RFID Transponder Nesting in Rail Weld Beads
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for storing and managing data related to aluminothermal welds in rail tracks lack a secure, permanent, and easily readable method for connecting quality-relevant data to the welding point, making it difficult to ensure data integrity and traceability across location changes and replacements.
Innovation Solution
An information carrier, such as an RFID transponder, is captively connected to the rail profile, allowing for contactless reading and secure storage of welding point data, with measures like password protection and hardware-based backup to prevent unauthorized modification, and is designed to be integrated into the rail profile without compromising its mechanical strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical application of identification number to weld point is used, then data can be associated with weld, but the method is extremely complex, not tamper-proof, and practically impossible to control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical application of identification numbers with an RFID transponder system. The transponder is captively connected to the rail profile and communicates wirelessly with reading devices, eliminating the need for manual mechanical tagging while providing tamper-proof, automated data association with the weld point
Solution Approach 2:
The RFID transponder serves as an intermediary between the weld point and the data storage system. It is permanently attached to the rail profile and enables contactless reading of weld data by reading devices mounted on maintenance vehicles, providing a reliable and controlled data association mechanism
2Loss of information
If data is stored in welding machine memory, then welding parameters are archived, but permanent storage medium connected to welding point is neither provided nor required
Solution Approach 1:
The transponder is pre-connected to the rail profile during the welding process, establishing permanent data storage at the source. This preliminary action ensures data is captured and stored immediately when the weld is created, eliminating subsequent data loss while enabling easy retrieval during maintenance operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the data storage function from the welding machine memory and places it directly on the rail profile via the transponder. This separation allows the welding machine to focus on the welding process while the transponder provides permanent, location-specific data storage that travels with the rail section
3Duration of action of stationary object
If information carrier is attached to weld point, then permanent connection is achieved, but mechanical strength of rail profile must not be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The transponder is nested within a recess in the rail profile, with the front surface of the transponder forming the bottom of the recess. This nesting approach allows permanent attachment of the information carrier while maintaining the structural integrity of the rail profile by utilizing the existing weld bead material for reinforcement
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 solution provides a secure, efficient, and centralized method for archiving and maintaining welding point data, ensuring data integrity and traceability, facilitating maintenance and quality assurance across the track network.
Implementation Method 1
The information carrier used is a familiar RFID (radio-frequency identification) transponder... A radio link exists between the transponder and the reader, over which the aforementioned data exchange takes place.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The arrangement comprises a data of a weld storing information carrier (10) contactless readable connection with a rail section (1) of a weld stand, and a reader for exchanging data furnished with the information carrier. The reader is mounted on a welding location (6) movably arranged on a support. The data is communication with a storage medium for archiving. The reader includes a storage medium-containing server for data exchange. The information carrier includes a passive radio-frequency identification tag, and is positioned in a recess of a weld bead (5) of the welding location. The arrangement comprises a data of a weld storing information carrier (10) contactless readable connection with a rail section (1) of a weld stand, and a reader for exchanging data furnished with the information carrier. The reader is mounted on a welding location (6) movably arranged on a support. The data is communication with a storage medium for archiving. The reader includes a storage medium-containing server for data exchange. The information carrier includes a passive radio-frequency identification tag, and is positioned in a recess of a weld bead (5) of the welding location and in the recess of a reinforcing material in the vicinity of the weld bead of the welding location. The recess is arranged in a region of a web (3) of the rail section. The reader is arranged to exchange data with the server via a public telecommunications network. The information carrier is connected to the rail section. The data of the information carrier is stored in a secure form.