Hot bearing detection with the `SMART-BOLT´

Author

Newman, Ronald R. ; Leedham, Robert C. ; Tabacchi, John ; Purta, David ; Maderer, George G. ; Galli, Richard

Author_Institution

Burlington Northern R.R., Overland Park, KS, USA

fYear

1990

fDate

17-19 Apr 1990

Firstpage

105

Lastpage

110

Abstract

Advances in communication electronics and battery technologies as well as innovative packaging ideas have lead to the development of a thermal sensor bolt which provides for real-time, continuous monitoring of bearing temperatures. The thermal sensor replaces a standard bearing end cap bolt at each end of an axle. The thermal sensor and transmitter contained in the body of the bolt. When activated, transmit a distress signal directly to the engineer in the locomotive. The system consists of a battery as a power source, a thermomechanical sensor and actuator, a transmitter, and a receiver. Tests in railroad service continue at Burlington Northern Railroad as the SMART-BOLT production models are manufactured. Commercialization of the technology is currently under development for application of the SMART-BOLT throughout the industry

Keywords

cells (electric); electric actuators; locomotives; temperature measurement; Burlington Northern Railroad; SMART-BOLT; actuator; battery; bearing temperature monitoring; distress signal; locomotive; real-time continuous monitoring; receiver; thermal sensor bolt; thermomechanical sensor; transmitter; Axles; Batteries; Electronic packaging thermal management; Fasteners; Monitoring; Railway engineering; Temperature measurement; Temperature sensors; Thermal sensors; Transmitters;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Railroad Conference, 1990., Technical Papers Presented at the 1990 ASME/IEEE Joint

Conference_Location

Chicago, IL

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/RRCON.1990.171667

Filename

171667