Abstract

The invention relates to a method for determining structural parameters of a railway track comprising a sensor array. The method comprises measuring at least the vertical and/or lateral irregularities of said rail with the sensor array along the rail, thereby providing signals corresponding to the geometrical irregularities at different distance from the wheel-load. A model is provided describing the deflection shape of a rail, wherein the deflection shape is dependent on structural parameters of the rail and on the loads on the rail, said model being stored in the processor. In the processor said geometrical irregularities are compared under different load influence for generating a measured deflection shape. At least one theoretical rail deflection shape is generated using the model by varying the structural parameters and the load in the model. At least one of said theoretical deflection shapes is compared with said measured deflection shape for each point of the rail, and the structural parameters of that theoretical deflection shape which best matches said measured deflection shape are determined. An apparatus configured to perform the method is also provided.

IPC Classes  ?

• B61K 9/08 - Measuring installations for surveying permanent way
• E01B 35/12 - Applications of measuring apparatus or devices for track-building purposes for measuring movement of the track or of components thereof under rolling loads, e.g. depression of sleepers, increase of gauge
• G01M 5/00 - Investigating the elasticity of structures, e.g. deflection of bridges or aircraft wings

Abstract

This invention relates to a method for establishing the deflection and/or the stiffness of a supporting structure which is subjected to a load. The method comprises the steps of moving a measurement vehicle along the supporting structure, the vehicle having a loaded axle, a first measuring system being a first versine system and a second measuring system being one of an inertia based system and a second versine system. At a predetermined sampling rate, two sets of levels are measured using the two measuring systems. The two sets of levels are converted or transformed such that they relate to the same reference system and, thereafter, for each pair of sampled levels, the difference between the two levels is calculated such that the contribution to the measurements originating from unloaded irregularities in the supporting structure is eliminated, whereafter the deflection and/or the stiffness of the supporting structure is established from the calculated difference.

IPC Classes  ?

• E01B 35/12 - Applications of measuring apparatus or devices for track-building purposes for measuring movement of the track or of components thereof under rolling loads, e.g. depression of sleepers, increase of gauge
• B61K 9/08 - Measuring installations for surveying permanent way
• G01C 7/04 - Tracing profiles of land surfaces involving a vehicle which moves along the profile to be traced
• G01M 5/00 - Investigating the elasticity of structures, e.g. deflection of bridges or aircraft wings

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and device for determining at least a first parameter of a track: the method comprises providing first track geometry quality data (110, 120) associated to at least one point along a rail at a first temperature, providing second track geometry quality data (130, 140) associated to said at least one point at a second temperature, describing (160) a difference between the first and second track geometry quality data by means of a model relating the first and second track geometry quality data with associated temperatures to stress free temperature and/or track resistance, and estimating (170) the stress free temperature and/or track resistance in said at least one point based on the model.

IPC Classes  ?

• E01B 35/06 - Applications of measuring apparatus or devices for track-building purposes for measuring irregularities in longitudinal direction
• B61K 9/00 - Railway vehicle profile gaugesDetecting or indicating overheating of componentsApparatus on locomotives or cars to indicate bad track sectionsGeneral design of track recording vehicles
• B61L 23/04 - Control, warning or like safety means along the route or between vehicles or trains for monitoring the mechanical state of the route
• G01L 5/00 - Apparatus for, or methods of, measuring force, work, mechanical power, or torque, specially adapted for specific purposes