RAIL LONGITUDINAL PROFILE DETECTION AND MEASUREMENT BUILDING

Abstract

A frame for detecting and measuring the longitudinal profile of the rail, characterized in that it comprises two vertical uprights (2) to which are articulated two lifting cylinders (8), the rods (10) of which have their ends articulated to two brackets (12) articulated to the uprights (2) by means of hinges (14), the end of each articulated bracket (12) having a frame (16) supporting a hydraulic cylinder (18) whose piston (20) is integral with a measuring unit (22), a plate (24) being integral with the lower surface of the frame (16), to which is welded a ball tube (26) which receives a support (28) one end of which is integral with said measuring unit (22), said measuring unit consisting of a plate (30) to which is attached an axis (32) of a bracket (34) which supports a linear electronic transducer (36) with an internal spring and from which protruding at least two rollers (38) allowing support on the surface of the rail (40),the lower end of the transducer being integral with a probe (42), which is integral with said bracket (34) which supports the linear electronic transducer (36) with internal spring, a bracket (44) to which lateral guide rollers (46) are attached, the transducer being connected to a PLC. Figure for the abbreviation: Fig. 1,

Description

Title of the invention: Frame for detecting and measuring the longitudinal profile of the rail

[0001] The present invention relates to a frame for detecting and measuring the longitudinal profile of the rail.

[0002] The present invention aims to produce a frame, rolling on railway rails, for the detection and measurement of the longitudinal profile of the rails, which has a high level of reliability and which can be transported simply and easily on the rails to be measured.

[0003] This object is achieved according to the invention with a frame for detecting and measuring the longitudinal profile of the rail, characterized in that it comprises two vertical uprights to which are articulated two lifting cylinders whose rods have the end articulated to two stirrups articulated in turn to the uprights by means of hinges, the end of each articulated stirrup having a support frame for a hydraulic cylinder whose piston is integral with a measuring unit, being integral with the lower surface of the frame a plate on which is welded a ball tube which receives a support one end of which is integral with said measuring unit, said measuring unit being made up of a plate to which is attached an axis of a stirrup (34) which supports a linear electronic transducer with internal spring and from which protrude at least two rollers allowing support on the surface of the rail, the lower end of the transducer being integral with a probe,being integral with said bracket which supports the internal spring-loaded linear electronic transducer, a bracket to which lateral guide rollers are attached, the transducer being connected to a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller)... ,

[0004] The present invention is described in more detail below according to a preferred practical embodiment, provided by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, on which:

[0005] Figure 1 represents, in a perspective view, the structure in a form ready for use,

[0006] Figure [Fig.2] represents it in the transport phase,

[0007] Figure 3 represents it in the form of Figure 2, front view,

[0008] Fig. 4 represents it in lateral view.

[0009] As can be seen in the figures, the frame according to the invention comprises two vertical uprights 2 to which are articulated, at the level of hinges 6, two lifting cylinders 8 whose rods 10 have their end articulated to two stirrups 12, articulated in turn to the uprights 2 by means of hinges 14.

[0010] The end of each bracket 12 has a frame 16 supporting a hydraulic cylinder 18 whose piston 20 is integral with the measuring unit, generally indicated by the number 22. A plate 24 is integral with the lower surface of the frame 16, on which is welded a ball tube 26 which receives a support 28, one end of which is integral with the measuring unit 22.

[0011] In particular, the measuring unit 22 consists of a plate 30 to which is attached a shaft 32 of a bracket 34, which supports a linear electronic transducer 36 with an internal spring, and from which protrude two rollers 38 allowing support, as will be seen in more detail below, on the surface of the rail 40 in order to measure the longitudinal short-wave and long-wave defects. The transducer is connected to a PLC, not shown in the drawings.

[0012] The lower end of the transducer is integral with a feeler 42. A stirrup 44 is integral with said stirrup 34, to which lateral guide rollers 46 are attached, bearing on the edges to compensate for the variation in rail spacing.

[0013] The invention also provides for the use of keys 48 respectively to removably connect the measuring group 22 with a bracket 51 attached to the chassis 16.

[0014] The bracket 51 has a slot 52 for centering, after fixing to the frame 16, the rollers 38 and 46 relative to the head of the rail 40. This centering operation is necessary because, during the lifting-lowering movement of the frame 16 using the cylinder 8, if these operations are not carried out correctly, the measuring group 22 may be damaged if it is positioned outside the head of the rail due to the lateral movement of the support 26.

[0015] The frame's operation requires that the brackets 12 be positioned horizontally and that the cylinder extend the piston to bring the measuring unit into contact with the wheels. Once the rollers are positioned on the rail head, the key 48 is removed to allow the compressed air-driven lateral movement of the piston 20 of the measuring unit 22 relative to the rail. The frame is then advanced along the rails so that the transducer 36 transfers the data recorded from the rail profile to the PLC.

[0016] Once the measurement is completed, the key 48 is reinserted before lifting the group 16 and locking it with the key 53.

[0017] The invention further provides for the use of another key 50 respectively for blocking the oscillation movement between the measuring group 22 and the support 28.

[0018] The oscillating movement of the measuring group 22 is necessary when measuring curves of very small radius (tram) so that the flanges of the two rollers 46, during their entry into the curve, are always in contact with the inner part of the rail and consequently that the probe 42 always measures at the center of the head of the rail.

[0019] When measuring rails with very large radii of curvature (railway), it is not necessary for the lateral contact of the two rollers 46 to be simultaneous because the probe 42 is positioned very close to the center of the rail. It is therefore necessary to lock the key 50 and eliminate the oscillating movement in order to increase the working speed with a more stable measuring system and less vibration.

Claims

Demands

1. A frame for detecting and measuring the longitudinal profile of the rail, characterized in that it comprises two vertical uprights (2) to which are articulated two lifting cylinders (8) whose rods (10) have their ends articulated to two brackets (12) articulated to the uprights (2) by means of hinges (14), the end of each articulated bracket (12) having a frame (16) supporting a hydraulic cylinder (18) whose piston (20) is integral with a measuring unit (22), integral with the lower surface of the frame (16) is a plate (24) to which is welded a ball tube (26) which receives a support (28) one end of which is integral with said measuring unit (22), said measuring unit consisting of a plate (30) to which is attached a shaft (32) of a bracket (34) which supports a linear electronic transducer (36) internal spring and from which at least two rollers (38) protrude, allowing support on the surface of the rail (40),the lower end of the transducer being integral with a probe (42), which is integral with said bracket (34) which supports the linear electronic transducer (36) with internal spring, a bracket (44) to which lateral guide rollers (46) are attached, the transducer being connected to a PLC.

2. Constructed according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes keys (48) for removably securing the measuring group (2) with a bracket (51) integral with the chassis (16).

3. Constructed according to claim 2, characterized in that the stirrup (51) integral with the frame (16) is provided with a slot (52) for centering, after fixing to the frame (16) of the rollers (38) and (46) relative to the head of the rail (40).

4. Constructed according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes a key (50) for blocking the oscillation movement between the measuring group (22) and the support (28).

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