Mobile Flash-Butt Rail Welding Geometry for Precise Vertical Alignment

The patent introduces a new dimensional approach by positioning reference points at multiple vertical levels (above and below the rail) and using a sophisticated measurement system that calculates alignment in three dimensions. This allows accurate vertical alignment measurement without requiring physical access to the limited space underneath the rail, effectively solving the contradiction by measuring alignment from multiple angular perspectives rather than direct underneath access.

The patent employs reference points as intermediary elements that are positioned around the rail (above, below, and at sides) rather than requiring direct measurement from underneath. These reference points serve as mediators that transmit alignment information to the measurement system, enabling accurate vertical alignment assessment without direct access to the constrained space beneath the rail.

The patent replaces traditional mechanical alignment methods (which rely on physical contact and manual adjustment from underneath the rail) with an optical/electronic measurement system. The system uses cameras or sensors to capture images of reference points and calculates vertical alignment through coordinate geometry, eliminating the need for mechanical intervention in the limited space underneath short rail inserts and enabling consistent alignment even on shorter pieces of rail.

The patent changes the measurement parameters from direct physical measurement underneath the rail to indirect optical/electronic measurement of reference point positions. By measuring the coordinates of reference points above, below, and at the sides of the rail and calculating vertical alignment mathematically, the system achieves consistent alignment precision regardless of rail length, enabling the use of shorter, more cost-effective rail inserts.