BACKGROUND

[0001] A locomotive typically includes two trucks. Typically, a truck supports the weight of a locomotive, and generally includes a propulsion subsystem, a suspension subsystem, and a braking subsystem. Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a typical truck 10 of a locomotive (not shown). Along with other components not discussed with reference to Fig. 1, a truck typically includes a plurality of pairs of wheels mounted on respective axles. The wheels are generally flanged wheels due to a flange protruding out from one side of the wheels. For example, in Fig. 1 a first pair of wheels 12 is mounted on a first spaced axle 18; a second pair of wheels 14 is mounted on a second spaced axle 20; and a third pair of wheels 16 is mounted on a third spaced axle 22. While Fig. 1 shows the three pairs of the wheels 12, 14, 16, a truck may have less or more number of pairs of wheels. The ends of the axles 18, 20, 22 are rotatably received in pairs of journal boxes 24, 26, 28, respectively. Particularly, the ends of the first axle 18 are rotatably received by the first pair the journal box 24; the ends of the second axle 20 are rotatably received by the second pair of the journal box 26, and the ends of the third axle 22 are rotatably received by the third pair of journal box 28. Due to the perspective view, one wheel is visible in each of the pairs of the wheels 12, 14, 16, and one journal box is visible in each of the pairs of journal boxes 24, 26, 28. Typically, the pairs of wheels 12, 14, 16 in the truck 10 are defined by certain measurements.

[0002] Generally each wheel in the pairs of wheels 12, 14, 16 includes a rim and a flange. Furthermore, each wheel in the pairs of wheels 12, 14, 16 may be defined by a plurality of measurements or a specification. The specification, for example, includes a rim thickness, a flange thickness, a flange height, and a reference groove.

[0003] Fig. 2A shows a front view 200 of a wheel 203 to show various measurements that define a wheel 203, and Fig. 2B shows a cross-sectional view 201 of a portion of the wheel 203 referred to in Fig. 2(a) to show various measurements that define the wheel 203. The wheel 203 includes a flange 205 and a rim 207. The flange 205 comprises a flange height 204, and a flange thickness 202. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 2(b), the rim 207 comprises a rim thickness 206, and a reference groove reading 208.

[0004] Typically, specifications of wheels of locomotives are required to meet certain specification requirements of customers, and an authority, such as, a railway authority. Therefore, commissioned locomotives meet the specification requirements of customers, and the authority. However during operation of the locomotives, the wheels may undergo certain wear and tear, and such wear and tear may change the specification of the wheels. Due to the wear and tear of the wheels, the wheels may not meet the specification requirements of customers, and the authority. Therefore, locomotives are generally sent for servicing and maintenance at regular intervals. During the maintenance of the locomotives, multiple checks are carried out to identify whether one or more of the wheels does not meet the specification requirements. Based on the checks, typically wheel tru operators take decisions as to whether one or more of the wheels of the locomotives need to be trued, replaced, shimmed or scrapped. Such decisions are taken by the wheel tru operators, and therefore the cost effectiveness of these decisions is dependent on human intelligence. The probability of errors in such decisions is higher. Accordingly, automated methods and systems that take optimal decisions during servicing and maintenance of locomotives are required.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0005] A locomotive service management system is presented. The locomotive service management system includes a processing subsystem that receives a plurality of input wheel measurements corresponding to a plurality of wheels mounted on respective axles of one or more trucks in a locomotive, and generates one or more recommendations to obviate at least one of a wheel level violation, an axle level violation, a truck level violation, and a locomotive level violation by executing one or more permutations of one or more activity- determination-modules using at least one of the plurality of input wheel measurements, a look up table, and one or more reset values.

DRAWINGS

[0006] These and other features and aspects of embodiments of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:

[0007] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a typical truck of a locomotive;

[0008] Fig. 2A shows a front view of a wheel to show various measurements that define a wheel;

[0009] Fig. 2B shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of the wheel referred to in Fig. 2(a) to show various measurements that defines the wheel;

[0010] Figure 3 is a block diagram of a locomotive service management system, in accordance with one embodiment of the present systems;

[0011] Fig. 4 is a flow chart that illustrates an exemplary method for generating recommendations to manage wheel maintenance of a locomotive, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present techniques;

[0012] Fig. 5 is a block diagram of three permutations of one or more of the activity-determination-modules referred to in Fig. 3; and

[0013] Fig. 6 is a flow chart that illustrates an exemplary method for determining whether a locomotive and one or more trucks in the locomotive are appropriate for shimming, in accordance with one embodiment of the present techniques.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] Reference will now be made in detail to the various embodiments, one or more examples of which are illustrated in each figure. Each example is provided by way of explanation and is not meant as a limitation. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used on or in conjunction with other embodiments to yield yet further embodiments. It is intended that the present disclosure includes such modifications and variations.

[0015] As used herein, the term "wheel measurements" refers to dimensions of a wheel of a locomotive. As used herein, the term "input wheel measurements" is used to refer to: wheel measurements of wheels of a locomotive that has arrived for maintenance; or wheel measurements that are required to be assessed to determine whether one or more of specified railway authority requirements, safety requirements, and/or customer requirements are not complied with. As used herein, the term "violations" refers to existence of contraventions in a wheel, an axle, a truck, or a locomotive because one or more of specified railway authority requirements, safety requirements, and/or customer requirements are not complied with. As used herein, the term "wheel level violations" refers to existence of violations in a wheel because one or more wheel measurements/input wheel measurements of the wheel in a locomotive does not satisfy respective measurement threshold. As used herein, the term "axle level violations" refers to existence of violations in an axle because a difference, between a wheel measurement of a wheel mounted on the said axle in a locomotive and the wheel measurement of another wheel mounted on the said axle in the said locomotive, does not fall within an axle level tolerance. As used herein, the term "truck level violations" refers to existence of violations in an axle in a truck in the locomotive because a difference, between an average of wheel measurements of two wheels mounted on the axle and a minimum wheel measurement of a wheel in the truck, does not fall within a truck level tolerance. As used herein, the term "locomotive level violations" refers to existence of violations in an axle in a truck in a locomotive because a difference, between an average of wheel measurements of two wheels mounted on the axle and a minimum wheel measurement of a wheel in another truck in the locomotive, does not fall within a locomotive level tolerance.

