Rail bond detection device and joint plate detection device

Abstract

To provide an example of a detection device capable of automatically detecting at least a rail bond.SOLUTION: A rail bond detection device is provided with an outer edge detection unit 11A that continuously detects an outer edge shape of the cross-section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of a rail along the longitudinal direction by a light-section method, and a head side surface specification unit that specifies a part corresponding to the head side surface of the rail from the outer edge shape detected by the outer edge detection unit 11A, and it is determined whether or not there is a part extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the head side surface of the rail from the part specified by the head side surface specification unit 11B, and when there is the extending part, it is regarded that there is a rail bond in the part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a detection device for detecting a rail bond or a joint plate provided on a railway rail.

Background Art

[0002] In the maintenance and inspection work of railway rails (hereinafter abbreviated as rails), it is also necessary to inspect the soundness of rail bonds and joint plates. At present, workers are performing the inspection work of rail bonds and joint plates.

[0003] Therefore, there is a strong demand for automation of the inspection work of rail bonds and joint plates. In automating the inspection work of rail bonds and joint plates, first, it is necessary to establish a technology for detecting a rail bond or a joint plate.

[0004] Note that the invention described in Patent Document 1 is an invention for automatically recognizing a rail region and a sleeper region. Therefore, in this invention, a rail bond or a joint plate cannot be automatically detected.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] In view of the above points, the present disclosure discloses an example of a detection device capable of automatically detecting a rail bond or a joint plate.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] A rail bond detector for detecting a rail bond (2) provided at a joint of a railway rail (1) desirably includes at least one of the following components. That is, the component includes an outer edge detection unit (11A) that continuously detects the outer edge shape of a cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the rail (1) along the longitudinal direction by the optical cutting method, a head side surface identification unit (11B) that identifies a portion corresponding to the rail head side surface (4) from the outer edge shapes detected by the outer edge detection unit (11A), and a rail bond detection unit (11C) that determines whether or not there is a portion (2A) extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the rail head side surface (4) from the portion identified by the head side surface identification unit (11B), and assumes that the rail bond (2) is present in the portion when the extending portion (2A) exists. Thereby, it may be possible to automatically detect the rail bond.

[0008] Further, if it includes a joint plate detection unit (11D) that determines whether or not there is a filled portion and, when the filled portion exists, assumes that the rail joint plate (3) is present in the filled portion, the joint plate (3) can be detected.

[0009] Note that the filled portion is a portion that continuously satisfies the first requirement along the longitudinal direction among the three-dimensional shapes and satisfies the second requirement. The three-dimensional shape refers to a two-dimensional shape laminated in order in the longitudinal direction of the rail (1).

[0010] The two-dimensional shape refers to the outer edge shape detected by the outer edge detection unit (11A). The first requirement means that the dimension (W) in the width direction is within a predetermined first dimension range. The width direction refers to a direction substantially orthogonal to the rail head side surface (4). The second requirement means that the dimension (L) in the longitudinal direction is within a predetermined second dimension range.

[0011] Incidentally, the reference numerals in the above parentheses are an example showing the correspondence with the specific configuration and the like described in the embodiments described later, and the present disclosure is not limited to the specific configuration and the like indicated by the reference numerals in the above parentheses.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] The following "Embodiments of the Invention" show an example of embodiments belonging to the technical scope of the present disclosure. That is, the invention-specific matters described in the claims are not limited to the specific configurations and structures shown in the following embodiments.

[0014] At least the members or parts described with reference numerals are provided with at least one, unless otherwise specified such as "one". That is, in the case where there is no such specification as "one", two or more of the members may be provided.

[0015] (First Embodiment) In this embodiment, an example of the detection device according to the present disclosure is applied to a detection device for detecting a rail bond and a joint plate. Note that the rail bond 2 is provided at the joint of the railway rail 1 as shown in, for example, FIG. 1, and electrically connects two rails 1 to form a track circuit.

[0016] The joint plate 3 is provided at the joint of the rail 1 and is a member that is fixed to the abdominal side surfaces of each of the two rails 1 and connects the two rails 1. That is, both the rail bond 2 and the joint plate 3 are members provided at the joint of the two rails.

[0017] <1. Overview of the Detection Device> As shown in FIG. 2, the detection device 10 includes at least an arithmetic unit 11 and a 3D sensor 12. The arithmetic unit 11 is a computer system having a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like.

[0018] Note that the software executed by the arithmetic unit 11 is pre-stored in a non-volatile storage device. When the software is executed by the CPU, functional blocks such as an outer edge detection unit 11A, a head side surface identification unit 11B, a rail bond detection unit 11C, and a joint plate detection unit 11D are realized.

[0019] The 3D sensor 12 has a light emitting unit 12A, a light receiving unit 12B, and the like, and detects the outer edge shape of a cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the rail 1 in cooperation with the outer edge detection unit. Specifically, the light emitting unit 12A irradiates the side surface of the rail 1 with laser light (see FIG. 3). The light receiving unit 12B receives the laser light reflected by the rail 1.

[0020] The outer edge detection unit 11A uses the detection value of the 3D sensor 12 (hereinafter abbreviated as the detection value) to detect the outer edge cross-sectional shape of the portion irradiated with the laser light by the optical cutting method. In the present embodiment, the 3D sensor 12 is provided on a vehicle traveling on the rail 1. Then, the detection value of the 3D sensor 12 is continuously detected along the longitudinal direction of the rail 1.

[0021] In the present embodiment, the detection values continuously detected along the longitudinal direction, that is, the detection values of the 3D sensor 12 (hereinafter referred to as 3D data), are stored in a non-volatile storage unit for detection values (not shown) together with related information such as the detected position and time. Note that the non-volatile storage unit is provided in the vehicle on which the 3D sensor 12 is provided or on a ground base.

[0022] Incidentally, the information indicating the above-mentioned "detected position" includes at least coordinates indicating a direction along the longitudinal direction of the rail 1 (for example, the X coordinate), and coordinates indicating two directions orthogonal to the direction (for example, the Y coordinate and the Z coordinate).

[0023] Hereinafter, the outer edge shape detected by the outer edge detection unit 11A is referred to as a two-dimensional shape 2Ds. And the shape in which the two-dimensional shapes 2Ds are sequentially stacked along the longitudinal direction of the rail 1 is referred to as a three-dimensional shape 3Ds.

[0024] Specifically, in FIG. 4, a large number of circles arranged along the outer edge cross-sectional shape indicate the two-dimensional shape 2Ds. The shape in which these two-dimensional shapes 2Ds are sequentially stacked along the longitudinal direction of the rail 1 is the three-dimensional shape 3Ds.

[0025] <2. Detection method of rail bond> The detection device 10 detects whether or not the rail bond 2 exists in the detection target section by using the outer edge detection unit 11A, the head side surface specifying unit 11B, and the rail bond detection unit 11C. Note that the detection target section refers to a section having a predetermined length along the longitudinal direction of the rail 1.

[0026] The head side surface specifying unit 11B realizes a function of specifying a part 4A (see FIG. 5B) corresponding to the rail head side surface 4 (see FIG. 1) by using the outer edge shape detected by the outer edge detection unit 11A, that is, the two-dimensional shape 2Ds.

[0027] That is, the detection device 10 first constructs a two-dimensional shape obtained by projecting all the 3D data detected in the detection target section onto a virtual cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the rail 1. The two-dimensional shape is data in which a large number of two-dimensional shapes 2Ds are superimposed along the longitudinal direction of the rail 1.

[0028] That is, the detection device 10 generates 2D data obtained by projecting all the 3D data detected in the detection target section onto the YZ plane. The 2D data is composed of a large number of circles arranged along the outer edge cross-sectional shape as shown in FIG. 5A.

