Apparatus for and method of detecting defects in a rail joint bar
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for inspecting joint bars having a head with an outside vertical surface and mounted on opposite sides of a rail, said apparatus comprising:
- a carriage having at least one wheel for engaging the rail,a frame slidably mounted to said carriage, said frame having legs spaced apart to straddle the rail and joint bars mounted on opposite sides of the rail,a first actuator secured to said carriage and coupled to said frame for adjusting the frame vertically between a first position and a second position,second and third actuators one of each secured to opposite lower ends of said frame legs and each extending outwardly from said frame legs,a pair of idler arms one of each slidably mounted to said second and third actuators, said idler arms positionable horizontally between a first position and a second position, and each having a lower horizontal surface,a pair of sensor assemblies one of each rotatably secured to said lower horizontal surface of said idler arms,whereby when said frame is in said first position and said idler arms are in said first position, said sensor assemblies are in a stored position away from said rail and pair of joint bars,whereby when said frame is in said second position and said idler arms are in said second position, said sensor assemblies are engaged with the joint bars mounted on opposite sides of the rail.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for inspecting a rail joint bar transported along a railway rail by an inspection vehicle is provided. The apparatus and method includes a pair of ultrasonic transducers housed in liquid-filled wheels. The wheels are positionable for a stored position to a measurement position in rolling contact with the vehicle surfaces of the rail joint bars on each side of the rail. The ultrasonic transducer transmits a signal into the rail joint bar and the reflected signal is detected by the transducer and analyzed to identify flaws in the rail joint bar.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An apparatus for inspecting joint bars having a head with an outside vertical surface and mounted on opposite sides of a rail, said apparatus comprising:
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a carriage having at least one wheel for engaging the rail, a frame slidably mounted to said carriage, said frame having legs spaced apart to straddle the rail and joint bars mounted on opposite sides of the rail, a first actuator secured to said carriage and coupled to said frame for adjusting the frame vertically between a first position and a second position, second and third actuators one of each secured to opposite lower ends of said frame legs and each extending outwardly from said frame legs, a pair of idler arms one of each slidably mounted to said second and third actuators, said idler arms positionable horizontally between a first position and a second position, and each having a lower horizontal surface, a pair of sensor assemblies one of each rotatably secured to said lower horizontal surface of said idler arms, whereby when said frame is in said first position and said idler arms are in said first position, said sensor assemblies are in a stored position away from said rail and pair of joint bars, whereby when said frame is in said second position and said idler arms are in said second position, said sensor assemblies are engaged with the joint bars mounted on opposite sides of the rail. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for inspecting a rail joint bar transported along a railway rail by an inspection vehicle comprising:
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detecting the presence of a rail joint bar, positioning a sensor assembly in rolling contact with said rail joint bar, emitting an ultrasonic beam from said sensor assembly into said rail joint bar at an angle relative to the contact surface of said rail joint bar, receiving a reflected ultrasonic signal by said sensor assembly and outputting a corresponding electrical signal, processing said electrical signal to detect signals indicative of a flaw in said rail joint bar, and repositioning said sensor assembly away from said rail joint bar. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification