System and Method for Non-Destructive Testing of Railroad Rails Using Ultrasonic Apparatuses Mounted Within Fluid-Filled Tires Maintained at Constant Temperatures

• US 20140251015A1
• Filed: 05/23/2014
• Published: 09/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sperry Rail Inc. (Rockwood Service Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sperry Rail Inc. (Rockwood Service Corporation)
• Inventors: Havira, Robert Mark, Iorfino, Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 9,429,545 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/636
• CPC Class Codes: B61K 9/10 for detecting cracks in rails or welds thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/2623 Rails; Railroads
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/04 Analysing solids using acoustic emission techniques G01N29/14
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/22 Details , e.g. general constructional or apparatus details
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/2493 Wheel shaped probes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/28 providing acoustic coupling , e.g. water impedance matching G10K11/02
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/326 compensating for temperature variations

Abstract

A rolling search unit including an ultrasonic device and a heat exchanger mounted within a fluid-filled tire may be utilized to perform ultrasonic testing on an underlying railroad rail. The ultrasonic device may transmit or receive ultrasonic beams into or from the railroad rail, and the heat exchanger may be utilized to maintain the temperature of the fluid within the tire at a preferred level or within a preferred range. In such a manner, the results of testing obtained using the rolling search unit may be standardized regardless of the ambient temperature in the environment where the testing is being performed, and regardless of any heat gained or lost by the rolling search unit during operation.

Claims

1. A tire comprising:

at least one ultrasonic transducer suspended within the tire; and

a heat exchanger suspended within the tire,

wherein the tire is substantially filled with a liquid, and

wherein the heat exchanger is adapted to receive a flow of a heat transfer medium from an external source for regulating a temperature of the liquid.

2. The tire of claim 1,

wherein the heat exchanger comprises an inlet, an outlet, and an internal flow path between the inlet and the outlet.

3. The tire of claim 1,

wherein the heat transfer medium comprises a mixture including at least one of water and ethylene glycol.

4. The tire of claim 1,

wherein the liquid comprises a mixture including at least one of water and ethylene glycol.

5. The tire of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of one of the liquid and the heat transfer medium.

6. A tire substantially filled with a fluid, wherein the tire comprises:

a heat exchanger mounted within the tire and at least partially suspended in the fluid,

wherein the heat exchanger is in fluid communication with an external heat transfer apparatus.

7. The tire of claim 6, wherein the external heat transfer apparatus is configured to circulate a heat transfer medium between the external heat transfer apparatus and the heat exchanger.

8. The tire of claim 7, wherein the external heat transfer apparatus is adapted to control a flow rate of the heat transfer medium between the heat transfer apparatus and the heat exchanger.

9. The tire of claim 7, wherein the external heat transfer apparatus is adapted to control a temperature of the heat transfer medium leaving the external heat transfer apparatus.

10. The tire of claim 6, further comprising an ultrasonic device mounted within the tire and at least partially suspended in the fluid,

wherein the ultrasonic device is adapted to transmit or receive ultrasonic signals.

11. A method comprising:

providing a tire filled with a fluid;

placing the tire in rolling contact with a surface; and

maintaining the fluid at a predetermined temperature.

12. The method according to claim 11, the method further comprising:

providing a heat exchanger within the tire; and

maintaining the fluid at the predetermined temperature using the heat exchanger.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the heat exchanger is in fluid communication with a heat transfer apparatus.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the heat transfer apparatus is adapted to circulate a heat transfer medium between the heat exchanger and the heat transfer apparatus.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein maintaining the fluid at the predetermined temperature comprises:

sensing a temperature of the fluid.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein maintaining the fluid at the predetermined temperature comprises:

increasing or decreasing flow of the heat transfer medium if the temperature of the fluid rises above or falls below a predetermined set point.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein maintaining the fluid at the predetermined temperature comprises:

increasing or decreasing flow of the heat transfer medium if the temperature of the fluid is not within a predetermined range.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein maintaining the fluid at the predetermined temperature comprises:

increasing or decreasing a temperature of the heat transfer medium if the temperature of the fluid rises above or falls below a predetermined set point.

19. The method according to claim 15, wherein maintaining the fluid at the predetermined temperature comprises:

increasing or decreasing a temperature of the heat transfer medium if the temperature of the fluid is not within a predetermined range.

20. The method according to claim 14, wherein maintaining the fluid at the predetermined temperature comprises:

sensing a temperature of the heat transfer medium.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein maintaining the fluid at the predetermined temperature comprises:

increasing or decreasing a rate of flow of the heat transfer medium if the temperature of the heat transfer medium rises above or falls below a predetermined set point.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein maintaining the fluid at the predetermined temperature comprises:

increasing or decreasing a rate of flow of the heat transfer medium if the temperature of the heat transfer medium is not within a predetermined range.

23. The method according to claim 20, wherein maintaining the fluid at the predetermined temperature comprises:

increasing or decreasing a temperature of the heat transfer medium if the temperature of the heat transfer medium rises above or falls below a predetermined set point.

24. The method according to claim 20, wherein maintaining the fluid at the predetermined temperature comprises:

increasing or decreasing a temperature of the heat transfer medium if the temperature of the heat transfer medium is not within a predetermined range.