Method and apparatus for monitoring bearings

1. A method for reducing false train stops, said method comprising:

receiving, at a processing unit, inputs from a hot box detection system;

generating, using the processing unit, a bearing profile for each bearing passing the hot box detection system, wherein each bearing profile includes a plurality of temperature readings of the bearing associated with the bearing profile;

assigning, using the processing unit, a profile classification to each bearing profile;

determining a quantity of bearing profiles assigned to each profile classification; and

generating a maintenance alert if the quantity of bearing profiles assigned to any individual profile classification exceeds a configurable count threshold.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein assigning the profile classification comprises assigning at least one of a typical bearing profile classification, a warm bearing profile classification, a hot bearing profile classification, a corrected bearing profile classification, and an atypical bearing profile classification to each bearing profile.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2 , wherein each bearing profile is a bearing profile waveform, and wherein assigning the profile classification further comprises comparing each bearing profile waveform to a typical bearing profile waveform to determine whether to assign the typical bearing profile classification or the atypical bearing profile classification to the bearing profile.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3 , further comprising comparing each bearing profile assigned to the typical bearing profile classification to predetermined classification criteria to further assign at least one of the warm bearing profile classification and the hot bearing profile classification to the bearing profile.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising generating a train detail report that includes the quantity of bearing profiles assigned to each individual profile classification, a trainside average bearing temperature, and a total number of axles included in the train detail report.

6. A method in accordance with claim 5 , further comprising generating the maintenance alert if a quantity of bearing profiles classified in the atypical bearing profile classification, the warm bearing profile classification, the hot bearing profile classification, or the corrected bearing profile classification on a single train exceeds the configurable count threshold.

7. A method in accordance with claim 5 , further comprising generating a hot box detection system maintenance alert that is indicative of a hot box detection system failure, if a delta temperature between the calculated trainside average temperatures exceeds a configurable temperature threshold for a predetermined quantity of trains.

8. A method in accordance with claim 7 , further comprising:

generating a train summary report utilizing a plurality of train detail reports; and

determining a quantity of bearing profiles assigned to each profile classification for each respective train included in the train summary report.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8 , further comprising:

analyzing the train summary report to determine if the quantity of identified trains with a particular classification type exceeds a predetermined statistical threshold; and

generating the hot box detection system maintenance alert if the quantity of identified trains with a particular profile classification type exceeds the predetermined statistical threshold.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising automatically notifying maintenance personnel when the maintenance alert is generated.

11. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein receiving inputs from the hot box detection system further comprises scanning a passing train bearing with an infrared scanner, wherein the scanner is mounted to a railroad track.

12. A method in accordance with claim 10 , further comprising:

receiving inputs from the hot box detection system while scanning a plurality of trains; and

recording a time and a date when the sensor inputs were received.

13. A hot box detection system configured for detecting overheated railroad journal bearings, said hot box detection system comprising:

an infrared bearing scanner; and

a processing unit coupled to said infrared bearing scanner, said processing unit programmed to:

receive inputs from said infrared bearing scanner;

generate a bearing profile for each bearing passing the infrared bearing scanner, wherein each bearing profile includes a plurality of temperature readings of the bearing associated with the bearing profile;

assign a profile classification to each bearing profile;

determine a quantity of bearing profiles assigned to each profile classification; and

generate a maintenance alert if the quantity of bearing profiles assigned to any individual profile classification exceeds a configurable count threshold.

14. A hot box detection system in accordance with claim 13 , wherein said processing unit is further programmed to assign at least one of a typical bearing profile classification, a warm bearing profile classification, a hot bearing profile classification, a corrected bearing profile classification, and an atypical bearing profile classification to each bearing profile.

15. A hot box detection system in accordance with claim 13 , wherein said processing unit is further programmed to generate a train detail report that includes the quantity of bearing profiles assigned to each individual profile classification, a trainside average bearing temperature, and a total number of axles included in the train detail report.

16. A hot box detection system in accordance with claim 15 , wherein said processing unit is programmed to generate the maintenance alert if the quantity of bearing profiles classified in the atypical bearing profile classification, the warm bearing profile classification, the hot bearing profile classification, or the corrected bearing profile classification on a single train exceeds the configurable count threshold.

17. A hot box detection system in accordance with claim 15 , wherein said processing unit is further programmed to generate a hot box detection system maintenance alert that is indicative of a hot box detection system failure, if a delta temperature between the calculated trainside average temperatures exceeds a configurable temperature threshold for a predetermined quantity of trains.

18. A hot box detection system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said processing unit is further programmed to:

generate a train summary report utilizing a plurality of train detail reports; and

determine a quantity of bearing profiles assigned to each profile classification for each respective train included in the train summary report.

19. A hot box detection system in accordance with claim 18 , wherein said processing unit is further programmed to:

analyze the train summary report to determine if the quantity of identified trains with a particular classification type exceeds a predetermined statistical threshold; and

generate the hot box detection system maintenance alert if the quantity of identified trains with a particular profile classification type exceeds the predetermined statistical threshold.

20. A hot box detection system in accordance with claim 13 , wherein said processing unit is further programmed to automatically notify maintenance personnel when the maintenance alert is generated.

21. A hot box detection system in accordance with claim 13 , wherein said processing unit is further programmed to scan a passing component with said infrared scanner, wherein said infrared scanner is rail-mounted.

22. A hotbox detection system in accordance with claim 13 , wherein said processing unit is further programmed to:

receive inputs from said infrared bearing scanner while scanning a plurality of trains; and

record a time and a date when the scanner inputs were received.