Tire or wheel for use on a vehicle, machine, equipment, toy or the like. The tire or wheel has an illuminable feature including at least one optical fiber.

The invention relates to a method of determining that a failure has occurred at or in a wheel end bearing of a vehicle. An estimated value of the temperature of the wheel end bearing is calculated by a processing circuitry. A measured value of the temperature of the wheel end bearing is acquired by a temperature sensor. The measured value is compared with the estimated value by the processing circuitry. When the measured value deviates from the estimated value by a predefined difference or more, then the processing circuitry determines that a failure has occurred. The invention also relates to a system for determining that a failure has occurred.

Tire or wheel for use on a vehicle, machine, equipment, toy or the like. The tire or wheel has an illuminable feature including at least one optical fiber.

A wheel bolt torque monitoring system for a vehicle includes a torque sensor disposed at each bolt that is used to mount a wheel at a wheel mount of a vehicle. A transmitting device is disposed at the wheel mount of the vehicle, and the transmitting device receives data from the torque sensors at the wheel mounted at the wheel mount. The transmitting device transmits data to a control unit, which processes data received from the transmitting device to determine when a torque at a bolt is below a threshold torque level. Responsive to the control unit determining that a torque at a bolt is below the threshold torque level, the control unit generates an alert.

A method for detecting a loosened bolted wheel joint on a wheel of a vehicle. The angular velocity of a hub of the wheel is evaluated. A periodic wheel modulation of the angular velocity is ascertained. An oscillation of the wheel generated due to the loosened bolted wheel joint is detected, using a step-change in a phase angle of the modulation by an expected angular increment, which is a function of the number of bolts.

A wheel hub assembly apparatus comprising a housing configured for operative fitment to a wheel hub assembly. Also included is at least one air pressure sensor having a fluid connection for in situ fitment to tire valve and configured to selectively sense a pressure of a tire mounted on the wheel hub assembly, a temperature detector configured to detect an ambient temperature within the wheel hub assembly, a display configured to provide external display of information, and a controller arranged in signal communication with the pressure sensor, temperature detector and display, the controller configured to receive sensed pressure and/or detected temperature and to display same via the display.

A system and method utilize a first rotation sensor that provides a first signal indicative of a first rotation of a first end of a rotating coupling. The rotating coupling has an articulating member mechanically coupling the first end to a second end. A second rotation sensor provides a second signal indicative of a second rotation of the second end of the rotating coupling. A processor is coupled to the first and second rotation sensors and is operable to determine a relationship between the first and second rotations based on the first and second signals. Based on the relationship, the processor estimates at least one of a degradation of and a remaining useful life of the rotating coupling.

Implementations disclosed and claimed herein provide systems and methods for identifying and mitigating lug nut loosening. In one implementation, an indicator body of an indicator has a top surface connecting a front surface and a back surface. A first side of the indicator body is disposed opposite a second side of the indicator body. A receiver extends from the top surface into an interior of the indicator body. The receiver is configured to form a translational relationship of the lug nut with the indicator through a mating fit of the lug nut within the receiver. The translational relationship generates a corresponding rotation of the indicator body in response to a rotation of the lug nut. The corresponding rotation of the indicator body provides an indication that the lug nut is loose.

A vehicle sensor system reduces power obtained from a first power-generating component of a power-generating system based on a temperature variation between the first power-generating component and one or more additional power-generating components of the power-generating system at different operating speeds of the power-generating system. The power is reduced to prevent or reduce damage to the first power-generating component. The power-generating components can be axles of a vehicle.

Various embodiments provided a railroad car brake beam wear guide for mounting in a brake beam guide bracket of a railroad car truck side frame and including a spacer that partially defines a slide-way for a brake beam lug of a brake beam and that limits lateral movement of the brake beam. In various embodiments, the wear guide can be employed for other uses besides for railroad cars.