Distributed fibre optic sensing for monitoring rail networks
US10850754B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 1, 2016 |
| Grant date | Dec 1, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 14, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01H9/004
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
This application describes methods and apparatus for monitoring of rail networks using fibre optic distributed acoustic sensing (DAS), especially for condition monitoring. One method involves taking (902) a first data set corresponding to measurement signals from a plurality of channels of at least one fibre optic distributed acoustic sensor (100) having a sensing fibre (101) deployed to monitor at least part of the path of the rail network (201). The first data set corresponds to measurement signals acquired as a train (202) passed along a first monitored section of the rail network. The method involves identifying (903) a speed of the train through the first monitored section and dividing (904) the first data set into a plurality of time windows. Each time window contains a different subset of the first data set, with the measurement signal for each successive channel in a time window being delayed with respect to the previous channel by a time related to the identified train speed. For each time window, any appropriate time shift is identified (905) and applied (906) to the measurement signals for a channel so as to substantially align the measurement signals of the channels wit…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.