Rail stress detection system and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for detecting axial stress in rails, comprising:
- a rail vehicle, havinga rail temperature detector;
a rail imaging device, oriented to produce images of at least one of a rail joint and a rail anchor;
a rail incline detector, selected from the group consisting of an inclinometer and a GPS device, the GPS device being adapted to pinpoint a location of the rail joint or rail anchor; and
a computer controller, coupled to the rail imaging device and the temperature detector, programmed to estimate axial stress in the rail, and to provide an output signal indicative of the estimated axial stress in the rail, based upon rail temperature and at least one of a size of a rail gap at the rail joint and a distance of slippage of the rail anchor relative to its intended position, based upon the images of the at least one of the rail joint and rail anchor.
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Abstract
A system for detecting stress in rails includes a railcar, having a rail temperature detector, and a rail imaging device oriented to produce images of rail joints and rail anchors. The imaging device and temperature detector are connected to a computer controller, which is programmed to provide an output signal indicative of estimated axial stress in the rail based upon rail temperature and the images of at least one of the rail joints and rail anchors.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system for detecting axial stress in rails, comprising:
a rail vehicle, having a rail temperature detector; a rail imaging device, oriented to produce images of at least one of a rail joint and a rail anchor; a rail incline detector, selected from the group consisting of an inclinometer and a GPS device, the GPS device being adapted to pinpoint a location of the rail joint or rail anchor; and a computer controller, coupled to the rail imaging device and the temperature detector, programmed to estimate axial stress in the rail, and to provide an output signal indicative of the estimated axial stress in the rail, based upon rail temperature and at least one of a size of a rail gap at the rail joint and a distance of slippage of the rail anchor relative to its intended position, based upon the images of the at least one of the rail joint and rail anchor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for detecting axial stress in a rail, comprising:
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detecting a size of a rail gap at a rail joint; detecting an incline of the rail at a location of the rail joint using one of an inclinometer and a GPS device; determining the location of the rail joint using the GPS device; detecting a temperature of the rail at the rail joint; and estimating axial stress in the rail using a computer controller that is programmed to estimate axial stress in the rail based upon the size of the gap and at least one of the rail temperature and the incline of the rail. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for detecting axial stress in a rail, comprising:
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detecting a distance of slippage of a rail anchor relative to its intended position; detecting an incline of the rail at a location of the rail anchor using one of an inclinometer and a GPS device; determining the location of the rail anchor using the GPS device; detecting a temperature of the rail at the location of the rail anchor; and estimating axial stress in the rail using a computer controller that is programmed to estimate axial stress in the rail based upon the distance of slippage and at least one of the rail temperature and the incline of the rail. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification