Dynamic track stiffness measurement system and method
AssigneeEnsco, Inc.
InventorsGary A. Carr, Cameron D. Stuart
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for dynamically measuring a railroad track condition using a railroad truck with metal track engaging wheels as a reference platform from which a line of sight reference plane spaced from the track is created. Measurements are successively taken between the track and the reference plane as the railroad truck moves along the track.
Claims34
A method for dynamically measuring a condition of a railroad track having two parallel spaced rails using at least first and second railroad car supporting railroad trucks each having at least two spaced pairs of wheels engaging each of said parallel spaced rails with one wheel of each pair engaging one of said spaced rails which includes:
- providing a first railroad car supporting truck on said railroad track to be measured as a first reference railroad truck,
- providing a second railroad car supporting truck as a first sensing railroad truck on said railroad track to be measured in spaced relation to said first railroad car supporting truck,
- creating a first line of sight reference plane above and parallel to at least one of said spaced rails which extends from said first reference railroad truck outwardly toward said first sensing railroad truck,
- moving said first and second railroad car supporting trucks together at the same speed along the railroad track to be measured, and
- measuring during a measurement cycle the position of the railroad track under said second railroad car supporting truck relative to said first line of sight reference as said first and second railroad car supporting trucks move along said railroad track.
A device for dynamically measuring a condition of a railroad track having two parallel spaced rails comprising:
- a first railroad car supporting truck having a plurality of metal, railroad track engaging wheels with wheels engaging each of said spaced rails,
- a second railroad car supporting truck having a plurality of metal, railroad track engaging wheels with wheels engaging each of said spaced rails, said second railroad car supporting truck being connected in spaced relationship to said first railroad car supporting truck for movement therewith along said railroad track,
- a reference plane generating unit mounted on said first railroad car supporting truck, said reference plane generating unit operating to define a line of sight reference plane above and parallel to at least one of said spaced rails which extends outwardly from said first railroad car supporting truck toward said second railroad car supporting truck,
- a first railroad truck position sensor mounted on said second railroad car supporting truck to provide a track measurement of the distance between the railroad track beneath said second railroad car supporting truck and said line of sight reference plane, and
- a processor unit connected to receive the track measurement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.