Methods and systems employing strain gauge signals to determine the dynamics of moving railcars

Claim 2

A measuring system for determining properties associated with a moving railcar, the system comprising: at least one strain gage adapted for coupling to at least one of two parallel rails of a railroad track; an amplifier circuit for receiving and amplifying signals from the at least one strain gage, resulting in amplified signals; and a first processing means for processing the amplified signals and for (i) monitoring the amplified signals for a rate of voltage increase that is greater than a predetermined value that is indicative of the moving railcar passing directly over the at least one strain gage; (ii) determining a baseline voltage level from the amplified signals until the rate of voltage increase of the amplified signals exceeds the predetermined value; the baseline voltage level being equal to the minimum voltage of the amplified signals prior to the rate of voltage increase of the amplified signals exceeding the predetermined value; (iii) determining a peak voltage level of the amplified signals after the rate of voltage increase of the amplified signals exceeds the predetermined valve.

Claim 3

The system of claim 1 wherein there are four strain gauges adapted for coupling to at least one of two parallel rails of a railroad track.

Claim 4

The system of claim 2 wherein, when coupled, two of the four strain gauges are coupled to one of the parallel rails and the other two of the four strain gauges are coupled to the other of the parallel rails.

Claim 5

The system of claim 3 wherein the strain gauges, when coupled to the parallel rails, are positioned such that both wheels on a first axle of the moving railcar pass over strain gauges approximately simultaneously.

Claim 6

The system of claim 4 further comprising a converter circuit for receiving the amplified signal and for converting the amplified signal to a digital signal for processing by the first processing means.

Claim 7

The system of claim 5, further comprising: a noise reduction circuit associated with the amplifier circuit for reducing noise associated with each of the four strain gages; and a surge protection circuit for protecting the converter circuit and the first processing means from voltage surges.

Claim 8

The system of claim 1, further comprising: a second processing means for receiving the baseline voltage level and a differential voltage equal to the difference between the peak voltage level and the baseline voltage level from the first processing means and for determining a weight reading by multiplying the differential voltage by a constant that equates voltage to weight.

Claim 9

The system of claim 7, further comprising a display means for displaying the weight reading determined by the second processing means.

Claim 10

The system of claim 7, further comprising a communication means for transmitting the weight reading of the moving railcar from the second processing means to an external terminal.

Claim 11

The system of claim 5, wherein the two strain gauges coupled to one of the parallel rails are a known distance apart and wherein the two strain gauges coupled to the other of the parallel rails are a known distance apart and wherein the system further comprises: a second processing means for (i) receiving the baseline voltage level and a differential voltage equal to the difference between the peak voltage level and the baseline voltage level from the first processing means for each strain gauge; (ii) determining a weight reading for each strain gauge by multiplying the differential voltage for the respective strain gauge by a constant that equates voltage to weight; and (iii) determining a time difference between receiving the peak voltage level from one of the strain gauges coupled to the one rail and the other of the strain gauges coupled to the same rail the time difference being indicative of a time required for an axle of the moving railcar to travel the known distance.

Claim 12

The system of claim 10 wherein the second processing means calculates a speed of the moving railcar by using the time difference and the known distance.

Claim 13

The system of claim 11 further comprising a controller means for transmitting signals representative of the speed and the weight of the moving railcar to retarder control mechanisms located on the track such that the speed and weight may be used to determine if braking or other railcar control must be initiated.

Claim 14

The system of claim 10, wherein the second processing means is for determining an average weight from the weight indicated by the peak voltage level of each of the strain gauges.

Claim 15

The system of claim 1, wherein the first processor is for determining debounce effects by determining if the rate of voltage increase of the amplified signals after the determination of the peak voltage level is greater than the predetermined value.

Claim 18

The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of: calculating a weight of the moving railcar according to each of the at least one strain gauges by determining a difference between the peak voltage level and the baseline voltage level and multiplying the difference by a predefined conversion factor.

Claim 19

The method of claim 15, and the method farther comprising the steps of: wherein the at least one strain gauge comprises at least four strain gauges coupling the at least four strain gauges in a section of railroad track comprising two parallel rails wherein two of the four strain gauges are coupled to one of the parallel rails a known distance apart and the other two of the four strain gauges are coupled to the other of the parallel rails the known distance apart; recording a first time when the peak voltage level was transmitted by one of the four strain gauges; recording a second time when the peak voltage level was transmitted by the other of the four strain gauges embedded in the same parallel rail as the one of the four strain gauges; calculating a speed of the moving railcar by determining a difference between the first time and the second time and dividing the known distance by the difference.

