# US 9,518,845 B2 · Device for surveying tracks > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,518,845 B2 - Document ID: US9518845B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/750,966 - Filed: 2015-06-25 - Published: 2015-12-31 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2014-06-27 - Assignees: System 7-Railsupport GmbH - Applicants: System 7—Railsupport GmbH - Inventors: Bernhard Lichtberger - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9518845B2 ## CPC - G01D 5/347: using displacement encoding scales - E01B 35/00: Applications of measuring apparatus or devices for track-building purposes (apparatus on locomotives or cars to indicate or record bad track sections B61K9/00; measuring angles, linear dimensions, or irregularities in general G01B, G01C) - G01B 11/002: {for measuring two or more coordinates} - G01B 11/0608: {Height gauges} - G01B 11/272: {using photoelectric detection means} - G01C 9/06: Electric or photoelectric indication or reading means - E01B 27/16: Sleeper-tamping machines - G01C 2009/066: {optical} - G01D: MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - E01B: PERMANENT WAY; PERMANENT-WAY TOOLS; MACHINES FOR MAKING RAILWAYS OF ALL KINDS (derailing or rerailing blocks on track, track brakes or retarders B61K) - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS - G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S) ## Abstract A device is proposed for measuring tracks, in particular for track laying machines, having two outer, one front and one rear, track-traveling measurement carriages (15, 21) and a middle track-traveling measurement carriage (22) arranged in between. To enable advantageous measurements, it is proposed that at least one position encoder (14, 20) pointing toward the middle measurement carriage (22) is associated with each of the outer measurement carriages (15,21), and at least two optical sensors (16, 17), in particular cameras, are arranged on the middle measurement carriage (22) on an optical axis (34) such that at least one optical sensor is oriented toward the rear measurement carriage (15) and at least one other optical sensor is oriented toward the front measurement carriage (21). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for measuring tracks for a track-laying machine having front and rear, track-traveling measurement carriages and a middle-track traveling measurement carriage arranged therebetween, said device comprising at least one position encoder pointing toward the middle measurement carriage and associated with each of the outer measurement carriages, and at least two optical sensors are arranged on the middle measurement carriage on an optical axis such that at least one optical sensor is oriented toward the rear measurement carriage and at least one other optical sensor is oriented toward the front measurement carriage. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the optical sensors are digital cameras. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the optical sensors are position-sensitive diode cameras. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The device according to claim 3, wherein the optical sensors are optical position sensors. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1 wherein the position encoder or encoders each comprise a position light. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device according to claim 5, wherein multiple position lights in a defined geometric arrangement are combined to form a lighting unit in each case. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The device according to claim 5 wherein the position lights have various light colors. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The device according to claim 7 wherein the light colors of the position lights are switchable. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The device according to claim 8 wherein the individual position lights of the position encoder or one of the position encoders are switchable and activatable independently of one another. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1 wherein the position encoder or encoders are each a reflector that can each be irradiated by at least one light source. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1 wherein the position encoders are light-emitting, and the light-emitting position encoders and the cameras are controlled such that the cameras alternately record images of light-emitting position encoders and images of the activated position encoders. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1 wherein a transverse inclination meter is associated with at least one of the measurement carriages. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1 wherein the position encoders are lighting units or reflectors, respectively. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the optical sensors comprise cameras.