WO2008150073A1

WO2008150073A1 - Portable wheel measuring digital gauge

Info

Publication number: WO2008150073A1
Application number: PCT/KR2008/002802
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hye Young Kim
Original assignee: Hye Young Kim
Priority date: 2007-06-07
Filing date: 2008-05-20
Publication date: 2008-12-11
Also published as: KR200437597Y1

Abstract

The present invention is related to a wheel measuring gauge. The wheel measuring gauge comprises a horizontal bar, an inner surface fixing part supporting an inner surface of a wheel installed at one end of the horizontal bar, an outer surface fixing part supporting an outer side of the wheel installed at the other end of the horizontal bar, a flange height measuring part for measuring height of a flange of the wheel coupled to slide toward the inner surface fixing part of the horizontal bar, and a flange width measuring part for measuring width of the flange coupled to slide toward the outer surface fixing part of the horizontal bar.

Description

Description PORTABLE WHEEL MEASURING DIGITAL GAUGE

Technical Field

[1] This document is related to a portable wheel measuring gauge. More specifically, this document is related to a portable wheel measuring gauge which provides enhanced portability and convenient measurement. Background Art

[2] While an electric railcar of a train or a subway train moves along the rails, wheels of the electric railcar are subject to wear due to friction between the wheels and the rails. Wheels are equipped with flanges to prevent derailment from the rails. The wheel flange is so constructed that it prevents rotation and derailment of a railcar on the move by making direct contact with the rails. Therefore, wear of wheel flanges making direct contact with the inside of the rails has immediate influence on safe operation of a railcar.

[3] Relevant measures have been taken to guarantee safe operation of a railcar. Those measures include frequent check of conditions and degree of wear of wheels, maintaining width between flanges by re-processing wheels based on the check result, or change of the wheels. After a service operation, all the wheels of individual railcars of a train are inspected. During the inspection, a wheel gauge for measuring dimensions of wheels is used, the types of which include a graduated gauge and a digital gauge.

[4] FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional graduated gauge. A graduated gauge is usually thin; the user can measure the width and the height of a flange by reading the scale.

[5] More specifically, a conventional graduated gauge employs a C-shaped gauge, comprising a wheel diameter measurement bar 1 for measuring diameter of a wheel W by utilizing a scale graduated on both sides of upper surfaces of a long bar, a flange width measurement bar 3 for measuring width of a flange F, the flange width measurement bar 3 being fastened by a fastening bolt 2 at a movement groove (not shown) or being moved through the movement groove formed at the other side of the wheel diameter measurement bar 1, and an L-shaped flange height measurement bar 5 for measuring height of a flange, the flange height measurement bar 5 being fastened by a fastening bolt 4 at a movement groove (not shown) or being moved through the movement groove formed at the upper part of one side of the wheel diameter measurement bar 1. Such a graduated gauge has a drawback that measurement precision deteriorates since dimensions are determined by the user's reading the scale with his or her naked eyes. Another drawback lies in the small thickness. Since contact surface area between a gauge and a wheel becomes small due to the small thickness during contact measurement against the wheel, the employed gauge suffers a temporary twist, invoking frequent re-measurement. Large measurement error can also occur due to shaking of the gauge and misuse by an unskilled worker. When measurement is over, a measurement unit is usually fastened by a fastening bolts 2, 4 to fix the measurement value. A problem occurs in this situation because the measurement value can be changed while the fastening bolts 2, 4 is rotated, preventing accurate and precise measurement.

[6] Moreover, since a graduated gauge is made from stainless steel of 1 mm thickness, measured values are prone to error depending on the posture and position of a test person. In addition, the effect due to occurrence of a measurement error is significant since the measurement unit of a graduated gauge is 1 mm. To reduce the effect of the above error, measurement values have been obtained at three points of a wheel and used after averaging the three measurement values. The aforementioned practice was problematic due to high cost; the practice required a lot of time for measurement and excessive human labor as a pair of test persons was involved with the measurement to reduce measurement error.

