Inspection apparatus

Abstract

To provide an inspection apparatus capable of accurately gasping the state of a place exposed below an underfloor component.SOLUTION: An inspection apparatus 100 comprises: an illuminator 16 disposed near a railway sleeper 3b to illuminate an underfloor component UF of a railway vehicle CA; a lower imaging device 17 that is disposed near the illuminator 16 and that images the underfloor component UF to acquire image data; and a holder 18 that fixes the illuminator 16 and the lower imaging device 17 to the sleeper 3b.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an inspection device that inspects the condition of underfloor components of rolling stock that runs on railways. [Background technology]

[0002] A known inspection device for measuring the wheels of railway vehicles is equipped with a concave mirror placed diagonally forward of the shooting location, a camera placed behind the concave mirror, and a light that illuminates the wheel from diagonally forward and closer than the concave mirror, and uses a wheel detection sensor to determine the timing for starting and stopping shooting (Patent Document 1).

[0003] A known inspection device for photographing and inspecting brake discs on railway vehicles is one that illuminates the lower part of the disc surface with lighting sources positioned diagonally downward in front and diagonally downward behind the disc surface attached to the wheel, while photographing the lower part of the brake disc from a camera positioned diagonally below the disc surface (Patent Document 2).

[0004] A known device for photographing and inspecting brake shoes on railway vehicles is one that emits a strobe light when the wheel passes the position of a photosensor, and photographs the brake shoes from the side of the wheel using a television camera (Patent Document 3).

[0005] The inspection device of Patent Document 1 photographs the side of the wheel from an obliquely forward angle, but is unable to photograph underfloor components including brake shoes from below, which may result in an inability to accurately grasp the condition of exposed areas on the underfloor components. Furthermore, the inspection device of Patent Document 2 photographs the disk surface from an obliquely downward angle, which may result in an inability to accurately grasp the condition of exposed areas on the underfloor components, and construction gauges place restrictions on the placement of lighting sources and the like. The device of Patent Document 3 is unable to photograph underfloor components from below, which may result in an inability to accurately grasp the condition of exposed areas on the underfloor components. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-290312 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-180107 [Patent Document 3] International Publication No. 93 / 005358 Summary of the Invention

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and aims to provide an inspection device that is easy to install and enables accurate understanding of the condition of exposed areas on the underside of underfloor components.

[0008] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the inspection device of the present invention comprises a lighting device that is placed near railway sleepers and illuminates the underfloor components of the vehicle, a lower imaging device that is placed near the lighting device and images the underfloor components to obtain image data, and a holder that fixes the lighting device and the lower imaging device to the sleepers.

[0009] In the above-described inspection device, the lighting device illuminates the underfloor components of the vehicle, and the lower imaging device captures images of the underfloor components to obtain image data. Therefore, the exposed areas on the underfloor components can be illuminated from the front of the lower imaging device, and the illuminated areas can be photographed from the front. In other words, the condition of the exposed areas on the underfloor components can be accurately grasped. Furthermore, by providing a holder that secures the lighting device and the lower imaging device to the sleepers, the lighting device and the lower imaging device can be easily installed without additional processing of the sleepers, etc. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a conceptual plan view illustrating an inspection device of a first embodiment that is installed in association with a railway line. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the inspection device from the front direction along the track. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating a bogie and the like of a railway vehicle. [Figure 4]FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an imaging unit. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating an imaging unit. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating the imaging unit. [Figure 7] FIG. 1A is a plan view of the lighting device and the lower imaging device, and FIG. 1B is a side view of the lighting device and the lower imaging device. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a side view illustrating an angle adjustment member of the imaging unit. [Figure 9] FIG. 1A is a conceptual diagram illustrating an image captured by the side imaging device, and FIG. 1B is a conceptual diagram illustrating an image captured by the lower imaging device. [Figure 10] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing the state of the brake shoes and wheel treads of the brakes. [Figure 11] 10A and 10B are conceptual enlarged views comparing the state of the bearing portion. [Figure 12] (A) and (B) are conceptual diagrams comparing the state of the damper. [Figure 13] (A) and (B) are conceptual diagrams comparing the state of the damper from different perspectives. [Figure 14] FIG. 1A is a conceptual block diagram illustrating a terminal device, and FIG. 1B is a conceptual block diagram illustrating a remote monitoring device. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a side view illustrating an imaging unit of the inspection device according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] [First embodiment] A first embodiment of an inspection device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a conceptual plan view illustrating an inspection device 100 installed in association with a railway track 3. As shown in FIG. 1, the inspection device 100 includes imaging and processing devices 10, 110, vehicle detection devices 21, 22, 23, and a remote monitoring device 50, all of which are installed in association with the railway track 3. A train TR, indicated by a dashed dotted line, includes a plurality of railway cars (or vehicles) CA to be inspected, and runs from right to left in FIG. 1. Each railway car CA is provided with a pair of bogies 70. Each bogie 70 includes four wheels 71. The track 3 on which the railway cars CA run has a pair of rails 3a and a number of sleepers 3b.

[0013] The first and second image capturing and processing devices 10 and 110 are disposed opposite each other across the tracks 3. The first image capturing and processing device 10 has a side image capturing device 11 that captures side images of the railway vehicle CA, and an image capturing unit 15 that enables image capturing from below the railway vehicle CA. The second image capturing and processing device 110 also has a side image capturing device 11 that captures side images of the railway vehicle CA, and an image capturing unit 15 that enables image capturing from below the railway vehicle CA. The first and second image capturing and processing devices 10 and 110 communicate with each other via wire or wirelessly, and perform image capturing operations in synchronization.

[0014] The first vehicle detection device 21 is equipped with an infrared light source, an infrared camera, an image processing device, etc., and detects when the front end of the lead vehicle CA0 of the train TR enters the monitoring section DA. In other words, the first vehicle detection device 21 is a detection device CD that detects the entry of railcars CA. Like the first vehicle detection device 21, the second vehicle detection device 22 is equipped with an infrared light source, an infrared camera, an image processing device, etc., and detects when the rear end of the last vehicle (not shown) of the train TR leaves the monitoring section DA. Like the first vehicle detection device 21, the third vehicle detection device 23 is equipped with an infrared light source, an infrared camera, an image processing device, etc., and detects when the front end of the lead vehicle CA0 reaches a predetermined distance before the monitoring section DA. The speed of the train TR or railcar CA passing through the monitoring section DA can be estimated from the timing difference between the detection of the front end of the train TR by the first vehicle detection device 21 and the detection of the front end of the train TR by the third vehicle detection device 23.

[0015] Fig. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating inspection device 100 as seen from the front direction along track 3. Fig. 3 is a side view illustrating bogie 70 and the like of railway vehicle CA.

[0016] 2 and 3, the first photography and processing device 10 includes a wayside device 12 that is placed near the tracks 3 and facing the monitoring section DA (see FIG. 1), and an imaging unit 15 that is placed on the tracks 3 in the monitoring section DA facing the wayside device 12. The second photography and processing device 110 is similar to the first photography and processing device 10, and a description of the second photography and processing device 110 will be omitted.

[0017] The trackside device 12 includes a side imaging device 11 supported by a support pillar 12p and positioned above the ground, as well as a terminal device 13 that controls the operation of the side imaging device 11. The side imaging device 11 is a camera that operates in response to commands from the terminal device 13 and captures high-speed continuous images of a moving train TR. The side imaging device 11 captures images of the underfloor components UF from the side while facing the side of the railcar CA. In other words, the side imaging device 11 captures image light DL1 from the side of the railcar CA. The underfloor components UF are components of the bogie 70 of the railcar CA. The shutter speed of the side imaging device 11 is set to a level that allows the underfloor components UF, which are the subject of the image capture, to appear substantially stationary. The imaging interval of the side imaging device 11 is set to allow the target area or the entire underfloor components UF to be captured in one or more images, even when the train TR is moving. The terminal device 13 is a computer that controls the timing of photography by the side imaging device 11, temporarily stores image data acquired by the side imaging device 11, and transmits the image data to the remote monitoring device 50 (see FIG. 1) at appropriate times. The terminal device 13 also controls the timing of photography by the lower imaging device 17, which will be described later, temporarily stores image data acquired by the lower imaging device 17, and transmits the image data to the remote monitoring device 50 at appropriate times. A combination of the terminal device 13, which is installed near the monitoring section DA that is the site along the railway line, and the remote monitoring device 50, which is installed away from the monitoring section DA, is called a management device MS.

[0018] The imaging unit 15 is an imaging unit that includes an illumination device 16 that illuminates underfloor components UF of the railcar CA and a lower imaging device 17 that captures images of the conditions of the areas exposed below the underfloor components UF. The imaging unit 15 includes a holder 18 that fixes the illumination device 16 and the lower imaging device 17 to the sleeper 3b. The illumination device 16 is disposed near the sleeper 3b and the lower imaging device 17, and the lower imaging device 17 is disposed near the sleeper 3b and the illumination device 16. In the illustrated example, the illumination device 16 and the lower imaging device 17 are disposed outside the pair of rails 3a. In other words, the holder 18 positions the illumination device 16 and the lower imaging device 17 outside the rails 3a. This prevents the imaging unit 15 from interfering with the travel of the railcar CA. In the first and second image capture devices 10 and 110, the lighting device 16, the lower image capture device 17, and the holder 18 that constitute the image capture unit 15 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the direction of travel of the train TR, but this arrangement can be changed as appropriate. The lighting device 16 and the lower image capture device 17 are integrated with each other and fixed to the sleeper 3b, slightly spaced apart from the rail 3a and with their upper ends not exceeding the upper end of the rail 3a. As a result, the lighting device 16 and the lower image capture device 17 are arranged below the underfloor components UF so as to be outside the building gauge and perpendicular to the rail 3a. The lighting device 16 and the lower image capture device 17 are also inclined with respect to the sleeper 3b. The lighting device 16 irradiates illumination light IL from below toward the underfloor components UF. The lower image capture device 17 is a camera that operates in response to commands from the terminal device 13 and captures continuous images of the moving train TR at high speed. The lower image capture device 17 captures images of the underfloor components UF from below. That is, the lower image capturing device 17 captures the video light DL2 from under the railcar CA. The shutter speed of the lower image capturing device 17 is set to a level that allows the underfloor part UF, which is the subject of the image capturing, to appear substantially stationary. The image capturing interval of the lower image capturing device 17 is set to a level that allows the target location of the underfloor part UF to be captured in one or more images even if the train TR is moving.

[0019] The photographing processing device 10 can obtain a variety of information by combining information from the side imaging device 11 and information from the lower imaging device 17.

[0020] The bogie 70, which is the subject of imaging by the imaging processing device 10, is part of the railway vehicle CA and includes wheels 71, a bogie frame 72, a bolster 73, bolster springs 74, dampers 75, a motor 76, and brakes 77. A carbody 81 is supported on the bogie frame 72. In this case, the brake shoes 77a of the brakes 77 attached to the wheels 71 of the bogie 70 and the treads 71t of the wheels 71 are parts exposed below the bogie 70 and are the main underfloor parts UF imaged by the lower imaging device 17. As described above, the lower imaging device 17 is disposed outside the rails 3a, making it easy to image the brake shoes 77a and the like. The dampers 75, bearings 78a, and the like are parts exposed to the sides of the bogie 70 and are the underfloor parts UF imaged by the side imaging device 11. A plate 88 displaying the vehicle number is attached to the frame or exterior of the car body 81 supported on the bogie 70, and the vehicle number on the plate 88 is also photographed by the side imaging device 11. When the vehicle number is photographed, it becomes easy to link the railway vehicle CA with the image data. The underfloor parts UF include not only the bogie 70 (the part that supports the wheels 71), but also, for example, the base that connects the bogies 70. The underfloor parts UF include not only the brake shoes 77a but also parts around the wheels 71.

[0021] In the railway 3, a large number of sleepers 3b supporting a pair of rails 3a are installed on ballast or other roadbed 3c. The trackside devices 12 are installed outside the construction gauge and in areas along the railway line outside the roadbed 3c. The trackside devices 12 are placed, for example, about 1 m to 3 m away from the rails 3a. The sleepers 3b in this embodiment are made of wood or concrete, for example.

[0022] The imaging unit 15 will be described in detail below. Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the imaging unit 15. Fig. 5 is a plan view illustrating the imaging unit 15. Fig. 6 is a side view illustrating the imaging unit 15. Fig. 7(A) is a plan view of the lighting device 16 and the lower imaging device 17, and Fig. 7(B) is a side view of the lighting device 16 and the lower imaging device 17. For convenience of explanation, Figs. 7(A) and 7(B) show the lighting device 16 and the lower imaging device 17 in a state where they are not tilted.

[0023] As described above, the imaging unit 15 includes the lighting device 16, the lower imaging device 17, and the holder .

