Broken rail detection system for railway systems
First Claim
1. A broken rail detection system for a portion of a railway track having a first and second opposing rail, each supported by at least one railroad tie and ballast material, the system comprising:
- a power module positioned at a first end of the portion of the railway track, the power module comprising;
(1) a first electrical connection to the first rail and configured to apply a direct current voltage to the first rail; and
(2) a second electrical connection to the second rail and configured to apply a direct current voltage to the second rail;
a at least one diode shunt arrangement positioned at a distance from the at least one power module;
at least one measurement device configured to sense or measure current resulting from the application of the direct current voltage from the first electrical connection and the second electrical connection; and
at least one controller in direct or indirect communication with the at least one power module and the at least one measurement device and programmed or configured to;
(i) cause at least one application of a direct current voltage of a first polarity on the railway track through the first electrical connection and second electrical connection;
(ii) determine the current resulting from the application step (i) using the at least one measurement device;
(iii) cause at least one application of a direct current voltage of a second polarity on the railway track through the first electrical connection and the second electrical connection;
(iv) determine the current resulting from the application step (iii) using the at least one measurement device; and
(v) determine the presence or absence of a break in at least one of the first and second rail based at least partially on the current determined in steps (ii) and (iv).
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A broken rail detection system including: a power module having: a first electrical connection to the first rail to apply a direct current voltage; and a second electrical connection to the second rail to apply a direct current voltage; a diode shunt arrangement; a measurement device to sense or measure current; and a controller programmed or configured to: (i) cause at least one application of a direct current voltage of a first polarity on the railway track; (ii) determine the current resulting from the application step (i); (iii) cause at least one application of a direct current voltage of a second polarity on the railway track; (iv) determine the current resulting from the application step (iii); and (v) determine the presence or absence of a break based at least partially on the determined current.
72 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A broken rail detection system for a portion of a railway track having a first and second opposing rail, each supported by at least one railroad tie and ballast material, the system comprising:
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a power module positioned at a first end of the portion of the railway track, the power module comprising;
(1) a first electrical connection to the first rail and configured to apply a direct current voltage to the first rail; and
(2) a second electrical connection to the second rail and configured to apply a direct current voltage to the second rail;a at least one diode shunt arrangement positioned at a distance from the at least one power module; at least one measurement device configured to sense or measure current resulting from the application of the direct current voltage from the first electrical connection and the second electrical connection; and at least one controller in direct or indirect communication with the at least one power module and the at least one measurement device and programmed or configured to; (i) cause at least one application of a direct current voltage of a first polarity on the railway track through the first electrical connection and second electrical connection; (ii) determine the current resulting from the application step (i) using the at least one measurement device; (iii) cause at least one application of a direct current voltage of a second polarity on the railway track through the first electrical connection and the second electrical connection; (iv) determine the current resulting from the application step (iii) using the at least one measurement device; and (v) determine the presence or absence of a break in at least one of the first and second rail based at least partially on the current determined in steps (ii) and (iv). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A broken rail detection system for a portion of a railway track having a first and second opposing rail, each supported by at least one railroad tie and ballast material, the system comprising:
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a first power module positioned at a first end of the portion of the railway track and having;
(1) a first electrical connection to the first rail and configured to apply a direct current voltage to the first rail; and
(2) a second electrical connection to the second rail and configured to apply a direct current voltage to the second rail;a first diode shunt arrangement positioned at a distance from the first end of the portion of the railway track; a first measurement device configured to sense or measure current resulting from the application of the direct current voltage from the first electrical connection and the second electrical connection; a first controller in direct or indirect communication with the first power module and the first measurement device and programmed or configured to;
(i) cause at least one application of a direct current voltage of a first polarity on the railway track through the first electrical connection and second electrical connection;
(ii) determine the current resulting from the application step (i) using the first measurement device;
(iii) cause at least one application of a direct current voltage of a second polarity on the railway track through the first electrical connection and the second electrical connection;
(iv) determine the current resulting from the application step (iii) using the first measurement device; and
(v) determine the presence or absence of a break in at least one of the first and second rail in a first portion of the portion of the railway track based at least partially on the current determined in steps (ii) and (iv);a second power module positioned at a second end of the portion of the railway track and having;
(1) a first electrical connection to the first rail and configured to apply a direct current voltage to the first rail; and
(2) a second electrical connection to the second rail and configured to apply a direct current voltage to the second rail;a second diode shunt arrangement positioned at a distance from the second end of the portion of the railway track; a second measurement device configured to sense or measure current resulting from the application of the direct current voltage from the first electrical connection and the second electrical connection; a second controller in direct or indirect communication with the second power module and the second measurement device and programmed or configured to;
(i) cause at least one application of a direct current voltage of a first polarity on the railway track through the first electrical connection and second electrical connection;
(ii) determine the current resulting from the application step (i) using the second measurement device;
(iii) cause at least one application of a direct current voltage of a second polarity on the railway track through the first electrical connection and the second electrical connection;
(iv) determine the current resulting from the application step (iii) using the second measurement device; and
(v) determine the presence or absence of a break in at least one of the first and second rail in a second portion of the portion of the railway track based at least partially on the current determined in steps (ii) and (iv); andat least one insulation joint positioned between the first diode shunt arrangement and the second diode shunt arrangement and configured to prevent electrical communication between the first and second portions of the portion of the railway track.
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25. A method for detecting a broken rail in a portion of a railway track having a first and second opposing rail, each supported by at least one railroad tie and ballast material, the method comprising:
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(i) causing at least one application of a direct current voltage of a first polarity on the railway track through a first electrical connection to the first rail and a second electrical connection to the second rail; (ii) determining the current resulting from the application step (i); (iii) causing at least one application of a direct current voltage of a second polarity on the railway track through the first electrical connection and the second electrical connection; (iv) determining the current resulting from the application step (iii); and (v) determining the presence or absence of a break in at least one of the first and second rail based at least partially on the current determined in steps (ii) and (iv).
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Specification