[7] To resolve the above problem, a digital gauge has been introduced recently. FIGS 2 and 3 respectively illustrate a side view of a digital gauge disclosed at Korea patent utility model publication number 20-0317722 and a measurement example by using the gauge.

[8] As shown in FIG. 2, a conventional digital gauge comprises a wheel diameter measurement unit 10 for measuring diameter of a wheel, a flange thickness measurement unit 20 for measuring thickness of a flange, a flange height measurement unit 30 for measuring height of a flange, a coupling frame 40 for fixing the flange height measurement unit 30 and the flange thickness measurement unit 20, the coupling frame 40 being connected to the wheel diameter measurement unit 10, a frame 11, and a handle 14.

[9] Such a digital gauge is made from stainless steel for the most part, consisting roughly of a fixed part and a measurement part. The fixed part is made of wide stainless steel and is equipped with an elongated diameter measurement bar 12 to measure diameter. The fixed part is also equipped with a large handle 14 for convenient manipulation of a heavy gauge, leading to a large structure after all. The measurement part comprises a digital display unit, where measurements are carried out by small and short measurement bars. A measurement value is obtained as measurement bars move and measure dimensions while the digital display unit is stationary. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[10] A conventional digital gauge has an advantage of providing more reliable measurements than a graduated gauge. However, a conventional digital gauge is structurally large and heavy; measuring a wheel in a narrow space under a railcar is a demanding task and increases degree of fatigue of an operator. At the time of measuring a wheel, a gauge should be placed orthogonally with respect to the center of the wheel. To find the center of a wheel, a conventional digital gauge is hooked onto a groove formed at the inner surface of a wheel. In this case, however, an operator should put his or her hand inside the lower part of a railcar, causing a delay in measurement. Besides, due to lack of built-in illumination, measurement becomes difficult at night.

[11] In a conventional digital gauge, a digital display unit is separated from a measurement bar. Production of a large measurement bar is difficult because the measurement bar moves while the display unit is fixed in the conventional digital gauge. The aforementioned structure requires delicate manipulation during measurement, which is a disadvantage of a conventional digital gauge.

[12] After measurement is done, the gauge is separated from the wheel and the measurement value is checked through the digital display unit. Reading the measurement value of a digital gauge at night is more difficult than a graduated gauge. Moreover, a conventional digital gauge is so structured that it cannot provide QR measurement, preventing the conventional digital gauge from being employed for inspection of express railcars such as KTX where QR measurement is necessary. Technical Solution

[13] The present invention has been made in an effort to resolve problems of conventional wheel measurement gauges as described above. The present invention is directed to provide a digital gauge reducing measurement time by realization of easy measurement in a narrow and dark lower and side part, minimizing fatigue of an operator, providing reliable measurement, lightweight and portable, providing a measurement value allowing the user to easily manipulate in any conditions, and providing measurement of QR values.

[14] Objectives and advantages of the present invention will be described in more detail and will be more specified by embodiments. Also, objectives and advantages of the present invention can be realized by the means described in the claims and a combination thereof.

Advantageous Effects

[15] According to the present invention described above, an error due to attachment of a conventional graduated gauge to a wheel, an error due to manipulation of a fastening bolt, an error due to a scale, and an error due to an unskilled operator can be prevented. Also, inconvenience due to a large structure and heavy weight of a conventional digital gauge can be removed; the present invention enhances measurement precision and portability, allowing measurement day and night. The present invention also has an advantage of measuring a QR value as well as height and width of a flange. Brief Description of the Drawings

[16] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, illustrate the preferred embodiments of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.

