Rail Vehicle Rotary Encoder Torsional Vibration Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current incremental rotary encoders for rail vehicles have insufficient resolution for detecting rolling, leading to inaccurate and delayed detection of torsional vibrations, which can compromise safety and increase wear on components.

Innovation Solution

A rotary encoder with a data processing unit that converts raw sine or cosine signals into high-resolution digital signals, allowing for direct generation and separate output of a rolling signal, eliminating the need for external components and improving the accuracy and speed of roll detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If external components and software are used to determine the rolling signal from incremental signals, then the detection function is achieved, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverolling detection reliabilityVSAvoidsignal processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the rolling detection function directly into the rotary encoder by integrating a rolling signal generation unit within the encoder's data processing unit. This combines multiple functions (incremental signal generation and rolling signal generation) into a single device, eliminating the need for external components and software processing, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining detection reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The rotary encoder becomes self-sufficient by generating both incremental signals and rolling signals internally through its own data processing unit. The encoder serves its own rolling detection needs without requiring external assistance, reducing system complexity and improving reliability through integrated self-monitoring

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If strong filtering is applied to the speed signal for roll detection, then the detection accuracy improves, but the response time increases and rolling is detected too late

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverolling detection accuracyVSAvoidrolling detection delay
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The rolling signal is generated directly from the raw sine or cosine signals before they are processed into incremental signals. This preliminary generation of the rolling signal allows for early detection of rolling conditions without waiting for the incremental signal processing and filtering stages, thereby reducing detection delay while maintaining accuracy through direct signal analysis

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If the rolling signal is determined from incremental signals, then the detection function is achieved, but the resolution is insufficient for accurate and timely roll detection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverolling detection precisionVSAvoidsignal processing requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a dedicated rolling signal generation unit as an intermediary component within the data processing unit. This unit processes the raw sine or cosine signals directly to generate the rolling signal, serving as an intermediate processing stage that extracts rolling information before the signals undergo incremental signal processing, thereby improving detection precision without requiring complex external processing systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3001200B1Incremental rotary encoder with integrated detection or torsional vibration
Publication Date: 2018.09.12 BAUMER HUBNER GMBH
  • EP3001200B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to an incremental rotary encoder (1) mountable on the axle of a rail vehicle, with a sensor unit (3) for generating raw signals (19) representing a rotation of the axle. To provide a rotary encoder with a compact design and capable of reliably detecting the rolling of a vehicle axle, the invention provides that a data processing unit (5) for generating a rolling signal (25) representing a periodic fluctuation of the raw signals (19) and an incremental signal (31) from the raw signals (19), as well as an output interface (7) for separately outputting the rolling signal (25) and the incremental signal (31), are integrated into the rotary encoder (1).