System, method, and apparatus to detect and report track structure defects

A system for detecting and reporting track defects while a train travels over railway tracks, comprising:

• a track defect detection device comprising at least one defect sensor;
• and a locomotive computer in communication with the track defect detection device, the locomotive computer configured to:
• (a) detect a track defect based at least partially on an acceleration sensed by the at least one defect sensor in real-time while the train is in motion as a function of a velocity of the train such that, the greater the velocity of the train, the greater the acceleration necessary to detect the track defect;
• (b) generate track defect data comprising a magnitude and location of the track defect, wherein the location is relative to at least one of the following:
• a landmark, an authority block, or any combination thereof;
• and
• (c) communicate at least a portion of the track defect data to a remote server, wherein the at least a portion of the track defect data is stored in a track defect database.

A method of detecting track defects in railway tracks while a rail vehicle is in motion, comprising:

• monitoring an acceleration of at least a portion of a rail vehicle while the rail vehicle is in motion;
• determining, with at least one processer, if a track defect exists on the railway tracks in real-time while the rail vehicle is in motion, the determination based at least partially on a ratio between the acceleration and a velocity of the rail vehicle, such that, the greater the velocity of the rail vehicle, the greater the acceleration necessary to determine that the track defect exists;
• generating track defect data comprising a location of the track defect and at least one of the following:
• a magnitude of the track defect, a severity of the track defect, the acceleration, a vertical acceleration, a lateral acceleration, an angular acceleration, the velocity of the rail vehicle, a characteristic of the track defect, a type of the track defect, or any combination thereof;
• and
• transmitting the track defect data to a back office server, wherein at least a portion of the track defect data is stored in a track defect database.

A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium including program instructions that, when executed by at least one computer including at least one processor, causes the at least one computer to:

• monitor an acceleration of at least a portion of a train while the train is in motion;
• determine, in real-time while the train is in motion, if a track defect exists on the railway tracks based at least partially on the acceleration and a velocity of the train, wherein the track defect is determined to exist based at least partially on the acceleration of the rail vehicle as a function of an increasing velocity of the rail vehicle;
• generate track defect data comprising a location of the track defect and at least one of the following:
• a magnitude of the track defect, a severity of the track defect, the acceleration, a vertical acceleration, a lateral acceleration, an angular acceleration, a velocity of the train, a characteristic of the track defect, a type of the track defect, or any combination thereof;
• and
• transmit at least a portion of the track defect data to a back office server, wherein the at least a portion of the track defect data is stored in a track defect database.