Patent ID: 6862936
Filing Date: 2005-03-08
Classification: G01M,G01N

Abstract:
1. A remote, non-contact system for detecting a defect in a railroad wheel, said system comprising: a remote means, located at a first specified location in the environment surrounding said wheel, for generating in a non-contact manner in said wheel an ultrasonic wave having a specified wavefront, said ultrasonic wave having a direct portion and reflected and transmitted portions if said direct portion encounters a defect in said wheel, a non-contact means, located at a second specified location in said environment, for sensing from said wheel the acoustic signal emanating from said wheel that results from said ultrasonic wave traveling through said wheel, a signal processing means, responsive to said sensed acoustic signal, capable of distinguishing whether said sensed signal has a component that indicates the existence of a portion chosen from the group consisting of reflected and transmitted portions in said ultrasonic wave, wherein the presence of said component in said acoustic signal indicates the existence of a defect in said railroad wheel.