Deployable Rail Inspection System for Inverted Third Rails

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Solution Overview

Problem

Inverted third rails in railway systems pose challenges for imaging or analyzing the contact surface due to clearance envelope limitations, making it difficult to deploy measurement systems effectively.

Innovation Solution

A deployable measurement system with a movable reflecting assembly and optical measurement system housed in a vehicle, allowing the assembly to extend beyond the vehicle's clearance envelope to analyze the rail surface, including inverted rails, while incorporating a deployment and retraction mechanism to safely position the reflecting element and absorb impact forces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the measurement system is placed within the vehicle's clearance envelope, then the system is safe from impact forces, but the system cannot access inverted third rails for analysis

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to analyze inverted third railsVSAvoidprotection from impact forces

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The measurement system transitions from a static position within the clearance envelope to a dynamic deployable structure that can extend beyond the envelope when needed, allowing access to inverted third rails while maintaining protection during normal operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The measurement system is divided into separable components that can be deployed independently from the vehicle, allowing the optical measurement system to extend beyond the clearance envelope while the main vehicle body remains protected

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the reflecting assembly is deployed beyond the clearance envelope, then the system can image inverted third rails, but the system becomes vulnerable to impact forces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to contact surfaceVSAvoidimpact forces from debris

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates energy-absorbing mechanisms and protective housings that are pre-configured to cushion and absorb impact forces before they can damage the fragile optical components, allowing safe deployment beyond the clearance envelope

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

A protective intermediary structure or mechanism is introduced between the vulnerable optical components and the external environment, shielding the components from impact forces while allowing the system to extend beyond the clearance envelope for imaging

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a deployable structure is used to extend beyond the clearance envelope, then the system can reach inverted rails, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment capabilityVSAvoiddeployment mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The deployable structure is designed to serve multiple functions - providing structural support, enabling extension beyond the clearance envelope, and incorporating protective features - thereby reducing the need for separate dedicated components and minimizing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables accurate analysis of rail surfaces, including inverted third rails, by extending the measurement system beyond the vehicle's clearance envelope, ensuring safety and reliability through controlled deployment and impact absorption.

Implementation Method 1

a reflecting assembly movable between a stored position and a deployed position, the reflecting assembly including a reflective element that is configured to reflect electromagnetic radiation incident thereon

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS11787452B2Systems and methods for analyzing a rail

Publication Date: 2023.10.17 ENSCO INC

AI summary

A deployable measurement system for analyzing a rail of a railroad track includes a housing, a reflecting assembly coupled to the housing, a movement assembly coupled to the housing, and an optical measurement system disposed within the housing. Both the housing and the reflecting assembly are moveable between a stored position and a deployed position. The movement assembly includes a deployment assembly that moves the reflecting assembly from the stored position to the deployed position, and a retraction assembly that moves the reflecting assembly from the deployed position to the stored position. The optical measurement system emits and receives light. The reflecting assembly reflects the emitted light toward the rail. The reflecting assembly reflects light reflected off of the rail toward the optical measurement system. The light received by the optical measurement system is used to measure parameters related to the rail.