DESC:FORM 2

THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENT RULES, 2003

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10 and Rule 13)

Title of invention:
ROLLING STOCK WEIGHING SYSTEM TO MEASURE WEIGHT DISTRIBUTED THROUGH WHEELS

Applicant:
BEML Limited
A company Incorporated in India under the Companies Act, 1956
Having address:
BEML Soudha, 23/1, 4th Main,
Sampangirama Nagar, Bengaluru - 560 027,
Karnataka, India

The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND PRIORITY

[001] The present invention claims priority from Indian patent Provisional Application 202041009202 filed on 03 March 2020.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[002] The present subject matter described herein, in general, relates to a rolling stock wheels weighing systemand more specifically relates to a system to measure weight distributed through rolling stock wheels.
BACKGROUND
[003] Total weight of a vehicle has different aspects: including a vehicle mass, load per axle and load per wheel. However, there are certain parameters related to total weight of the vehicle and weight distribution of a coach in the vehicle like train. The vehicle manufacturers have to comply these parameters set by employer’s technical specifications. Based on such parameters and as per IEC 61133 standards, the weight of the vehicle and vertical load exerted by each wheel on a rail shall be measured and shall be accompanied by a statement as to an accuracy of a measuring equipment. Hence, total weight of the vehicle, weight of each wheel and weight distribution among all wheels are critical parameters to measure with an accuracy. Also, wheel wise load values and load distribution among the wheels are important for setting primary suspension heights and determining the required pneumatic brake pressure for each wheel.
[004] Generally, vehicle weighing devices which are known, comprise a platform-based weigh bridges that gives the total weight of the vehicle or the coach. The weigh bridge comprises a platform where the vehicle is parked for weighing whereby the total weight of the vehicle is measured by weighing sensors. Further, with a single weighing system a testing of various projects having differences in gauge, coach distance and axle distance is not possible.
[005] Hence, there is a need to develop the weighing system that measures the weight of an individual wheel and measures the weight distribution among the wheels with accuracy.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[006] It is a main object of the present invention to provide a weight/load of an individual wheel of a coach with an accuracy.
[007] It is another main object of the present invention to provide a weight/load distribution among all wheels of coach with accuracy.
[008] It is another object of the present invention to provide a single weighing system for testing of various projects having differences in gauge, coach distance and axle distance.
SUMMARY
[009] Before the present system and method are described, it is to be understood that this application is not limited to the particular machine or apparatus, and methodologies described, as there can be multiple possible embodiments that are not expressly illustrated in the present disclosures. It is also to be understood that the terminology used in the description is for the purpose of describing the particular versions or embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present application. This summary is provided to introduce aspects related to weighing system for a coach. This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the proposed subject matter nor is it intended for use in determining or limiting the scope of the proposed subject matter.
[0010] The present subject matter relates to a weighing system for rolling stock wheels of a coach of train. The weighing system comprises a weighing platform with plurality of rails. In an embodiment, the system is configured with three rails as common rail (CR), standard gauge rail (SG) and broad gauge rail (BG) wherein one of the rail is configured to be mounted on one side of the platform and remaining two rails are configured to be mounted on another side of the platform. Further, the weighing system comprises four load pads configured to be mounted on each of the said rails wherein each load pad is configured to connect with a dedicated load indicator; and a computer system configured to receive load values and to calculate load value distribution through a dedicated computer program. The said weighing system is more specifically configured to weigh a standard gauge coaches and broad gauge coaches. Further, the load pad of the weighing system is configured with two highly sensitive Double Ended Shear Beam type load cells with a maximum capacity of 10 Ton wherein the load indicator is configured to be SF 64 indicator. Furthermore, the said weighing system is configured for testing various projects having differences in gauge, coach distance and axle distance.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawing. For the purpose of illustrating the disclosure, example constructions of the disclosure are shown in the present document, however, the disclosure is not limited to the specific methods and apparatus disclosed in the document and the drawing.
[0012] The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figure. In the figure, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the drawing to refer like features and components.
[0013] Figure 1illustrates a weighing platform with three rails, in accordance with the present invention.
[0014] Figure 2 illustrates a weighing system, in accordance with the present invention.
[0015] Figure 3illustratesa weighing system with wheel mounting, in accordance with the present invention.
[0016] Figure 4 illustrates a schematic diagram of the weighing system, in accordance with the present invention.
[0017] Figure 5 illustrates a detailed system architecture, in accordance with the present invention.
[0018] The figure depicts various embodiments of the present disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognise from the following discussionthat alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] Some embodiments of this disclosure, illustrating all its features, will now be discussed in detail. The words "comprising", “having”, and "including," and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items. Although any system and method similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of embodiments of the present disclosure, the exemplary, systems and methods are now described. The disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the disclosure, which may be embodied in various forms.
[0020] Various modifications to the embodiment will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the generic principles herein may be applied to other embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments illustrated, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein.
[0021] The present subject matter discloses a rolling stock wheel weighing system for measuring a weight/load of an individual wheel of a coach and to measure a load/weight distribution of wheels. The proposed system comprises three rails along a rail line that are configured to adapt mounting of different coaches with difference in gauge and an axle distance. The proposed weighing system also comprises a load pad mounted along the three rails configured to sense a load/weight acting on the respective load pad.
[0022] Referring to Figure 1, a weighing platform (110) with three rails of the proposed subject matter is shown. The weighing platform (110) is configured with common rail (CR) (102) on one side of the platform and a pair of a standard gauge rail (SG) (104) and broad gauge rail (BG) (106) on another side of the platform. The proposed weighing system is configured for both standard gauge coaches and broad gauge coaches. In an embodiment, one side of wheels (108) of a coach to be weighed are configured to be mounted either on the standard gauge rail (SG) (104) or the broad gauge rail (BG) (106) while another side of the wheels (108) of the coach are configured to be mounted on the common rail (CR) (102).
[0023] Referring to Figure 2 and Figure 3, an isometric view of the proposed weighing system is depicted. The said weighing system is configured with at least twelve load pads installed along the said three rails for weighing a single coach. Further, each of the rails namely CR, SG and BG are configured with four load pads wherein each load pad (202) is configured with two load cells. In order to weigh the coach, the wheels (108) are stopped on the rail above the load pad (202). In an embodiment, one load pad is configured to weigh one wheel of the coach. Furthermore, the said load cells are configured to be double ended shear beam type load cells. Each load pad (202) is configured with maximum weighing capacity of 10 Ton. Furthermore, each load pad (202) is configured to be connected to a dedicated load indicator (406) wherein the load indicator (406) is configured to display a load acting on corresponding load pad (202). In an embodiment, the load indicator (406) is configured with one RS-484 communication and alike. Furthermore, the load values are configured to be provided to a computer system (408) for calculation of a load value distribution. Furthermore, to weigh the SG coach, the wheels are mounted on the CR (102) and SG (104) wherein the loads of the wheels (108) are displayed on CR and SG indicators. Similarly, to weigh the BG coach, the wheels (108) are mounted on the CR (102) and BG (106) wherein the loads of the wheels (108) are displayed on CR and BG indicators. Further, to minimize a reading error, wheel wise weights are configured to be taken four times successively by moving out the coach from the load pads and placing the coach again on the load pads and an average wheel load weight of these four trials is considered for determining the weight/load distribution.
[0024] Referring to figure 5, a schematic diagram of the proposed weighing system is shown. The said system comprises the load pad (202), a load cell(s) (402), a junction box (404), the load indicator (406) and the computer system (408). The load pad (202) comprises the load cells (402) and the electrical junction box (404). Further, the load cells (402) are the load measuring members configured to sense the load acting on the load cells (402) wherein the load cell (402) comprises a strain gauge configured to reflect the load experienced by the load cell (402). Further, the junction box (404) is configured to generate an electrical signal through strain gauge. Further, the junction box (404) is wired up to a load indicator panel (502) wherein the load indicator panel is a combination of an electrical control unit and a display unit. The electrical control unit is configured to receive load signals (low potential) from all eight junction boxes that are processed through further in the electrical control unit. An output from the electrical control unit is configured to send to the respective ‘Load Indicator’ display unit. Further, the load signal is configured to send to the computer system (408) in a predefined format to store a load data in digital form in a customized pattern.
[0025] Referring to Figure 6, a detailed system architecture and communication flow chart of the proposed weighing system is illustrated. The wheels (108) with their respective load pad connection are shown in the figure. The load sensed by each load pad (202) is configured to send to the corresponding load indicator (406) in the load indicator panel (502) which processes the electrical signal and displays the load value. The load indicator panel (502) is further configured to communicate to all the load values to the computer system (408).
[0026] In an exemplary embodiment, the weighing system as described above can accommodate variety of projects as shown in the below Table 1.
Sr. No Project Gauge Bogie distance Wheel distance
1 DMRC (RS9) SG 15000 2200
2 BMRCL SG 14700 2200
3 KMRCL SG 15000 2200
4 Mumbai Metro SG 15000 2200
5 DMRC (RS13/RS15) BG 15000 2400
6 Indian Railway (MEMU/DEMU/OHE) BG 14783 2896
7 Indian Railway (ACEMU/SSEMU) BG 14630 2896
Table 1
[0027] Exemplary embodiments discussed above may provide certain advantages. Though not required to practice aspects of the disclosure, these advantages may include those provided by the following features.
• The present invention provides a single weighing system for various projects having differences in gauge, bogie distance and axle distance.
• The present invention provides a weighing system for both Broad Gauge and Standard Gauge vehicles, which are most commonly used rails globally.
• The present invention provides high accuracy (0.5% error) wheel weighing system.
,CLAIMS:1. A rolling stock wheels weighing system comprising:
at least one load pad (202) configured to be mounted on a weighing platform (110);
at least one rail configured to be mounted on said load pad (202);
a computer system (408) configured to be connected with the load pad (202) to receive the load values of wheels (108) mounted on said rails.

