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What are these???
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The upper photo is the Hot Box Detector (HBD). There is an infra-red sensitive resistor inside the unit. The "bolometer" and "pyrometer" are usually the main 2 types of sensors used. The "bolometer" is the earliest version. Inside the track gage are magnetic sensors (transducers) that sense the metal wheels passing into their fields. The further most out transducers sense the train approaching, which turns off the internal scanner heaters to reduce electrical noise, opens the shutters and waits for the train to start passing by the sensors. The 2 transducers closest to the scanners are the "gating transducers". As the wheels move between these 2 transducers, about 32 wheel samples are taken - that's the infra-red heat signals generating from the bearings being compared to the underside of the car as an ambient temperature comparison. Ours are set to alarm if one bearing is 104ºF warmer than the opposite wheel on the same axle. Or, if any bearing reads 161ºF. The data is sent to a mainframe computer located at the CETC command centre, and, if it's an alarm condition, the computer drops the home signal automatically at the interlocking. The dispatcher contacts the train crew and tells them which axle alarmed. We tried "talkers", but, decided not to use them on the northeast corridor. The Hot Box systems are checked weekly for various voltages, check the internal mirrors and lens to ensure they are clean, make sure everything is tight on the rails, and, they are calibrated monthly.
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