Rail Defect Detection via Wheel Creep Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for identifying damaged sections of rail tracks are limited by accuracy issues due to high-speed vehicle movement, requiring slow inspections, manual verification, or extensive installation of immobile devices, leading to inefficiencies and potential errors.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize wheel creep measurements from multiple wheels of a vehicle to identify damaged sections by comparing angular and moving velocities, allowing for real-time detection and communication of damaged locations to off-board systems for further action.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If cameras and lasers are used to optically detect breaks and damage to tracks, then inspection can be performed during vehicle travel, but the accuracy is limited by the speed at which rail vehicles move during inspection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces optical detection systems (cameras and lasers) with a mechanical measurement system that uses wheel creep measurements to detect track damage. This substitution allows for accurate damage detection while maintaining high vehicle travel speeds, as the mechanical wheel creep measurement system is not limited by the speed constraints that affect optical systems.
2Measurement precision
If ultrasonic transducers are placed at or near the tracks to ultrasonically inspect the tracks, then damage can be detected, but very slow movement of the transducers relative to the tracks is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs the rail vehicle itself to perform the inspection function by measuring wheel creep during normal operation. The vehicle's wheels serve as both the means of travel and the inspection tool, eliminating the need for separate slow-moving inspection transducers. This self-service approach allows inspection to occur at normal operating speeds without requiring dedicated inspection equipment to move slowly along the tracks.
3Reliability
If wayside devices are installed to send electric signals through the tracks, then broken tracks can be identified, but the devices are immobile and require extensive installation to inspect large spans of track
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the rail vehicle multi-functional by enabling it to perform both its primary function of transporting passengers or freight and its secondary function of inspecting the tracks through wheel creep measurement. This universal approach eliminates the need for separate immobile wayside devices, as the moving vehicle continuously inspects all track sections it traverses, providing both transportation and inspection services with a single system.
4Reliability
If human inspectors move along the track to inspect for broken and damaged sections, then manual verification can be performed, but the inspection is slow and prone to errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual human inspection with an automated mechanical measurement system that objectively measures wheel creep to detect track damage. This substitution eliminates human error and subjectivity in inspection while dramatically reducing inspection time, as the automated system continuously collects and analyzes data during normal vehicle operation without requiring manual intervention or track closures.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for determining rail defects. The method and system receive route performance measurements from a vehicle system traveling along a route and normalize the route performance measurements based on one or more characteristics of the vehicle system. The method and a system also determine a defect for a segment of the route based at least in part on the normalized route performance measurements with respect to a threshold bandwidth corresponding to the segment. The method and system also examine velocity differences in a vehicle speed of a vehicle and the angular speed of the axles and/or wheels of the vehicle system traveling along a route to determine if the route is damaged and/or to identify the location of the potentially damaged section of the route. The differences may represent wheel creeps of the vehicle system.