[0024] As shown in Figure 4 etc., the lighting device 16 is fixed to the upper part of the lower imaging device 17, on the side of the rail 3a. One side surface 17c of the lower imaging device 17 is fixed to a holder 18. The holder 18 is fixed to the sleeper 3b. In other words, the lighting device 16 is fixed to the sleeper 3b via the lower imaging device 17. This means that the holder 18 only serves to fix the lower imaging device 17, and the structure of the holder 18 can be simplified.

[0025] Although not shown in the figure, the lighting device 16 has an LED unit in which many LEDs are arranged two-dimensionally, and a drive circuit board on which a drive circuit is mounted that causes the LED unit to light up. The LEDs emit illumination light IL (see Figure 2) in the direction directly ahead of the lighting device 16, but the orientation can be adjusted to give the light a characteristic of being more concentrated in the forward direction. The number and arrangement of the LEDs are appropriately set taking into consideration the brightness of the LEDs, etc. The drive circuit board is supplied with power from the terminal device 13 of the wayside device 12 shown in Figure 2 etc., and causes the LED units to light up in synchronization with the time of shooting under the control of the terminal device 13.

[0026] The lower imaging device 17 has an imaging unit 17a (see FIGS. 4 and 7) and a case 17b. The imaging unit 17a is housed in the case 17b. The case 17b has an opening OP (see FIGS. 4 and 5) through which video light DL2 (see FIG. 2) enters. A side surface 17c of the case 17b on the holder 18 side is provided with a connecting member 17d that is attached to the angle adjustment member 19 of the holder 18. The connecting member 17d is, for example, a pair of plate-like members that extend perpendicularly from the side surface 17c of the case 17b toward the holder 18.

[0027] The holder 18 has a pair of gripping members 18a that grip the sleeper 3b, and an angle adjustment member 19 that supports the lower imaging device 17 and adjusts the tilt angles of the lighting device 16 and the lower imaging device 17. In this embodiment, the holder 18 fixes the lower imaging device 17 with the two gripping members 18a.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 6 and other figures, the gripping member 18a includes a gripping body 8a that covers the sleeper 3b and a fixture 8b that secures the gripping body 8a to the sleeper 3b. The gripping member 18a has a structure similar to a C-clamp, for example, and is a frame-shaped member with both ends bent and an open bottom. The fixture 8b is, for example, a screw member, and is inserted perpendicularly through the sleeper 3b at the tip E1 of the gripping body 8a, opposite the lower imaging device 17. The gripping body 8a has an opening 8e between an abutment 8c at the tip E2 on the lower imaging device 17 side and an abutment 8d at the tip E3 of the fixture 8b, where the sleeper 3b is positioned, and the gripping body 8a clamps the sleeper 3b from both sides. The gripping body 8a is shaped to fit the sleeper 3b. The maximum opening size of the gripping body 8a is larger than the width of the sleeper 3b in the short direction. The gripping body 8a is fixed to the sleeper 3b by moving the contact portion 8d of the fixing device 8b in a direction perpendicular to the sleeper 3b to narrow the opening 8e and bring the contact portions 8c and 8d into contact with the sleeper 3b. In this way, the gripping member 18a is fixed to fit the size and shape of the sleeper 3b.

[0029] As described above, the holder 18 has a structure in which the gripping body 8a holds the sleeper 3b from both sides, so that it can accommodate sleepers 3b of different widths despite its simple structure. Therefore, when attaching the holder 18 to the sleeper 3b, there is no need to perform additional processing on the sleeper 3b, etc.

[0030] FIG. 8 is a side view illustrating the angle adjustment member 19 of the imaging unit 15. The angle adjustment member 19 includes a support member 9a and a rotation member 9b. The support member 9a is a flat member extending along the longitudinal direction of the sleeper 3b shown in FIG. 5 and other figures. The support member 9a supports the lower imaging device 17 via the rotation member 9b while tilting it at a predetermined angle. The rotation member 9b is attached to the connection member 17d of the lower imaging device 17. The rotation member 9b has, for example, a U-shape, specifically, a shape in which two ends of a flat plate are bent at right angles in the same direction. The rotation member 9b has three arc-shaped holes HL (see FIGS. 7(B) and 8) on the surface facing the support member 9a. The rotation member 9b and the connection member 17d are screwed together so that they fit together. The support member 9a supports the rotation member 9b, to which the connection member 17d is fitted, while tilting the lower imaging device 17 at a predetermined angle. The rotating member 9b is attached to the support member 9a with, for example, a screw Bz via a hole HL, and by rotating the rotating member 9b to change the relative position between the hole HL and the screw Bz, the tilt angle of the imaging unit 15, i.e., the lighting device 16 and the lower imaging device 17, with respect to the sleeper 3b can be adjusted, for example, between 0° and 70°. The support member 9a and rotating member 9b are fixed while maintaining the tilt angle to an extent that they are not affected by vibrations caused by the running of the train TR, etc.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 8, in the imaging unit 15, the inclination angle α1 of the lighting device 16 corresponds to the inclination angle α0 of the illumination light IL, which enables the illumination light IL to be emitted in a direction aimed primarily at the brake shoe 77a and the tread surface 71t adjacent thereto, as shown in FIG. 2 and other figures. The illumination light IL is reflected by the brake shoe 77a and other figures. The light reflected by the brake shoe 77a and other figures is emitted from below (i.e., from the front of the illuminated area) from the brake shoe 77a and its surroundings as image light DL2 and enters the lower imaging device 17. As shown in FIG. 8, the inclination angle α2 of the lower imaging device 17, specifically the imaging unit 17a (see FIG. 4), corresponds to the inclination angle α3 of the image light DL2.

