Light reference system
First Claim
1. A light reference system for a rail vehicle, comprising:
- a first rail follower, a second rail follower and a third rail follower respectively coupled to the rail vehicle, the second rail follower being disposed between the first and third rail followers;
a first light source disposed on the first rail follower and operable to emit light towards the second rail follower;
a second light source disposed on the third rail follower and operable to emit light towards the second rail follower;
a first imaging device disposed on the second rail follower, the first imaging device being operable to receive the light emitted by the first light source and provide first image data representing the light received from the first light source;
a second imaging device disposed on the second rail follower, the second imaging device being operable to receive the light emitted by the second light source and provide second image data representing the light received from the second light source; and
a processing device configured toperform a measurement, based on the first image data and second image data, indicating an alignment of the second rail follower with respect to at least one of the first rail follower and third rail follower, anddetermine at least one of a lateral chord offset, a vertical chord offset, and a twist in a pair of rails.
3 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A light reference system includes a first, second and third rail followers. The second rail follower is disposed between the first and third rail followers. First and second light sources are disposed on the first and third rail followers and operable to emit light towards the second rail follower. First and Second imaging devices are disposed on the second rail follower. The first imaging device is operable to receive the light emitted by the first light source and provide first image data. The second imaging device is operable to receive the light emitted by the second light source and provide second image data. A processing device is configured to perform a measurement, based on the first and second image data, indicating a relative position of the second rail follower with respect to at least one of the first and third rail followers.
7 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A light reference system for a rail vehicle, comprising:
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a first rail follower, a second rail follower and a third rail follower respectively coupled to the rail vehicle, the second rail follower being disposed between the first and third rail followers; a first light source disposed on the first rail follower and operable to emit light towards the second rail follower; a second light source disposed on the third rail follower and operable to emit light towards the second rail follower; a first imaging device disposed on the second rail follower, the first imaging device being operable to receive the light emitted by the first light source and provide first image data representing the light received from the first light source; a second imaging device disposed on the second rail follower, the second imaging device being operable to receive the light emitted by the second light source and provide second image data representing the light received from the second light source; and a processing device configured to perform a measurement, based on the first image data and second image data, indicating an alignment of the second rail follower with respect to at least one of the first rail follower and third rail follower, and determine at least one of a lateral chord offset, a vertical chord offset, and a twist in a pair of rails. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A rail maintenance vehicle, comprising:
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a frame coupled to wheels that travel along rails; first, second and third support members respectively movably coupled to the frame; a first light source disposed on the first support member and operable to emit light towards the second support member; a second light source disposed on the third support member and operable to emit light towards the second support member; a first imaging device disposed on the second support member, the first imaging device being operable to receive the light emitted by the first light source and provide first image data representing the light received from the first light source; a second imaging device disposed on the second support member, the second imaging device being operable to receive the light emitted by the second light source and provide second image data representing the light received from the second light source; and a processing device configured to perform a measurement, based on the first image data and second image data, indicating an alignment of the second support member with respect to at least one of the first support member and third support member, and determine at least one of a lateral chord offset, a vertical chord offset, and a twist of the rails. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for determining a chordal offset of an axle of a rail vehicle, comprising:
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emitting light from a first axle of the rail vehicle towards a second axle of the rail vehicle; emitting light from a third axle of the rail vehicle towards the second axle; observing the light emitted from the first axle using a first imaging device coupled to a second axle; observing the light emitted from the third axle using a second imaging device coupled to the second axle; and determining, using a processor, a chordal offset between the second axle and a chord between the first axle and the third axle based on the observations of the first and second imaging devices. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification