Recorder control device for hotbox detector system

Claim 2

A hotbox detector system for railway cars comprising a. detector means for generating simultaneously occurring first and second pulses having a fixed duration but whose amplitudes vary as a function of detected radiant energy, b. encoding means for converting said first and second amplitude varying pulses to width modulated pulses having a fixed amplitude, said width modulated pulses having durations proportional to the amplitudes of their respective amplitude varying pulses, said encoding means further generating a pair of bilevel signals which are at opposite levels in the normal state, c. means responsive to the passage of a train past said detector means for causing one of said bilevel signals to switch to the other level and thereafTer allowing said width modulated pulses to pass, d. transmission means for transmitting the outputs of said encoding means to a remote location, e. decoding means responsive to the transmitted outputs of said encoding means for converting said width modulated pulses into amplitude varying pulses of fixed duration, said decoding means further including monitoring means for continuously monitoring said pair of bilevel signals to produce an output control voltage a first predetermined time after said one of said bilevel signals switches to said other level and to terminate said output voltage a second predetermined time after said bilevel signals resume their normal state, and f. recorder means controlled by said output voltage for recording said amplitude varying pulses produced by said decoding means.

Claim 3

The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said monitoring means comprises, a. a first terminal connected to receive the first of said bilevel signals, b. a second terminal connected to receive the second of said bilevel signals, c. output switching means, having two switching states, for generating said control voltage only when in a first state of said two switching states, d. chargeable storage means connected to said output switching means for switching said switching means to said first state when the charge on said storage means is at a first preestablished value and for switching said switching means to a second state when the charge on said storage means is at a second preestablished value, and e. means connected to said input terminals responsive to said bilevel signals at said first and second terminals for charging said chargeable storage means to said first value when said pair of signals are at said normal state opposite levels for said first predetermined period of time, and for discharging said chargeable storage means to said second value when said pair of bilevel signals are at the same level for said second predetermined period of time.

Claim 4

The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said bilevels are ''''0'''' and ''''138 levels, said normal state opposite levels are ''''0'''' level for said first bilevel signal and ''''1'''' level for said second bilevel signal, and said means for charging and discharging comprises, a. a first charging circuit means connected to said second terminal and said chargeable storage means for charging said chargeable storage means at a first time constant in response to said second bilevel signal being at the ''''1'''' level, b. a second charging circuit means connected to said first and second terminals and said chargeable storage means for charging said chargeable storage means at a second time constant in response to said second bilevel signal going to said ''''1'''' level when said first bilevel signal is at said ''''0'''' level, said second time constant being shorter than said first time constant, and c. discharging circuit means connected to said chargeable storage means and said first charging circuit for discharging said chargeable storage means when said first charging circuit means is not charging said chargeable storage means.

Claim 5

The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said chargeable storage means is a storage capacitor.

Claim 6

The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said first charging circuit means comprises, a transistor and resistor combination in series with said capacitor, the base of said transistor being connected to said second terminal for turning on said transistor when said second bilevel signal is at the ''''1'''' level.

Claim 7

The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a. alarm means responsive to the outputs of said detector means for inhibiting one of said width modulated pulses for a fixed period of time if one of the said outputs of said detector means exceeds a predetermined amplitude level, and b. said monitoring means further comprisinG a means responsive to the inhibiting of said one of said width modulated pulses for providing an output indication.

Claim 8

The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said output indication from said decoding means is recorded by said recorder means.

Claim 9

The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said output indication is an alarm.

