Dynamic rail longitudinal stress measuring system

An apparatus for dynamically measuring the longitudinal stress in a section of railroad rail, comprising:

• (a) transmitting means for transmitting a series of ultrasonic signature signals into said section of rail;
• (b) receiving means spaced from said transmitting means for receiving the transmitted ultrasonic signature signals from said section of rail, said received signature signals having been altered by said rail section depending upon the longitudinal stress within said rail section;
• (c) means for processing the received, altered ultrasonic signature signals to generate a variable dependent upon the longitudinal stress in said rail section, said variable being determined from said alteration of said signature signals;
• (d) means for calculating the longitudinal stress in the tested rail section based upon said generated variable;
• and
• (e) a vehicle for moving said apparatus along said rail, said apparatus making repeated measurements of longitudinal stress within each section of said railroad rail as said vehicle moves along the rail.

A method of determining the longitudinal stress in a section of railroad rail, comprising the steps of:

• (a) transmitting a series of ultrasonic signature signals into said rail at a point in said rail section;
• (b) receiving said ultrasonic signature signals from said rail at another point in said rail section, said received signature signals having been altered by said rail section depending upon the longitudinal stress within said rail section;
• (c) processing said received altered signals to yield a variable dependent upon the alteration of said signature signals by said longitudinal stress within said rail section;
• and
• (d) calculating said longitudinal stress based upon said variable.