Wheel detection and classification system for railroad data network

1. A system for detecting and classifying a wheel of a rail vehicle traveling on a railway track comprising:

a plurality of wheel detectors coupled to one rail of the railway track and configured to detect presence of the wheel and to generate signals representative thereof; and

a processing system coupled to the wheel detectors and configured to receive and process the signals, wherein the processing system is configured to calculate a pulse width of the signals from each wheel detector;

wherein the processing system is configured to classify the wheel based on a speed independent classification value calculated based on the signals from the wheel detectors, wherein the speed independent classification value is a calculated diameter of the wheel; and

wherein the processing system is configured to compare the calculated diameter of the wheel with a threshold value to classify the wheel.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one power source coupled to the wheel detectors and configured to supply electric power to the wheel detectors.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processing system is configured to verify classification of the wheel based on a transit movement of the rail vehicle on the railway track.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the processing system is configured to disqualify classification of the wheel based on the transit movement of the rail vehicle on the railway track.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processing system is configured to calculate a mid-point of the signals from each wheel detector.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the processing system is configured to calculate a time difference based on the mid-point of the signals from each wheel detector.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the wheel detectors comprise a first wheel detector and a second wheel detector; and wherein the processing system is configured to calculate a first center point and a second center point of the signals from the first wheel detector and the second wheel detector, respectively.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the processing system is configured to calculate a velocity of the wheel based on the time difference and a distance between the first center point and the second center point.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the processing system is configured to calculate a speed independent classification value based on the velocity of the wheel and the pulse width of the signal from each wheel detector.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the wheel is classified as a locomotive wheel when the speed independent classification value is greater than the threshold wheel classification value.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the processing system is configured to compare a number of wheels of the rail vehicle to a threshold wheel count limit to classify the wheel; and wherein the wheel is classified as a locomotive wheel when the number of wheels of the rail vehicle is greater than the threshold wheel count limit.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the processing system is configured to compare a distance between adjacent wheels of the rail vehicle to a threshold distance limit; and wherein the wheel is classified as a locomotive wheel when the distance between adjacent wheels is greater than the threshold distance limit and as a trolley wheel when the distance between mutually adjacent wheels is smaller than the threshold distance limit.

13. A system for detecting and classifying a wheel of a rail vehicle traveling on a railway track comprising:

a plurality of wheel detectors coupled to one rail of the railway track and configured to detect presence of the wheel and to generate signals representative thereof; and

a processing system coupled to the wheel detectors and configured to receive and process the signals;

wherein the processing system is configured to classify the wheel based on a speed independent classification value calculated based on the signals from the wheel detectors;

wherein the processing system is configured to calculate a pulse width of the signals from each wheel detector;

wherein the processing system is configured to calculate a mid-point of the signals from each wheel detector;

wherein the processing system is configured to calculate a time difference based on the mid-point of the signals from each wheel detector;

wherein the wheel detectors comprise a first wheel detector and a second wheel detector; and wherein the processing system is configured to calculate a first center point and a second center point of the signals from the first wheel detector and the second wheel detector, respectively;

wherein the processing system is configured to calculate a velocity of the wheel based on the time difference and a distance between the first center point and the second center point;

wherein the processing system is configured to calculate a speed independent classification value based on the velocity of the wheel and the pulse width of the signal from each wheel detector;

wherein the processing system is configured to compare the speed independent classification value with a threshold wheel classification value to classify the wheel; and

wherein the wheel is classified as a locomotive wheel when the speed independent classification value is greater than the threshold wheel classification value; and

wherein the processing system is configured to estimate a magnetic sweep length of the signals from the wheel detectors.

14. A system for detecting and classifying a wheel of a rail vehicle traveling on a railway track comprising:

a plurality of wheel detectors coupled to one rail of the railway track and configured to detect presence of the wheel and to generate signals representative thereof; and

a processing system coupled to the wheel detectors and configured to receive and process the signals;

wherein the processing system is configured to classify the wheel based on a speed independent classification value calculated based on the signals from the wheel detectors;

wherein the processing system is configured to calculate a pulse width of the signals from each wheel detector;

wherein the processing system is configured to calculate a mid-point of the signals from each wheel detector;

wherein the processing system is configured to calculate a time difference based on the mid-point of the signals from each wheel detector;

wherein the wheel detectors comprise a first wheel detector and a second wheel detector; and wherein the processing system is configured to calculate a first center point and a second center point of the signals from the first wheel detector and the second wheel detector, respectively;

wherein the processing system is configured to calculate a velocity of the wheel based on the time difference and a distance between the first center point and the second center point;

wherein the processing system is configured to calculate a speed independent classification value based on the velocity of the wheel and the pulse width of the signal from each wheel detector;

wherein the processing system is configured to compare the speed independent classification value with a threshold wheel classification value to classify the wheel; and wherein the wheel is classified as a locomotive wheel when the speed independent classification value is greater than the threshold wheel classification value;

wherein the processing system is configured to estimate a magnetic sweep length of the signals from the wheel detectors; and

wherein the processing system is configured to determine a diameter of the wheel based on a magnetic sweep length of the signals.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the processing system is configured to determine a wheel classification plane based on the speed independent classification value, the velocity of the wheel, and the diameter of the wheel.

16. A system for detecting and classifying a wheel of a rail vehicle traveling on a railway track comprising:

a plurality of wheel detectors coupled to one rail of the railway track and configured to detect presence of the wheel and to generate signals representative thereof: and

a processing system coupled to the wheel detectors and configured to receive and process the signals;

wherein the processing system is configured to classify the wheel based on a calculated magnetic sweep length of the signals from the wheel detectors; and

wherein the processing system is configured to calculate the magnetic sweep length based on the velocity of the wheel and the pulse width of the signal from each wheel detector.

17. A system for detecting and classifying a wheel of a rail vehicle traveling on a railway track comprising:

a plurality of wheel detectors coupled to one rail of the railway track and configured to detect presence of the wheel and to generate signals representative thereof; and

a processing system coupled to the wheel detectors and configured to receive and process the signals;

wherein the processing system is configured to classify the wheel based on a diameter of the wheel calculated based on the signals from the wheel detectors; and

wherein the processing system is configured to compare a number of wheels of the rail vehicle to a threshold wheel count limit to classify the wheel; and wherein the wheel is classified as a locomotive wheel when the number of wheels of the rail vehicle is greater than the threshold wheel count limit.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the processing system is configured to determine the calculated diameter of the wheel based on the velocity of the wheel and the pulse width of the signal from each wheel detector.