Measuring trolley for a railway track including a cant correction device
The measuring cart with a tilt correction device simplifies and enhances measurement precision by compensating for railway track slope, ensuring accurate distance measurements using a mechanism that adjusts the measurement platform's position and orientation.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2022011228
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2022-10-27
- Publication Date
- 2025-01-17
- Estimated Expiration
- 2042-10-27
AI Technical Summary
Measuring dimensions along railway tracks is difficult due to their non-horizontal alignment and varying curvature, requiring precise and efficient measurement systems that are operator-dependent and often imprecise.
A measuring cart with a tilt correction device that maintains a constant distance between a measurement point and the railway track, compensating for track slope through a mechanism that adjusts the measurement platform's position or orientation to ensure horizontal measurement, using guide profiles and control members to correct tilt.
Enables reliable and simplified measurements by maintaining a constant measurement point distance from the track, regardless of slope, improving measurement accuracy and ease of operation.
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Measuring trolley for a railway track comprising a cant correction device Technical field
[0001] The present invention relates to a measuring trolley for a railway track.
[0002] The present invention relates more particularly to a measuring trolley including a tilt correction device. Technological background
[0003] When developing infrastructure located near a railway, it may be necessary to measure different dimensions relative to the railway. Measuring this dimension can be difficult because railway tracks do not extend along a horizontal plane over their entire length. Indeed, railway tracks are inclined on bends, for example. This is known as the railway's cant. In addition, the radius of curvature of the railway may be different depending on the bend, which requires measuring these different dimensions in situ.
[0004] For example, tunnels in which railway tracks extend are equipped with cable passages and access walkways for pedestrians to pass through in case of emergency. For the installation and selection of the appropriate type of walkway, it is necessary to know the distance separating the railway track from the voussoir, i.e. the tunnel wall extending along the railway track.
[0005] It is now known to carry out a plurality of measurements allowing the geometry of the railway track to be reconstructed and thus to be able to determine the distance separating the centre of the railway track from the voussoir. However, this technique requires a great deal of skill on the part of the operator, which makes taking measurements long and tedious for imprecise results.
[0006] There is therefore a need for a system that makes it possible to easily and reliably take measurements relative to the railway track regardless of the track slope. Summary of the invention
[0007] The invention provides a measuring trolley comprising: - a support frame mounted on a plurality of wheels for moving the support frame on rails of a railway track extending along a track axis, the support frame defining a running plane passing through the plurality of wheels and a low rail plane corresponding to a horizontal plane passing through a point of contact between a low wheel of the support frame and the railway track, the low wheel being defined as being the wheel of the support frame having a vertical position equal to or lower than the other wheels, - a measuring platform movably mounted on the support frame and defining a measuring point arranged at a predetermined distance from the low rail plane along a vertical axis, the measuring platform defining a transverse measuring plane passing through the measuring point and perpendicular to the track axis and the running plane, - a cant correction device configured to move the measuring platform relative to the support frame so as to maintain the predetermined distance constant between the measuring point and the low rail plane along the vertical axis when the running plane is inclined relative to the low rail plane in the transverse measuring plane.
[0008] The cant correction device makes it possible to maintain the measuring platform at a constant position allowing measurement regardless of the cant of the railway track. Measurement taking is made simpler and more reliable.
[0009] According to one embodiment of the measuring carriage, the cant correction device is configured to keep the measuring platform horizontal when the running plane is inclined relative to the low rail plane in the transverse measuring plane.
[0010] According to one embodiment of the measuring carriage, the tilt correction device is configured to rotate the measuring platform around an axis perpendicular to the transverse measuring plane.
[0011] According to one embodiment of the measuring carriage, the cant correction device comprises at least one guide portion and at least one guide configured to cooperate with said at least one guide portion, one of said at least one guide portion and said at least one guide being secured to the support frame, the other of said at least one guide portion and said at least one guide being secured to the measuring platform, the cant correction device being configured to move said at least one guide along said at least one guide portion to maintain the predetermined distance constant between the measuring point and the low rail plane along the vertical axis when the running plane is inclined relative to the low rail plane in the transverse measuring plane.
[0012] According to one embodiment of the measuring carriage, the correction device comprises: - a first guide portion and a first guide configured to cooperate with the first guide portion, one of the first guide portion and the first guide being secured to the support frame, the other of the first guide portion and the first guide being secured to the measuring platform, - a second guide portion and a second guide configured to cooperate with the second guide portion, one of the second guide portion and the second guide being integral with the support frame, the other of the second guide portion and the second guide being integral with the measuring platform, and in which the first and second guide portions are arranged on either side of the measuring point.
[0013] According to one embodiment of the measuring carriage, the first and second guide portions extend respectively along a first and a second guide profile, the first guide profile extending along a portion of a circle having the second guide as its center, the second guide profile extending along a portion of a circle having the first guide as its center.
