Prediction and identification of potential railway system anomalies

Abstract

Systems and methods for predicting anomalies in a wheel system of a railway vehicle and a track. One example method includes determining a speed of the railway vehicle and whether the speed exceeds a speed threshold. The method includes obtaining, in response to the speed exceeding the threshold, a vibration measurement from a vibration sensor and determining, from the measurement, a classified vibration level and determining whether the classified vibration level is indicative of an anomaly, and deriving, in response to the classified vibration level being indicative of the anomaly, a dominant vibration frequency of the measurement. The method includes performing a comparison between the dominant vibration frequency and a predetermined frequency threshold, and identifying, based on the comparison and a reference classified vibration level, the anomaly existing within either or both of the railway vehicle wheel system and the track and performing a mitigation action.

1 . A system for predicting anomalies in a wheel system of a railway vehicle and a track upon which the railway vehicle is run, the system comprising:
 a vibration sensor positioned to sense vibrations of the wheel system; and   an electronic processor communicatively coupled to the vibration sensor, the electronic processor configured to:
 determine a speed of the railway vehicle; 
 determine whether the speed exceeds a predetermined speed threshold; 
 obtain, in response to the speed exceeding the predetermined speed threshold, a vibration measurement; 
 determine, from the vibration measurement, a classified vibration level; 
 determine whether the classified vibration level is indicative of an anomaly; 
 derive, in response to the classified vibration level being indicative of the anomaly, a dominant vibration frequency of the vibration measurement; 
 perform a comparison between the dominant vibration frequency and a predetermined frequency threshold; 
 identify, based on the comparison and a reference classified vibration level, the anomaly existing within either or both of the railway vehicle wheel system or the track; and 
 perform a mitigation action in response to identifying the anomaly. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the comparison includes determining whether the classified vibration level exceeds a predetermined vibration level threshold. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein determining the classified vibration level includes performing a simulation with a digital twin using the vibration measurement. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein, in response to the dominant vibration frequency exceeding the predetermined frequency threshold, the electronic processor identifies that the anomaly is a wheel anomaly, a bearing anomaly, or both. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the electronic processor determines that the anomaly the anomaly includes at least one selected from the group consisting of a deformation in a wheel of the wheel system, a loose wheel of the wheel system, a worn bearing, a loose bearing, and a broken bearing. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein identifying the anomaly includes obtaining the reference classified vibration level from a second vibration sensor of the railway vehicle for a predetermined vibration level pattern; and
 wherein identifying the anomaly includes evaluating whether the reference classified vibration level is comparable to the classified vibration level.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the second vibration sensor is positioned on a same side of the railway vehicle as the vibration sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the electronic processor is further configured to identify, in response to the reference classified vibration level being comparable to the classified vibration level, an anomaly with the track the wheel system is on. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the vibration sensor is positioned vertical with respect to a wheel axle of the wheel system and the second vibration sensor is positioned horizontal with respect to a wheel axle of the wheel system. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the electronic processor is further configured to identify, in response to the predetermined vibration pattern being present within the reference classified vibration level, that the anomaly includes a horizontal geometric defect with the track the wheel system is on. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein identifying the anomaly includes evaluating whether a reference classified vibration level from a second vibration sensor is comparable to the classified vibration level, wherein the second vibration sensor is positioned on a second wheel system of the railway vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the electronic processor determines that the anomaly is a malfunctioning suspension of the wheel system in response to determining that the reference classified vibration level is not comparable to the classified vibration level. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic processor is further configured to:
 determine a velocity profile for the railway vehicle; and   identify the anomaly by identifying the anomaly based on the comparison, the reference classified vibration level, and the velocity profile.   
     
     
         14 . A method for predicting anomalies in a wheel system of a railway vehicle and a track upon which the railway vehicle is run, the method comprising:
 determining, with an electronic processor, a speed of the railway vehicle;   determining whether the speed exceeds a predetermined speed threshold;   obtaining, in response to the speed exceeding the predetermined speed threshold, a vibration measurement from a vibration sensor positioned to sense vibrations of the wheel system;   determining from the vibration measurement, a classified vibration level;   determining whether the classified vibration level is indicative of an anomaly;   deriving, in response to the classified vibration level being indicative of the anomaly, a dominant vibration frequency of the vibration measurement;   performing a comparison between the dominant vibration frequency and a predetermined frequency threshold;   identifying, based on the comparison and a reference classified vibration level, the anomaly existing within either or both of the railway vehicle wheel system and the track; and   performing a mitigation action in response to identifying the anomaly.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the comparison includes determining whether the classified vibration level exceeds a predetermined vibration level threshold. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein determining the classified vibration level includes performing a simulation with a digital twin using the vibration measurement. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 in response to the dominant vibration frequency exceeding the predetermined frequency threshold, identifying that the anomaly is a wheel anomaly, a bearing anomaly, or both.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 determines that the anomaly the anomaly includes at least one selected from the group consisting of a deformation in a wheel of the wheel system, a loose wheel of the wheel system, a worn bearing, a loose bearing, and a broken bearing.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein identifying the anomaly includes obtaining the reference classified vibration level from a second vibration sensor of the railway vehicle for a predetermined vibration level pattern; and
 wherein identifying the anomaly includes evaluating whether the reference classified vibration level is comparable to the classified vibration level;   wherein the second vibration sensor is positioned on a same side of the railway vehicle as the vibration sensor; and   wherein the method further comprises identifying, in response to the reference classified vibration level being comparable to the classified vibration level, an anomaly with the track the wheel system is on.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 determining a velocity profile for the railway vehicle;   wherein identifying the anomaly includes identifying the anomaly based on the comparison, the reference classified vibration level, and the velocity profile.