[0016] As used herein, the term "tolerance" refers to a range or a value determined based upon specified railway authority requirements, safety requirements, and/or customer requirements such that when wheel measurements of wheels in a locomotive or a quantity, determined based upon one or more of the wheel measurements of the wheels in the locomotive, falls within the range or the value then the railway authority requirements, the safety requirements, and/or the customer requirements are complied with. As used herein, the term "measurement threshold" refers to a maximum or minimum permissible value of a wheel measurement, wherein the maximum or minimum permissible value is determined based upon railway authority requirements, safety requirements, and/or customer requirements. As used herein, the term "look up table" refers to a table that maps a wheel measurement to a corresponding amount of reduction required in another wheel measurement, or maps the wheel measurement to another corresponding wheel measurement. As used herein, the term "reset values" refers to a wheel measurement value that may be equated to a wheel measurement of a wheel, when the wheel measurement of the wheel does not meet one or more of railway authority requirements, safety requirements, and/or customer requirements.

[0017] The embodiments described herein relate to a locomotive service management system. The locomotive service management system generates recommendations. Each of the recommendations may include one or more activities to be performed on wheels or axles of a locomotive while servicing or maintaining the locomotive. The activities, for example include truing a wheel, scrapping an axle, replacing an axle, shimming an axle, or the like. Furthermore, the locomotive service management system determines a number of wheel cuts required in the wheel while truing the wheel and a number of inches to be removed in each of the wheel cuts. Additionally, the locomotive service management system determines a cost that may be incurred by a user for implementing each of the recommendations.

[0018] Figure 3 is a block diagram of a locomotive service management system 300, in accordance with one embodiment of the present systems. In the embodiment of Fig. 1, the locomotive energy management system 300 includes: a locomotive 302 that has arrived for maintenance to a servicing station (not shown), one or more users 304 for taking measurements of the locomotive 302, a storage device 306, and a processing subsystem 308 that generates recommendations 346.

[0019] In the presently contemplated configuration, the locomotive 302 includes two trucks including a first truck 310 and a second truck 312. While the presently contemplated configuration shows two trucks 310, 312 in the locomotive 302, the locomotive 302 may have more or less than two trucks. In the presently contemplated configuration, each of the trucks 310, 312 includes three axles. For example, the first truck 310 includes a first truck first axle 314, a first truck second axle 316, and a first truck third axle 318. The axles 314, 316, 318 of the first truck 310 shall be collectively referred to by the reference numeral 325. Furthermore, axles of the second truck 312 shall be collectively referred to by the reference numeral 327. Furthermore, two wheels are mounted on each of: the axles 314, 316, 318, and the axles 327. For example, the first truck first axle 314 has a first wheel 320 and a second wheel 322. All wheels mounted on the axles 314, 316, 318 of the first truck 310 shall hereinafter be referred to by the reference numeral 324. Furthermore, all wheels mounted on the axles 327 of the second truck 312 shall hereinafter be referred to by the reference numeral 326.

[0020] The user 304 takes measurements of one or more of the wheels 324, 326 in the locomotive 302 to generate input wheel measurements 328. While in the presently contemplated configuration, the user 304 takes the measurements of the wheels 324, 326, in certain embodiments, machines may take the measurements. As previously noted, the term "wheel measurements" refers to dimensions of a wheel of a locomotive. Additionally, as previously noted, the term "input wheel measurements" is used to refer to: wheel measurements of wheels of a locomotive that has arrived for maintenance; or wheel measurements that are required to be assessed to determine whether one or more of specified railway authority requirements, safety requirements, and/or customer requirements are not complied with.

[0021] In the embodiment of Fig. 3, the input wheel measurements 328 include a flange height, a flange thickness, a reference groove reading, and a rim thickness of the wheels 324, 326. However, the input wheel measurements 328 may include other measurements. The user 304 transmits or enters the input wheel measurements 328 to the processing subsystem 308. The processing subsystem 308, for example, may include a user interface (not shown) that interacts with the user 304 or a machine to receive the input wheels measurements 328.

[0022] The storage device 306 stores measurement thresholds 348, tolerances 350, reset values 352, a look up table 354, and inventory data 353. As previously noted, the "measurement threshold" refers to a maximum or minimum permissible value of a wheel measurement, wherein the maximum or minimum permissible value is determined based upon railway authority requirements, safety requirements, and/or customer requirements. In the embodiment of Fig. 3, the measurement thresholds 348 include a flange thickness threshold, a flange height threshold, a reference groove reading threshold, a rim thickness threshold, a maximum flange height threshold, a minimum flange thickness threshold, a minimum rim thickness threshold, a minimum reference grove threshold, or other thresholds corresponding to other wheel measurements or combinations thereof.

[0023] The storage device 306 further stores the tolerances 350. The tolerances 350, for example, may include an axle level tolerance, a truck level tolerance, and a locomotive level tolerance. In one embodiment, when the tolerances 350 correspond to a wheel measurement namely reference groove, the tolerances 350 may include a maximum reference groove axle level tolerance, a maximum reference groove truck level tolerance, and a maximum reference groove locomotive level tolerance. In one embodiment, the tolerances 350 may include a truck level shim tolerance and a reference groove truck level shim tolerance.

[0024] Furthermore, the storage device 306 stores the look up table 354. As previously noted, the term "look up table" refers to a table that maps a wheel measurement to a corresponding amount of reduction required in another wheel measurement, or maps the wheel measurement to another corresponding wheel measurement. For example, the look up table 354 may map a flange thickness to a rim reduction of a wheel. Accordingly, the look up table 354 may be used to determine an amount of rim reduction required in the wheel 320 based on the flange thickness of the wheel 320.

[0025] As used herein, the term "reset values" refers to a wheel measurement value that may be equated to a wheel measurement of a wheel, when the wheel measurement of the wheel does not meet one or more of railway authority requirements, safety requirements, and/or customer requirements. In the embodiment of Fig. 1, the reset values include a flange thickness reset value, and a flange height reset value.

[0026] Furthermore, the inventory data 353 includes data of axles available in an inventory (hereinafter referred to as "inventory axles"). The inventory axles may be used to replace one or more of the axles 325, 327. The inventory data 353, for example contains wheel measurements of wheels mounted on the inventory axles (hereinafter referred to as "inventory wheel measurements"). The inventory wheel measurements, for example may comprise flange height, flange thickness, reference groove reading, and rim thickness of the inventory wheels.

