Rail Vehicle Mounted Optical Measurement System for Track Geometry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current railway track inspection methods are time-consuming and labor-intensive, prone to errors due to foreign debris, and require expensive electronic hardware, especially when measuring rail alignment and gage dimensions.
Innovation Solution
A rail vehicle-mounted system using collimated light sources and cameras with image processors to determine rail alignment dimensions by analyzing images of reference markers relative to the rails, allowing for real-time measurement of rail gage and alignment, even under loaded conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual visual inspection with mechanical measuring devices is used, then measurement capability is provided, but the inspection process becomes time-consuming and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical measuring devices with an automated optical measurement system. A camera captures images of the rail and reference markers, and image processing algorithms automatically calculate rail gage dimensions, eliminating the need for manual mechanical measurements while maintaining measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital copy (image) of the rail structure and performs measurements on this copy through image processing. This allows multiple measurements to be taken from a single image capture, significantly improving inspection speed without sacrificing measurement precision.
2Measurement precision
If sophisticated electronic hardware is used for optical and electromagnetic methods, then measurement accuracy is improved, but system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses inexpensive, readily available components such as standard cameras and collimated light sources (laser pointers) instead of sophisticated electromagnetic measurement hardware. The system achieves accurate rail alignment measurement through simple optical references and image processing, dramatically reducing system cost and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces simple optical intermediaries (collimated light sources creating reference markers) that bridge the gap between the camera and the rail structure. These intermediaries provide stable, easily detectable reference points for measurement without requiring complex electronic hardware.
3Reliability
If mechanical measurement systems are used, then direct physical contact measurement is achieved, but susceptibility to foreign debris and requirement for auxiliary equipment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces contact-based mechanical measurement with non-contact optical measurement. The camera captures images from a distance, and image processing algorithms determine rail dimensions without physical contact. This eliminates susceptibility to foreign debris on the rail surface and removes the need for auxiliary equipment to clear debris before measurement.
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
This system provides efficient, accurate, and automated measurement of rail dimensions, reducing human error and the need for auxiliary equipment, while being capable of real-time data processing and correlation with location-specific track geometry.
Implementation Method 1
a first collimated light source mounted on a rail vehicle for providing a first reference marker relative to a first rail of a railway
Implementation Method 2
a camera mounted on the rail vehicle for recording an image of the reference marker relative to the first rail
Data Source
AI summary
A rail measurement system (10) for mounting on a rail vehicle (e.g., 12) for travel over a railway (16) having two spaced apart rails (18, 19) includes a first collimated light source (20) mounted on the rail vehicle for providing a first reference marker (22) relative to a first rail of the railway. The system includes a camera (28) mounted on the rail vehicle for recording an image of the reference marker relative to the first rail. The system also includes an image processor (50) coupled to the camera for analyzing the image of the reference marker relative to the first rail to determine a first rail alignment dimension (e.g., 39) with respect to the reference marker.