[0014] According to one embodiment of the measuring carriage, the tilt correction device is configured to correct a tilt in a first tilt direction by moving the first guide along the first guide portion and in a second tilt direction by moving the second guide along the second guide portion.
[0015] According to one embodiment of the measuring carriage, the cant correction device comprises a control member configured to control the cant correction as a function of the inclination of the rolling plane relative to the low rail plane in the transverse measurement plane.
[0016] According to one embodiment of the measuring carriage, the tilt correction device comprises at least one jack extending between the measuring platform and the support frame, the control member being configured to control the opening of said at least one jack.
[0017] According to one embodiment of the measuring carriage, it comprises the following steps: - determine an angle of inclination of the running plane relative to the low rail plane in the transverse measuring plane, - move the measuring platform relative to the support frame using the cant correction device by tilting the platform by a cant correction angle equal to the inclination angle of the running surface so as to maintain the predetermined distance constant between the measuring point and the low rail plane along the vertical axis. Brief description of the figures
[0018] The description which follows with reference to the appended drawings, given as non-limiting examples, will make it clear what the invention consists of and how it can be implemented. In the appended figures:
[0019] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] represents a front view of a measuring carriage in a plane transverse of a railway track whose running plane is horizontal;
[0020] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] represents the measuring carriage of [Fig.l] positioned on a railway track inclined in a first direction of cant;
[0021] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] represents the measuring carriage of [Fig.l] positioned on a railway track inclined in a second direction of cant. Description of embodiment(s)
[0022] The inventive concept is described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the inventive concept are shown. In the drawings, the size and relative sizes of elements may be exaggerated for clarity. Like numerals refer to like elements throughout the drawings. However, this inventive concept may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Instead, these embodiments are provided so that this description is complete, and communicates the scope of the inventive concept to those skilled in the art.
[0023] A reference throughout the specification to "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the occurrence of the phrase "in an embodiment" at various locations throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Furthermore, the term "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps.
[0024] With reference to [Fig.l], a measuring carriage 10 is shown on a railway track 12. The measuring carriage 10 is capable of moving on the railway track 12. A wall 13 is arranged on the side of the railway track 12. This wall 13 may be a wall or a segment of a tunnel.
[0025] The railway track 12 extends along a track axis and defines a transverse plane perpendicular to this track axis. [Fig.l] represents the railway track 12 and the measuring carriage 10 in this transverse plane.
[0026] The measuring trolley 10 comprises a base 11 mounted on a plurality of wheels 16. The measuring trolley 10 preferably comprises four wheels 16. The measuring trolley 10 can move on the railway track 12 by means of the wheels 16. The subassembly formed by the base 11 and the plurality of wheels 16 forms a flat wagon (otherwise called a “lorry”).
[0027] The measuring carriage 10 also comprises a support frame 14 arranged on the base 11. The support frame 14 is preferably removable relative to the base 11.
[0028] The measuring carriage 10 defines a rolling plane PR passing through the plurality of wheels. When the railway track 12 has no cant, the running surface PR is horizontal in the transverse plane of the railway track 12.
[0029] When the railway turns, the measuring carriage 10 resting on the railway describes an angle of inclination between the rolling plane PR and a horizontal plane when observed in the transverse plane. This inclination or cant of the railway can be observed in two different cant directions in Figures 2 and 3.
[0030] The measuring carriage 10 also defines a low rail plane PRB. This low rail plane PRB corresponds to a horizontal plane passing through a point of contact between a low wheel 16b of the measuring carriage 10 and the railway track 12. The low wheel 16b is defined as being the wheel 16 of the measuring carriage 10 having a vertical position equal to or lower than the other wheels 16.
[0031] When the railway track 12 has a cant, the running plane PR is inclined relative to the low rail plane PRB in the transverse plane. The inclination in the transverse plane of the railway track 12 is equal to the angle of inclination a between the running plane PR and the low rail plane PRB.
[0032] The measuring carriage 10 also comprises a measuring platform 18 movably mounted on the support frame 14. The measuring platform 18 defines a measuring point 20 at a predetermined distance H from the running plane PR along a vertical axis. The distance H therefore represents the distance, taken vertically, separating the low rail plane PRB from the measuring point 20.
[0033] The measuring platform 18 defines a transverse measuring plane PTM passing through the measuring point 20 and perpendicular to the track axis and the running plane PR.