[0027] The processing subsystem 308 receives the input wheel measurements 328, the measurement thresholds 348, the tolerances 350, the reset values 352, the look up table 354, and the inventory data 353. The processing subsystem 308 includes a violation determination module 330 that may be executed by the processing subsystem 308 to determine whether one or more violations exist in the wheels 324, 326, the axles 325, 327, the trucks 310, 312 and the locomotive 302. The violations determination module 330 determines the existence of the violations based upon the input wheel measurements 328, the measurement thresholds 348, and the tolerances 350.

[0028] Furthermore, the violations determination module 330 determines categories of violations that exist in the wheels 324, 326, the axles 325, 327, the trucks 310, 312 and the locomotive 302. The categories of violations include wheel level violations, axle level violations, truck level violations, and locomotive level violations. The violations determination module 330, for example determines the wheel level violations by comparing the input wheel measurements 328 of the wheels 324, 326 to respective measurement thresholds 348. The violations determination module 330 determines the existence of the wheel level violations when one or more of the input wheel measurements 328 crosses the respective measurement thresholds 348. For example, the violations determination module 330 compares a flange height of the first wheel 320 to the maximum flange height threshold; and the violations determination module 330 determines that the first wheel 320 has a wheel level violation when the flange height of the first wheel 320 is greater than the maximum flange height threshold. Similarly, the violations determination module 330 may compare the flange thickness of the first wheel 320 to the minimum flange thickness threshold; and the violations determination module 330 determines that the first wheel 320 has a wheel level violation when the flange thickness of the first wheel 320 is less than the minimum flange thickness threshold.

[0029] The violations determination module 330 further determines the axle level violations by determining a difference between two input wheel measurements of two wheels mounted on the same axle, and comparing the difference to the axle level tolerance. For example, the violations determination module 330 may determine the axle level violations using an input wheel measurement namely reference groove reading. While determination of the axle level violation is explained with reference to the input wheel measurement namely: reference groove reading; the axle level violations may be determined using other input wheel measurements. For example, the violations determination module 330 may determine an axle level violation in the first truck first axle 314 by:

a.) determining difference (hereinafter "axle level difference") of the reference groove reading of the first wheel 320 and the reference groove reading of the second wheel 322 mounted on the first truck first axle 314;

b.) comparing the axle level difference with the maximum reference groove axle level tolerance; and

c.) determining the axle level violation in the first truck first axle 314 when the axle level difference is greater than the maximum reference grove axle level tolerance.

[0030] Additionally, the violations determination module 330 determines existence of truck level violations in the axles 325 of the first truck 310 and in the axles 327 of the second truck 312. For example, the violations determination module 330 may determine the truck level violations using an input wheel measurement namely reference groove reading. The violations determination module 330, for example determines the truck level violations in the first truck first axle 314 in the first truck 310 by:

a.) determining an average of input wheel measurements of the wheels 320, 322 mounted on the first truck first axle 314;

b.) determining a minimum input wheel measurement from wheel measurements of the wheels 324 in the first truck 310;

c.) determining a difference (hereinafter 'truck level difference') of the average of the input wheel measurements and the minimum input wheel measurement;

d.) comparing the truck level difference to the truck level tolerance; and

e.) determining a truck level violation in the first truck first axle 314 when the truck level difference crosses the truck level tolerance.

[0031] Furthermore, the violations determination module 330 determines the locomotive level violations in the axles 325, 327 of the first truck 310 and the second truck 312. For example, the violations determination module 330 may determine the locomotive level violations using wheel measurements namely reference groove reading. The violations determination module 330, for example determines the locomotive level violations in the first truck first axle 314 in the first truck 310 by:

a.) determining the average of input wheel measurements of the wheels 320, 322 mounted on the first truck first axle 314 in the first truck 310;

b.) determining a minimum input wheel measurement from input wheel measurements of the wheels 326 in the second truck 312;

c.) determining a difference (hereinafter 'locomotive level difference') of the average of the input wheel measurements and the minimum input wheel measurement;

d.) comparing the locomotive level difference to the locomotive level tolerance; and

e.) determining a locomotive level violation in the first truck first axle 314 when the difference crosses the locomotive level tolerance.

[0032] In one embodiment, the violations determination module 330 may determine the truck level violations and the locomotive level violations in each of the axles 325, 327. In one embodiment, when the processing subsystem 308 or the violations determination module 330 determines that one or more of the violations exist, the processing subsystem 308 may execute one or more permutations of a plurality of activity-determination-modules 332 to generate the recommendations 346. In one embodiment, execution of each permutation of the activity-determination-modules 332 generates at least one of the recommendations 346. For example, each of the recommendations 346 includes one or more activities that may be performed on one or more of the wheels 324, 326, or the axles 325, 327. The activities, for example include truing a wheel, scrapping an axle, replacing an axle, shimming an axle, or the like. Generation of the recommendations 346 by executing the permutations of activity-determination-modules 332 are explained in greater detail with reference to Fig. 4. Few examples of the permutations of the activity-determination-modules 332 are shown with reference to Fig. 5. The activity-determination-modules 332, for example, include an individual compliance module 334, a shimming module 336, a scrapping module 337, a matching compliance module 338, and a replacement module 340.

Individual Compliance Module 334

[0033] The individual compliance module 334 may receive the input wheel measurements 328 or output wheel measurements of the wheels 324, 326 mounted on the axles 325, 327. The output wheel measurements are outputs generated by one module, in the rest of the modules 336, 337, 338, 340, executed prior to the individual compliance module 334 during execution of a permutation of the modules 344. For ease of understanding, the input wheel measurements 328 or the output wheel measurements received by the individual compliance module 334 will be referred to as individual-compliance-input-wheel-measurements.

[0034] The individual compliance module 334 determines whether one or more of the wheels 324, 326 have one or more wheel level violations, and when the individual compliance module 334 determines that a first wheel mounted on an axle has a wheel level violation, the individual compliance module generates a truing activity for the first wheel and a second wheel mounted on the axle. Furthermore, the individual compliance module 334 updates individual-compliance-input-wheel-measurements of the first wheel and the second wheel using one or more of the reset values 352 to generate updated individual-compliance-input-wheel-measurements of the first wheel and the second wheel. The updated individual-compliance-input-wheel-measurements of the first wheel and the second wheel are dimensions of the first wheel and the second wheel after performance of the truing activity on the first wheel and the second wheel.

Example of generation of a truing activity and updation of individual-compliance-input-wheel-measurements by the individual compliance module
[0035] For ease of understanding the individual compliance module 334 will be explained with reference to the first wheel 320 and the second wheel 322 mounted on the first truck first axle 314, however, the individual compliance module 334 is applicable to each of the wheels 324, 326 and each of the axles 325, 327. Accordingly, in this example, the individual compliance module 334 receives individual-compliance-input-wheel-measurements of the first wheel 320 and the second wheel 322. The individual-compliance-input-wheel-measurements of the first wheel 320 and the second wheel 322, for example may include flange height, flange thickness, rim thickness, reference groove reading, or the like of the first wheel 320 and the second wheel 322.

[0036] The individual compliance module 334 determines whether the individual-compliance-input-wheel-measurements of the first wheel 320 cross one or more respective measurement thresholds 348. Furthermore, when the individual compliance module 334 determines that at least one of the individual-compliance-input-wheel-measurements of the first wheel 320 cross the respective measurement thresholds 348, then the individual compliance module 334 determines a wheel level violation in the first wheel 320. For example, when the individual compliance module 334 determines that the flange thickness of the first wheel 320 is less than the flange thickness threshold, then the individual compliance module 334 determines a wheel level violation in the first wheel 320.

[0037] When the individual compliance module 334 determines the wheel level violation in the first wheel 320, the individual compliance module 334 generates a truing activity for the first wheel 320 and the second wheel 322; and the individual compliance module 334 updates the individual-compliance-input-wheel-measurements of the first wheel 320 and the second wheel 322 to generate updated individual-compliance-input-wheel-measurements of the first wheel 320 and the second wheel 322. The updated individual-compliance-input-wheel-measurements of the first wheel 320 and the second wheel 322, for example, includes updated flange height, updated flange thickness, updated rim thickness, and updated reference groove reading. In the embodiment of Fig. 3, the individual compliance module 334 updates the flange thickness, the flange height, the rim thickness and the reference groove of the first wheel 320 and the second wheel 322 to generate the updated flange thickness, the updated flange height, the updated rim thickness and the updated reference groove of the first wheel 320 and the second wheel 322.

[0038] The individual compliance module 334, for example, updates the individual-compliance-input-wheel-measurements of the first wheel 320 and the second wheel 322 using the reset values 352 and the lookup table 354. In the embodiment of Fig. 3, the individual compliance module 334 updates the flange thickness of the first wheel 320 and the second wheel 322 using the flange thickness rest value to generate the updated flange thickness. Particularly, the individual compliance module 34 updates the flange thickness of the first wheel 320 and the second wheel 322 by equating the flange thickness to the flange thickness reset value. Furthermore, the individual compliance module 334 updates the flange height using the flange height reset value to generate the updated flange height. Particularly, the individual compliance module 34 updates the flange height of the first wheel 320 and the second wheel 322 by equating the flange height to the flange height reset value.

[0039] Additionally, the individual compliance module 334 updates the rim thickness using the updated flange thickness and the look up table 354. For example, the look up table 354 may be used to map the updated flange thickness to a corresponding rim reduction, and the updated rim thickness may be determined by subtracting the corresponding rim reduction from the rim thickness of the first wheel 320. Furthermore, the reference groove reading of the first wheel 320 may be updated based upon the reference groove reading and the updated rim thickness of the first wheel 320. The updated individual-compliance-input-wheel-measurements are indicative of new dimensions of the first wheel 320 and the second wheel 322 after the truing activity is performed on the first wheel 320 and the second wheel 322.

[0040] In one embodiment, it is noted that even if the wheel level violation in the first wheel 320 is due to the reason that a single individual-compliance-input-wheel-measurement of the first wheel 320 crosses the respective measurement thresholds 348, still the individual compliance module 334 may update more than one individual-compliance-input-wheel-measurements of the first wheel 320 and the second wheel 320. Furthermore, it is noted that when the individual compliance module 334 generates a truing activity for the first wheel 320 mounted on the first truck first axle 314, the individual compliance module 334 generates a truing activity for the second wheel 322 mounted on the first truck first axle 314. Accordingly, when the individual compliance module 334 generates a truing activity for one wheel mounted on an axle, the individual compliance module 334 also generates a truing activity for another wheel mounted on the same axle irrespective whether the another wheel has a wheel level violation.

Shimming module 336

[0041] The shimming module 336 may receive the input wheel measurements 328 or output wheel measurements of the wheels 324, 326 mounted on the axles 325, 327. The output wheel measurements are outputs generated by one module, in the rest of the activity-determination-modules 334, 337, 338, 340, executed prior to the shimming module 336 during execution of a permutation of the activity-determination-modules 332. For ease of understanding, the input wheel measurements 328 or the output wheel measurements received by the shimming module 336 will be referred to as shimming-module-input-wheel-measurements.

[0042] The shimming module 336 determines whether the locomotive 302, the first truck 310, and/or the second truck 312 are appropriate to allow shimming of one or more of the axles 325, 327 based upon the shimming-module-input-wheel-measurements. The determination as to whether the locomotive 302, the first truck 310 and/or the second truck 312 are appropriate to allow shimming of one or more of the axles 325, 327 are explained in greater detail with reference to Fig. 6. It is noted that the shimming of an axle involves shimming of each wheel mounted on the axle. For example, shimming of the first truck first axle 314 involves shimming of the first wheel 320 and shimming of the second wheel 322 mounted on the first truck first axle 314.

[0043] When the shimming module 336 determines that the locomotive 302, the first truck 310 and the second truck 312 are appropriate to allow shimming of one or more of the axles 325, 327, the shimming module 336 selects one or more of the axles 325, 327 for shimming. For example, when the shimming module 336 determines that the first truck 310 is appropriate for shimming, the shimming modules 336 selects one of the axles 325 for shimming that has a wheel with a minimum reference groove reading in comparisons to reference groove readings of rest of the wheels 324 mounted on the axles 325. Furthermore, the shimming module 336 determines updated shimming-module-input-wheel-measurements of wheels mounted on the selected axles that may be shimmed. The shimming module 336 determines the updated shimming-module-input-wheel-measurements based upon the thickness of a shim layer that is applied to the wheels and shimming-module-input-wheel-measurements of the wheels. Accordingly, the shimming module 336 outputs an activity that includes shimming of the selected axles, and generates shimming-module-output-wheel-measurements. The shimming-module-output-wheel-measurements include the updated shimming-module-input-wheel-measurements and rest of the shimming-module-input-wheel-measurements received but not updated by the shimming module 336.

Scrapping module 337

[0044] The scrapping module 337 may receive the input wheel measurements 328 or output wheel measurements of the wheels 324, 326 mounted on the axles 325, 327. The output wheel measurements are output generated by one module, in the rest of the modules 334, 336, 338, 340, executed prior to the shimming module 3336 during execution of a permutation of the modules 344. The output wheel measurements, for example may include the individual-compliance-output-wheel measurements, the shimming-module-output-wheel-measurements, and replacement-module-output-wheel-measurements. For ease of understanding, the input wheel measurements 328 or the output wheel measurements received by the scrapping module 337 will be referred to as scrapping-input-wheel-measurements. The scrapping module 337 may extract rim thickness of the wheels 324, 326 from the scrapping-input-wheel-measurements. Furthermore, the scrapping module 337 may determine whether one or more of the axles 325, 327 may be scrapped based upon the rim thickness of the wheels 324, 326 and the minimum rim thickness threshold. Particularly, the scrapping module 337 may compare the rim thickness of the wheels 324, 326 to the minimum rim thickness threshold, and the scrapping module 337 determines a scrapping activity for one or more of the axles 325, 327 having one or more of the wheels 324, 326 having a rim thickness less than the minimum rim thickness threshold. Accordingly, the scrapping module 337 identifies the axles that are required to be scrapped. Furthermore, the scrapping module 337 updates the scrapping-input-wheel-measurements by removing scrapping-input-wheel-measurements of wheels mounted on the identified axles that are required to be scrapped resulting in generation of scrapping-module-output-wheel measurements.

Matching Compliance Module 338

[0045] The matching compliance module 338 may receive the input wheel measurements 328 or output wheel measurements of the wheels 324, 326 mounted on the axles 325, 327. The output wheel measurements are output generated by one module, in the rest of the activity-determination-modules 334, 336, 337, 340, executed prior to the matching compliance module 338 during execution of a permutation of the activity-determination-modules 332. The output wheel measurements, for example may include the individual-compliance-output-wheel measurements, the shimming-module-output-wheel-measurements, the scrapping-module-output-wheel-measurements and replacement-module-output-wheel-measurements. For ease of understanding, the input wheel measurements 328 or the output wheel measurements received by the matching compliance module 338 will be referred to as matching-compliance-input-wheel-measurements. The matching compliance module 338 may extract reference groove readings of the wheels 324, 326 from the matching-compliance-input-wheel-measurements. The matching compliance module 338 determines whether the reference groove readings of the wheels 324, 326 falls within the axle level tolerance, the truck level tolerance, and the locomotive level tolerance. The axle level tolerance, the truck level tolerance, and the locomotive level tolerance are extracted from the tolerances 350. Particularly, the matching compliance module 338 determines whether axle level violations, truck level violations or locomotive level violations exist in a locomotive.

[0046] For ease of understanding the matching compliance module 338 will be explained with reference to the wheels 320, 322 mounted on the first truck first axle 314, however, the replacement module 340 is applicable on each of the wheels 324, 326, and each of axles 325, 327. For example, the matching compliance module 338 determines whether reference groove readings of the first wheel 320 and the second wheel 322 mounted on the first truck first axle 314 falls within the axle level tolerance. Particularly, the matching compliance module 338 determines whether a difference (hereinafter 'axle level difference'), of the reference groove reading of the first wheel 320 and the reference groove reading of the second wheel 322, falls within the reference groove axle level tolerance. The matching compliance module 338 determines an axle level violation when the axle level difference does not fall within the reference groove axle level tolerance.

[0047] For example, the matching compliance module 338 determines whether reference groove readings of the wheels 324 mounted on the first truck 310 falls within the truck level tolerance. The matching compliance module 338 determines whether reference groove readings of the wheels 324, 326 mounted on the axles 325, 327 in the first truck 310 falls within the truck level tolerance. Particularly, the matching compliance module 338 determines whether truck level violations exist in the axles 325, 327. For example, the matching compliance module determines whether the truck level violations exist in the first truck first axle 314 in the first truck 310 by:

a.) determining an average of reference groove readings of the wheels 320, 322 mounted on the first truck first axle 314;

b.) determining a minimum reference groove reading from reference groove readings of the wheels 324 in the first truck 310;

c.) determining a difference (hereinafter 'truck level difference') of the average of the reference groove readings and the minimum reference groove reading;

d.) comparing the truck level difference to the truck level tolerance; and

e.) determining a truck level violation in the first truck first axle 314 when the truck level difference crosses the truck level tolerance.

[0048] While the determination of the truck level violation is explained with reference to the first truck first axle 314 in the first truck 310, the matching compliance module 338 may determine the truck level violation in other axles 316, 318 in the first truck 310 and the axles 325 the second truck 312. Additionally, the matching compliance module 338 determines whether reference groove readings of the wheels 324, 326 in the locomotive 302 falls within the locomotive level tolerance. Particularly, the matching compliance module 338 determines whether the locomotive level violation exists in the axles 325, 327 of the trucks 310, 312 based upon the reference groove readings of the wheels 324, 326.

[0049] When the matching compliance module 338 determines that the axle level violations, the truck level violations or the locomotive level violations exist in the locomotive 302, the matching compliance module 338 identifies one or more of the axles 325, 327 that may be replaced, scrapped, or trued. The matching compliance, for example, may identify the axles to be replaced, scrapped or trued using the individual compliance module, the scrapping module, or the replacement module. When the matching compliance module 338 identifies the axles to be replaced, scrapped, or trued, the matching compliance module 338 generates a replacement, scrapping or truing activity, and updates the matching-compliance-input-wheel-measurements to generate matching-compliance-output-wheel-measurements.

Replacement Module 340

[0050] The replacement module 340 may receive the input wheel measurements 328 or output wheel measurements of the wheels 324, 326 mounted on the axles 325, 327. The output wheel measurements are outputs generated by one module, in the rest of the modules 334, 336, 337, 338, executed prior to the replacement module 340 during execution of a permutation of the activity-determination-modules 332. For ease of understanding, the input wheel measurements 328 or the output wheel measurements received by the replacement module 340 will be referred to as replacement-module-input-wheel measurements.