Claim 20

A measuring system for determining properties associated with a moving railcar, the system comprising: at least one strain gage adapted for coupling to at least one of two parallel rails of a railroad track; an amplifier circuit for receiving and amplifying signals from the at least one strain gauge, resulting in amplified signals; a first processing means for processing the amplified signals and for (i) monitoring the amplified signals for a rate of voltage increase that is greater than a predetermined value that is indicative of the moving railcar passing directly over the at least one strain gage; (ii) determining a baseline voltage level from the amplified signals until the rate of voltage increase of the amplified signals exceeds the predetermined value; the baseline voltage level being equal to the minimum voltage of the amplified signals prior to the rate of voltage increase of the amplified signals exceeding a predetermined value; (iii) determining a peak voltage level after the rate of voltage increase of the amplified signals exceeds the predetermined valve; and a second processing means for receiving the baseline voltage level and a differential voltage equal to the difference between the peak voltage level and the baseline voltage level from the first processing means and for determining a weight reading by multiplying the differential voltage by a constant that equates voltage to weight.

Claim 21

A measuring system for determining properties associated with a moving railcar, the system comprising: at least one strain gage adapted for coupling to at least one of two parallel rails of a railroad track; an amplifier circuit for receiving and amplifying signals from the at least one strain gauge, resulting in amplified signals; a first processing means for processing the amplified signals and for (i) monitoring the amplified signals for a rate of voltage increase that is greater than a predetermined value that is indicative of the moving railcar passing directly over the at least one strain gage; (ii) determining a baseline voltage level from the amplified signals until the rate of voltage increase of the amplified signals exceeds the predetermined value; the baseline voltage level being equal to the minimum voltage of the amplified signals prior to the rate of voltage increase of the amplified signals exceeding a predetermined value; (iii) determining a peak voltage level after the rate of voltage increase of the amplified signals exceeds the predetermined valve; and a second processing means for receiving the baseline voltage level and a differential voltage equal to the difference between the peak voltage level and the baseline voltage level from the first processing means and for determining a weight reading by multiplying the differential voltage by a constant that equates voltage to weight.

Claim 22

The system of claim 18, wherein the first processor is for determining debounce effects by determining if the rate of voltage increase of the amplified signals after the determination of the peak voltage level is greater than the predetermined value.

Claim 23

A measuring system for determining properties associated with a moving railcar, the system comprising: at least two strain gauges adapted for coupling to at least one of two parallel rails of a railroad track, the at least two strain gauges being coupled to the at least one of the parallel rails at a known distance apart; an amplifier circuit for receiving and amplifying signals from the at least two strain gauges, resulting in amplified signals; a first processing means for processing the amplified signals and for (i) monitoring the amplified signals for each of the strain gauges for a rate of voltage increase that is greater than a predetermined value that is indicative of the moving railcar passing directly over the each of the strain gauges; (ii) determining for each strain gauge a baseline voltage level from the amplified signals until the rate of voltage increase of the amplified signals exceeds the predetermined value; the baseline voltage level being equal to the minimum voltage of the amplified signals prior to the rate of voltage increase of the amplified signals exceeding a predetermined value; (iii) determining for each strain gauge a peak voltage level after the rate of voltage increase of the amplified signals exceeds the predetermined valve; a second processing means for (i) receiving the baseline voltage level and a differential voltage equal to the difference between the peak voltage level and the baseline voltage level for each strain gauge from the first processing means (ii) determining a weight reading by multiplying the differential voltage by a constant that equates voltage to weight for each strain gauge; and (iii) determining a time difference between receiving the peak voltage level from one of the strain gauges and the peak voltage level from the other of the strain gauges, the time difference being indicative of a time required for an axle of the moving railcar to travel the known distance.

