Abstract: Heaters are used to simulate wheel bearings at specified temperatures. Two heaters are mounted on each side of a railroad test car. The heaters are mounted on the sprung carriage of the car to reduce vibration of the hardware and avoid interfering with wheel trucks on the car. Ambient temperature sensors are similarly mounted. Wire brushes are mounted below the heaters and sensors to activate magnetic wheel flange sensors. The heaters are controlled by a system which is integrated with a hot wheel simulator system.

Abstract: A system and method for movement of self-propelled vehicles in-line along a rail under external control is intended to ensure safe spacing between vehicles to avoid collisions. Each vehicle is driven by its own variable speed motor. The speed of the vehicles is controlled by a stationary cam extending beside the rail. The edge of the cam rises and falls in a predetermined manner and is sensed by a cam follower on each vehicle. The cam follower is coupled to a transducer which produces a control signal for varying the vehicle speed in response to the rise or fall of the cam edge. Each vehicle pulls along a tail which extends behind the vehicle and is guided for motion alongside the edge of the cam.