Claim 10

Apparatus for turning on and off a recorder in response to the passage of a train past a hotbox detector means positioned at trackside, the apparatus comprising: a. controllable signal generating means for generating a pair of bilevel signals which are at given relative levels in the normal state, b. means responsive to the passage of a train past said hotbox detector for controlling said signal generating means to change the given relative levels of said bilevel signals, c. means for modulating said changed bilevel signals in accordance with the intensity of the radiant heat detected by said hotbox detector, d. a recorder, and e. recorder detector means having said pair of bilevel signals applied to a pair of inputs thereto and an output connected to said recorder for initiating a turn-on output voltage in response to said bilevel signals being at said changed levels for a first predetermined period of time and for terminating said turn-on output voltage in response to said bilevel signals being at said given levels for a second predetermined amount of time. 10, In combination first means for providing simultaneously occurring first and second signals having a fixed duration but whose amplitude varies from a given level as a function of the departures of an operating characteristic of two respective events from a given level, second means for converting said first and second amplitude varied signals into respective third and forth signals having a fixed amplitude but whose width varies from a given base width as a function of the amplitude variation of said first and second signals from said base level, third means for communicating said third and fourth signals, fourth means responsive to said communicated third and fourth signals for converting the width variation thereof into amplitude variation fifth and sixth signals, a utilization means responsive to the amplitude of said fifth and sixth signals fifth means responsive to at least one of said first or second signals exceeding a given amplitude level for removing a portion of the leading edge of one of said third and fourth signals by an amount less than said given width, said fourth means nonresponsive to the removal of a portion of the leading edge of said communicated third or fourth signals to effect said conversion of said width variation into amplitude variation fifth and sixth signals, and sixth means responsive to removed portion of the leading edge of said communicated third or fourth signal for providing an indication.

Claim 11

Apparatus for turning on and off a recorder in response to the passage of a train past a hotbox detector means positioned at trackside, the apparatus comprising: a. controllable signal generating means for generating a pair of bilevel signals which are at given relative levels in the normal state, b. means responsive to the passage of a train past said hotbox detector for controlling said signal generating means to change the given relative levels of said bilevel signals, c. means for modulating said changed bilevel signals in accordance with the intensity of the radiant heat detected by said hotbox detector, d. a recorder, and e. recorder detector means having said pair of bilevel signals applied to a pair of inputs thereto and an output connected to said recorder for initiating a turn-on output voltage in response to said bilevel signals being at said changed levels for a first predetermined period of time and for terminating said turn-on output voltage in response to said bilevel signals being at said given levels for a second predetermined amount of time. 10, In combination first means for providing simultaneously occurring first and second signals having a fixed duration but whose amplitude varies from a given level as a function of the departures of an operating characteristic of two respective events from a given level, second means for converting said first and second amplitude varied signals into respective third and forth signals having a fixed amplitude but whose width varies from a given base width as a function of the amplitude variation of said first and second signals from said base level, third means for communicating said third and fourth signals, fourth means responsive to said communicated third and fourth signals for converting the width variation thereof into amplitude variation fifth and sixth signals, a utilization means responsive to the amplitude of said fifth and sixth signals fifth means responsive to at least one of said first or second signals exceeding a given amplitude level for removing a portion of the leading edge of one of said third and fourth signals by an amount less than said given width, said fourth means nonresponsive to the removal of a portion of the leading edge of said communicated third or fourth signals to effect said conversion of said width variation into amplitude variation fifth and sixth signals, and sixth means responsive to removed portion of the leading edge of said communicated third or fourth signal for providing an indication.

Claim 12

An arrangement according to claim 10 wherein said departures of operating characteristic occur recurrently over a given time interval, seventh means for recurrently measuring said departures over said given time interval, said first means responsive to said measured departures for providing said first and second signals, and eighth means responsive to the initiation of said measurements to render said utilization means operative to respond to signals only for the duration of said measurement.

Claim 13

An arrangement according to claim 11 comprising ninth means responsive to the time of occurrence of each measurement for initiating the leading edge of said third and fourth signals.

Claim 14

In combination first means for providing recurrent first and second signals having a first characteristic varying from a reference level as a function of the departures of an operating characteristic of two respective events during a given recording period, second means for converting said first and second signals into respective recurrent third and fourth signals having a second characteriStic varying from a reference level as a function of the variance of said first characteristic of said first and second signals, third means for communicating said third and fourth signals, fourth means responsive to said communicated third and fourth signals for converting the second characteristic variation thereof into first characteristic varied fifth and sixth signals, a utilization means responsive to the first characteristic variations of said fifth and sixth signals, fifth means responsive to at least one of said first or second signals exceeding a given first characteristic level for removing a portion of said second characteristic of one of said third and fourth signals for all subsequent recurrences associated with said given recording period, said fourth means nonresponsive to the removed portion of said communicated third or fourth signals to effect the response of said utilization means to said fifth and sixth signals, sixth means responsive to the removed portion of said communicated third or fourth signals for providing an indication.