[0029] Note that since the 2D data is data in which a large number of two-dimensional shapes 2Ds existing in the detection target section are superimposed, in the 2D data, a large number of round marks are concentrated in the part corresponding to the outer surface of the rail 1, and the density of the round marks in this part becomes high.

[0030] Therefore, in the 2D data, as shown in FIG. 5B, a large number of round marks are arranged along the outer edge cross-sectional shape so that the outer edge cross-sectional shape of the rail 1 emerges. Incidentally, the detection device 10 according to the present embodiment generates 2D data only at a part where the density of the round marks exceeds a predetermined density.

[0031] The rail head side surface 4 is a plane substantially orthogonal to the rail head top surface 5. Therefore, a large number of round marks indicating the part 4A corresponding to the rail head side surface 4 are arranged substantially linearly along the rail head side surface 4 as shown in FIG. 5B. The head side surface specifying unit 11B specifies the part of the large number of round marks arranged substantially linearly as the rail head side surface 4.

[0032] The rail bond detection unit 11C determines whether or not there is a portion 2A (see FIG. 5B) extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the rail head side surface 4 from the portion 4A specified by the head side surface specifying unit 11B. When the extending portion 2A exists, it is regarded that the rail bond 2 exists in the portion.

[0033] That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the rail head side surface 4 is configured by a plane substantially orthogonal to the rail head top surface 5. The rail bond 2 is provided only on the rail head side surface 4 and is not provided on other parts.

[0034] Therefore, when there is a portion 2A extending from the rail head side surface 4 in a direction substantially orthogonal to the rail head side surface 4, at least in the configuration shown in FIG. 1, it is possible to regard the extending portion 2A as the rail bond 2.

[0035] Note that the detection device 10 identifies the position of the rail joint 2 by using the X coordinate of the 3D data regarded as the rail joint 2. Thereby, the presence of the rail joint 2 and the position of the rail joint 2 are identified.

[0036] <3. Detection method of joint plate (see Fig. 6)> The detection device 10 detects the presence or absence of the joint plate 3 by using the joint plate detection unit 11D. The joint plate detection unit 11D determines whether there is a sufficient portion, and when the sufficient portion exists, it is regarded that the rail joint plate 3 exists in the sufficient portion.

[0037] The sufficient portion is a portion that continuously satisfies the first requirement along the longitudinal direction among the three-dimensional shapes 3Ds and satisfies the second requirement. The first requirement means that the dimension W in the width direction is within a predetermined first dimension range. The width direction refers to a direction substantially orthogonal to the side surface 4 of the rail head.

[0038] That is, the dimension W in the width direction refers to the distance between the portion most separated in the width direction from the side surface 4 of the rail head and the side surface 4 of the rail head among the three-dimensional shapes 3Ds. And in the three-dimensional shape 3Ds surrounded by the thick line shown in Fig. 6, the first requirement is satisfied when the length from the upper end to the lower end is within the first dimension range.

[0039] The second requirement means that the dimension L in the longitudinal direction is within a predetermined second dimension range. That is, in the three-dimensional shape 3Ds surrounded by the thick line shown in Fig. 6, the second requirement is satisfied when the length from the right end to the left end is within the second dimension range.

[0040] The outer diameter dimensions of each part of the joint plate 3 are predetermined dimensions. Therefore, when the dimension W in the width direction of a specific part among the three-dimensional shapes 3Ds satisfies the first requirement and the dimension L in the longitudinal direction of the specific part satisfies the second requirement, the specific part, that is, the sufficient portion, can be regarded as the joint plate 3.

[0041] If the first requirement is not met, the specific part may be a splitter, a railroad crossing, or the like. If the second requirement is not met, the specific part may be a splitter, a weed, an expansion joint, or the like.

[0042] <4. Operating Flow of Detection Device According to this Embodiment> FIG. 7 is an example of a flowchart showing the operations executed when the detection device 10, that is, the arithmetic unit 11, detects the rail bond 2 and the joint plate 3.

