Method and apparatus for testing rails for structural defects

An apparatus for testing rails for structural defects, the rails being associated with a railroad track, ground supported and extending in a generally parallel manner along a roadbed, said apparatus comprising:

• a first rail traveling vehicle for movement along a segment of rails for testing, said first rail traveling vehicle having a rail testing apparatus for the production of data indicative of rail conditions mounted thereto;
• a first computer system mounted within said first rail traveling vehicle in data exchanging communication with said rail testing apparatus, said first computer having a display arrangement for displaying digital data and analog data associated with rails tested by said rail testing apparatus, and a control interface for computer control by an operator;
• a second rail traveling vehicle for disposition behind said first rail traveling vehicle along said segment of rails for testing;
• a second computer disposed in said second rail traveling vehicle for display of data associated with rails tested by said rail testing apparatus;
• a first modem assembly operatively associated with said first computer and mounted within said first rail traveling vehicle;
• a second modem assembly operatively associated with said second computer and disposed within said second rail traveling vehicle, said first modem assembly being in data exchanging communication with said second modem assembly for data exchange between said first computer and said second computer to communicate data indicative of a possible structural defect at a defect location to said second computer using said first modem assembly and said second modem assembly;
• and
• means for displaying said data indicative of the possible structural defect at the defect location operatively associated with said second computer for assessment of said data indicative of the possible structural defect at the defect location to locate the defect location and the possible structural defect in order to carry out a manual defect confirmation test and, if necessary, to initiate repair procedures.

An apparatus for testing rails for structural defects, the rails being associated with a railroad track, ground supported and extending in a generally parallel manner along a roadbed, said apparatus comprising:

• a first rail traveling vehicle for movement along a segment of rails for testing, said first rail traveling vehicle having a rail testing apparatus for the production of data indicative of rail conditions mounted thereto;
• a first computer system mounted within said first rail traveling vehicle in data exchanging communication with said rail testing apparatus, said first computer including a first digital computer and a first analog computer in data exchanging communication with said first digital computer, with said first digital computer including means for processing digital rail test data and said first analog computer including means for processing analog rail test data, and further including a display arrangement for displaying digital data and analog data associated with rails tested by said rail testing apparatus, said display arrangement including a first display apparatus operatively associated with said first digital computer for displaying digital rail test data and a second display apparatus operatively associated with said first analog computer for displaying analog rail test data for assessment of said rail test data by action of an operator in viewing and assessing digital rail test data in conjunction with corresponding analog rail test data to determine if said rail test data is indicative of a possible structural defect in said predetermined rail segment at a defect location and a control interface for operational computer control by an operator, said control interface including a light pen for use by an operator to select data by touching said light pen to a position on said display corresponding to a possible defect location, said data being indicative of a possible structural defect, to thereby create a digital snapshot of structural conditions;
• a second rail traveling vehicle for disposition behind said first rail traveling vehicle along said segment of rails for testing;
• a second computer disposed in said second rail traveling vehicle for display of data associated with rails tested by said rail testing apparatus;
• a first modem assembly operatively associated with said first computer and mounted within said first rail traveling vehicle;
• a second modem assembly operatively associated with said second computer and disposed within said second rail traveling vehicle, said first modem assembly being in data exchanging communication with said second modem assembly for data exchange between said first computer and said second computer to communicate data indicative of a possible structural defect at a defect location to said second computer using said first modem assembly and said second modem assembly;
• a radio transmitter and receiver operatively associated with said first modem assembly and a radio transmitter and receiver operatively associated with said second modem assembly, for maintaining radio communication between said first computer and said second computer for wireless data exchange therebetween;
• and
• means for displaying said data indicative of the possible structural defect at the defect location operatively associated with said second computer for assessment of said data indicative of the possible structural defect at the defect location to locate the defect location and the possible structural defect in order to carry out a manual defect confirmation test and, if necessary, to initiate repair procedures.