THERMAL SENSOR FOR DETECTION OF RAILROAD BEARING FAILURES

摘要

A thermal sensor composed of a standard bolt (12) which has been modified to embody a temperature sensing element (10) and placed into a bearing assembly (100) of a train. This element contains a heat-sensitive wax (24) that at a preset temperature expands causing the motion of a piston (28) which exposes projections (26). The projection (26) may function as an antenna (26) either passive (reflective) or active (transmitter) that can be probed from the wayside with very high selectivity.