Rail measuring system

• US 10,444,095 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2016
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thales Management & Services Deutschland GmbH (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: Thales Deutschland GmbH (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Glueck, Martin, Mueller, Mathias
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Harshad R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Tran M.
• Application Number:
  US15/212,461
• Publication Number:
  US 20160356661A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,184 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B61K 9/08 Measuring installations for surveying permanent way applications of measuring apparatus or devices for track building purposes E01B35/00; measuring techniques G01
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 23/04 for monitoring the mechanical state of the route
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 23/042 Track changes detection
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 23/047 Track or rail movements
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/021 Measuring and recording of train speed
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/246 using integrated gratings, e.g. Bragg gratings
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/247 using distributed sensing elements, e.g. microcapsules along a single optical fibre G01L1/242
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 11/085 the optical fiber being on or near the surface of the DUT

Abstract

At least one fiber-optic sensor unit measures a mechanical variable which affects a rail having a certain length and a neutral axis that extends along said length of the rail. The at least one fiber-optic sensor unit is disposed at an angle of 30° to 60°, in particular 45°, relative to the neutral axis or at an angle of −30° to −60°, in particular −45°, relative to the neutral axis. The at least one fiber-optic sensor unit is irradiated with primary light in order to generate a signaling light in a reflection mode or transmission mode. The intensity of the signaling light is sensed. The signaling light is evaluated.

Claims

1. A method of measuring a shear deformation which acts on a rail with a longitudinal extension using at least one fiber optic sensor unit, the shear deformations caused by a train running on the rail, the rail having a neutral axis which extends along the longitudinal extension, wherein the areas above and below the neutral axis do experience the shear deformation, wherein the neutral axis does not experience the shear deformation, the method comprising the steps of:

providing the at least one fiber-optic sensor unit across the neutral axis at a positive first angle of 30°

to 60°

relative to the neutral axis or at a negative angle of −

30°

to −

60°

relative to the neutral axis, wherein the at least one fiber-optic sensor unit is mounted to the rail, wherein one mounting point of the fiber-optic sensor unit is disposed on one side of the neutral axis and another mounting point is disposed on an opposite side of the neutral axis;

irradiating the at least one fiber-optic sensor unit with a primary light for generating a signal light in a reflection mode or a transmission mode;

detecting an intensity of the signal light;

evaluating a wavelength change between the signal light and the primary light; and

determining the shear deformation based on the wavelength change.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of providing the at least one fiber-optic sensor unit is at the positive angle of 45°

relative to the neutral axis or at the negative angle of −

45°

relative to the neutral axis.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of evaluating includes counting of axles that run over the at least one fiber-optic sensor unit.

4. The method according to claim 1, further including the step of providing a second fiber-optic sensor unit at a positive second angle of 30°

to 60°

relative to the neutral axis or at a negative second angle of −

30°

to −

60°

relative to the neutral axis.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the positive or negative sign of the second angle differs from the positive or negative sign of the first angle.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of evaluating the signal light comprises determination of a load on the rail, measurement of speed of passing trains, detection of direction of passing trains, wheel damages of trains on the rail and/or train classification of passing trains.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fiber-optic sensor unit has a converter structure which amplifies the shear deformation that acts on the at least one fiber-optic sensor unit.

8. A fiber optical sensor unit for detecting a mechanical force acting on a rail, comprising:

an optical fiber;

a fiber Bragg grating provided in the optical fiber which has a Bragg wavelength that depends on the mechanical force acting on the rail;

a converter structure comprising two spaced-apart rods connected by a bar, each of the two spaced-apart rods having a mounting point opposite a suspension point, wherein the bar is disposed between the mounting points and suspension points defining a pair of first lever arms extending between the bar and the suspensions points and a pair of second lever arms extending between the bar and the mounting points, wherein the converter structure is adapted to be mounted to the rail via the two mounting points, and wherein the optical fiber is clamped to the first lever arms at the suspension points; and

an edge filter for filtering a first part of a signal light generated by reflection or transmission of primary light irradiated on the fiber optical sensor unit, wherein the optical fiber connects the edge filter with the fiber Bragg grating.