[0034] The measuring carriage 10 further comprises a cant correction device 22 configured to move the measuring platform 18 relative to the support frame 14 so as to maintain the predetermined distance H constant between the measuring point 20 and the low rail plane PRB along the vertical axis when the running plane PR is inclined relative to the low rail plane PRB in the transverse measuring plane PTM. In other words, the cant correction device 22 makes it possible to maintain the position of the measuring point 20 at a constant distance from the low rail plane PRB relative to the vertical. The cant experienced by the measuring carriage 10 due to the inclination of the railway is thus compensated at the measuring point 20 so as to be able to carry out the various measurements.
[0035] It is thus in particular possible to measure the distance a separating the measuring point 20 from the wall 13 taken on a horizontal axis. This distance a makes it possible in particular to choose the type of walkway to be installed on the wall 13.
[0036] The cant correction device 22 makes it possible to keep the measuring platform horizontal when the railway has a cant, i.e. when the running plane PR is inclined relative to the low rail plane PRB in the transverse measuring plane. PTM.
[0037] To carry out this cant correction, the measuring platform 18 is mounted to be mobile relative to the support frame 14. In particular, the cant correction device 22 is configured to move the measuring platform 18 in rotation around an axis perpendicular to the transverse measuring plane PTM. It is thus possible to pass on the angle of inclination a of the railway track 12, therefore of the running plane PR relative to the low rail plane PRB, to the measuring platform 18. The cant correction device 22 thus makes it possible to compensate for this inclination to keep the measuring platform 18 horizontal.
[0038] The cant correction device 22 is configured to correct the cant of the railway track in a first and a second cant direction. In other words, the cant correction device 22 makes it possible to correct the cant induced by a curve in the railway track to the left or to the right. To do this, the cant correction device 22 is designed symmetrically with respect to a median plane perpendicular to the running plane PR and to the transverse measurement plane PTM. This symmetry makes it possible to have a first cant correction member in a first direction and a second cant correction member in a second cant direction. The first or second cant correction members are actuated according to the cant direction of the track. An embodiment will be explained below in connection with the figures.
[0039] The tilt correction device comprises a first 23 and a second 25 tilt correction members arranged at two opposite ends of the measuring platform 18.
[0040] The first tilt correction member 23 comprises a first guide portion 24 and a first guide 26 configured to cooperate with the first guide portion 24. The first guide portion 24 extends along a first guide profile 28. When the first guide 26 cooperates with the first guide portion 24, it follows the first guide profile 28.
[0041] The first guide 26 is integral with the measuring platform 18 while the first guide portion 24 is integral with the support frame 14. Thus, the measuring platform 18, or at least a point of this measuring platform, is moved along the first guide profile 28 when the first guide 26 cooperates with the first guide portion 24.
[0042] The second tilt correction member 25 comprises a second guide portion 30 and a second guide 32 configured to cooperate with the second guide portion 30. The second guide portion 30 extends along a second guide profile 29. When the second guide 32 cooperates with the second guide portion 30, it follows the second guide profile 29.
[0043] The second guide 32 is integral with the measuring platform 18 while the second guide portion 30 is integral with the support frame 14. Thus, the measuring platform 18, or at least a point of this measuring platform, is moved along the second guide profile 29 when the second guide 32 cooperates with the second guide portion 30.
[0044] The first guide profile 28 extends along a portion of a circle having the second guide 32 as its center. Thus, the measuring platform moves in rotation along this circle during a correction of the slope.
[0045] The second guide profile 29 extends along a portion of a circle having the first guide 26 as its center. Thus, the measuring platform moves in rotation along this circle during a correction of the slope.
[0046] To correct the cant experienced by the measuring carriage 10, the first cant correction member 23 is actuated so as to compensate for this inclination. The first cant correction member 23 comprises the first guide portion 24 and the first guide 26. In particular, the first guide 26 is moved along the first guide portion so as to tilt the measuring platform relative to the horizontal by an angle equal to the inclination of the running plane PR relative to the low rail plane PRB. The first guide 26 is thus moved from an initial position in which the measuring platform is parallel to the running plane PR to a corrected position in which the platform is horizontal but inclined relative to the running plane PR by an angle equal to the angle of inclination α of the running plane relative to a horizontal plane.
[0047] The correction of the slope by the second slope correction member 25 is similar to that described for the first slope correction member 23 except that the direction of inclination is different.
[0048] The first 26 and second 32 guides are aligned with the measuring point 20.
[0049] The first 24 and second 30 guide portions may be made in the form of a recess in a portion of the support frame 14. The amplitude of the cant correction of the cant correction device corresponds to the dimension of the first and second guide portions along the guide profile 28.
[0050] The cant correction device 22 may comprise a control member (not visible) configured to control the cant correction as a function of the inclination of the rolling plane PR relative to the low rail plane PRB in the transverse plane.
[0051] The deflection correction device 22 may also comprise two jacks extending between the measuring platform 18 and the support frame 14 to allow the displacement of the measuring platform 18 relative to the support frame 14. The control member is in this case configured to control the opening of these jacks. cylinder output can be controlled based on an upgrade.
