Digital wheel end assembly temperature monitoring system

1. A wheel end high-temperature warning system for a vehicle having a wheel-end assembly mounted to a spindle of an axle, the system comprising:

a first temperature sensor including a sensor head mounted to a pressure barrier plug sealingly disposed within a spindle section of an axle near the wheel end assembly, the sensor head being in a heat exchange relationship with one or more bearings of the wheel-end assembly;

a transmitter configured to receive a first sensor signal from the first temperature sensor indicative of a wheel-end temperature, and transmit the signal to a receiver; and

a vehicle data acquisition module coupled to said receiver, the data acquisition system being programmed to receive said first sensor signal and process the signal to determine a temperature of the spindle;

the vehicle data acquisition module further including a display to provide a digital indication of said temperature and identify the particular wheel-end assembly associated with said temperature; and

the data acquisition module further configured to compare said temperature to a threshold temperature and to initiate one or more alarms if said temperature exceeds said threshold temperature.

2. The wheel end high-temperature warning system of claim 1 , the first temperature sensor being a thermocouple including a pair of wires sized in length to route a thermo-electric signal generated at said sensor head to a reference junction, the reference junction being positioned out of a heat exchange relationship with said wheel-end assembly.

3. The wheel end high-temperature warning system of claim 2 , the first temperature sensor comprising a steel-braided protective sheath substantially enclosing the pair of wires, the steel-braided protective sheath extending between said sensor head and said reference junction;

said reference junction being coupled to a voltmeter, said voltmeter positioned adjacent said transmitter and mounted to said axle.

4. The wheel end high-temperature warning system of claim 1 further comprising a second temperature sensor, the second temperature sensor configured to provide a second sensor signal, the sensor signal related to a temperature of one or more of said spindle, a hub, hub lugs, brake system body, or hubcap of a vehicle.

5. The wheel end high-temperature warning system of claim 4 , the data acquisition system programmed to generate one or more system alerts based on a difference in temperature measured between said first temperature sensor and said second temperature sensor.

6. A wheel end high-temperature warning system for a vehicle having a wheel end assembly mounted to an axle, the system comprising:

a first thermocouple sensor including a sensor head, the thermocouple sensor being mounted so that the sensor head is disposed in a spindle of an axle of said vehicle;

a transmitter configured to receive a first sensor signal from the first thermocouple sensor indicative of a wheel-end temperature and to transmit the first sensor signal to a receiver;

the thermocouple sensor including a pair of wires sized in length to route a thermo-electric signal generated at said sensor head to a reference junction, the reference junction being coupled to a voltmeter, said voltmeter positioned adjacent said transmitter with both the voltmeter and transmitter mounted externally to the wheel-end assembly;

a vehicle data acquisition module coupled to said receiver, the data acquisition system being programmed to receive said first sensor signal and process the signal to determine a temperature;

the vehicle data acquisition module further including a display to provide a digital indication of said temperature and identify the particular wheel-end assembly associated with said temperature;

the data acquisition module further configured to compare said temperature to a threshold temperature and to initiate one or more alarms if said temperature exceeds said threshold temperature.

7. The wheel end high-temperature warning system of claim 6 , the first thermocouple sensor comprising a steel-braided protective sheath substantially enclosing the pair of wires, the steel-braided protective sheath extending between said sensor head and said reference junction.

8. The wheel end high-temperature warning system of claim 6 , said voltmeter and said transmitter included in a common housing.

9. The wheel end high-temperature warning system of claim 6 further comprising a second thermocouple sensor, the second thermocouple sensor configured to provide at least one second sensor signal;

said data acquisition system programmed to generate one or more system alerts based on a difference in temperature measured between said first thermocouple sensor and said second thermocouple sensor.

10. The wheel end high-temperature warning system of claim 6 , the first thermocouple sensor being mounted to an exterior face of the spindle.

11. The wheel end high-temperature warning system of claim 6 , the first thermocouple sensor being mounted to the spindle,

the first thermocouple sensor being routed through the spindle through a channel cross drilled in the spindle.

12. The wheel end high-temperature warning system of claim 6 , the first temperature sensor being mounted being routed through a mid-body wall of the spindle.

13. A wheel end high-temperature warning system for a vehicle having a wheel end assembly mounted to a spindle of an axle, the system comprising:

a first temperature sensor configured for mounting to a pressure barrier plug sealingly disposed in a spindle of an axle, the first temperature sensor configured to be in a heat exchange relationship with a bearings of said wheel-end assembly;

a transmitter configured to be disposed externally to the wheel end assembly, the transmitter being configured to receive a first sensor signal from the first temperature sensor indicative of a wheel-end temperature and to transmit the first sensor signal to a receiver;

said transmitter configured for location on the vehicle at a distance from the wheel-end assembly suitable to avoid interference with one or more other vehicle transmitters.

14. The wheel end temperature assembly of claim 13 , the first temperature sensor being a thermocouple comprising a sensor head and a reference junction;

the thermocouple sensor including a pair of wires sized in length to route a thermo-electric signal generated at said sensor head to said reference junction;

the sensor head being configured for mounting to the pressure barrier plug;

the reference junction being configured for mounting to the vehicle out of a heat exchange relationship with said wheel-end assembly.

15. The wheel end temperature assembly of claim 14 , said reference junction being coupled to a voltmeter, said voltmeter positioned adjacent said transmitter with both the voltmeter and transmitter mounted externally to the wheel-end assembly.

16. The wheel end temperature assembly of claim 14 , the sensor head being configured for threadable mounting within a port on the pressure barrier plug.

17. The wheel end temperature assembly of claim 13 , further comprising a second temperature sensor, the second temperature sensor configured to provide a second sensor signal, the second sensor signal related to a temperature of one or more of said spindle, a hub, hub lugs, brake system body, or hubcap of a vehicle;

the data acquisition system programmed to generate one or more system alerts based on a difference in temperature measured between said first temperature sensor and said second temperature sensor.