[0032] 9(A) is a conceptual diagram illustrating an image captured by the side imaging device 11. Image ID1 is image data captured by the side imaging device 11 and transferred to the remote monitoring device 50. Image ID1 includes an area AR1 in which the underfloor components UF of the railway vehicle CA are captured from the side, and an area AR2 in which the underside of the carbody 81 of the railway vehicle CA is captured from the side. Images of the damper 75, bearing portion 78a, etc. are extracted from the image elements of area AR1 by image processing. Images of the plate 88, etc. are extracted from the image elements of area AR2 by image processing.

[0033] 9(B) is a conceptual diagram illustrating an image captured by the lower imaging device 17. Image ID2 is image data captured by the lower imaging device 17 and transferred to the remote monitoring device 50. Image ID2 includes an area AR3 in which the underfloor components UF of the railway vehicle CA are captured from below. Images of the brake shoe 77a and the like are extracted from the image elements of area AR3 by image processing.

[0034] 10 is a diagram showing the state of the brake shoe 77a of the brake 77. The brake shoe 77a is supported from behind by a biasing support 77f and contacts the tread 71t of the wheel 71. By observing the thickness Tb of the brake shoe 77a, it can be determined whether the brake shoe 77a is worn or damaged. The thickness Tb of the brake shoe 77a can be determined by extracting an image of the brake shoe 77a from the image captured by the lower image capture device 17 and comparing it with the size of the wheel 71 and other factors.

[0035] 11(A) is a diagram illustrating a bearing 78a in a normal state, and FIG. 11(B) is a diagram illustrating a bearing 78a in an abnormal or deteriorated state. The head 78h of the bearing 78a is fastened by three bolts 79a, and rotation determination marks 79j and 79k for determining the rotation position are applied to the heads 79h of the bolts 79a. A temperature determination label 79i for detecting temperature increases is also affixed to the heads 78h of the bearing 78a. The looseness of the bolts 79a can be determined by extracting an image of the bearing 78a from the image captured by the side imaging device 11 and determining whether the parallelism of the rotation determination marks 79j and 79k affixed to the three heads 79h is disturbed, i.e., based on the relative orientation difference between the rotation determination marks 79j and 79k. In the example shown in FIG. 11(B), comparing the rotation determination marks 79j and 79k, it is found that one of the three bolts 79a, bolt 79x, has a different relative orientation from the other three bolts 79a. In other words, bolt 79x is determined to be loose. Excessive heating of the bearing 78a can be determined by extracting an image of the bearing 78a from the image captured by the side image capture device 11 and based on the color of the temperature determination label 79i. In the example shown in FIG. 11(B), the temperature determination label 79i is heated and turns red, for example, indicating that the bearing 78a is excessively heated.

[0036] FIG. 12(A) is a diagram illustrating a damper 75 in a normal external appearance, and FIG. 12(B) is a diagram illustrating a damper 75 in an externally abnormal or deteriorated state. The damper 75 has fixed portions 75c at the upper and lower ends and an expandable portion 75b at a portion biased downward. By observing the length Ld of the damper 75, i.e., the distance between the pair of fixed portions 75c, it is possible to determine whether the damper 75 is expanding or contracting abnormally due to an abnormal load or the like. The length Ld of the damper 75 can be determined by extracting an image of the damper 75 from the image captured by the side image capture device 11 and comparing it with the size of the wheels 71 (see FIG. 3, etc.) and other factors.

