Dynamic rail longitudinal stress measuring system
US5386727A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 3, 1993 |
| Grant date | Feb 7, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 3, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2291/2623
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system and method for dynamically and non-destructively measuring the longitudinal stresses in a rail of a continuous rail track includes an ultrasonic transmitter which transmits a signature coded pulse pattern through a rail which pulse pattern is altered by the rail section dependent upon the longitudinal stress within the rail. The altered pulse pattern is then received and a data processor, in conjunction with a rail height detector, a rail temperature detector, and a rail splice detector, dynamically determines the longitudinal stresses in the rail as a function of the received pulse characteristics and calculates the stress free temperature (SFT) of the rail. A rail marker marks portions of the rail having unacceptable SFT values. Stress and related rail data are recorded on a data log. A position sensor provides milepost positions to three decimal places.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.