[17]

[18] In the drawings :

[19]

[20] FIG. 1 illustrates the usage of a conventional wheel measuring graduated gauge;

[21] FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of a conventional wheel measuring digital gauge;

[22] FIG. 3 illustrates the usage of a conventional wheel measuring digital gauge;

[23] FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of a lower part of a portable wheel measuring digital gauge according to the present invention;

[24] FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of a upper part of a portable wheel measuring digital gauge according to the present invention;

[25] FIG. 6 illustrates a front view of a portable wheel measuring digital gauge according to the present invention;

[26] FIG. 7 illustrates an example where a portable wheel measuring digital gauge according to the present invention is fixed;

[27] FIG. 8 illustrates an example where a portable wheel measuring digital gauge according to the present invention measures height of a flange;

[28] FIG. 9 illustrates an example where a portable wheel measuring digital gauge according to the present invention measures width of a flange; and

[29] FIG. 10 illustrates an example where a portable wheel measuring digital gauge according to the present invention measures a QR value. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[30] To achieve the above objective, a portable wheel measuring digital gauge comprises a horizontal bar, an inner surface fixing part supporting an inner surface of a wheel installed at one end of the horizontal bar, an outer surface fixing part supporting an outer side of the wheel installed at the other end of the horizontal bar, a flange height measuring part for measuring height of a flange of the wheel coupled to slide toward the inner surface fixing part of the horizontal bar, and a flange width measuring part for measuring width of the flange coupled to slide toward the outer surface fixing part of the horizontal bar. [31] The inner surface fixing part comprises a vertical bar elongated to the center of the wheel from one end of the horizontal bar and a contacting block attached at inner surface of the wheel installed at inside of the vertical bar. [32] The contacting block further comprises a magnet component to be attached at inner surface of the wheel. [33] The outer surface fixing part comprises a fixing arm supporting outer surface of the wheel elongated to the center of the wheel from the other end of the horizontal bar and a supporting roller for supporting outer surface of the wheel installed at a short part of the fixing arm. [34] The supporting roller is made from magnetic material to be attached at outer surface of the wheel and to support outer surface of the wheel at the same time. [35] The flange height measuring part comprises a sliding block to slide along the horizontal bar and a vertically moving component to slide vertically along the sliding block. [36] The short part of the vertically moving component makes contact with a short part of outer surface of the flange and a contacting component is installed supporting outer curved surface of the flange. [37] The sliding block is equipped with a digital display unit for displaying a measured value according to movement of the vertically moving component. [38] The flange width measuring part comprises a sliding block to slide along the horizontal bar and a surface contacting component making contact with surface of the flange elongated to the center of the wheel from the sliding block. [39] The sliding block is equipped with a digital display unit for displaying a measured value according to movement of the surface contacting component. [40] The digital display unit further comprises a hold button for controlling measured values displayed on the digital display unit. [41] The digital display unit is equipped with a built-in illumination.

Mode for the Invention [42] Hereinafter, organization and effect of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to preferred embodiments and appended drawings. [43] FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of a lower part of a portable wheel measuring digital gauge according to the present invention. FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of an upper part of a portable wheel measuring digital gauge according to the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates a front view of a portable wheel measuring digital gauge according to the present invention. [44] As shown in the figure, a portable wheel measuring digital gauge according to the present invention comprises a horizontal bar 100, an inner surface fixing part 200, an outer surface fixing part 300, a flange height measuring part 400, and a flange width measuring part 500.

[45] The horizontal bar 100 is usually rectangular shaped and is a bar type component elongated horizontally. The horizontal bar 100 guides a flange height measuring part 400 and a flange width measuring part 500 described below to slide horizontally.

[46] The inner surface fixing part 200 makes close contact with inner surface of a wheel for a digital gauge according to the present invention to be fixed at a wheel without a gap-

[47] The inner surface fixing part 200 comprises a vertical bar 210 elongated downward vertically connected to one end of the horizontal bar 100 and a contacting block 220 making direct contact with inner surface of a wheel at lower end of the vertical bar 210. The contacting block 220 is equipped with a magnet 225 to be firmly attached at inner surface of a wheel.

[48] Meanwhile, the outer surface fixing part 300 fixes a digital gauge according to the present invention in parallel with a virtual axis A (see FIG. 7 for reference) passing through the center of a wheel, including a fixing arm 310 folded to point outer surface of a wheel; the fixing arm 310 is connected to the other end of the horizontal bar 100 and is elongated vertically, the end of the fixing arm 310 becoming a wheel diameter measuring reference point P (see FIG. 7 for reference).

