Method and Device for Determining Wheel Diameters on Rail Vehicles

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This invention provides a method and device for determining the diameter of at least one wheel and/or the speed of a rail vehicle during operation, using acceleration sensors and rotational speed sensors mounted on the vehicle's wheels, axles, or bogies. By detecting and analyzing the time difference between acceleration signals as the wheel passes over rail irregularities, and correlating them with the wheel's rotational speed, it calculates the exact wheel diameter with high accuracy. The system can operate automatically while the train is in service without requiring measurements during workshop visits.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Automated, in-service monitoring of wheel diameters on freight, passenger, and high-speed trains to ensure safety and compliance.
• Integration into railway telematics and condition-based maintenance systems for real-time asset health monitoring.
• Detection and early warning of excessive wheel wear, reducing the risk of in-service failures and derailments.
• Assistance in scheduling predictive maintenance based on actual wheel condition rather than time-based intervals.
• Accurate mileage tracking per vehicle or wheel set, reducing errors due to diameter assumptions in existing systems.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Eliminates the need for manual wheel diameter measurements during costly and infrequent workshop visits.
• Enables continuous or on-demand monitoring without taking the train out of service, increasing operational uptime.
• Detects early signs of wheel wear or defects, contributing to improved railway safety and reduced accident risk.
• Facilitates more accurate tracking of vehicle usage and maintenance needs, optimizing resource allocation and reducing maintenance costs.
• High measurement accuracy (+/-1 mm) and independence from the track's sleeper spacing or design, allowing universal application across railway networks.

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Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for determining at least one diameter (dn) of a wheel (Rn), running on a rail (S), and/or the speed (v) of a rail vehicle (F) which is travelling and has at least two axles (Y1, Y2) assigned to the wheels (R1, R2) or bogies (DG1, DG2) of the rail vehicle (F). The method is defined by the fact that when rail-side irregularities are travelled over a first acceleration signal (a1) is measured at a first measuring point (R1; DG1) located on a first axle (Y1), and a second acceleration signal (a2) is measured at a second measuring point (R2; DG2) located, when viewed in the direction of travel (x) of the rail vehicle (F), behind the first measuring point (R1; DG1) on a second axle (Y2), and a rotational frequency signal (f1, f2) is measured at at least one of the wheels (R1, R2), according to which the transit time difference (Deltat) between the acceleration signals (a1, a2) is determined, as a result of which an acceleration-dependent reference speed (vref a) of the rail vehicle (F) and at least one rotation-frequency-dependent reference speed (vref fn) of at least one wheel (R1, R2) is calculated, and the at least one diameter (d1, d2) of the at least one wheel (R1, R2) is calculated from the two reference speeds (vref a, vref fn). The arrangement of at least two acceleration sensors (Sa1, Sa2) and at least one rotational frequency signal sensor (Sf1, Sf2), which is necessary for this, within a device (10) is described.