Electromagnetic system for railroad track crack detection and traction enhancement

An electromagnetic system for railroad track crack detection and traction enhancement adapted to be carried aboard a railroad locomotive, said system comprising:

• first and second wheel axles;
• a first pair of wheels supported on said first axle;
• a second pair of wheels supported on said second axle;
• a power source included on said locomotive;
• electromagnetic wheel loading means coupled to said power source, for generating an artificial load imposed by said locomotive road track;
• and
• a control circuit for providing power from said power source to said wheel loading means when wheel slippage is detected during power pulling and downhill braking, and during stationary braking.

A method of detecting a broken rail of a railroad track comprising the steps of:

• forming a complete electromagnetic circuit joining one rail of the track at two locations on the one rail with a second rail of the track at two locations on the second rail, respectively;
• moving the electromagnetic circuit along the track so as to encompass the two locations on each of said first and second rails within an area moving along the track;
• and
• detecting a change in magnetic flux in said circuit as an indication that said area encompasses at least one crack in at least one of the rails.

A method for detecting, from a moving rail vehicle, a break in either rail of a pair of rails on which said vehicle is moving, said vehicle including at least a first pair of wheels supported on a first axle and a seoncd pair of wheels supported on a second axle, said method comprising the steps of:

• forming a complete magnetic circuit comprising said first and second pair of wheels, said first and second axles, and a portion of each of said rails situated between the wheels of said first pair and the wheels of said second pair, respectively;
• generating constant magnetic flux within said magnetic circuit;
• and
• monitoring the magnetic flux within said magnetic circuit to detect variation in the level of said flux as an indication of a broken rail situated between the wheels of said first pair and the wheels of said second pair, respectively.