[49] The fixing arm 310 should be fixed at outer surface of a wheel without a gap. For this purpose, the fixing arm 310 is equipped with a supporting roller 320 at the end thereof. As shown in FIG. 4, the supporting rollers 320 are installed at surfaces of both ends of the fixing arm 310, coupled by an axis. The supporting roller 320 bears magnetism, making a digital gauge fixed at outer surface of a wheel without a gap.

[50] A flange height measuring part 400 is connected through the horizontal bar 100, sliding through the horizontal bar 100. More specifically, the flange height measuring part 400, being connected through the horizontal bar 100, is placed at the inner surface fixing part 200. As shown in the figure, the flange height measuring part comprises a first sliding block 410 and a vertically moving component 420.

[51] The first sliding block 410 is equipped with a penetration hole at the surface in horizontal direction. As a horizontal bar 100 is inserted through the hole, the first sliding block 410 is moved in horizontal direction along the horizontal bar 100. At the front of the first sliding block 410, a first digital display unit 412 is installed where a measurement value of a flange height of a wheel is displayed. The first digital display unit 412 is equipped with a built-in illumination.

[52] The vertically moving component 420 is a bar type component penetrating the first sliding block 410 vertically, sliding inside and outside of the first sliding block 410. When the vertically moving component 420 slides, to prevent breakaway from the first sliding block 410, a first stopper 425 is installed at the upper part of the vertically moving component 420, the first stopper 425 being supported hooked on an edge of a forefront part of the first sliding block 410.

[53] At the lower part of the vertically moving component 420, an upper contacting component 422 making contact with a forefront part from the upper part for measuring height of a flange is installed. The upper contacting component 422, in addition to a function of making contact with the forefront part of a flange, when the vertically moving component 420 moves to the upper part as the upper contacting component 422 is elongated longer than the width of the vertically moving component 420, carries out a function as a second stopper preventing the vertically moving component 420 from breaking away from the first sliding block 410 as the elongated part is supported being hooked on an edge of the lower part of the first sliding block 410. Accordingly, the vertically moving component 420 can slide up and down from the first sliding block 410 without breakaway.

[54] Meanwhile, at one end of the upper contacting component 422, more specifically, at the opposite terminal part of the inner surface fixing part 200, installed additionally is a hook 423 bent downward vertically to be supported being hooked on the surface of a flange to measure a QR value of a wheel described below.

[55] Also, at the surface of the first sliding block 410, a first hold button 430 is installed, the first hold button 430 temporarily fixing a flange height measurement value displayed at the first digital display unit 412. The first hold button 430, similar to a stopwatch function of a digital watch, carries out a function of fixing a displayed value.

[56] A flange width measuring part 500 is connected through the horizontal bar 100, sliding through the horizontal bar 100. More specifically, the flange width measuring part 500 is placed at the surface of a flange height measuring part 400, namely outer surface fixing part 300. The flange width measuring part 500 comprises a second sliding block 510 and a surface contacting component 520.

[57] The second sliding block 510 is equipped with a penetration hole at the surface in horizontal direction. As a horizontal bar 100 is inserted through the hole, the second sliding block 510 is moved in horizontal direction along the horizontal bar 100. At the front of the second sliding block 510, a second digital display unit 512 is installed where a measurement value of a flange width of a wheel is displayed.

[58] The second digital display unit 512 supports a built-in illumination. As shown in

FIGS. 4 through 6, the first sliding block 410 is usually formed in a long block shape in a horizontal direction whereas the second sliding block 510 is formed in a long block shape in a vertical direction.

[59] At the lower part of the second sliding block 510, a surface contacting component 520 is installed. The surface contacting component 520 makes contact with a surface of a flange to measure flange width of a wheel; there is no limit for the shape, but the contacting surface should be flat.