[0037] FIG. 13(A) is a diagram illustrating a damper 75 in a normal state with respect to oil leakage, and FIG. 13(B) is a diagram illustrating a damper 75 in an abnormal or deteriorated state with respect to oil leakage. In this case, oil leakage detection sheets 79n for detecting oil leakage from the damper 75 are attached to the upper and lower sides of the extendable portion 75b of the damper 75 using double-sided tape or the like. Oil leakage from the damper 75 can be determined by extracting an image of the damper 75 from an image captured by the side image capture device 11 and based on the color of the oil leakage detection sheet 79n. In the example shown in FIG. 13(B), leaked oil soaks into the oil leakage detection sheet 79n, coloring it, for example, black, and it is recognized that the damper 75 is damaged.

[0038] FIG. 14(A) is a conceptual block diagram illustrating the terminal device 13. As shown in FIG. 14(A), the terminal device 13 incorporated in the trackside device 12 includes a main control device 13a, a storage device 13b, and a communication device 13c. That is, the terminal device 13 includes the storage device 13b, which is a data storage unit DM that stores image data acquired from the side image capture device 11 and the lower image capture device 17, and the communication device 13c, which is a transmission device SD that transmits the image data to a remote monitoring device 50 (more specifically, an information processing device IP shown in FIG. 14(B) to be described later). This allows the terminal device 13 to be set at a site and remotely monitor the bogie 70 of a railcar CA passing through the site. The main control device 13a communicates with the remote monitoring device 50 via the communication device 13c and operates according to commands from the remote monitoring device 50. Specifically, the main control device 13a, as a track presence determination unit D1, detects that the railcar CA has entered the monitoring section DA based on the output of the first vehicle detection device 21. When the main control device 13a detects that the railcar CA has entered the monitoring section DA, it operates the side imaging devices 11, the lighting devices 16, and the lower imaging devices 17. That is, the main control device 13a operates the lighting device 16 to emit illumination light IL to illuminate the underfloor components UF. Furthermore, the main control device 13a causes the side imaging devices 11 and the lower imaging devices 17 to start capturing images of the underfloor components UF in parallel with turning on the lighting device 16. When the main control device 13a detects that the railcar CA has exited the monitoring section DA based on the output of the second vehicle detection device 22, it turns off the lighting devices 16 and causes the side imaging devices 11 and the lower imaging devices 17 to stop capturing images of the underfloor components UF. The main control device 13a sequentially transmits image data obtained by the side imaging devices 11 and the lower imaging devices 17 to the remote monitoring device 50. The software storage section 13z of the storage device 13b stores a program for operating the wayside device 12 or the terminal device 13. The image data storage section 13p of the storage device 13b temporarily stores a large number of image data obtained by the side image pickup device 11 and the lower image pickup device 17 at a predetermined time interval.

[0039] FIG. 14(B) is a conceptual block diagram illustrating the remote monitoring device 50. As shown in FIG. 14(B), the remote monitoring device 50 includes a main control device 51a, a storage device 51b, a communication device 51c, and an input / output device 51d. The main control device 51a communicates with the terminal device 13 of the wayside device 12 via the communication device 51c and manages the operation of the wayside device 12. The main control device 51a receives, as information from the wayside device 12, a detection result that the railway vehicle CA has entered the monitoring section DA, and also receives image data obtained by the side image capture device 11 and the lower image capture device 17 and stores it in the storage device 51b. The remote monitoring device 50 or the main control device 51a functions as an information processing device IP, analyzes the image data received from the wayside device 12, and performs processing to determine whether or not there is an abnormality in the underfloor components UF. This allows image capture to be synchronized with the detection of vehicle passage, and the information processing device IP narrows down the image data obtained at the time of vehicle passage detection to determine whether or not there is an abnormality, thereby improving processing efficiency. Specifically, the main control device 51a determines whether the underfloor components UF are in a normal state, their wear level, and the degree of deterioration of the underfloor components UF. For example, the main control device 51a extracts an image of a specific underfloor component UF of interest from the received image data and compares it with reference images including a normal basic image and a graded image showing advanced wear, etc., to determine the abnormality, wear level, and deterioration level of the underfloor component UF. The main control device 51a also functions as a vehicle information acquisition unit CI, extracts an image of the plate 88 from the image data received from the trackside device 12, and identifies the vehicle number from the image of the plate 88. A software storage unit 51z in the storage device 51b stores a program for operating the remote monitoring device 50. The image data storage unit 51p of the storage device 51b stores image data received from the trackside device 12, and the determination result recording unit 51q stores, for each vehicle number of the detected railway vehicle CA, time information when the abnormality or the like was detected and the determination result of the state of the underfloor parts UF, linked to the vehicle number. The input / output device 51d includes a keyboard and mouse operated by the operator, and when an abnormality is detected, issues an alarm and displays on a display information that adds the abnormality determination result of the underfloor parts UF to the information on the vehicle number where the abnormality occurred.

