A Stationary System of Noncontact Temperature Measurement and Hotbox Detecting

In this paper, we propose an intelligent stationary system of uninterrupted noncontact temperature measurement and detection of overheated bearings in trains. The proposed measurement system is a stand-alone class, based on remote infrared (IR) measurement and recognition of the hot lid of axle bearing. The measurement system is useful for continuous maintenance without traffic interruption. It consists of three parts: 1) the measurement device; 2) the alert device; and 3) a PC with a virtual instrument and appropriate database. The measurement device is based on an IR detector installed on both railway sides on the same axis as the wheel axle. The whole system is installed at three locations, which are located 500 m apart. The communication among system parts is done using RS-232/485 interfaces and radio modems. This system has a vital role in safe railroad operations, preventive maintenance, and damage avoidance of axle wheel bearings in railways.