[0043] First, the arithmetic unit 11 continuously acquires two-dimensional shapes 2Ds along the longitudinal direction of the rail 1 and stores the acquired multiple two-dimensional shapes 2Ds in the non-volatile storage device (S1).

[0044] Next, the arithmetic unit 11 extracts specific parts that satisfy the first requirement from the three-dimensional shapes 3Ds. Note that the three-dimensional shapes 3Ds are composed of multiple two-dimensional shapes 2Ds sequentially stored in the non-volatile storage device along the longitudinal direction.

[0045] The arithmetic unit 11 extracts specific parts that satisfy the second requirement among the specific parts that satisfy the first requirement (S3), and sets the specific parts extracted in S3 as the joint plate 3 (S4). Next, the arithmetic unit 11 identifies a part 4A corresponding to the side surface of the rail head 4 among the specific parts that satisfy the first and second requirements (S5).

[0046] Thereafter, the arithmetic unit 11 determines whether there is a portion extending in a direction orthogonal to the side surface of the rail head 4 specified in S5 (S6). If there is an extending portion, the arithmetic unit 11 sets the extending portion as the rail bond 2 (S7).

[0047] <5. Features of Detection Device According to this Embodiment> According to the detection device 10 according to this embodiment, as described above, it is possible to automatically detect the rail bond 2 and the joint plate 3. Therefore, it may be possible to establish a basic technology leading to the automation of the inspection work of the rail bond 2 and the joint plate 3.

[0048] (Other embodiments) In the above-described embodiment, the portion 4A corresponding to the side surface 4 of the rail head was specified from among the specific portions that satisfy the first requirement and the second requirement. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. That is, the present disclosure may specify the portion 4A corresponding to the side surface 4 of the rail head from among the three-dimensional shapes 3Ds, for example, without extracting the specific portion that satisfies the first requirement and the second requirement.

[0049] In the above-described embodiment, in FIG. 6, the dimension from the side surface 4 of the rail head to the lower end of the three-dimensional shape 3Ds is defined as the dimension W in the width direction. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. That is, the present disclosure may define, for example, the length including the width dimension of the rail 1 as the dimension W in the width direction. In this case, the specific dimension value of the first requirement is a value obtained by adding the width dimension of the rail 1 to the first requirement according to the above-described embodiment.

[0050] The detection device 10 according to the above-described embodiment detected the rail bond 2 existing on the side surface 4 of the rail head. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. That is, the present disclosure is applicable, for example, even when the rail bond is provided at the bottom of the rail.

[0051] Note that the detection device continuously detects the outer edge shape of the outer edge cross-section by the optical cutting method, specifies the portion corresponding to the bottom of the rail from among the detected outer edge shapes, and detects the presence or absence of the rail bond based on whether or not there is a portion extending from the specified portion.

[0052] The 3D sensor 12 according to the above-described embodiment irradiated the side surface side of the rail 1 with laser light. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. That is, the present disclosure may have a configuration in which, for example, laser light is irradiated from directly above the rail 1.

[0053] Furthermore, the present disclosure only needs to conform to the gist of the disclosure described in the above embodiments and is not limited to the above embodiments. Therefore, a configuration in which at least two of the above-described multiple embodiments are combined, or a configuration in which any of the constituent elements shown or described with reference numerals in the above embodiments is abolished may also be acceptable.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0054] 1… Rail 2… Rail bond 3… Joint plate 4… Side surface of rail head 5… Top of rail head 10… Detection device 11… Arithmetic unit 11A… Outer edge detection unit 11B… Head side surface specifying unit 11C… Rail bond detection unit 11D… Joint plate detection unit 12… 3D sensor 12A… Light emitting unit 12B… Light receiving unit

Claims

1. In a rail bond detection device for detecting a rail bond provided at a joint of a railway rail, an outer edge detection unit that continuously detects, along the longitudinal direction of the rail, the outer edge shape of a cross-section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the rail by means of the optical cutting method; a head side surface specifying unit that specifies a portion corresponding to the side surface of the rail head from among the outer edge shapes detected by the outer edge detection unit; a rail bond detection unit that determines whether or not there is a portion extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the side surface of the rail head from the portion specified by the head side surface specifying unit, and, when there is an extending portion, regards that there is a rail bond in the portion; A rail bond detection device comprising the above.