Claim 15

In combination first means for providing recurrent first and second signals having a first characteristic varying from a reference level as a function of the departures of an operating characteristic of two respective events during a given recording period, second means for converting said first and second signals into respective recurrent third and fourth signals having a second characteriStic varying from a reference level as a function of the variance of said first characteristic of said first and second signals, third means for communicating said third and fourth signals, fourth means responsive to said communicated third and fourth signals for converting the second characteristic variation thereof into first characteristic varied fifth and sixth signals, a utilization means responsive to the first characteristic variations of said fifth and sixth signals, fifth means responsive to at least one of said first or second signals exceeding a given first characteristic level for removing a portion of said second characteristic of one of said third and fourth signals for all subsequent recurrences associated with said given recording period, said fourth means nonresponsive to the removed portion of said communicated third or fourth signals to effect the response of said utilization means to said fifth and sixth signals, sixth means responsive to the removed portion of said communicated third or fourth signals for providing an indication.

Claim 16

An arrangement according to claim 13 comprising seventh means for measuring said first characteristic departures over said given time interval, eighth means responsive to said measurements to cause said utilization means to respond to first characteristic variations only for the duration of said measurements.

Claim 17

An arrangement according to claim 14 wherein said eighth means comprises means delayed with respect to the initiation of and the termination of measurements during said recording period for initiating and terminating the responsiveness of said utilization means to first characteristic variations.

Claim 18

In combination first means responsive to the successive passage of pairs of wheels past a measurement station during a given time period for providing corresponding recurrent first and second pulses whose amplitude varies from a reference level as a function of the radiant heat of the journals associated with said wheels, second means for converting said first and second amplitude varied pulses into respective third and fourth pulses whose width varies from a given reference width as a function of the amplitude variation of said first and second pulses from said reference level, third means for communicating said third and fourth pulses, fourth means responsive to said communicated third and fourth pulses for converting the width variation thereof into amplitude variation fifth and sixth pulses, a recorder responsive to the amplitude of said fifth and sixth pulses to record the temperatures of said journals, fifth means responsive to at least one of said first or second pulses exceeding a given amplitude level indicating a hot journal for removing a portion of the leading edge of one of said third and fourth pulses by an amount less than said given width, said fourth means nonresponsive to the removal of a portion of the leading edge of said communicated third or fourth pulses to effect the recording of the temperature of said journals, sixth means responsive to the removed portion of the leading edge of said communicated third or fourth pulses for providing an indication of a hot journal.

Claim 19

In combination first means responsive to the successive passage of pairs of wheels past a measurement station during a given time period for providing corresponding recurrent first and second pulses whose amplitude varies from a reference level as a function of the radiant heat of the journals associated with said wheels, second means for converting said first and second amplitude varied pulses into respective third and fourth pulses whose width varies from a given reference width as a function of the amplitude variation of said first and second pulses from said reference level, third means for communicating said third and fourth pulses, fourth means responsive to said communicated third and fourth pulses for converting the width variation thereof into amplitude variation fifth and sixth pulses, a recorder responsive to the amplitude of said fifth and sixth pulses to record the temperatures of said journals, fifth means responsive to at least one of said first or second pulses exceeding a given amplitude level indicating a hot journal for removing a portion of the leading edge of one of said third and fourth pulses by an amount less than said given width, said fourth means nonresponsive to the removal of a portion of the leading edge of said communicated third or fourth pulses to effect the recording of the temperature of said journals, sixth means responsive to the removed portion of the leading edge of said communicated third or fourth pulses for providing an indication of a hot journal.

Claim 20

An arrangement according to claim 16 wherein said fifth means removes a portion of the leading edge of one of said third and fourth signals for all subsequent recurrences thereof associated with said given time period.

Claim 21

An arrangement according to claim 16 wherein said recorder is normally inoperative to record, said third means communicating first and second carrier signals having a first and second state respectively, means for changing the states of said carrier signals in response to said successive passage of pairs of wheels, said recorder responsive to said first state of said carrier signals to become operative after a given time delay and responsive to said changed state of said carrier signals to become inoperative.

