Unmanned flaw detection trolley

Abstract

FIELD: flaw detection.SUBSTANCE: unmanned flaw detection trolley includes a body equipped with motor-wheel units mounted on multi-stage hydraulic cylinders. Inside the body there are batteries, liquid tanks for water and oil with thermal insulation of the walls, a radio signal repeater, a radio station, a repeater antenna, a radio station antenna, motherboards, a hard drive, a camera and scanner control system. The bottom of the trolley is equipped with folding supports. The body also contains two flaw detection wheel units connected to the motherboard in the central part of the body. The flaw detection wheel search units are connected to liquid tanks via pipelines. The nozzles and the connection points of flexible pipelines with liquid containers are equipped with internal and external heating elements made in the form of an electric spiral. The heating elements are connected to the batteries in the rear of the vehicle. The motor wheels are connected to batteries in the middle and rear parts of the body. In the front part of the body there are video surveillance cameras and a radar.EFFECT: operational efficiency of the trolley is ensured.1 cl, 16 dwg

Description

[0001] Level of technology

[0002] The invention relates to the field of flaw detection and can be used to detect defects in high-speed rail transport.

[0003] Field of technology to which the invention relates

[0004] Traditional non-destructive testing methods, such as the use of laboratory cars equipped primarily with ultrasonic (UT) equipment, face challenges when operating on high-speed rail (HSR): conducting diagnostics during daylight hours disrupts the HSR schedule, and using them at night (the technological "window" is 4-6 hours) leaves insufficient time to troubleshoot any detected faults. Furthermore, existing methods are often characterized by low operating speeds (up to 60 km / h) and a heavy workload for the operator decoding data from the onboard automated system, which is a potential source of errors and slows down the process.

[0005] Flaw detection cars are known to be equipped with ultrasonic testing equipment, with wheel-type sensors located on each side. One sensor sends an ultrasonic signal perpendicular to the rail base, while the others sound the rail at angles. This allows for the detection of defects across the entire rail cross-section (US 4174636 A).

[0006] Flaw detectors mounted on a trolley moving along the rails during operation are known: the Avikon-11 and DUK-13 IM flaw detectors (A.K. Gurvich. Non-destructive Testing of Rails. Transport, 1983, p. 195) or robotic track superstructure diagnostic systems mounted on a trolley (e.g., RU 2733907 O, 2020). Such flaw detectors are reliable and effective by design, but for various reasons, they are not suitable for operating on high-speed railways.

[0007] The closest known device to the proposed one is the "Auto Pilot Integral" trolley from the Tvema company, presented at the "PRO Movement 2019" exhibition.

[0008] Disclosure of invention

[0009] The equipment and apparatus of the claimed invention are housed within a flat body. The body provides mounting positions for six wheel units, four of which have in-wheel motors and two of which are wheel seekers. These units are attached to the body via multi-stage, double-acting hydraulic cylinders. These cylinders serve as telescopic supports, allowing the wheel units to extend from the body during operation and retract into the body during rest, when the bogie is positioned within the track, below the railhead, ensuring the safe passage of rolling stock over it. The hydraulic cylinders, connected to the wheel seeker unit, have a shock-absorbing lining on the body, protecting the seekers from impacts.Each hydraulic cylinder is connected to a fluid reservoir and a double-acting pump, which pumps oil from the reservoir to the cylinder's piston chamber and back, thereby creating high pressure and holding the hydraulic cylinder in its fully extended position. Batteries, powering all bogie systems, are located in the truck bed between the wheel mounts.

[0010] The bottom of the body also has seats for folding supports that use a belt drive and ensure smooth lifting and lowering of the trolley when moving to the working and non-working positions, respectively.

[0011] The cart's four wheel units contain eight motor wheels (two per unit). The motor wheels consist of a housing (rotor), which contains permanent magnets, and a stator, which receives electric current from the batteries and rotates the motor wheels.

