WHEEL HEAD MONITORING UNIT AND METHOD FOR DETECTING A MALFUNCTION OF A WHEEL HEAD

Abstract

A wheel head monitoring unit includes a first sensor unit, a second sensor unit and an evaluation unit, wherein the first sensor unit detects and/or is configured to detect at least a first measured value of a first wheel head, wherein the second sensor unit detects and/or is configured to detect a second measured value of a second wheel head, wherein the evaluation unit is configured to compare the first measured value with the second measured value and/or the first measured value with a predicted first measured value and/or time derivatives or integrations thereof, wherein the evaluation unit is configured in particular to output and/or store a signal if the difference of the first measured value from the second measured value and/or of the first measured value from the predicted first measured value exceeds a threshold value.

Claims

1-12. (canceled)

13. A wheel head monitoring unit, comprising: a first sensor unit; a second sensor unit; and an evaluation unit; wherein the first sensor unit is configured to detect at least a first measurement value of a first wheel head; wherein the second sensor unit is configured to detect a second measurement value of a second wheel head; wherein the evaluation unit is configured to compare the first measured value with the second measured value, and/or the evaluation unit is configured to compare time derivatives or integrations of the first measured value with the second measured value; and wherein the evaluation unit is configured to output and/or store a signal if the difference of the first measured value to the second measured value exceeds a threshold value; and wherein the wheel head monitoring unit comprises an ambient temperature sensor.

14. The wheel head monitoring unit according to claim 13, wherein the first sensor unit and/or the second sensor unit is/are configured to detect a plurality of measured variables.

15. The wheel head monitoring unit according to claim 14, wherein the first sensor unit and/or the second sensor unit is/are configured to detect a temperature of a component of the first and/or of the second wheel head of a brake of a brake disc and/or of brake linings of the first or of the second wheel head.

16. The wheel head monitoring unit according to claim 15, wherein the first sensor unit and/or the second sensor unit is/are configured to detect a temperature of a wheel bearing of the first and/or the second wheel head.

17. The wheel head monitoring unit according to claim 16, wherein the first sensor unit and/or the second sensor unit is/are configured to detect a rotational speed of a wheel of a lift axle of the first and/or the second wheel head.

18. The wheel head monitoring unit according to claim 17, further comprising: a plurality of sensor units, where each sensor unit is configured to detect at least one measured value of a respective wheel head.

19. The wheel head monitoring unit according to claim 18, where the plurality of sensor units includes at least four sensor units.

20. The wheel head monitoring unit according to claim 18, wherein the first sensor unit and/or the second sensor unit comprises/comprise a vibration sensor.

21. The wheel head monitoring unit according to claim 20, wherein the wheel head monitoring unit includes a commercial vehicle wheel head monitoring unit.

22. The wheel head monitoring unit according to claim 13, wherein the first sensor unit and/or the second sensor unit is/are configured to detect a temperature of a component of the first and/or of the second wheel head of a brake of a brake disc and/or of brake linings of the first or of the second wheel head.

23. The wheel head monitoring unit according to claim 13, wherein the first sensor unit and/or the second sensor unit is/are configured to detect a temperature of a wheel bearing of the first and/or the second wheel head.

24. The wheel head monitoring unit according to claim 13, wherein the first sensor unit and/or the second sensor unit is/are configured to detect a rotational speed of a wheel of a lift axle of the first and/or the second wheel head.

25. The wheel head monitoring unit according to claim 13, further comprising: a plurality of sensor units, where each sensor unit is configured to detect at least one measured value of a respective wheel head.

26. The wheel head monitoring unit according to claim 25, where the plurality of sensor units includes at least four sensor units.

27. The wheel head monitoring unit according to claim 13, wherein the first sensor unit and/or the second sensor unit comprises/comprise a vibration sensor.

28. The wheel head monitoring unit according to claim 13, wherein the wheel head monitoring unit includes a commercial vehicle wheel head monitoring unit.