[0040] The inspection device 100 of the embodiment described above comprises an illumination device 16 that is placed near the railway sleepers and illuminates the underfloor parts UF of the railway vehicle CA, a lower imaging device 17 that is placed near the illumination device 16 and images the underfloor parts UF to obtain image data, and a holder 18 that fixes the illumination device 16 and the lower imaging device 17 to the sleepers 3b.

[0041] In the inspection device 100, the lighting device 16 illuminates the underfloor component UF of the railway vehicle CA, and the lower image capturing device 17 captures an image of the underfloor component UF to obtain image data, so that the exposed area on the underfloor component UF can be illuminated from the front and the illuminated area can be captured from the front. In other words, the condition of the exposed area on the underfloor component UF (specifically, for example, the brake shoe 77a) can be accurately grasped. In addition, by providing a holder 18 that fixes the lighting device 16 and the lower image capturing device 17 to the sleeper 3b, the lighting device 16 and the lower image capturing device 17 can be easily installed without additional processing of the sleeper 3b, etc.

[0042] Second Embodiment An example of an inspection device according to the second embodiment will be described below with reference to Fig. 15. In the second embodiment, the same matters as in the first embodiment will not be described.

[0043] 15 is a side view illustrating the imaging unit 15. In this embodiment, the sleepers 3b of the railway 3 are made of, for example, metal. The metal sleepers 3b have a trapezoidal shape formed by bending a plate-like member. Tapers 3d are formed at the corners of the trapezoid of the sleeper 3b.

[0044] The holder 18 has a pair of gripping members 18a for gripping the sleeper 3b, and an angle adjusting member 19 for supporting the lower imaging device 17 and adjusting the inclination angles of the lighting device 16 and the lower imaging device 17.

[0045] The gripping member 18a includes a gripping body 8a that covers the sleeper 3b, a fixing member 8b that fixes the gripping body 8a to the sleeper 3b, and a support member 8v that supports the sleeper 3b from below. The gripping body 8a is divided into two parts PA1 and PA2 at the top. Specifically, the gripping body 8a includes a first part PA1 that is fixed to the angle adjustment member 19 and a second part PA2 that is disposed opposite the first part PA1 and through which the fixing member 8b is inserted. The fixing member 8b is, for example, a screw member that is inserted through the second part PA2 in a direction perpendicular to the sleeper 3b. The first part PA1 has a screw hole (not shown) into which the fixing member 8b is inserted. Support members 8v are attached to the two lower ends E4 and E5 of the gripping body 8a, respectively. The support members 8v are positioned to embrace the sleeper 3b from below, enabling the gripping member 18a to be stably fixed to the sleeper 3b. The gripping body 8a has the sleeper 3b positioned within an opening 8e between an abutment 8c at the tip E2 on the lower imaging device 17 side and an abutment 8d at the tip E3 opposite the lower imaging device 17, and clamps the sleeper 3b from both sides. The gripping body 8a corresponds to the shape of the sleeper 3b. The maximum opening size of the gripping body 8a is larger than the width of the sleeper 3b in the short direction. The gripping body 8a is fixed to the sleeper 3b by moving the fixing tool 8b in a direction perpendicular to the sleeper 3b to narrow the opening 8e and bring the abutment parts 8c and 8d into contact with the sleeper 3b. In this way, the gripping member 18a is fixed to fit the dimensions and shape of the sleeper 3b. The abutment portions 8c and 8d do not need to be in complete contact with the sleeper 3b, and as long as they are in contact with a part of the sleeper 3b, for example, the taper 3d of the sleeper 3b, other parts may be somewhat separated from the sleeper 3b.

[0046] 〔others〕 The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0047] The inspection device 100 is not limited to being used to inspect underfloor parts UF of ordinary railway trains TR, but may also be used to inspect underfloor parts of, for example, streetcars that run on dedicated tracks.

