals from a plurality of longitudinal sensing portions of the sensing optical fiber. A processor 108 analyzes the acoustic signals to determine the train speed v. Having determined the train speed the processor also analyzes the acoustic signals for a characteristic acoustic signal so as to detect an anomaly in a wheelset where the characteristic acoustic signal is based on the determined train speed. In particular the method may involve at least a first section of track where the train travels with a first speed v1 and a second section of track where the train travels with a second different speed v2 the characteristic acoustic signal may be a repetitive signal at a frequency that varies proportional to the train speed.

A diagnostic device for determining an out-of-roundness on wheels of rail vehicles within a specified measuring section, comprising a plurality of force sensors, which are designed to determine forces acting on them and are connected to an evaluating device, wherein the evaluating device is provided for determining the out-of-roundness by integrating a force signal F, which is forwarded by the force sensors over time in order to determine an impulse. A method is also provided for determining an out-of-roundness on wheels of rail vehicles within a specified measurement section, wherein the force signals of at least one force sensor are fed to an evaluating device, the evaluating device detects an impulse, and the evaluating device integrates a force signal over a defined time interval and thereafter uses said force signal to output a result.

A diagnostic device for determining an out-of-roundness on wheels of rail vehicles within a specified measuring section, comprising a plurality of force sensors, which are designed to determine forces acting on them and are connected to an evaluating device, wherein the evaluating device is provided for determining the out-of-roundness by integrating a force signal F, which is forwarded by the force sensors over time in order to determine an impulse. A method is also provided for determining an out-of-roundness on wheels of rail vehicles within a specified measurement section, wherein the force signals of at least one force sensor are fed to an evaluating device, the evaluating device detects an impulse, and the evaluating device integrates a force signal over a defined time interval and thereafter uses said force signal to output a result.

The present invention discloses a inspection device for detecting a defect of a metal object, where the inspection device includes a main base, at least one main magnetic module, and a main inspection module. The at least one main magnetic module is installed on the main base, for attaching the main base onto the metal object under an action of a magnetic force. The main inspection module is installed on the main base, to detect at least one type of defect of the metal object. The present invention further discloses a wheel defect inspection method and a wheel defect inspection device. The metal object defect inspection device may implement automatic detection of a defect on a whole circumference of a wheel.

The present invention discloses a inspection device for detecting a defect of a metal object, where the inspection device includes a main base, at least one main magnetic module, and a main inspection module. The at least one main magnetic module is installed on the main base, for attaching the main base onto the metal object under an action of a magnetic force. The main inspection module is installed on the main base, to detect at least one type of defect of the metal object. The present invention further discloses a wheel defect inspection method and a wheel defect inspection device. The metal object defect inspection device may implement automatic detection of a defect on a whole circumference of a wheel.

An amount of wear of a railroad vehicle wheel flange online while traveling in a curved section is directly measured. A laser rangefinder 3 is installed on an outer track side in a rounded curve section of a railroad track. When a railroad vehicle travels through the rounded curve section, the laser rangefinder 3 measures a distance to a front rim surface of a wheel on an outer track side of a wheelset in a forward direction of travel of a bogie forming a vehicle. The amount of wheel flange wear is obtained by comparing this measured distance with a previous measurement of the measured distance. It is then possible to control the amount of wheel flange wear when traveling in a curved section, thus making it possible to quickly find wheels having flange wear that has exceeded a control range and ensure safety during travel of the railroad vehicle.