Handbrake and impact monitoring system
Systems, methods, and non-transitory machine-readable media for remote monitoring and for detecting that a handbrake has been activated and an impact event may have occurred. In one or more example embodiments, a device for detecting a handbrake or impact event includes a controller having one or more processors, a data array, an accelerometer, and memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the controller to obtain from an accelerometer acceleration data indicating longitudinal acceleration of a railcar, store the acceleration data in the data array, and provide an indication that a handbrake or impact event has occurred.
1 . A system comprising:
a magnetic monitoring device associated with a handbrake, wherein the magnetic monitoring device is fixably attached to a bellcrank of a rail car using a multi-piece bracket;
the multi-piece bracket, wherein the multi-piece bracket is slotted and configured to allow adjustment of a location of a magnet associated with the magnetic monitoring device; and
a computing device associated with the rail car, the computing device comprising:
a processor; and
a memory storing instructions that, when read by the processor, cause the computing device to:
receive, from the magnetic monitoring device, an indication of an application of the handbrake;
determine, based on applying a debouncing algorithm to the indication, that the application occurred; and
determine, based on a distance measurement associated with the application, a magnitude of a braking event.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic monitoring device comprises a reed switch.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the reed switch is placed in a fixed position associated with at least one of:
a handbrake lever,
a handbrake sheave wheel,
a handbrake brake rod, or
a chain that moves when the handbrake is applied.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when read by the processor, cause the computing device to generate the indication based on feedback from a magnet of the magnetic monitoring device indicating movement of the handbrake.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic monitoring device comprises: a magnet mounting bracket, and a handbrake remote monitoring device.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when read by the processor, cause the computing device to associate the application with a location determined by a global positioning system device.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when read by the processor, cause the computing device to determine, based on the debounce algorithm, that the indication was not caused by an impact event.
8 . The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the multi-piece bracket is adjustable after installation.
9 . A computer-implemented method for detecting a rail car event, comprising:
adjusting a location of a magnet associated with a magnetic monitoring device using a slotted, multi-piece bracket;
determining, using the magnetic monitoring device, an indication of an application of a handbrake, wherein the magnetic monitoring device is fixably attached to a bellcrank using the slotted, multi-piece bracket;
receiving the indication of the application of the handbrake;
determining, based on applying a debouncing algorithm to the indication, that the indication was not consistent with the application;
determining, based on an acceleration measurement exceeding a threshold, that an impact event occurred; and
recording a location associated with the impact event.
10 . The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , further comprising generating the indication based on feedback from a reed switch.
11 . The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the reed switch is placed in a fixed position associated with at least one of:
a handbrake lever,
a handbrake sheave wheel,
a handbrake brake rod, or
a chain that moves when the handbrake is applied.
12 . The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , further comprising generating the indication based on feedback from a magnetic monitoring device, wherein the magnetic monitoring device comprises: a magnet mounting bracket, and a handbrake remote monitoring device.
13 . The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , further comprising determining, based on comparing the acceleration measurement with a historical acceleration measurement, a damping deficiency.
14 . The computing device of claim 9 , further comprising adjusting, after installation, the location of the magnet by adjusting a fastener associated with the slotted, multi-piece bracket.
15 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform steps comprising:
determining, using a magnetic monitoring device, an indication of an application of a handbrake, wherein the magnetic monitoring device is fixably attached to a handbrake mechanism of a rail car using a slotted, multi-piece bracket configured to allow adjustment of a location of a magnet associated with the magnetic monitoring device;
determining, by a longitudinal accelerometer and based on an acceleration measurement exceeding a threshold, that an impact event occurred; and
recording a location associated with the impact event.
16 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to further perform steps comprising:
receiving the indication of the application of the handbrake; and
determining, based on applying a debouncing algorithm to the indication, that the indication was not consistent with the application.
17 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to further perform steps comprising: generating the indication based on feedback from a reed switch, and wherein the reed switch is placed in a fixed position associated with at least one of:
a handbrake lever,
a handbrake sheave wheel,
a handbrake brake rod, or
a chain that moves when the handbrake is applied.
18 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to further perform steps comprising: generating the indication based on feedback from a magnetic monitoring device, wherein the magnetic monitoring device comprises: a magnet mounting bracket, and a handbrake remote monitoring device.
19 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to further perform steps comprising: determining, based on feedback from a global positioning system device, the location.
20 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the longitudinal accelerometer is mounted to an end sill of a rail car.