VISION SYSTEM FOR IMAGING AND MEASURING RAIL DEFLECTION
First Claim
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1. A vision system for imaging geometric variations along a length of a railroad track rail, the system comprising:
- at least one visible-light imaging camera adapted for coupling to a moving rail vehicle located on the rail, the imaging camera having a field of view along a line of sight substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the rail and configured for generating images of the continuous shape of the rail during vehicle movement along the rail; and
an evaluation unit including an image processor configured for analyzing the images from the imaging camera and detecting one or more geometric variations of the rail along the length of the rail.
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Abstract
Devices, systems, and methods for imaging and measuring deflections in structures such as railroad rail are disclosed. An example vision system comprises a high-speed, visible-light imaging camera and an evaluation unit configured for analyzing images from the camera to detect geometric variations in the structure. In analyzing structures such as railroad track rail, the imaging camera can be coupled to a moving rail vehicle and configured for generating images of the rail as the vehicle moves along the track.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A vision system for imaging geometric variations along a length of a railroad track rail, the system comprising:
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at least one visible-light imaging camera adapted for coupling to a moving rail vehicle located on the rail, the imaging camera having a field of view along a line of sight substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the rail and configured for generating images of the continuous shape of the rail during vehicle movement along the rail; and an evaluation unit including an image processor configured for analyzing the images from the imaging camera and detecting one or more geometric variations of the rail along the length of the rail. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A vision system for imaging geometric variations on a structure subjected to loading, the system comprising:
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at least one visible-light imaging camera adapted to move relative to the structure, the imaging camera configured for generating a plurality of images of the structure over a period of time; an evaluation unit including an image processor configured for analyzing the images from the imaging camera and measuring vertical deflections in the structure at a plurality of different locations on the structure; and a means for trending the vertical deflection measurements over the period of time and predicting a future performance of the structure.
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19. A method for analyzing the geometric shape of a railroad track rail, the method comprising:
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acquiring a plurality of images from at least one visible-light imaging camera coupled to a moving rail vehicle, the imaging camera having a field of view along a line of sight substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the rail; detecting a location of the rail within each acquired image; identifying and measuring a change in the position or shape of the rail away from an expected position or shape of the rail within each image; and determining vertical track deflection data at a plurality of different locations along the rail. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification