Railway Guide System with Offset Attitude Sensors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current track geometry monitoring methods, such as those used by the IRIS320 train, are inadequate for real-time high-frequency measurement of rail deformation, leading to potential speed reductions for high-speed trains due to temporary geometry variations, and are not representative of commercial train passage conditions, while increasing monitoring frequency is costly and disruptive.

Innovation Solution

A guide system with attitude sensors and a processing circuit that calculates rail deformation frequency, immune to external conditions, electromagnetic interference, and structural integrity, allowing for precise deformation measurement without disrupting commercial traffic, using offset sensors and wired connections with epoxy glue for mechanical and electrical insulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a monitoring train like IRIS320 is used to measure track geometry, then measurement precision is improved, but the frequency of measurement is limited and commercial traffic is disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetrack geometry measurement precisionVSAvoidmonitoring frequency

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of a dedicated monitoring train with a sensor system fixed to the rail that uses wired connections and epoxy glue for mechanical and electrical insulation, enabling continuous monitoring without disrupting commercial traffic

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor system is self-contained and fixed to the rail, automatically measuring geometry parameters continuously without requiring external monitoring trains, thus providing real-time data without traffic disruption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If a monitoring train passes through the track, then geometry measurement is performed, but commercial train traffic must be reduced for safety

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegeometry measurement accuracyVSAvoidcommercial traffic continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the need for a monitoring train to pass through the track with a fixed sensor system that continuously measures geometry without requiring train passage, eliminating the conflict between measurement and commercial traffic

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor system provides continuous geometry monitoring without interruption to commercial train operations, ensuring that measurement activities do not pause or reduce traffic flow

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Loss of time

If monitoring is performed during commercial train passage, then real-time geometry data is obtained, but the data may not be representative of actual operating conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereal-time measurement availabilityVSAvoidgeometry measurement representativeness

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor system fixed to the rail continuously measures geometry under actual commercial train operating conditions, providing representative data without requiring separate monitoring train passages

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

Enables real-time, high-frequency monitoring of rail deformation, minimizing speed reductions and maintaining commercial traffic integrity by providing accurate and continuous measurement of rail geometry, particularly in transition areas between ballast and metal structures.

Implementation Method 1

The attitude sensors (30) are spaced from one another in the longitudinal direction of the rail (2)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAttitude measurement:

Implementation Method 2

using offset sensors and wired connections with epoxy glue for mechanical and electrical insulation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesive bonding: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentUS10556605B2Railway guide system including sensors fixed to a rail

Publication Date: 2020.02.11 COMMISSARIAT A LENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES

AI summary

A guide system including a railway rail extending along an axis and including an upper element having a rolling face; a lower element having a bearing face; a connecting element between the lower and upper elements, at least one lateral recess being formed between the lower and upper elements; at least first and second attitude sensors fixed to the rail by glue at respective positions offset along the axis of the rail, the attitude sensors being housed at least partially in the lateral recess; a processing circuit configured to recover attitude measurements supplied by the first and second attitude sensors and configured to calculate a deformation of the railway rail relative to the axis as a function of the recovered attitude measurements.