[0012] The other two wheel units contain four wheel detectors (two per unit), each consisting of a movable wheel with a soft polymer shell filled with immersion fluid and a fixed axle with a piezoelectric transducer attached. The first detector probes the rail perpendicular to the base, while the second probe probes the rail at 35° and 75°. This sounding system allows for effective defect detection. The wheel units housing the detectors are connected to pipelines supplying lubricating fluid. Lubricating fluid is injected in front of each wheel detector using a nozzle and is necessary to ensure good acoustic contact between the wheel and rail. Coil heating elements are located within the fluid tanks at the connections to the flexible pipelines, maintaining a constant positive temperature in the tank and the flexible pipeline. The nozzles are also equipped with external heating coils.

[0013] In the front of the body there are four video surveillance cameras and a radar, which can detect the presence of obstacles in front of the cart, as well as a camera control unit.

[0014] A radio station with a repeater connected to it is used to transmit data on defects in the rails, the location recorded by the GNSS receiver (in the middle upper part of the body), the odometer and electronic tags inside the track, images from CCTV cameras, to maintain continuous communication in difficult geological conditions and away from populated areas.

[0015] The central part of the vehicle contains the motherboard, which houses the RAM, system logic chips, connectors for external devices, microprocessors, and the central processor. The motherboard is powered by batteries located in the rear of the vehicle. Connected to the motherboard are the hard drive, camera control unit, radio station and repeater, cameras and radar, wheel ultrasound scanners, pump control systems, wheel movement control systems, and folding outriggers. Also located in the front is a second motherboard with a processor for processing defectograms and controlling the wheel ultrasound scanners. Defectograms are deciphered using the truck's AI and transmitted to the stations via radio.

[0016] The technical problem solved by the invention is the creation of an unmanned flaw detection trolley capable of effectively detecting rail defects without disrupting train schedules on the VSZhM. The technical result achieved by the invention consists of a design characterized by a low profile and movable supports, capable of moving inside the track to safely allow rolling stock to pass.

[0017] An unmanned flaw detection trolley for ultrasonic testing of a rail track is proposed, including a body equipped with motor-wheel units fixed on multi-stage hydraulic cylinders, a body inside which are located batteries, liquid tanks for water and oil, having thermal insulation of the walls and spiral heating elements connected to the batteries, a radio signal repeater, a radio station, a repeater antenna, a radio station antenna, motherboards, a hard drive, a camera and scanner control system, video surveillance cameras, a radar, folding supports in the lower part and two flaw detection wheel search units on a double-sided hydraulic cylinder in the middle of the trolley, connected to the motherboard, in the central part of the body and with liquid tanks by means of pipelines connected to nozzles, on which in turn external heating elements are also located,Moreover, it has a low profile and movable supports and is designed with the ability to go inside the track for the safe passage of rolling stock.

[0018] According to the invention, the claimed trolley can be designed with the ability to use AI to decipher defectograms and recognize the extent of obstacles on the path and determine the most effective way to overcome them.

[0019] According to the invention, the claimed trolley can be designed with the possibility of using a combined radio station and a repeater for transmitting data on detected defects in real time.

[0020] According to the invention, the claimed trolley can be designed with the possibility of using double-sided hydraulic cylinders for installing wheel blocks on rails and removing them" and folding supports with a belt drive for smooth vertical movement of the trolley.

[0021] Brief description of drawings

[0022] The invention is illustrated by the following drawings:

[0023] Fig. 1 shows a top view of the unmanned flaw detection trolley, the location of the hydraulic cylinders, wheel blocks, repeater antenna and receiver.

[0024] Fig. 2 shows the front view of the trolley, the location of the cameras and radar, and the receiver antenna.

[0025] Fig. 3 shows a side view of the trolley and the arrangement of the wheel blocks.

[0026] Fig. 4 shows the internal structure of the trolley and the location of the main components.

[0027] Fig. 5 shows the external appearance of the motor wheel of the cart on the rolling surface.

[0028] Fig. 6 shows the external view of the motor wheel of the cart on the side surface.

[0029] Fig. 7 shows a sectional view of the trolley motor wheel from the rolling surface side, the position of the magnets in the rotor.

[0030] Fig. 8 shows a sectional view of the trolley motor wheel from the side surface, the position of the stator in the wheel

[0031] Fig. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of a double-sided hydraulic cylinder that serves as a support for the motor-wheel units.

[0032] Fig. 10 shows a front view of a double-sided hydraulic cylinder that serves as a support for the motor-wheel units.