2. The rolling stock wheels weighing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the weighing system is configured to measure a weight of an individual wheel and a weight distribution of a coach assembly on individual wheels.

3. The rolling stock wheels weighing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least four load pads are configured to be mounted along each rail.

4. The rolling stock wheels weighing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least three rails (102,104,106) are configured to be mounted on the weighing platform (110) wherein one rail is mounted on one side of the said weighing platform (110) and a pair of remaining rails are mounted on another side of the weighing platform (110) to weigh all types of available coaches.

5. The rolling stock wheels weighing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said weighing system is configured with common rail (CR) (102) mounted on one side of the weighing platform (110) and a pair of standard gauge rail (SG) (104) and broad gauge rail (BG) (106) on another side of the weighing platform (110) to weigh a standard gauge coach and a broad gauge coach.

6. The rolling stock wheels weighing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the load pad (202) is configured with at least two highly sensitive double ended shear beam type load cells with a maximum capacity of 10 Ton.

7. The rolling stock wheels weighing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each load pad (202) is configured to be connected to a dedicated load indicator (406).

8. The rolling stock wheels weighing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the load pad (202) is configured to connect with load indicator like SF 64 and alike.

9. The rolling stock wheels weighing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said weighing system is configured for testing of various projects having differences in gauge, coach distance and axle distance.