[0048] The first and second imaging and processing devices 10 and 110 may be placed at different positions along the tracks 3. In this case, it is desirable to provide separate vehicle detection devices 21, 22, and 23 for the second imaging and processing device 110.

[0049] Although the holder 18 has two gripping members 18a, it may have one gripping member 18a or three or more gripping members 18a.

[0050] The size, shape, etc. of the sleeper 3b can be changed as appropriate, and the size, shape, etc. of the holder 18 can also be changed as appropriate to match the outer shape of the sleeper 3b.

[0051] The imaging unit 15 may be given a water-repellent treatment.

[0052] The side imaging device 11 is not limited to one that uses a single camera to simultaneously photograph the damper 75, the plate 88, etc., but may also use a plurality of cameras to individually photograph the damper 75, the plate 88, etc.

[0053] The process of determining whether or not there is an abnormality in the underfloor parts UF is not limited to comparison with a reference image, but may also utilize machine learning or AI.

[0054] The functions of the remote monitoring device 50 may be incorporated into the image capturing and processing device 10. The remote monitoring device 50 and the image capturing and processing device 10 are connected to each other via a wired or wireless connection so that they can communicate with each other, but may also be connected via a general-purpose communication network.

[0055] In the above, the side imaging device 11 and the lower imaging device 17 are continuously operated for each train TR to acquire images of the underfloor parts UF, but the side imaging device 11 and the lower imaging device 17 may also be continuously operated for each individual railway vehicle CA or bogie 70 to capture images of the underfloor parts UF.

[0056] 2 and the like is one example, and the inspection device of the present invention can be applied to monitoring bogies of various structures. Furthermore, the objects to be inspected by the inspection device 100 are not limited to the components of the bogie 70, but may also be various components arranged under the floor of the railway vehicle CA. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 3...railway, 3a...rail, 3b...sleeper, 8a...gripping body, 8b...fixing device, 9a...support member, 9b...rotating member, 10...first photography processing device, 11...side imaging device, 12...trackside device, 13...terminal device, 13a...main control device, 13b...storage device, 13c...communication device, 15...imaging unit, 16...illumination device, 17...lower imaging device, 17a...imaging section, 17b...case, 17d...connecting member, 18...holder, 18a...gripping member, 19...angle adjustment member, 21, 22, 23...vehicle detection device, 50...remote monitoring device, 51a...main control device, 51b...storage device, 51c...communication device, 51d...input / output device , 70... bogie, 71... wheel, 71t... tread, 75... damper, 77... brake, 77a... brake shoe, 78a... bearing part, 79a... bolt, 79i... temperature determination label, 79j, 79k... rotation determination mark, 79n... oil leakage detection sheet, 81... car body, 88... plate, 100... inspection device, 110... second photography processing device, CA... railway vehicle, CD... detection device, CI... vehicle information acquisition unit, D1... on-track determination unit, DA... monitoring section, DL1, DL2... video light, DM... data storage unit, ID1, ID2... image, IL... illumination light, IP... information processing device, MS... management device, SD... transmission device, TR... train, UF... underfloor part

Claims

1. a lighting device disposed near a railway sleeper for illuminating underfloor components of the vehicle; a lower imaging device disposed near the lighting device and capturing an image of the underfloor components to obtain image data; a holder for fixing the lighting device and the lower imaging device to the sleeper; An inspection device comprising:

2. The lighting device is fixed to the sleeper via the lower imaging device. The inspection device according to claim 1 .

3. the holder disposes the lighting device and the lower imaging device outside the rail; The inspection device according to claim 1 .

4. the lower imaging device captures an image of a component of a bogie of the vehicle as the underfloor component. The inspection device according to claim 1 .

5. The lower imaging device photographs brake shoes attached to the wheels of the bogie. The inspection device according to claim 4.

6. a side imaging device that is positioned opposite a side of the vehicle and captures an image of the underfloor component; The inspection device according to claim 1 .

7. the side imaging device photographs the bearing portion, the damper, and the vehicle number; The inspection device according to claim 6.

8. a detection device for detecting the entry of the vehicle; a management device having an information processing device that performs processing to determine whether or not there is an abnormality in the underfloor parts based on the image data obtained by operating the lighting device and the lower image capturing device when the entry of the vehicle is detected by the detection device; Further provided with The inspection device according to claim 1 .

9. The management device a data storage unit for storing the image data; a transmitting device that transmits the image data to the remote information processing device; including a terminal device, The inspection device according to claim 8.

Images