Rail Vehicle Chassis Vibration Sensor for Instability Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current rail vehicle monitoring systems require a high number of individual sensors at different locations, leading to increased sensor technology expenditure and complexity, particularly in instability and derailment detection functions.

Innovation Solution

A single vibration sensor with a detection direction perpendicular to the travel direction and parallel to the vertical axis is used, allowing for vectorial addition of acceleration values to detect instability and derailment, reducing the number of sensors and cabling effort while enabling comprehensive monitoring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If multiple individual sensors are used at different locations for instability and derailment detection, then measurement precision and detection capability are improved, but device complexity and sensor technology expenditure increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection capabilityVSAvoidsensor technology expenditure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple sensor functions into a single vibration sensor with dual detection directions (vertical z-direction and lateral y-direction). This single sensor simultaneously performs both instability detection (using lateral acceleration) and derailment detection (using vertical acceleration), thereby reducing the total number of sensors while maintaining comprehensive detection capability across both functions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The vibration sensor is designed with universal applicability for multiple monitoring functions. By equipping the single sensor with detection capabilities in both vertical and lateral directions, it serves multiple purposes: detecting lateral acceleration for instability detection and vertical acceleration for derailment detection, thus making one sensor perform the work of multiple specialized sensors

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If multiple individual sensors are used at different locations, then comprehensive monitoring coverage is improved, but manufacturing, installation, and wiring efforts increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemonitoring coverageVSAvoidmanufacturing, installation, and wiring efforts
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functions of multiple sensors into a single integrated vibration sensor unit. This consolidation reduces manufacturing complexity by producing only one sensor type, simplifies installation by requiring only one mounting location on the bogie frame, and minimizes wiring efforts by reducing the number of cable connections needed to the evaluation unit

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Measurement precision

If multiple sensors with different detection directions are used, then detection accuracy for specific fault types is improved, but cost and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidnumber of sensors
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adds a dimensional aspect to the sensor by enabling it to detect vibrations in multiple spatial dimensions simultaneously. The single vibration sensor is configured with detection directions in both the vertical z-direction and lateral y-direction, allowing it to capture acceleration components across different dimensions without requiring multiple separate sensors for each direction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach allows for effective detection of instability and derailment with reduced sensor complexity and cost, enabling selective monitoring through frequency-specific assessment and minimizing manufacturing, installation, and wiring efforts.

Implementation Method 1

The sensors are designed as vibration pickups which, depending on their arrangement according to the invention, can detect in the direction of the vertical axis of the rail vehicle (z-direction) and transversely to the direction of travel (y-direction)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP2152560B2Rail vehicle chassis comprising a device for error monitoring of chassis components
Publication Date: 2018.10.10 KNORR BREMSE SYST FUR SCHIENENFAHRZEUGE GMBH
  • EP2152560B2 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2152560B2 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2152560B2 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a device for the error monitoring of chassis components of rail vehicles, including at least one vibration sensor. According to one embodiment of the invention, at least one vibration sensor is arranged on a bogie frame or on a wheel set bearing of an axis of a bogie of the rail vehicle such that the detection direction thereof has a component in the moving direction (x-direction) or a component perpendicular to the moving direction (y-direction) and at the same time a component parallel to the vertical axis (z-direction) of the rail vehicle.