[0033] Fig. 11 shows a cross-section of a double-sided hydraulic cylinder that serves as a support for the motor-wheel units.

[0034] Fig. 12 shows a sectional view of a double-sided hydraulic cylinder that serves as a support for the wheel search units.

[0035] Fig. 13 shows a front view of the double-sided hydraulic cylinder, which serves as a support for the wheel finder units.

[0036] Fig. 14 shows a cross-section of a double-sided hydraulic cylinder that serves as a support for the wheel finder units.

[0037] Fig. 15 shows a front view of the folding sliding support that ensures smooth vertical movement of the trolley.

[0038] Fig. 16 shows a sectional view of the folding movable support, which ensures smooth vertical movement of the trolley.

[0039] Implementation of the invention

[0040] The device operates as follows.

[0041] The bogie's wheeled flaw detection devices undergo preliminary adjustment on the SO-3R. The telescopic hydraulic cylinders and folding supports on the underside of the bogie undergo a preliminary check before operation, and a smooth ride is adjusted if necessary. The running gear and electronic systems also undergo a preliminary check. Then, the unmanned flaw detection trolley is brought to the location of the first electronic marker on a crane-manipulator unit (KMU). Using the crane's manipulator, the trolley is positioned inside the track in the same direction as the VSZhM train. After the first rolling stock passes, the trolley rises on its folding supports, installs its motor-wheel units on the rails, and approaches the first electronic marker. It then begins moving and searching for defects in the rails.

[0042] While moving, the bogie processes electrical impulses received from the wheel detectors using AI, assigns them to track coordinates, and transmits them along with bogie status data via radio. The bogie also receives information about train movements via radio, and when one approaches, it switches to its idle position. It removes its wheel blocks from the rails, retracts them into the body, and lowers itself into the track to allow the passing VSZhM train to pass overhead. After the train has passed, the bogie returns to its operating position.

[0043] As the bogie moves, cameras within the track can detect obstacles that could prevent the bogie from safely turning when a train approaches. In this case, the length and number of obstacles are determined using radar, after which the bogie's AI decides whether to stop before or after the obstacles, allowing the bogie to safely turn and allow the train to pass over it.

[0044] If a switch or counter-angle is detected on the ISSO track, the AI ​​stops and reverses the bogie in front of them and waits for the next train to pass before proceeding through the obstacle. The AI ​​analyzes data on the obstacle's length and the current train headway and reverses the bogie only if it is guaranteed to clear the obstacle before the next train approaches.

[0045] In the event of a critical structural failure or system malfunction, the bogie automatically switches to a non-operating position within the track to prevent a collision with high-speed rolling stock. The emergency system transmits information about the failure or malfunction to the station.

[0046] After completing the work, the trolley moves to the non-working position, after which it is removed from the track using the crane.

Claims

1. An unmanned flaw detection trolley for ultrasonic testing of a rail track, characterized in that it has a low profile and movable supports and is designed with the ability to go inside the track for the safe passage of rolling stock, including a body equipped with motor-wheel units secured on multi-stage hydraulic cylinders, inside which are located batteries, liquid tanks for water and oil, having thermal insulation of the walls and spiral heating elements connected to the batteries, a radio signal repeater, a radio station, a repeater antenna, a radio station antenna, motherboards, a hard drive, a camera and scanner control system, video surveillance cameras, a radar, folding supports in the lower part and two flaw detection wheel search units on a double-sided hydraulic cylinder in the middle of the trolley, connected to the motherboard in the central part of the body and to liquid tanks by means of pipelines connected to nozzles on which,in turn, external heating elements are also located., 2. A trolley according to paragraph 1, characterized in that it is designed with the ability to use AI to decipher defectograms and recognize the length of obstacles on the path and determine the most effective way to overcome them.

3. The trolley according to paragraph 1, characterized in that it is designed with the possibility of using a combined radio station and repeater for transmitting data on detected defects in real time.

4. A trolley according to paragraph 1, characterized in that it is designed with the possibility of using double-sided hydraulic cylinders for installing wheel blocks on rails and removing them, and folding supports with a belt drive for smooth vertical movement of the trolley.

Images