[60] Also, at the second sliding block 510, a second hold button 530 is installed, the second hold button 530 temporarily fixing a flange width measurement value displayed at the second digital display unit 512.

[61] Up to this point, a structure of a wheel measuring digital gauge according to the present invention has been described. In what follows, a method for using a digital gauge according to the present invention will be described in detail.

[62] FIG. 7 illustrates an example where a digital gauge according to the present invention is fixed at a wheel.

[63] As shown in the figure, first, a digital gauge is made supported by magnetic force of a magnet 225 installed at a contacting block 220 by having an inner surface fixing part 200 make close contact with an inner surface of a wheel.

[64] Next, a digital gauge, more specifically, to place a horizontal bar 100 of a digital gauge in parallel with a virtual axis A passing through the center of a wheel, a supporting roller 320 of a fixing arm 310 is placed at the position of the outer surface of a wheel that becomes a wheel diameter measuring reference point P.

[65] At this point, the position of a wheel diameter measuring reference point P is specified by railcar management guideline, denoting the position of an outer surface of a wheel located away from the inner surface of a wheel by 70 mm or 75 mm. As mentioned earlier, since the supporting roller 320 bears magnetism, a digital gauge is fixed at outer surface of a wheel.

[66] FIG. 8 illustrates an example where a digital gauge according to the present invention measures height of a flange F.

[67] A digital gauge is fixed at a wheel by using a method illustrated in FIG. 8. An operator moves the vertically moving component 420, thereby making an upper contacting component 422 installed at the terminal part of the vertically moving component 420 into contact with the forefront of a flange.

[68] The height of a flange is obtained as the value when a vertically moving component

420 makes contact with the forefront of a flange and displayed numerically at a first digital display unit 412. When the user pushes a first hold button 430 installed at the surface of the first sliding block 410, a measured height value displayed at the first digital display unit 412 is fixed.

[69] Accordingly, even if the position of a vertically moving component 420 is changed, a height measurement value can be displayed without a change. Also, the first digital display unit 412 is equipped with a built-in illumination and can illuminate for about five seconds as required. [70] FIG. 9 illustrates an example where a portable wheel measuring digital gauge according to the present invention measures width of a flange.

[71] When measurement of flange height is done as illustrated in FIG. 8, an operator horizontally moves a second sliding block 510 along a horizontal bar 100, making a surface contacting component 520 into close contact with the surface of a flange.

[72] The width of a flange is measured by the distance that a second sliding block 510 has moved, displayed numerically in a second digital display unit 512. When the user pushes a second hold button 530 installed at the upper part of the second sliding block 510, a measured width value displayed at the second digital display unit 512 is fixed.

[73] Accordingly, even if the position of a second sliding block 510 is changed, a width measurement value can be displayed without a change. Also, the second digital display unit 512 is equipped with a built-in illumination and can illuminate for about five seconds as required.

[74] When the aforementioned procedure is completed, a gauge is separated from a wheel; height and width of a flange can be recorded as numerals displayed on each digital display are read in.

[75] FIG. 10 illustrates an example where a digital gauge according to the present invention measures a QR value. A QR value represents an incline of a flange. In other words, a QR value indicates a slope of a flange; by measuring a QR value, degree of wear is identified.

[76] As shown in FIG. 10, a QR value is defined as a distance between a point Q where a virtual horizontal line C located being separated by 10 mm - 13 mm in upward direction from a virtual horizontal line B passing a wheel diameter measuring reference point P meets with a surface of a flange; and a point R where a virtual horizontal line D located being separated by 2 mm in downward direction from a virtual horizontal line E passing a forefront part of a flange meets with a surface of a flange.

[77] For measurement of such a QR value, as shown in FIG. 10, after a digital gauge is fixed at a wheel, the vertically moving component 420 is moved so that an upper contacting component 422 makes contact with the forefront of a flange. At the same time, by moving a first sliding block 410, a hook 423 of an upper contacting component 422 is made to contact with the surface of a flange.