0051] The replacement module 340 determines whether one or more of the axles 325, 327 may be replaced based upon the replacement-module-input-wheel measurements. For ease of understanding the replacement module 340 will be explained with reference to the wheels 320, 322 mounted on the first truck first axle 314, however, the replacement module 340 is applicable on each of the wheels 324, 326, and each of axles 325, 327. For example, the replacement module 340 determines whether a rim thickness of the first wheel 320 or the second wheel 322, mounted on the first truck first axle 314, is less than the minimum rim thickness threshold; and the replacement module 340 generates a replacement activity to replace the first truck first axle 314 when the rim thickness of the first wheel 320 or the second wheel 322 is less than the minimum rim thickness threshold. Similarly, for example, the replacement module 340 generates a replacement activity to replace the first truck first axle 314 when the flange thickness of the first wheel 320 or the second wheel 322 is less than the minimum flange thickness, or the reference groove of the first wheel 320 or the second wheel 322 is less than the minimum reference groove.

[0052] Furthermore, the replacement module 340 identifies an inventory axle that will replace the first truck first axle 314 based upon the inventory data 353. The replacement module 340 identifies the inventory axle, such that the installation of the inventory axle does not lead to wheel level violations, axle level violations, truck level violations, and locomotive level violations.

[0053] As previously noted, execution of the permutations of the activity-determination-modules 334, 336, 337, 338, 340 generates the recommendations 346 that includes one or more activities, such as shimming, replacing, scrapping, truing, or combinations thereof. The activity-determination-modules 332 send the recommendations 346 to a wheel cuts module 342 and a cost calculation module 344. The processing subsystem 308 includes the wheel cuts module 342, and the cost calculation module 344. The wheel cuts module 342 and the cost calculation module 344 receive the recommendations 346 from the activity-determination-modules 332. The wheel cuts module 342 determines a number of wheel cuts required in one or more of the wheels 324, 326 based upon the recommendations 346. Furthermore, the wheel cuts module 342 determines a number of inches reduction required in each of the wheel cuts. For example, when one of the activities in one of the recommendations 346 include truing of the wheel 320 by 0.4065 inches, the wheel cuts module 342 may determine 3 wheel cuts required on the wheel 320, wherein the wheel cuts are 0.13 inches, 0.13 inches, and 0.1465 inches respectively.

[0054] The cost calculation module 344 receives the recommendations 346 from the modules 332, and determines a total cost associated with execution of each of the recommendations 346 based upon the recommendations 346. For example, when a recommendation includes activities including shimming of the axle 316, replacement of the axle 318, and truing of the wheels 320, 322, the cost calculation module 344 determines a total cost of shimming of the axle 316, replacement of the axle 318, and truing of the wheels 320, 322.

[0055] Fig. 4 is a flow chart that illustrates an exemplary method 400 for generating recommendations to manage servicing of a locomotive, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present techniques. The method 400 further determines a number of wheel cuts required by one or more wheels in the locomotive to implement one or more of the recommendations. Additionally, the method 400 determines a cost associated with implementing each of the recommendations. The recommendations, for example are the recommendations 346. A recommendation includes one or more activities to be performed on one or more wheels in the locomotive. The activities, for example, may include scrapping, replacing, truing, shimming, or combinations thereof.

[0056] At block 402, input wheel measurements of a plurality of wheels mounted on respective axles in the locomotive may be received. The input wheel measurements, for example, may be received by a processing subsystem. At block 404, the violation determination module 330 (see Fig. 3) determines whether one or more violations including wheel level violations, axle level violations, truck level violations and locomotive level violations exist in the locomotive. The violations determination module 330, for example determines whether the violations exist based upon the measurement thresholds 348 and the tolerances 350 (see Fig. 3).

[0057] At block 404, when it is determined that no violations exist, the control is transferred to block 406. At 406 it is determined that no violations exist in the locomotive, and the locomotive complies with the railway authority requirements, customer requirements, and safety requirements. Referring back to block 404, when it is determined that one or more violations exist in the locomotive; the control is transferred to block 408. At block 408, the processing subsystem 308 generates the recommendations to obviate the violations by executing at least one permutation of one or more of the activity-determination-modules 332 based upon the input wheel measurements, the reset values 352, and the look up table 354 (see Fig. 3). As previously noted with reference to Fig. 3, the activity-determination-modules 332 include the individual compliance module 334, the shimming module 336, the matching compliance module 338, the scrapping module 337, and the replacement module 340. The permutations of the activity-determination-modules 332, for example, may be selected randomly by the processing subsystem 308. Three permutations of the activity-determination-modules 332 are shown in Fig. 5.

[0058] At block 410, the wheel cuts module 342 determines a number of wheel cuts required while truing one or more of the wheels to implement the recommendations. Furthermore, the wheel cuts module 342 determines a number of inches to be reduced in each of the wheel cuts. The wheel cuts module 342 determines the number of wheels cuts and the number of inches to be reduced based upon the recommendations. At block 412, the cost calculation module 344 determines the cost associated with implementing each of the recommendations.

[0059] Fig. 5 is a block diagram of three permutations 502, 504, 506 of one or more of the activity-determination-modules 332 referred to in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is explained with reference to the locomotive 302 and the activity-determination-modules 332 referred to in Fig. 3. It is noted that Fig. 5 shows the three permutations for example purposes, and many other permutations of one or more of the activity-determination-modules 332 are viable. Reference numeral 502 is representative of a first permutation of one or more of the activity-determination-modules 332 (see Fig. 1). The first permutation 502 is in the following sequence: the shimming module 336, the individual compliance module 334, and the replacement module 340. As the shimming module 336 is the first module that is executed in the first permutation 502, the shimming module 336 receives the input wheel measurements 328 of the locomotive 302. The shimming module 336 selects whether one or more of the axles 325, 327 in the locomotive 302 may be shimmed. When the shimming module 336 selects that an axle may be shimmed, the shimming module 336 generates a shimming activity 508 to shim the axle; and the shimming module 336 updates input wheel measurements of the wheels mounted on the selected axle that may be shimmed to generate updated input wheel measurements. Furthermore, the shimming module 336 outputs shimming-module-output-wheel-measurements 510, wherein the shimming-module-output-wheel-measurements 510 include the updated input wheel measurements and rest of the input wheel measurements 328 received but not updated by the shimming module 336.

