Method and apparatus for inducing ultrasonic waves into railroad rails

An apparatus for inducing ultrasonic waves into a railroad rail, said apparatus comprising:

• at least one magnetic exciter adjacent to said rail;
• an energy storage circuit electrically coupled to said at least one magnetic exciter, said energy storage circuit configured to supply a shaped current pulse to said at least one magnetic exciter to induce ultrasonic waves into said railroad rail;
• and
• a power source electrically coupled to said energy storage circuit and configured to charge the energy storage circuit with electrical energy.

A railroad locomotive comprising:

• a platform having a first end and a second end;
• a propulsion system coupled to said platform for supporting and propelling said platform on a pair of rails;
• and
• a rail ultrasonic wave inducement system comprising at least one magnetic exciter, a energy storage circuit electrically coupled to said at least one magnetic exciter, and a power source electrically coupled to said energy storage circuit, said at least one magnetic exciter coupled to said locomotive such that said at least one magnetic exciter is movable in concert with said locomotive and maintains a position adjacent to a rail, said energy storage circuit configured to supply at least one of sequential current pulses to said at least one magnetic exciter and simultaneous current pulses to said at least one magnetic exciter according to a predetermined configuration, said energy storage circuit further configured to control the shape of said pulses to induce ultrasonic waves into at least one of said rails.

A railroad vehicle comprising:

• a platform having a first end and a second end;
• a truck coupled to said platform for supporting said platform on a pair of rails;
• and
• a rail ultrasonic wave inducement system comprising at least one magnetic exciter, a energy storage circuit electrically coupled to said at least one magnetic exciter, and a power source electrically coupled to said energy storage circuit, said at least one magnetic exciter coupled to said vehicle such that said at least one magnetic exciter is movable in concert with said vehicle and maintains a position adjacent to a rail, said energy storage circuit configured to supply at least one of sequential current pulses to said at least one magnetic exciter and simultaneous current pulses to said at least one magnetic exciter according to a predetermined configuration, said energy storage circuit further configured to control the shape of said pulses to induce ultrasonic waves into at least one of said rails.