Diagnosis and State Monitoring of Junctions, Crossing or Crossroads and Rail Joints and Track Inhomogeneties by Means of a Rail Vehicle

• US 20070299630A1
• Filed: 05/04/2005
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deutsche BAHN AG (Government of Germany)
• Original Assignee: Deutsche BAHN AG (Government of Germany)
• Inventors: Zoll, Andreas, Luke, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 7,539,596 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/184
• 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 2205/04 Satellite based navigation systems, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 23/045 Rail wear

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and to a device for the diagnosis and state monitoring of a wear and functional state of a junction and/or a crossing and/or a crossroads and/or rail joints and/or track inhomogeneities of a rail traffic path which is made of several tracks. According to the invention, swing acceleration in at least one direction is measured and stored when overtaking a rail vehicle on a junction, crossings or crossroads, in addition to rail joints or track inhomogeneities on at least one component of the rail vehicle, the swing acceleration being produced on the component of the rail vehicle when overtaking the rail vehicle at the junction, crossing or crossroads, rail joints, track inhomogeneities. The inventive method also measures and stores the speed of the rail vehicles and determines and stores the direction of travel, determines and stores the place of the junction, crossing or crossroads, rail joints, track inhomogeneities, carries out a control as to whether characteristic, predetermined threshold values of the measured swing accelerations have been exceed. If the predetermined threshold value of the swing accelerations are exceeded, a subsequent, further measurement of the state of the components of the junction, crossing or crossroads, rail joints and track inhomogeneities takes place.

Claims

1. A method for the diagnosis and state monitoring of a junction and/or a crossing and/or a crossroads and/or a rail joint and/or of track inhomogeneities of a rail traffic path, wherein on travelling of a rail vehicle over the junction, crossing, crossroads, the rail joint of the track inhomogeneity

on at least a component of the rail vehicle, vibration accelerations in at least a three-dimensional direction are measured and saved, which are created on the component of the rail vehicle through the travelling of the rail vehicle over the junction, crossing, crossroads, the rail joint or the track inhomogeneity,

the speed of the rail vehicle is measured and saved and the travelling direction determined and saved,

the location of the junction, crossing, crossroads, the rail joint or the track inhomogeneity is determined and saved,

a check is carried out if characteristic prescribed limit values of the measured vibration accelerations are exceeded and in the event that prescribed limit values of the vibration acceleration are exceeded, a follow-up more comprehensive measurement of a state of components of the junction, crossing, crossroads, the rail joint or the track inhomogeneity is initiated.

2. The method for diagnosis and state monitoring according to claim 1, wherein the measurement of vibration accelerations is performed in the proximity of the contact point of wheel and rails.

3. The method for the diagnosis and state monitoring according to claim 2, wherein the measurement of vibration accelerations is performed in the area of a wheel set bearing cap of the rail vehicle.

4. The method for the diagnosis and state monitoring according to claim 1, wherein the measurement of vibration accelerations is performed on a railway wheel in the area of a wheel-rail contact point.

5. The method for the diagnosis and state monitoring according to claim 1, wherein the location of the junction, crossing, crossroads, the rail joint or the track inhomogeneity is determined through a satellite supported position indicating device.

7. The device for the diagnosis and state monitoring according to claim 5, wherein the acceleration sensor is designed as piezoelectric acceleration pickup.

6. A device for diagnosis and state monitoring of a junction and/or a crossing and/or a crossroads and/or a rail joint and/or of track inhomogenities of a rail traffic path, wherein upon travelling of a rail vehicle over the junction, crossing, crossroads, the rail joint or the track inhomogeneity

at least an acceleration sensor is arranged on at least a component of the rail vehicle,

a speed measuring and a positioning device is arranged in the rail vehicle

a data acquisition system arranged in the rail vehicle, processes, saves and evaluates measurement signals of the acceleration sensors, the speed measuring device and the positioning device.