[0060] The shimming-module-output-wheel measurements 508 are received by the individual compliance module 334. The shimming-module-output-wheel-measurements 508 received by the individual compliance module 334 are hereinafter referred to by the term "individual-compliance-input-wheel-measurements 510". The individual compliance module 334 determines whether one or more of the wheels 324, 326 needs to be trued based upon the individual- compliance-input-wheel-measurements 510 and the measurement thresholds 348. When the individual compliance module 334 determines that one or more of the wheels 324, 326 needs to be trued, the individual compliance module 334 updates individual-compliance-input-wheel-measurements of the wheels to be trued to generate updated individual-compliance-input-wheel-measurements. Accordingly, the individual compliance module 334 generates a truing activity 512 for truing the wheels to be trued and individual-compliance-module-output-wheel-measurements 514. The individual-compliance-module-output-wheel-measurements 514 include the updated individual-compliance-input-wheel-measurements, and rest of the individual-compliance-input-wheel-measurements 510 that have not been updated.

[0061] The replacement module 340 receives the individual-compliance-module-output-wheel-measurements 514 from the individual compliance module 334. The individual-compliance-module-output-wheel-measurements 514 received by the replacement module 340 are hereinafter referred to by the term "replacement-module-input-wheel-measurements 514". The replacement module 340 determines whether one or more of the axles 325, 327 may be replaced based upon the repiacement-module-input-wheel-measurements 510. When the replacement module 340 determines that one or more of the axles 325, 327 may be replaced; the replacement module 340 identifies one or more inventory axles that may replace the one or more of the axles 325, 327. The replacement module 340 identifies the one or more inventory axles based upon the inventory data 353. When the replacement module 340 determines the one or more of the axles 325, 327 that may be replaced, and identifies the one or more inventory axles that may replace the one or more of the axles 325, 327, the replacement module 353 generates a replacement activity 516. Furthermore, the replacement module 340 updates the replacement-module-input-wheel-measurements 514 by removing replacement-module-input-wheel-measurements of the one or more of the axles 325, 327 that may be replaced, and adding the details of the inventory axles that may replace the one or more of the axles 325, 327 to generate replacement-module-output-wheel-measurements 518.

[0062] In the embodiment of Fig. 5, when the processing subsystem 308 completes execution of the first permutation 502, a first recommendation 520 is generated that includes the shimming activity 508, the truing activity 512, and the replacement activity 516. Furthermore, the first recommendation 520 identifies one or more of the axles 325, 327 that are required to be shimmed, trued, and replaced. Additionally, the first recommendation 520 includes the replacement-module-output-wheel-measurements 518 which include the wheel measurements of the wheels 325, 327 after shimming, truing, and replacing the one or more of the identified axles.

[0063] Furthermore, Fig. 5 shows the second permutation 504 of the activity-determination-module 332. The second permutation 504 of the activity-determination-module 330 is in the following sequence: replacement module 340, individual compliance module 334, and matching compliance module 338. Furthermore, the third permutation 506 of the activity-determination-module 330 is in the following sequence: replacement module 340, shimming module 336, individual compliance module 334, and matching compliance module 338.

[0064] Fig. 6 is a flow chart that illustrates an exemplary method 600 for determining whether a locomotive and one or more trucks in the locomotive are appropriate for shimming, in accordance with one embodiment of the present techniques. For ease of understanding, Fig. 6 is explained with reference to the wheels 324, 326, the axles 325, 327, the trucks 310, 312, and the locomotive 302 referred to in Fig. 3. Accordingly, Fig. 6 illustrates a method to determine whether the truck 310 and the locomotive 302 are appropriate for shimming. For ease of understanding, Fig. 6 is explained by using reference groove readings of the wheels 324, 326, however other wheel measurements of the wheels 324, 326 may be used to determine whether the trucks 310, 312 and the locomotive 302 are appropriate for shimming.

[0065] Reference numeral 602 is representative of reference groove readings of the wheels 324 mounted on the axles 325 in the first truck 310. Furthermore, reference numeral 604 is representative of reference groove readings of the wheels 326 mounted on the axles 327 in the second truck 312. The reference groove readings 602, 604, for example may be extracted from the input wheel measurements 328, or output wheel measurements generated by one of the activity-determination-modules 332 executed prior to the shimming module 336 during execution of a permutation of the activity-determination-modules 332.

[0066] At block 606, a maximum reference groove reading 604 and a minimum reference groove reading is selected from the reference groove readings 602 of the wheels 324 in the first truck 310. At block 608, a difference of the maximum reference groove reading and the minimum reference grove reading is determined. At block 610, a check is carried out to determine whether the difference is greater than the reference groove truck level shim tolerance. At block 610, when the difference is greater than the reference groove axle level tolerance, it is declared at block 612 that the first truck 310 is not appropriate for shimming. However, at block 610 when the difference is not greater than the reference groove truck level shim tolerance, it is declared that the first truck 310 is appropriate for shimming. While Fig. 6 illustrates a method to determine whether the first truck 310 is appropriate for shimming, the steps 606-614 may be used to determine whether the second truck 312 is appropriate for shimming based upon the reference groove readings 604.

[0067] Furthermore, at block 616, a maximum reference groove reading is selected from the reference groove readings 602 of the wheels 324 mounted on the axles 325 in the first truck 310. Additionally, at 616, a minimum reference groove reading is selected from the reference groove readings 604 of the wheels 326 mounted on the axles 327 in the second truck 312. At block 618, a difference of the maximum reference groove reading (determined at the block 616) and the minimum reference groove reading (determined at the block 616) is determined. Furthermore, at block 620, a check is carried out to determine whether the difference (determined at the block 618) is greater than the reference groove locomotive level shim tolerance. When at the block 620, it is determined that the difference (determined at the block 618) is greater than the reference groove locomotive level shim tolerance, it is determined at block 622 that the locomotive 302 is not appropriate for shimming. However, when at the block 620, it is determined that the difference (determined at the block 618) is not greater than the reference groove locomotive level tolerance, it is determined at block 624 that the locomotive 302 is appropriate for shimming.

[0068] While only certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.

Claims:

1. A locomotive service management system, comprising a processing subsystem that: receives a plurality of input wheel measurements corresponding to a plurality of wheels mounted on respective axles of one or more trucks in a locomotive; and generates one or more recommendations to obviate at least one of a wheel level violation, an axle level violation, a truck level violation, and a locomotive level violation by executing one or more permutations of one or more activity-determination-modules using at least one of the plurality of input wheel measurements, a look up table, and one or more reset values.

2. The locomotive service management system of claim 1, further comprising a violations determination module that determines the existence of one or more of the wheel level violation, the axle level violation, the truck level violation, and the locomotive level violation based upon a plurality of measurement thresholds corresponding to the plurality of input wheel measurements, and a plurality of tolerances corresponding to the plurality of input wheel measurements.

3. The locomotive service management system of claim 2, wherein the violations determination module determines the wheel level violation in a wheel in the plurality of wheels by: comparing an input wheel measurement of the wheel to a respective measurement threshold in the plurality of measurement thresholds; and determining the wheel level violation in the wheel when the input wheel measurement of the wheel crosses the respective measurement threshold.

4. The locomotive service management system of claim 2, wherein the violations determination module determines the axle level violation in an axle in the respective axles by: determining a difference between two same wheel measurements of two wheels mounted on the axle; comparing the difference to an axle level tolerance in the plurality of tolerances; and determining the axle level violation in the axle when the difference crosses the axle level tolerance.

5. The locomotive service management system of claim 2, wherein the violations determination module determines the truck level violation in an axle in a truck in the one or more trucks by: determining an average of input wheel measurements of two wheels mounted on the axle in the truck; determining a minimum input wheel measurement from input wheel measurements of wheels in the truck; and determining a difference of the average of the input wheel measurements and the minimum input wheel measurement; comparing the difference to a truck level tolerance; and determining the truck level violation in the axle in the truck when the difference is greater than the truck level tolerance.

6. The locomotive service management system of claim 2, wherein the violations determination module determines the locomotive level violation in an axle in a truck in the one or more trucks by: determining an average of input wheel measurements of two wheels mounted on the axle in the truck; determining a minimum input wheel measurement from input wheel measurements of wheels mounted on one or more axles in another truck; and determining a difference of the average of the input wheel measurements and the minimum input wheel measurement; comparing the difference to a locomotive level tolerance; and determining the locomotive level violation in the axle in the truck when the difference is greater than the locomotive level tolerance.

7. The locomotive service management system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of input wheel measurements comprise a flange height, a flange thickness, a reference groove reading, a rim thickness, or combinations thereof.

8. The locomotive service management of claim 2, wherein the plurality of measurement thresholds comprise a flange thickness threshold, a flange height threshold, a reference groove reading threshold, a rim thickness threshold, a maximum flange height threshold, a minimum flange thickness threshold, a minimum rim thickness threshold, a minimum reference grove threshold, or combinations thereof.

9. The locomotive service management of claim 2, wherein the plurality of tolerances comprise an axle level tolerance, a truck level tolerance, a locomotive level tolerance, a reference groove axle level tolerance, a reference groove truck level tolerance, a reference groove locomotive level tolerance, a reference groove truck level shim tolerance, a reference groove locomotive level shim tolerance, or combinations thereof.

10. The locomotive service management system of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more recommendations comprise at least one activity comprising a shimming activity, a replacement activity, a scrapping activity, and a truing activity.

11. The locomotive service management system of claim 1, wherein the one or more activity-determination-modules comprise an individual compliance module, a shimming module, a matching compliance module, a scrapping module, a replacement module, or combinations thereof.

12. The locomotive service management system of claim 11, wherein the individual compliance module: determines whether a first wheel mounted on an axle in the respective axles has the wheel level violation based on individual-compliance-input-wheel-measurements of the first wheel and a second wheel; generates a truing activity for the first wheel and the second wheel mounted on the axle in the respective axles; and updates the individual-compliance-input-wheel-measurements of the first wheel and the second wheel mounted on the axle based upon the one or more reset values and the look up table to generate updated wheel measurements, wherein the updated wheel measurements are dimensions of the wheel after performance of the truing activity on the first wheel and the second wheel.

13. The locomotive service management system of claim 12, wherein the individual compliance module: updates a flange height of each of the first wheel and the second wheel by equating the flange height to a flange height reset value; and generates an updated flange thickness by updating a flange thickness of each of the first wheel and the second wheel by equating the flange thickness to a flange thickness reset value.

14. The locomotive service management system of claim 13, wherein the individual compliance module updates a rim thickness of each of the first wheel and the second wheel by: mapping the updated flange thickness to a corresponding rim reduction in the look up table; and determining an updated rim thickness by subtracting the corresponding rim reduction from the rim thickness of each of the first wheel and the second wheel.

15. The locomotive service management system of claim 11, wherein the shimming module: determines whether a truck in the one or more trucks is appropriate to allow shimming of atleast one axle of the truck; and selects an axle, from the at least one axle, comprising a wheel that has a minimum reference groove reading among reference groove readings of wheels mounted on the at least one axle.

16. The locomotive service management system of claim 15, wherein the shimming module determines whether the truck in the one or more trucks is appropriate to allow shimming of the at least one axle of the truck by: selecting a maximum reference groove reading and the minimum reference groove reading from the reference groove readings of the wheels mounted on the at least one axle; and determining a difference of the maximum reference groove reading and the minimum reference groove reading; comparing the difference to a reference groove truck level shim tolerance; and determining that the truck in the one or more trucks is not appropriate to allow shimming when the difference is greater than the reference groove truck level shim tolerance.

17. The locomotive service management system of claim 16, wherein the shimming module determines that the truck in the one or more trucks is appropriate to allow shimming when the difference is not greater than the reference groove truck level shim tolerance.

18. The locomotive service management system of claim 11, wherein the scrapping module determines whether one or more of the respective axles needs to be scrapped based upon rim thickness of the plurality of wheels and a minimum rim thickness threshold.

19. The locomotive service management system of claim 11, wherein the replacement module: determines whether one or more of the respective axles needs to be replaced based upon a rim thickness of the plurality of wheels and a minimum rim thickness threshold; and identifies one or more inventory axles for replacing the one or more of the respective axles when the one or more of the respective axles needs to be replaced.