Sensor interface

Abstract

A sensor interface is disclosed including a flexible substrate in which are embedded sensors for measuring physical parameters such as temperature, displacement, velocity, acceleration, stress, strain, pressure and force present between objects such as a railcar bearing and a truck side frame. The substrate is positioned between the objects of interest Electronic components such as a data processing unit, a data storage device, a communication device and a power source may also be embedded within the substrate. The electronic devices communicate with one another and the sensors to process signals generated by the sensors indicative of the parameters being measured.

1 - 39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . A railcar truck, comprising:
 a railcar truck side frame;   a bearing adapter;   a sensor interface disposed between said bearing adapter and said side frame of said truck, said sensor interface comprising a substrate positioned to transmit a load of said side frame through said substrate to said bearing adapter; and   at least one sensor embedded within said substrate, said sensor being adapted to measure a parameter and generate a signal indicative of said parameter.   
     
     
         41 . A railcar truck in accordance with  claim 40  wherein said substrate comprises a resilient material. 
     
     
         42 . A railcar truck in accordance with  claim 40  wherein said railcar side frame includes a pedestal pocket, said bearing adapter being positioned within said pedestal pocket. 
     
     
         43 . A railcar truck in accordance with  claim 40  wherein said substrate comprises a resilient flexible material. 
     
     
         44 . A railcar truck in accordance with  claim 40  wherein said substrate comprises a load bearing pad. 
     
     
         45 . A railcar truck in accordance with  claim 40  wherein said substrate comprises an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         46 . A railcar truck in accordance with  claim 40  wherein said substrate includes electrical wires imbedded therein and connected to said sensor. 
     
     
         47 . A railcar truck in accordance with  claim 40  further comprising:
 a data processing unit in communication with said sensor for receiving and processing said signal;   a communication device adapted to transmit data from said data processing unit; and   a power source providing electrical power to said sensor.   
     
     
         48 . A railcar truck sensor interface positioned between a bearing adapter and a side frame of a railcar truck, said sensor interface comprising:
 a flexible substrate positioned to allow for limited movement of said adapter and said side frame relative to one another and to transmit a load of said side frame through said substrate to said bearing adapter; and   at least one sensor embedded within said substrate, said sensor being adapted to measure a parameter and generate a signal indicative of said parameter.   
     
     
         49 . A railcar truck sensor interface according to  claim 48 , wherein said parameter is selected from the group consisting of voltage differential, luminous intensity, sound intensity, heat flux, electrical current, moisture diffusion, chemical species diffusion, magnetic flux, neutron flux, ionizing radiation, temperature, displacement, velocity, acceleration, stress, strain, pressure and force and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         50 . A railcar truck sensor interface according to  claim 48 , further comprising an appendage extending from said substrate and positioned external to a space between said bearing adapter and said side frame, said data processing unit and said communication device being embedded within said appendage. 
     
     
         51 . A railcar truck sensor interface according to  claim 48 , further comprising:
 a data processing unit in communication with said sensor for receiving and processing said signals;   a communication device adapted to transmit data from said data processing unit; and   a power source providing electrical power to said sensor, said data processing unit, and said communication device.   
     
     
         52 . A railcar truck sensor interface according to  claim 48 , wherein said data processing unit is embedded within said substrate. 
     
     
         53 . A railcar truck sensor interface according to  claim 51 , wherein said communication device is embedded within said substrate. 
     
     
         54 . A railcar truck sensor interface according to  claim 48  wherein said substrate is formed of an elastomeric pad. 
     
     
         55 . A method of sensing a physical parameter at an interface of a railcar truck between a bearing adapter and a side frame of said truck, said method comprising:
 providing a flexible substrate positioned between said bearing adapter and said side frame, said substrate comprising at least one sensor embedded therein and positioned to transmit a load between said bearing adapter and said side frame; and   measuring said parameter using said sensor, said sensor generating a signal indicative of said parameter.   
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55  wherein said substrate comprises a flexible pad that allows for limited movement of said adapter and said side frame relative to one another 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 55  further comprising the steps of:
 providing a data processing unit in communication with said sensor;   providing a communication device adapted to transmit data from said data processing unit; and   providing a power source for powering said sensor.   
     
     
         58 . A sensor interface according to  claim 55  wherein said substrate is formed of an elastomeric pad.