30. A method for detecting a malfunction of a wheel head using a wheel head monitoring unit according to claim 13, comprising: detection of the first measured value of the first wheel head; detection of the second measured value of the second wheel head; and comparing the first measured value with the second measured value.

31. A commercial vehicle comprising the wheel head monitoring unit according to claim 13.

32. A commercial vehicle according to claim 31, wherein the commercial vehicle includes a commercial vehicle trailer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Further advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description with reference to the figures. Individual features of the embodiments shown can thereby also be used in other embodiments, unless this has been expressly excluded. Showing:

[0016] FIG. 1 is a wheel head monitoring unit;

[0017] FIG. 2 is a comparison of a first measured value with a second measured value; and

[0018] FIG. 3 is another wheel head monitoring unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in FIG. 1. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

[0020] As used herein, the term “and/or,” when used in a list of two or more items, means that any one of the listed items can be employed by itself, or any combination of two or more of the listed items, can be employed. For example, if a composition is described as containing components A, B, and/or C, the composition can contain A alone; B alone; C alone; A and B in combination; A and C in combination; B and C in combination; or A, B, and C in combination.

[0021] As used herein the terms “the,” “a,” or “an,” mean “at least one,” and should not be limited to “only one” unless explicitly indicated to the contrary. Thus, for example, reference to “a component” includes embodiments having two or more such components unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a wheel head monitoring unit 1. This wheel head monitoring unit 1 is used to monitor a first wheel head 2 and a second wheel head 4 of a rigid axle of a commercial vehicle. The wheel head monitoring unit 1 has a first sensor unit 10 and a second sensor unit 30, wherein the first sensor unit 10 is arranged in a brake system of the first wheel head 2. The second sensor unit 30, on the other hand, is arranged in a brake system of the second wheel head 4. The first sensor unit 10 and the second sensor unit 30 are connected to the evaluation unit 50 in terms of information technology, in particular by a wired connection or preferably by a wireless connection. The evaluation unit 50 serves to compare the first measured value Ml, which is detected by the first sensor unit 10, with the second measured value M2, which is detected by the second sensor unit 30. It may be preferred if the evaluation unit 50 is included in the first sensor unit 10 and/or the second sensor unit 30. Alternatively, preferably, the evaluation unit 50 can also be part of an already existing system, in particular for example an ABS system. In this case, the evaluation unit 50 can not only compare the first measured value M1 with the second measured value M2, but can additionally or alternatively, for example, compare the first measured value M1 with a predicted first measured value. This comparison may thereby refer to the measured values themselves and/or to the temporal derivatives of the measured values and/or the temporal integration of the measured value over time. In other words, the time derivatives of the measured values or the integral value of the measured values can also be compared.

[0023] FIG. 2 shows a time history of a first measured value M1 with a second measured value M2. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the first measured value M1 and the second measured value M2 have a difference Diff from a certain point in time to each other, wherein this difference Diff of the measured values M1, M2 indicates a conclusion about a malfunction of an element or a component of the first wheel head 2 or the second wheel head 4.

[0024] FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of a wheel head monitoring unit 1. In principle, the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 can be combined with the variant shown in FIG. 1. The wheel head monitoring unit 1 is used to monitor a first wheel head 2 and a second wheel head 4 of a rigid axle of a commercial vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle trailer. The wheel head monitoring unit 1 has a first sensor unit 10 and a second sensor unit 30, wherein the first sensor unit 10 is arranged in a wheel bearing unit of the first wheel head 2. The second sensor unit 30, on the other hand, is arranged in a wheel bearing unit of the second wheel head 4.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0025] 1—wheel head monitoring unit [0026] 2—first wheel head [0027] 4—second wheel head [0028] 10—first sensor unit [0029] 30—second sensor unit [0030] 50—evaluation unit [0031] Diff—difference of the first measured value to the second measured value [0032] M1—first measured value [0033] M2—second measured value