Rail Profile Grinding With Real-Time Detection and Multi-Head Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing railway rail profile grinding technologies suffer from low efficiency, poor precision, high costs, and are not suitable for local operations, necessitating improved methods for profile grinding and quality detection.

Innovation Solution

An intelligent steel rail dressing and grinding device equipped with a traveling vehicle, profile detection system, mileage system, grinding swing arm mechanism, single chip microcomputer, PLC control system, and electric control cabinet, enabling multi-position automatic profile grinding with real-time quality detection and evaluation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If small grinders are used for profile grinding, then the device complexity is reduced, but the manufacturing precision and productivity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidgrinding precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The grinding system is divided into multiple independent grinding heads (first grinding head, second grinding head, third grinding head, fourth grinding head) that can operate simultaneously on different sections of the rail. Each grinding head is independently controllable, allowing parallel processing that increases productivity while maintaining precision through individual head control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The grinding heads are mounted on swing arms that can dynamically adjust their positions and angles during operation. The swing arms enable the grinding heads to move along the rail profile and adapt to different grinding requirements, maintaining high precision while the entire system remains relatively compact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If small grinders are used for profile grinding, then the device complexity is reduced, but the productivity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidgrinding efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The grinding system is divided into multiple independent grinding heads (first grinding head, second grinding head, third grinding head, fourth grinding head) that can operate simultaneously on different sections of the rail. Each grinding head is independently controllable, allowing parallel processing that increases productivity while maintaining precision through individual head control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The multiple grinding heads are positioned to cover different sections of the rail profile, enabling continuous grinding operation as the device moves along the rail. This eliminates idle time between grinding sections and maintains continuous productive action throughout the processing cycle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Manufacturing precision

If large grinding trains are used for profile grinding, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrinding precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device integrates multiple functions into a single compact unit: profile detection, positioning, and multi-point grinding are all performed by one device. The swing arm mechanisms serve multiple purposes by enabling the grinding heads to reach different positions and angles, reducing the need for separate specialized equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The swing arms act as intermediaries between the vehicle body and the grinding heads, providing flexible positioning and orientation control. This intermediary mechanism allows the grinding heads to achieve precise positions without requiring a complex rigid structure, simplifying the overall device while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Manufacturing precision

If real-time detection and multi-head grinding are implemented, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrinding precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The detection system and grinding system are merged into a single integrated device. The profile detection data is directly used to control the grinding heads, eliminating the need for separate detection and grinding operations. This integration improves precision through real-time feedback while managing complexity through unified control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The profile detection system provides real-time feedback on the rail profile, which is used to control the positioning and operation of the grinding heads. This closed-loop feedback ensures high precision by continuously adjusting the grinding process based on actual profile measurements, managing complexity through intelligent control rather than mechanical complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 device achieves enhanced grinding accuracy and efficiency, with a compact structure suitable for independent use by railway administration units, offering flexible operation and high cost-effectiveness.

Implementation Method 1

consists of a plurality of laser displacement sensors arranged opposite to a plurality of characteristic points on a top of the rail

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLaser: Laser

Implementation Method 2

the rotary encoder is configured to record the number of the wheel revolutions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRotational encoding:

Implementation Method 3

the industrial camera is configured to collect a milestone image

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImage collection: Photography

Implementation Method 4

an inclination sensor configured to detect a lifting and deflection angle of the grinder

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInclination detection:

Implementation Method 5

a displacement sensor configured to detect a traverse amount of the grinder

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDisplacement detection: Displacement

Implementation Method 6

an inside of the electric control cabinet is provided with a current variable sensor connected to the single chip microcomputer and configured to provide the single chip microcomputer with a load current change information of the grinder

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCurrent detection: Electrical Resistance

Data Source

PatentEP4116487B1Steel rail dressing and grinding device
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 TANGSHAN KUNTIE TECH
  • EP4116487B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4116487B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4116487B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An intelligent steel rail dressing and grinding device. The whole device is composed of a traveling vehicle, a profile detection system, a mileage system, a grinding swing arm mechanism, a single chip microcomputer, a PLC control system and an electric control cabinet. After the traveling vehicle enters a grinding operation area, the steel rail profile is detected in real time during the traveling, the PLC control system automatically adjusts, according to data provided by the single chip microcomputer, the position and posture of each grinding swing arm mechanism, grinding is performed according to a preset steel rail profile, the grinding quality of a steel rail is evaluated by means of the rear profile detection system, and in combination with position information provided by the mileage system, grinding operation data is pushed point by point, significantly improving the grinding quality, efficiency and automation degree. The device can not only perform multistation automatic profile grinding on a steel rail on a track, but also detect the steel rail profile grinding quality in real time, and has the functions of synchronous detection, automatic profiling, multi-head grinding and real-time evaluation.