Claim 24

A measuring system for determining properties associated with a moving railcar, the system comprising: at least two strain gauges adapted for coupling to at least one of two parallel rails of a railroad track, the at least two strain gauges being coupled to the at least one of the parallel rails at a known distance apart; an amplifier circuit for receiving and amplifying signals from the at least two strain gauges, resulting in amplified signals; a first processing means for processing the amplified signals and for (i) monitoring the amplified signals for each of the strain gauges for a rate of voltage increase that is greater than a predetermined value that is indicative of the moving railcar passing directly over the each of the strain gauges; (ii) determining for each strain gauge a baseline voltage level from the amplified signals until the rate of voltage increase of the amplified signals exceeds the predetermined value; the baseline voltage level being equal to the minimum voltage of the amplified signals prior to the rate of voltage increase of the amplified signals exceeding a predetermined value; (iii) determining for each strain gauge a peak voltage level after the rate of voltage increase of the amplified signals exceeds the predetermined valve; a second processing means for (i) receiving the baseline voltage level and a differential voltage equal to the difference between the peak voltage level and the baseline voltage level for each strain gauge from the first processing means (ii) determining a weight reading by multiplying the differential voltage by a constant that equates voltage to weight for each strain gauge; and (iii) determining a time difference between receiving the peak voltage level from one of the strain gauges and the peak voltage level from the other of the strain gauges, the time difference being indicative of a time required for an axle of the moving railcar to travel the known distance.

Claim 25

The system of claim 20, wherein the second processor is for determining the speed of the railcar from the determined time difference.

Claim 26

A measuring system for determining properties associated with a moving railcar, the system comprising: at least two strain gauges adapted for coupling to at least one of two parallel rails of a railroad track, the at least two strain gauges being coupled to the at least one of the parallel rails at a known distance apart; an amplifier circuit for receiving and amplifying signals from the at least two strain gauges, resulting in amplified signals; a first processing means for processing the amplified signals and for (i) monitoring the amplified signals for each of the strain gauges for a rate of voltage increase that is greater than a predetermined value that is indicative of the moving railcar passing directly over the each of the strain gauges; (ii) determining for each strain gauge a baseline voltage level from the amplified signals until the rate of voltage increase of the amplified signals exceeds the predetermined value; the baseline voltage level being equal to the minimum voltage of the amplified signals prior to the rate of voltage increase of the amplified signals exceeding a predetermined value; (iii) determining for each strain gauge a peak voltage level after the rate of voltage increase of the amplified signals exceeds the predetermined value; a second processing means for (i) receiving the baseline voltage level and a differential voltage equal to the difference between the peak voltage level and the baseline voltage level for each strain gauge from the first processing means (ii) determining a weight reading by multiplying the differential voltage by a constant that equates voltage to weight for each strain gauge; (iii) determining a time difference between receiving the peak voltage level from one of the strain gauges and the peak voltage level from the other of the strain gauges, the time difference being indicative of a time required for an axle of the moving railcar to travel the known distance; (iv) determining a speed of the railcar from the determined time difference.

Claim 27

A measuring system for determining properties associated with a moving railcar, the system comprising: at least two strain gauges adapted for coupling to at least one of two parallel rails of a railroad track, the at least two strain gauges being coupled to the at least one of the parallel rails at a known distance apart; an amplifier circuit for receiving and amplifying signals from the at least two strain gauges, resulting in amplified signals; a first processing means for processing the amplified signals and for (i) monitoring the amplified signals for each of the strain gauges for a rate of voltage increase that is greater than a predetermined value that is indicative of the moving railcar passing directly over the each of the strain gauges; (ii) determining for each strain gauge a baseline voltage level from the amplified signals until the rate of voltage increase of the amplified signals exceeds the predetermined value; the baseline voltage level being equal to the minimum voltage of the amplified signals prior to the rate of voltage increase of the amplified signals exceeding a predetermined value; (iii) determining for each strain gauge a peak voltage level after the rate of voltage increase of the amplified signals exceeds the predetermined value; a second processing means for (i) receiving the baseline voltage level and a differential voltage equal to the difference between the peak voltage level and the baseline voltage level for each strain gauge from the first processing means (ii) determining a weight reading by multiplying the differential voltage by a constant that equates voltage to weight for each strain gauge; (iii) determining a time difference between receiving the peak voltage level from one of the strain gauges and the peak voltage level from the other of the strain gauges, the time difference being indicative of a time required for an axle of the moving railcar to travel the known distance; (iv) determining a speed of the railcar from the determined time difference.