2. Comprising a joint plate detection unit for detecting a joint plate provided at a joint of the rail, taking the outer edge shape detected by the outer edge detection unit as a two-dimensional shape, taking the shape in which the two-dimensional shapes are stacked in order along the longitudinal direction of the rail as a three-dimensional shape, and taking the direction substantially orthogonal to the side surface of the rail head as the width direction, taking it as a first requirement that the dimension in the width direction is within a predetermined first dimension range, and taking it as a second requirement that the dimension in the longitudinal direction is within a predetermined second dimension range, when, among the three-dimensional shapes, a portion that continuously satisfies the first requirement along the longitudinal direction and also satisfies the second requirement is defined as a satisfied portion, the joint plate detection unit determines whether or not there is a satisfied portion, and when there is a satisfied portion, regards that there is a joint plate of the rail in the satisfied portion; The rail bond detection device according to Claim 1.

3. In a joint plate detection device for detecting a joint plate provided at a joint of a railway rail, an outer edge detection unit that continuously detects, along the longitudinal direction of the rail, the outer edge shape of a cross-section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the rail by means of the optical cutting method; a joint plate detection unit for detecting the joint plate; taking the outer edge shape detected by the outer edge detection unit as a two-dimensional shape, and taking the shape in which the two-dimensional shapes are stacked in order in the longitudinal direction of the rail as a three-dimensional shape, taking the direction substantially orthogonal to the side surface of the rail head as the width direction, taking it as a first requirement that the dimension in the width direction is within a predetermined first dimension range, and taking it as a second requirement that the dimension in the longitudinal direction is within a predetermined second dimension range, when, among the three-dimensional shapes, a portion that continuously satisfies the first requirement along the longitudinal direction and also satisfies the second requirement is defined as a satisfied portion, The joint plate detection unit determines whether or not the sufficient portion exists, and when the sufficient portion exists, it is regarded that a joint plate of the rail exists in the sufficient portion. Joint plate detection device.

4. In a rail bond detection method for detecting a rail bond provided at a joint of a railway rail, an outer edge detection step is performed to continuously detect, along the longitudinal direction, the outer edge shape of a cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the rail by an optical cutting method; a head side surface specifying step is performed to specify a portion corresponding to the side surface of the rail head from among the outer edge shapes detected in the outer edge detection step; a rail bond detection step is performed to determine whether or not there is a portion extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the side surface of the rail head from the portion specified by the head side surface specifying portion, and when the extending portion exists, it is regarded that a rail bond exists in the portion. Rail bond detection method.

5. In a joint plate detection method for detecting a joint plate provided at a joint of a railway rail, an outer edge detection step is performed to continuously detect, along the longitudinal direction, the outer edge shape of a cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the rail by an optical cutting method; a joint plate detection step for detecting the joint plate is performed; the outer edge shape detected in the outer edge detection step is regarded as a two-dimensional shape, and a shape in which the two-dimensional shapes are stacked in order in the longitudinal direction of the rail is regarded as a three-dimensional shape; a direction substantially orthogonal to the side surface of the rail head is defined as a width direction, a first requirement is that a dimension in the width direction is within a predetermined first dimension range, and a second requirement is that a dimension in the longitudinal direction is within a predetermined second dimension range; when, among the three-dimensional shapes, a portion that continuously satisfies the first requirement along the longitudinal direction and that satisfies the second requirement is defined as a sufficient portion, in the joint plate detection step, it is determined whether or not the sufficient portion exists, and when it is determined that the sufficient portion exists, it is regarded that a joint plate of the rail exists in the sufficient portion. Joint plate detection method.

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