[0052] The first cylinder is configured to move the first guide 26 relative to the first guide portion 24 so as to correct the tilt in a first direction of inclination. Preferably, the first cylinder extends between the support frame 14 and the first guide 26.
[0053] The second cylinder is configured to move the second guide 32 relative to the second guide portion 30 so as to correct the tilt in a second direction of inclination. Preferably, the first cylinder extends between the support frame 14 and the second guide 32.
Claims
Claims
1. A measuring carriage (10) comprising: - a support frame (14) mounted on a plurality of wheels (16) for moving the support frame on rails of a railway track (12) extending along a track axis, the support frame defining a rolling plane (PR) passing through the plurality of wheels and a low rail plane (PRB) corresponding to a horizontal plane passing through a point of contact (pc) between a low wheel (16b) of the support frame and the railway track, the low wheel (16b) being defined as the wheel (16) of the support frame having a vertical position equal to or lower than the other wheels (16), - a measuring platform (18) movably mounted on the support frame and defining a measuring point (20) arranged at a predetermined distance (H) from the low rail plane (PRB) along a vertical axis,the measuring platform defining a transverse measuring plane (PTM) passing through the measuring point (20) and perpendicular to the track axis and the running plane (PR), - a cant correction device (22) configured to move the measuring platform (18) relative to the support frame so as to maintain the predetermined distance (H) constant between the measuring point (20) and the low rail plane (PRB) along the vertical axis when the running plane (PR) is inclined relative to the low rail plane (PRB) in the transverse measuring plane (PTM).,
2. Measuring carriage (10) according to claim 1, wherein the tilt correction device (22) is configured to keep the measuring platform (18) horizontal when the running plane (PR) is inclined relative to the low rail plane (PRB) in the transverse measuring plane (PTM).
3. Measuring carriage (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tilt correction device (22) is configured to rotate the measuring platform (18) around an axis perpendicular to the transverse measuring plane (PTM).
4. Measuring carriage (10) according to claim 3, wherein the tilt correction device (22) comprises at least one guide portion (24, 30) and at least one guide (26, 32) configured to cooperate with said at least one guide portion (24, 30), one of said at least one guide portion (24, 30) and said at least one guide (26, 32) being secured to the support frame (10), the other of said at least one guide portion (24, 30) and said at least one guide (26, 32) being secured to the measuring platform (18), the cant correction device (22) being configured to move said at least one guide (26, 32) along said at least one guide portion (24, 30) to maintain the predetermined distance (H) constant between the measuring point and the low rail plane (PRB) along the vertical axis when the running plane (PR) is inclined relative to the low rail plane (PRB) in the transverse measuring plane (PTM).
5. Measuring carriage (10) according to claim 4, wherein the correction device comprises: - a first guide portion (24) and a first guide (26) configured to cooperate with the first guide portion (24), one of the first guide portion (24) and the first guide (26) being integral with the support frame (10), the other of the first guide portion (24) and the first guide (26) being integral with the measuring platform (18), - a second guide portion (30) and a second guide (32) configured to cooperate with the second guide portion (30), one of the second guide portion (30) and the second guide (32) being integral with the support frame (10), the other of the second guide portion (30) and the second guide (32) being integral with the measuring platform (18), and wherein the first and second guide portions are arranged on either side of the measuring point (20).
6. Measuring carriage (10) according to claim 5, wherein the first (24) and second (30) guide portions extend respectively along a first (28) and a second (29) guide profile, the first guide profile (28) extending along a portion of a circle having as its center the second guide (32), the second guide profile (29) extending along a portion of a circle having as its center the first guide (26).
7. A measuring carriage (10) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the tilt correction device (22) is configured to correct a tilt in a first tilt direction by moving the first guide along the first guide portion (24) and in a second tilt direction by moving the second guide along the second guide portion (30).
8. Measuring carriage (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the cant correction device comprises a control member configured to control the cant correction as a function of the inclination of the running plane (PR) relative to the low rail plane (PRB) in the transverse measurement plane (PTM).
9. Measuring carriage (10) according to claim 8, wherein the tilt correction device comprises at least one cylinder extending between the measuring platform and the support frame, the control member being configured to control the opening of said at least one cylinder.
10. Method for correcting the cant of a measuring carriage (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the following steps: - determining an angle of inclination (a) of the running plane (PR) relative to the low rail plane (PRB) in the transverse measuring plane (PTM), - moving the measuring platform (18) relative to the support frame (14) using the cant correction device (22) by tilting the platform by a cant correction angle equal to the angle of inclination (a) of the running plane (PR) so as to maintain the predetermined distance (H) constant between the measuring point and the low rail plane (PRB) along the vertical axis.