9. The fiber-optic sensor unit according to claim 8, wherein the edge filter has a filter characteristic line with a nominal slope of between 2% and 7% per nm related to the transmitted intensity or less, wherein a measuring range of axle loads of 200 kg to 50,000 kg that act on the rail is provided.

10. The fiber-optic sensor unit according to claim 9, wherein the converter structure is designed to provide temperature compensation, wherein the thermal expansion coefficient of the converter structure of a converter structure with negative transmission ratio is smaller than the thermal expansion coefficient of the rail or wherein the thermal expansion coefficient of the converter structure of a converter structure with positive transmission ratio is larger than the thermal expansion coefficient of the rail.

11. The fiber-optic sensor unit according to claim 8, wherein the converter structure is designed to provide temperature compensation, wherein the thermal expansion coefficient of the converter structure of a converter structure with negative transmission ratio is smaller than the thermal expansion coefficient of the rail or wherein the thermal expansion coefficient of the converter structure of a converter structure with positive transmission ratio is larger than the thermal expansion coefficient of the rail.

12. A rail measuring system for measuring a shear deformation which acts on a rail, the rail measuring system comprising:

the rail with a longitudinal extension and a neutral axis which extends along the longitudinal extension on which rail a mechanical force acts which is generated by a train running thereon, wherein the areas above and below the neutral axis do experience the shear deformation, wherein the neutral axis does not experience the shear deformation; and

at least one fiber-optic sensor unit for detecting the mechanical force that acts on the rail, wherein the at least one fiber-optic sensor unit is mounted to the rail, wherein one mounting point of the at least one fiber-optic sensor unit is disposed on one side of the neutral axis and another mounting point is disposed on an opposite side of the neutral axis, wherein the at least one fiber-optic sensor unit comprises;

a fiber Bragg grating provided in an optical fiber which has a Bragg wavelength which depends on the mechanical force, wherein the at least one fiber-optic sensor unit is mounted to the rail across the neutral axis at a positive first angle of 30°

to 60°

relative to the neutral axis or at a negative second angle of −

30°

to −

60°

relative to the neutral axis of the rail.

13. The rail measuring system according to claim 12, wherein the at least one fiber-optic sensor unit is mounted to the rail at the positive angle of 45°

relative to the neutral axis or at the negative angle of −

45°

relative to the neutral axis.

14. The rail measuring system according to claim 12, wherein the at least one fiber-optic sensor unit is mounted approximately at the neutral axis of the rail.

15. The rail measuring system according to claim 12, wherein the at least one fiber-optic sensor unit includes a converter structure, wherein the converter structure has a signal amplification lever and an edge filter for filtering a first part of a signal light, wherein the edge filter has a filter characteristic line with a nominal slope of 8% per nm related to the transmitted intensity or less, wherein a measuring range of axle loads of 200 kg to 50,000 kg that act on the rail is provided.

16. The rail measuring system according to claim 15, wherein the converter structure is designed to provide temperature compensation, wherein the thermal expansion coefficient of the converter structure of a converter structure with negative transmission ratio is smaller than the thermal expansion coefficient of the rail or wherein the thermal expansion coefficient of the converter structure of a converter structure with positive transmission ratio is larger than the thermal expansion coefficient of the rail.

17. The rail measuring system according to claim 12, further including an evaluation unit which is designed for a measuring frequency of 5 kHz, 8 kHz, 10 kHz or more.

18. The rail measuring system according to any claim 12, further comprising:

a broad-band light source for irradiating the at least one fiber-optic sensor unit with a primary light for generating a signal light;

a beam splitter for splitting the signal light into a first part of the signal light and into a second part of the signal light;

a first detector for detecting the first part of the signal light and a second detector for detecting the second part of the signal light.