# US 2019/0193762 A1 · System and method for detecting a break in a railway track > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0193762 A1 - Document ID: US20190193762A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/212,350 - Filed: 2018-12-06 - Published: 2019-06-27 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-06 - Assignees: Rumo SA; Ricci Eletrônica Ltda - Applicants: Rumo Logística Operadora Multimodal S.A.; Ricci Eletrônica Ltda - Inventors: Márcio do Nascimento Machado; Eder Linconl Batistela Ricci - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190193762A1 ## CPC - B61L 23/044: {Broken rails} - B61L 1/187: {Use of alternating current} - B61L 3/243: {using alternating current} - B61L 15/0027: {Radio-based, e.g. using GSM-R} - B61L 21/10: Arrangements for trains which are closely following one another - B61L 23/166: {using alternating current} - B61L 2205/04: Satellite based navigation systems, e.g. global positioning system [GPS] - G01N 2291/2623: Rails; Railroads - B61L: GUIDING RAILWAY TRAFFIC; ENSURING THE SAFETY OF RAILWAY TRAFFIC (brakes or auxiliary equipment B61H, B61K; point or crossing construction E01B) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract The present invention refers to a method for detecting a break in a railway track, system for detecting a break in a railway track (1) and device for detecting a break in a railway track (500), in which a first track (101) and a second track (102) are connected defining measuring sections (302, 303) and electrical detection networks (M1, M2), in which a device for detecting a break in a railway track (500) is coupled to said tracks (101, 102) and arranged to measure at least one electrical parameter of at least one electrical detection network (M1, M2) and selectively promote an output (502) that indicates a state of at least one track (101, 102). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for detecting a break in a railway track, the method for detecting a break in a railway track comprising the stages of: a) Electrically connecting a first track to a second track by way of a first jumper; b) Electrically connecting the first track to the second track by way of a second jumper, distant from the first jumper; c) Electrically coupling a device for detecting a break in a railway track at a first point of the first track and at a second point of the second track, establishing along the first track and the second track a first distance between the device for detecting a break in a railway track and the first jumper and establishing along the first track and the second track a second distance between the device for detecting a break in a railway track and the second jumper; d) Defining a first section of the tracks to be monitored, comprised at least by the distance and defining a first electrical detection network, comprised at least by the first section of the tracks, first jumper and device for detecting a break in a railway track; e) Defining a second section of the tracks to be monitored, comprised at least by the distance and defining a second electrical detection network, comprised at least by the second section of the tracks, second and device for detecting a break in a railway track; f) Applying an electrical measuring current at the first point by way of the device for detecting a break in a railway track; g) Measuring at least one electrical parameter of at least one from among a first electrical detection network and a second electrical detection network; and h) Selectively promoting an output that indicates a state of at least one from among the first track and the second track. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method for detecting a break in a railway track according to claim 1, wherein the output is promoted if a value relating to at least one electrical parameter measured exceeds at least an electrical reference parameter. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method for detecting a break in a railway track according to claim 2, wherein the output is promoted if the value of a total electrical resistance measured exceeds a reference electrical resistance. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method for detecting a break in a railway track according to claim 3, wherein the total electrical resistance measured exceeds a reference electrical resistance when at least one from among a first and a second electrical detection networks is electrically open. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method for detecting a break in a railway track according to claim 4, wherein the stages of applying an electrical measuring current to at least one track, measuring at least one electrical parameter of at least one from among a first and second electrical detection networks and selectively promoting an output that indicates the state of at least one track are carried out by the device for detecting a break in a railway track, wherein the device for detecting a break in a railway track is arranged like an electronic machine and measures electrical resistances and provides an electrical measuring current. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method for detecting a break in a railway track according to claim 5, wherein the first and second electrical detection networks further comprise at least a ballast resistance, and wherein the ballast resistance comprises an electrical resistance offered by an external environment in which the method for detecting a break in a railway track is used. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method for detecting a break in a railway track according to claim 5, wherein the total electrical resistance measured is formed by at least one from among an equivalent first electrical resistance relating to the first electrical detection network, an equivalent second electrical resistance relating to the second electrical detection network and by at least a ballast resistance, wherein the electrical detection networks are each electrically comprised of a first electrical resistance relating to at least one of the sections of the first track, at least at least an electrical resistance relating to one of the sections of the second track and at least a ballast resistance. ### Claim 8 A system for detecting a break in a railway track (1), the system for detecting a broken railway track comprising at least a first track, a second track and sleepers, wherein the first track is connected to the second track by way of a first jumper and by way of a second jumper distant from the first jumper and a device for detecting a break in a railway track is electrically coupled at a first point of the first track and at a second point of the second track, establishing along the first track and the second track a first distance between the device for detecting a break in a railway track and the first jumper and establishing along the first track and the second track a second distance between the device for detecting a break in a railway track and the second jumper, a first section of the tracks to be monitored being defined, comprised by the distance and a second section of the tracks to be monitored, comprised by the distance, wherein a first electrical detection network is defined, comprised by the first section of the tracks to be monitored, comprised by the distance, first jumper and device for detecting a break in a railway track, a second electrical detection network is defined, comprised by the second section of the tracks to be monitored, comprised by the distance, second jumper and the device for detecting a break in a railway track, wherein the device for detecting a break in a railway track is arranged to apply an electrical measuring current at the first point and to measure at least one electrical parameter of at least one from among a first electrical detection network and a second electrical detection network and selectively promote an output that indicates a state of at least one from among the first track and the second track. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system for detecting a break in a railway track, according to claim 8, wherein the output is promoted if a value relating to at least one electrical parameter of at least one from among a first electrical detection network and a second electrical detection network exceeds at least an electrical reference parameter. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system for detecting a break in a railway track, according to claim 9, wherein the at least an electrical parameter of at least one from among a first electrical detection network and a second electrical detection network and the at least an electrical reference parameter are electrical resistance parameters. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system for detecting a break in a railway track, according to claim 10, wherein the output is promoted if a value of a total electrical resistance measured exceeds a value of a reference electrical resistance. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system for detecting a break in a railway track, according to claim 11, wherein that the total electrical resistance measured exceeds a reference electrical resistance when at least one from among a first and a second electrical detection networks is electrically open. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system for detecting a break in a railway track, according to claim 12, wherein the device for detecting a break in a railway track is arranged like an electronic machine, wherein the device for detecting a break in a railway track measures electrical resistances and provides an electrical measuring current. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The system for detecting a break in a railway track, according to claim 12, wherein the device for detecting a break in a railway track comprises at least a microcontroller, an internal memory, analogical to digital converter, power supply and a shunt resistor, wherein the device for detecting a break in a railway track is an electronic machine arranged to measure an electrical property and activate an output circuit that indicates the integrity or not of a railway track. ### Claim 15 A device for detecting a break in a railway track, wherein it is electrically coupled at a first point of a first track and at a second point of a second track, establishing along the first track and the second track a first distance between the device for detecting a break in a railway track and a first jumper and establishing along the first track and the second track a second distance between the device for detecting a break in a railway track and a second jumper, wherein the first track is connected to the second track by way of a first jumper and by way of a second jumper, distant from the first jumper, wherein there are defined a first section of the tracks to be monitored, comprised by the distance and a second section of the tracks to be monitored, comprised by the distance, wherein a first electrical detection network is defined, comprised by a first section of the tracks to be monitored, comprised by the distance, first jumper and device for detecting a break in a railway track, a second electrical detection network is defined, comprised by the second section of the tracks to be monitored, comprised by the distance, second jumper and the device for detecting a break in a railway track, wherein the device for detecting a break in a railway track is arranged to apply an electrical measuring current at the first point and to measure at least one electrical parameter of at least one from among a first electrical detection network and a second electrical detection network and selectively promote an output that indicates a state of at least one from among the first track and the second track. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A device for detecting a broken railway track, according to claim 15, wherein it comprises at least a microcontroller, an internal memory, analogical to digital converters, a power supply and a shunt resistor, wherein the device for detecting a break in a railway track is an electronic machine arranged to measure an electrical resistance providing an electrical measuring current, digitally process at least one electrical parameter of at least one from among a first electrical detection network and a second electrical detection network, compare the at least an electrical parameter measured with at least an electrical reference parameter previously stored in the internal memory and activate an output circuit that indicates the integrity or not of a railway track.