The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 22, 1992
Filed:
Sep. 13, 1991
Jeffery J Utterback, Harrisonville, MO (US);
Randall S Mecca, Warrensburg, MO (US);
Harmon Industries, Inc., Blue Springs, MO (US);
Abstract
Overheated railroad journal bearings, wheels, and other wheel components on a moving or stationary railroad train are detected by amplifying the current signal from an infrared radiation sensor comprising a pytoelectric cell. A reference temperature is sensed by chopping the incident infrared radiation with an asynchronous shutter that momentarilly closes at successive time spacings of shorter duration than the scanning period of the sensor. The amplified signal is converted to a digital signal and processed by a microcontroller and associated hardware and software. The detector automatically and periodically calibrates itself and compensates the temperature signals for any temperature difference between the ambient external temperature and the temperature inside the detector housing. The output signal may be digital or analog.