US 11,731,673 B1
Wheel-mounted sensor ring apparatus for determining anomalies associated with a railcar wheelset, or a railcar bogie assembly that the railcar wheelset is part of, or a track
Stephen T. Buchanan, Landenberg, PA (US); and Eric L. Canfield, Downingtown, PA (US)
Assigned to BALANCED ENGINEERING SOLUTION, LLC, Towson, MD (US)
Filed by BALANCED ENGINEERING SOLUTION, LLC, Towson, MD (US)
Filed on Sep. 26, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/952,787.
Int. Cl. B61L 15/00 (2006.01); B61F 15/20 (2006.01); B61K 9/08 (2006.01); G01M 17/10 (2006.01)
CPC B61L 15/0081 (2013.01) [B61F 15/20 (2013.01); B61K 9/08 (2013.01); G01M 17/10 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus configured to be removably attachable to a hub portion of a railcar wheel of a railcar wheelset for use in determining anomalies associated with the railcar wheel, or a railcar bogie assembly that the railcar wheelset is part of, or a track, during motion of the railcar wheelset on a track, the apparatus comprising:
(a) a first semicircular portion having distal ends, the first semicircular portion having a half-ring shape, and having an outer sidewall surface and an inner sidewall surface;
(b) a second semicircular portion having distal ends, the second semicircular portion having a half-ring shape, and having an outer sidewall surface and an inner sidewall surface;
(c) a fastener located at each of the distal ends of the first semicircular portion, and a fastener located at each of the distal ends of the second semicircular portion, the fasteners allowing the first semicircular portion and the second semicircular portion to attach to each other at their respective distal ends to form a circular ring;
(d) one or more magnets fixedly attached to the inner sidewall surface of the first semicircular portion, and one or more magnets fixedly attached to the inner sidewall surface of the second semicircular portion, the magnets allowing for the apparatus to be removably attached to the hub portion of the railcar wheel; and
(e) one or more sensors mounted to the first semicircular portion, and one or more sensors mounted to the second semicircular portion, the sensors being configured to measure parameters that are used for determining the anomalies during motion of the railcar wheel on the track.