Rail Component Internal Imaging via Collimated Radiation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting flaws in railway track components, such as under shell fractures and Rail Base Corrosion, are either destructive or leave undetected issues, posing a risk of catastrophic rail failure and derailments, as they lack the sensitivity and accuracy to identify internal defects effectively.
Innovation Solution
An internal imaging system utilizing a radiation source and detectors configured to emit and receive collimated beams of radiation, including neutron sources and converters, to generate three-dimensional representations of railway components, combining transmission and backscatter radiography techniques for thorough non-destructive inspection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If destructive methods are used to detect flaws in rails, then detection accuracy for internal defects is improved, but the rail component is damaged or destroyed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical contact-based inspection methods (ultrasound, destructive testing) with radiographic imaging using x-rays or gamma rays. The radiation source emits beams that pass through the rail component, and detectors capture the transmitted radiation to create images of internal structures, eliminating the need for mechanical contact and destructive sampling while maintaining high detection accuracy for internal flaws like under-shell fractures and rail base corrosion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces radiation (x-rays or gamma rays) as an intermediary medium to inspect the rail component. The radiation passes through the rail and carries information about internal defects to the detectors, serving as a non-contact intermediary that reveals internal structures without physically touching or damaging the rail, thus resolving the contradiction between detection accuracy and component integrity.
2Strength
If non-destructive methods such as ultrasound are used, then rail integrity is preserved, but detection reliability is reduced due to false positives and undetected flaws
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces ultrasound (mechanical wave) inspection with radiographic imaging (electromagnetic radiation). This substitution eliminates the limitations of ultrasound in detecting certain types of internal defects, providing more reliable detection while maintaining non-destructive inspection of the rail component.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the inspection parameter from mechanical wave propagation (ultrasound) to electromagnetic radiation transmission (x-rays/gamma rays). This parameter change enables detection of internal defects that were previously invisible to ultrasound, including subsurface cracks and corrosion, thereby improving reliability while preserving rail integrity.
3Productivity
If traditional inspection methods are used, then inspection speed is limited, but detection accuracy for internal defects remains insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces slow mechanical inspection methods with radiographic imaging, which can rapidly capture internal structures. The system uses a radiation source and detector array to quickly acquire images of the rail component, enabling high-speed inspection without sacrificing accuracy for internal defects.
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
The system provides a more comprehensive and accurate detection of internal flaws in railway components, reducing the risk of derailments by identifying defects like under shell fractures and Rail Base Corrosion, while being non-destructive and capable of inspecting at higher speeds than existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
The radiation source may be or include a neutron source and the plurality of detectors may be or include a plurality of neutron converters
Implementation Method 2
The radiation source may be or include a neutron source and the plurality of detectors may be or include a plurality of neutron converters
Implementation Method 3
The plurality of detectors are positioned to receive portions of the plurality of collimated beams that have been attenuated by interaction with the target
Implementation Method 4
The plurality of detectors may include at least one scatter detector positioned to receive radiation scattered by interaction with the target
Data Source
AI summary
An internal imaging system has a radiation source and a plurality of detectors positioned to receive portions of the plurality of collimated beams that have been attenuated by interaction with the target. The radiation source is configured to irradiate a target with a plurality of collimated beams of radiation. Two of the plurality of collimated beams of radiation may have different beam shapes. Another internal imaging system includes a radiation source configured to irradiate a target with at least one collimated beam of radiation and at least one detector. A planar rotating collimator is positioned adjacent to the radiation source and is configured to form the at least one collimated beam. The at least one detector is positioned to receive attenuated portions of the at least one collimated beam. The radiation source may be or include a neutron source. The detectors may be or include a plurality of neutron converters.