Device for automatically identifying catenary posts of a railway

Details Device for automatically identifying catenary posts of a railway Device for automatically identifying catenary posts of a railway

1986-07-09

1987-10-20

Woodiel, Donald O.

Measuring and testing

Tire, tread or roadway

Tire inflation testing installation

346 33F, G01B 528

Patent

active

047005645

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention pertains to a process for monitoring the condition of railrod tracks and more specifically has the object of the identification of defects detected by monitoring equipment on board a railroad car moving on the tracks to be checked to allow maintenance crews to subsequently find these defects; the invention also pertains to a monitoring system for the implementation of said process.
[A method]is known to monitor railroad tracks by running a special railroad car on these tracks, with said car comprising monitoring equipment of all types, especially ultrasound systems and Foucault current sensors.
All of this monitoring equipment is implemented to detect specific types of defects, as the car progresses: internal cracks for ultrasound detectors, cracks issuing on the surface of the upper rail face for Foucault currents, etc. . . A data processing system is also on board to process the information sent by all the sensors, to correlate said information and to thus determine the nature of the defect while distinguishing among the signals received those which correspond to a singular point (fishplated joint or rail, welded joint) and not a defect.
Other information pertaining to the general condition of the tracks can be gathered by adapted equipment and processed by the computer, such as, for example, the stability of the tracks or the quality of the rail shunting by axles which affect the automatic operation of the signals.
The computer is connected to equipment which records and displays all of this information, such as, for example, a printer, which sends a series of messages which are later used by a maintenance crew. An operator monitoring the acquisition of the data can also use a keyboard to input information to indicate the singular points of the tracks (tunnels, switches) facilitating the identification of defects by the maintenance crew.
Moreover, the precise identification of a defect is ensured by paint markings ordered automatically from the car by a control system. However, these traces of paint are relatively difficult to find if the information recorded does not comprise a sufficient number of the aforementioned singular points.
However, the automation of the detection of defects and the improvement of the performance of the corresponding equipment make it possible to reduce the checking time, by increasing the speed of the car carrying this equipment. As such, it becomes highly difficult for the operator to clearly and precisely note the nature and location of all singular points he identifies. The object of the invention is to allow an automatic collection of the singular points, facilitating the location of the paint marks.
More specifically, the invention thus pertains to a process for monitoring the condition of railroad tracks of the type consisting of moving the monitoring equipment in a car moving on said tracks and recording the signals emitted by said monitoring equipment gradually as said car progresses, characterized in that it consists of pointing a radar on board said car towards characteristic structures located along said tracks, recording the corresponding echo signals, simultaneously with said signals, to contribute to the subsequent identification of defects detected in said railroad tracks.
Among the characteristic structures which can be identified by this equipment, one can cite bridges, tunnels and especially overhead contact line posts which present the advantage of obtaining clearly characteristic echoes constituting a relatively precise scanning of the railroad tracks, since [said posts]are placed at regular intervals on virtually all electrified tracks.
The invention also pertains to a monitoring system for railroad tracks comprising a car moving on said tracks in which continuous monitoring equipment for said tracks as well as means for recording signals sent by said monitoring equipment is installed, characterized in that said car carries at least one radar device whose antenna is oriented in a predetermined direction corresponding to the position of char

REFERENCES:
patent: 2740090 (1956-03-01), Dionne
patent: 3634866 (1972-01-01), Meyer
patent: 3754275 (1973-08-01), Carter et al.
patent: 3967194 (1976-06-01), Beaver et al.
patent: 4148027 (1979-04-01), Nowogrodzki

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Device for automatically identifying catenary posts of a railway does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Device for automatically identifying catenary posts of a railway, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Device for automatically identifying catenary posts of a railway will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1605531