System and method for inspecting a route during movement of a vehicle system over the route

US9205849B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• General Electric Company · US

Inventors

• Jared Klineman Cooper · Melbourne, US
• Mark Bradshaw Kraeling · Melbourne, US
• Eugene Smith · Sharpsburg, US
• James Glen Corry · Palm Bay, US
• David Lowell McKay · Melbourne, US
• Brian Joseph McManus · Melbourne, US
• Keith Szewczyk · Melbourne, US
• Joseph Forrest Noffsinger · Lee's Summit, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 10, 2014
• Grant date: Dec 8, 2015
• Expiry date: Jan 10, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B61L2205/04
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A sensing system includes a leading sensor, a trailing sensor, and a route examining unit. The leading sensor is onboard a first vehicle of a vehicle system that is traveling along a route. The leading sensor measures first characteristics of the route as the vehicle system moves along the route. The trailing sensor is disposed onboard a second vehicle of the vehicle system. The trailing sensor measures second characteristics of the route as the vehicle system moves along the route. The route examining unit is disposed onboard the vehicle system and receives the first characteristics of the route and the second characteristics of the route to compare the first characteristics with the second characteristics. The route examining unit also identifies a segment of the route as being damaged based on a comparison of the first characteristics with the second characteristics.