Claim 22

Apparatus for recording the radiant heat generated by the journals of a passing train comprising a source of a first and second control signal each capable of occurring at a first or a second logic level state, said control signals having a first pattern of logic states in the absence of a passing train, means responsive to the passage of a train to change the logic states of said first and second control signals to a second pattern of logic states for substantially the time period of said train passage, means responsive to the detection of radiant heat from the journals associated with one side of said train to produce first hotbox signals, means responsive to the detection of radiant heat from the journal, associated with the other side of said train to produce second hotbox signals, means responsive to first hotbox signals for changing the second pattern logic states of said first control signals to the opposite state for a time period which is a function of the intensity of the detected value of radiant heat represented by said first hotbox signals, means responsive to second hotbox signals for changing the second pattern logic states of said second control signals to the opposite state for a time period which is a function of the intensity of the detected radiant heat represented by the value of said second hotbox signals, a normally inoperative recorder, means responsive to said second pattern logic states of said first and second control signals for rendering the recorder operative for substantially the period of said train passage, said recorder responsive to said changed second pattern logic states of said first and second control signals upon being rendered operative for recording said first and second hotbox signals.

Claim 23

Apparatus for recording the radiant heat generated by the journals of a passing train comprising a source of a first and second control signal each capable of occurring at a first or a second logic level state, said control signals having a first pattern of logic states in the absence of a passing train, means responsive to the passage of a train to change the logic states of said first and second control signals to a second pattern of logic states for substantially the time period of said train passage, means responsive to the detection of radiant heat from the journals associated with one side of said train to produce first hotbox signals, means responsive to the detection of radiant heat from the journal, associated with the other side of said train to produce second hotbox signals, means responsive to first hotbox signals for changing the second pattern logic states of said first control signals to the opposite state for a time period which is a function of the intensity of the detected value of radiant heat represented by said first hotbox signals, means responsive to second hotbox signals for changing the second pattern logic states of said second control signals to the opposite state for a time period which is a function of the intensity of the detected radiant heat represented by the value of said second hotbox signals, a normally inoperative recorder, means responsive to said second pattern logic states of said first and second control signals for rendering the recorder operative for substantially the period of said train passage, said recorder responsive to said changed second pattern logic states of said first and second control signals upon being rendered operative for recording said first and second hotbox signals.

Claim 24

Apparatus for recording the heat associated with elements of a passing object comprising a source of a first and second control signal each capable of occurring at a first or a second logic level state, said control signals having a first pattern of logic states in the absence of a passing object, means responsive to the passage of an object to change the logic states of said first and second control signals to a second pattern of logic states for substantially the time period of said object passage, means responsive to the detection of heat associated with elements associated with one side of said object to produce first detection signals, means responsive to the detection of heat associated with elements associated with another side of said object to produce second detection signals, means responsive to first detection signals for changing the second pattern logic states of said first control signals to the opposite state for a time period which is a function of the intensity of the detected value of heat represented by said first detection signals, means responsive to second detection signals for changing the second pattern logic states of said second control signals to the opposite state for a time period which is a function of the intensity of the detected heat represented by the value of said second detection signals, a normally inoperative recorder, means responsive to said second pattern logic states of said first and second control signals for rendering the recorder operative for substantially the period of said object passage, said recorder responsive to said changed second pattern logic states of said first and second control signals upon being rendered operative for recording said first and second detection signals.

Claim 25

Apparatus for recording the heat associated with elements of a passing object comprising a source of a first and second control signal each capable of occurring at a first or a second logic level state, said control signals having a first pattern of logic states in the absence of a passing object, means responsive to the passage of an object to change the logic states of said first and second control signals to a second pattern of logic states for substantially the time period of said object passage, means responsive to the detection of heat associated with elements associated with one side of said object to produce first detection signals, means responsive to the detection of heat associated with elements associated with another side of said object to produce second detection signals, means responsive to first detection signals for changing the second pattern logic states of said first control signals to the opposite state for a time period which is a function of the intensity of the detected value of heat represented by said first detection signals, means responsive to second detection signals for changing the second pattern logic states of said second control signals to the opposite state for a time period which is a function of the intensity of the detected heat represented by the value of said second detection signals, a normally inoperative recorder, means responsive to said second pattern logic states of said first and second control signals for rendering the recorder operative for substantially the period of said object passage, said recorder responsive to said changed second pattern logic states of said first and second control signals upon being rendered operative for recording said first and second detection signals.