Brakes – With condition indicator – Electrical
Reexamination Certificate
2001-04-16
2003-09-09
Butler, Douglas C. (Department: 3683)
Brakes
With condition indicator
Electrical
C188S00111E, C188S2640AA, C303S020000, C303S191000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06615954
ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to a monitoring system for brake disks, particularly of rail vehicles, having at least one sensor which is used for monitoring the temperature and which is arranged in the brake disk or in the proximity of the brake disk and whose sensor signals relate to the temperature of the brake disk. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method of monitoring the temperature of brake disks, particularly of rail vehicles.
In the case of rail vehicles and particularly in the case of local trains, the temperature of the brake disks will rise continuously when, during the station stop operation, brake applications are carried out frequently in a successive manner. In the case of a partial failure of generating the brake, a reduction of the travelling speed is therefore very frequently specified. The temperature stress to the disks and the braking action depend considerably on the loading condition of the vehicle and the individual driving style of the respective driver. In the case of a general provision for limiting the speed, such influencing parameters cannot sufficiently be taken into account in the event of a partial failure of brakes or a reduced braking power. When such monitoring systems are used in rail vehicles, another problem is the impact loads (to approximately 100 g) to which the devices are exposed. In comparison to road vehicles, the load to which the devices are exposed is substantially higher. It is therefore necessary to provide reliable data which supply information concerning the braking capacity of the disk brakes and of the entire rail vehicle.
It is therefore an object of the invention to further develop a monitoring system of the above-mentioned type and a monitoring method of the above-mentioned type such that an effective and reliable temperature monitoring of the brake disks of disk brakes, particularly of rail vehicles, is achieved at reasonable cost. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a monitoring system and a monitoring method by means of which a safe operation of rail vehicles is permitted.
These objects are achieved by a monitoring system for brake disks, particularly of rail vehicles, having at least one sensor used for monitoring the temperature, which is arranged in the brake disk or in the proximity of the brake disk and whose sensor signals relate to the temperature of the brake disk. At least one transmitter transmitting the sensor signals and at least one receiver receiving the transmitted sensor signals is provided. The transmitting of the sensor signal from the transmitter to the receiver takes place in a wireless manner.
As a result of this solution according to the invention, the temperatures of brake disks can be measured and transmitted very reliably. Preferably, data or signals can also be transmitted in a wireless manner from the receiver to the transmitter. The transmitter is preferably arranged on an axle, in the disk brake and/or in or on the brake disk. As a result, it is not necessary to forward the electric signals containing the temperature values by a device sliding on an electric contact to a further-processing system, for example, a control and/or regulating unit. Thus, the use of parts which easily wear out is avoided. Within the scope of this invention, the term brake disk comprises also a friction disk, which, may be constructed as part of a wheel, or a disk brake.
Also preferably, the sensors are thermoelements or infrared measuring sensors.
Also preferably, at least two sensors are provided for each brake disk, which permits a more reliable measuring of the temperature of the brake disk. The reason is that, when at least two sensors are used, the probability will be reduced that both sensors are arranged in a hot spot or in a cold spot of the brake disk. When one transmitter is provided for several sensors, which are assigned to one brake disk or several brake disks, additional costs can be avoided because less material and fewer transmitters are used.
When a single receiver is provided for an axle or an entire car of the rail vehicle, the costs for such devices can be reduced further.
At least one signal converter, which converts the sensor signals, is arranged in the proximity of a transmitter or is integrated with the transmitter. On the basis of this preferable embodiment of the invention, it is possible, for example, when using thermoelements as sensors, to increase the low voltage in order to permit a more reliable wireless transmission to the receiver. The sensor signals, or the sensor signals converted by the at least one signal converter can be processed by a control and/or regulating unit which is coupled with the at least one receiver. The processible signals can be used for fully utilizing the maximally possible travelling speed of the trains, which depends on the braking capacity of the disk brakes. In addition, compulsory stopping times can be provided which can be optimally controlled and individually adapted by the control and/or regulating unit or the control and/or regulating system.
If, the control and/or regulating unit forms a unit with the at least one receiver, labor-related time is saved particularly during the assembly.
The at least one sensor may have an active power supply. An active power supply is the supply by a power source which is a primary cell normally a battery, or, for example, a secondary cell normally an accumulator. When, preferably, at least one sensor has a passive power supply, the servicing expenditures of the monitoring system will be lower. A passive power supply exists when the sensor is used as the power source, for example, by utilizing the voltage coming from a thermoelement. An example is the voltage which is released over the thermoelement at room temperature. In which case, the residual voltage, because of the raised temperature by implemented brake applications, can then be used as a measuring value. In addition, a passive power supply can also be implemented in a wireless manner by a base set or the receiver which supplies the transmitter with power in a wireless manner.
When at least one sensor is arranged in the proximity of the brake disk in a wind-deflecting device, more reliable temperature measurements can also be carried out in wind, particularly during a stop of the rail vehicle. During a stop of the rail vehicle, the convection of the heat in the upward direction is utilized. In windy weather, the measured temperature cannot correspond to the average temperature of the brake disks. As a result of the preferred embodiment of the present invention in which a wind deflecting device, particularly a cylinder, is provided, a more reliable temperature measurement can be carried out.
Preferably at least one sensor is arranged in the brake disk and at least one sensor is arranged in the proximity of the brake disk. As a result of this preferred embodiment, a still more exact determination of the average temperature of the brake disk can be obtained.
The transmitter is preferably arranged in the brake disk, particularly in a cooling duct. Because of this preferred embodiment, short cable runs can be achieved from the sensors to the transmitter. The sensor is preferably integrated in the transmitter or the housing of the transmitter.
The transmitter is preferably arranged in the proximity of the brake disk, particularly on the axle assigned to the brake disk. Furthermore, the transmitter and/or the receiver is preferably a transponder. Within the scope of this invention, a transponder is a receiving/transmitting apparatus which operates according to the query-response system. A signal received from the transponder is appropriately encoded and is then sent in an encoded condition and selectively with possibly desired additional information. The signal is automatically decoded and analyzed by another transponder or a device connected behind the transponder or a receiver.
According to the invention, a method for monitoring the temperature of brake disks, particularly of rail vehicles, has the following process steps:
Measuring the tem
Schlenk Ludwig
Schmid Ralf
Wirth Xaver
Barnes & Thornburg
Butler Douglas C.
Knorr-Bremse Systeme fur Schienenfahrzeuge GmbH
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