[78] Since the hook 423 according to the present invention extrudes from the surface of an upper contacting component 422 in downward direction by 2mm, a point where the hook 423 meets with a surface of a flange becomes R.

[79] Meanwhile, an operator has a surface contacting component 520 make contact with a surface of a flange by moving a second sliding block 510. Since a lower terminal part of a surface contacting component 520 according to the present invention is so structured that it is located at a position separated by 10 mm - 13 mm vertically from the lower part of a supporting roller 320, a point where the lower part of the surface contacting component 520 meets with a surface of a flange becomes Q.

[80] As described above, after a first sliding block 410 and a second sliding block 510 are set up, alignment setup is carried out by using an alignment button, and a digital gauge is separated. After separation, as shown inside of a circle of FIG. 10, if a second sliding block 510 is moved until a surface contacting component 520 makes contact with a hook 423, a numeric value displayed at a second digital display unit 512 at the time of contact becomes a QR value.

[81] So far, the present invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments. The scope of the present invention is not limited to a particular embodiment; rather, the scope of the invention should be interpreted based on the claims of the present invention. Also it should be understood that the scope of the present invention includes those of embodiments and actual scope of the present invention. It should be understood that those skilled in the art can have a variety of modification and change without leaving the scope of the present invention.

Claims

[1] A portable wheel measuring digital gauge, comprising: a horizontal bar; an inner surface fixing part supporting an inner surface of a wheel installed at one end of the horizontal bar; an outer surface fixing part supporting an outer side of the wheel installed at the other end of the horizontal bar; a flange height measuring part for measuring height of a flange of the wheel coupled to slide toward the inner surface fixing part of the horizontal bar; and a flange width measuring part for measuring width of the flange coupled to slide toward the outer surface fixing part of the horizontal bar. [2] The portable wheel measuring digital gauge of claim 1, wherein the inner surface fixing part comprises a vertical bar elongated to the center of the wheel from one end of the horizontal bar and a contacting block attached at inner surface of the wheel installed at inside of the vertical bar. [3] The portable wheel measuring digital gauge of claim 2, wherein the contacting block further comprises a magnet component to be attached at inner surface of the wheel. [4] The portable wheel measuring digital gauge of claim 1, wherein the outer surface fixing part comprises a fixing arm supporting outer surface of the wheel elongated to the center of the wheel from the other end of the horizontal bar and a supporting roller for supporting outer surface of the wheel installed at a short part of the fixing arm. [5] The portable wheel measuring digital gauge of claim 4, wherein the supporting roller is made from magnetic material to be attached at outer surface of the wheel and to support outer surface of the wheel at the same time. [6] The portable wheel measuring digital gauge of claim 1, wherein the flange height measuring part comprises a sliding block to slide along the horizontal bar and a vertically moving component to slide vertically along the sliding block. [7] The portable wheel measuring digital gauge of claim 6, wherein the short part of the vertically moving component makes contact with a short part of outer surface of the flange and a contacting component is installed supporting outer curved surface of the flange. [8] The portable wheel measuring digital gauge of claim 6, wherein the sliding block is equipped with a digital display unit for displaying a measured value according to movement of the vertically moving component. [9] The portable wheel measuring digital gauge of claim 8, wherein the digital display unit further comprises a hold button for controlling measured values displayed on the digital display unit. [10] The portable wheel measuring digital gauge of claim 8, wherein the digital display unit is equipped with a built-in illumination. [11] The portable wheel measuring digital gauge of claim 1, wherein the flange width measuring part comprises a sliding block to slide along the horizontal bar and a surface contacting component making contact with surface of the flange elongated to the center of the wheel from the sliding block. [12] The portable wheel measuring digital gauge of claim 10, wherein the sliding block is equipped with a digital display unit for displaying a measured value according to movement of the surface contacting component. [13] *The portable wheel measuring digital gauge of claim 12, wherein the digital display unit further comprises a hold button for controlling measured values displayed on the digital display unit. [14] The portable wheel measuring digital gauge of claim 12, wherein the digital display unit is equipped with a built-in illumination.