Patent Application
20150083013
The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for use in track corrections, such as lifting, aligning, cross-leveling and/or applying geometric corrections (generally referred to as “surfacing and lining” operations) to railroad tracks.
Railroads are typically constructed to include a pair of elongated, substantially parallel rails, which are coupled to a plurality of laterally extending ties. The ties are disposed on a ballast bed of hard particulate material such as gravel. Over time, normal wear and tear on the railroad may cause the rails to deviate from a desired geometric orientation.
Rail maintenance processes for addressing such concerns typically involve the use of a tamping machine with a buggy, which cooperate with each other to provide a three-point reference system to measure the position of the track prior to applying the desired corrections to the track. A typical correction process involves lifting rail with mechanical clamps, aligning the track by shifting it to a calculated position, and then tamping the ballast under each tie to hold the track in place. This work sequence is typically repeated at each tie during the course of the correction process.
Known reference systems often utilize light beams or lasers either alone or in combination with tensioned wires. In such systems, a buggy vehicle is equipped with a light source or laser projector, a shadow board extends from the rail maintenance vehicle, and a pair of receivers, each positioned over corresponding rail, are positioned at the rear of the tamping machine.
The reference points are used to establish a geometry of the track at the particular location being worked. That is, the recorded values are used to triangulate the geometry of the section of track being worked, while an onboard computer compares the previous section of track already corrected to the current section and makes the calculations for the required corrections to be made at the work heads. Similar recording and corrections are made with four point reference systems, i.e., the recorded geometry is calculated and corrected using different formulas that result in correction of the track to a desired position.
However, known reference systems are subject to a variety of outside influences and factors that may prevent the track from being returned to the desired geometric orientation, thereby reducing the efficiency of a railroad vehicle traveling along the track. For example, the receiver pairs may be tuned to search for a specific frequency of light that may be negatively affected by ambient light (i.e., sunlight) when the buggy vehicle is spaced apart from the rail maintenance vehicle. In addition, the tensioned wires may be affected by wind and weather, may become tangled or caught, and may be difficult to keep taut. Accordingly, an improved system for use in carrying out surfacing and/or lining operations on railroad tracks is desired.
The present disclosure is directed to improved systems and methods for use in rail track corrections such as surfacing and/or lining operations on railroad track. The systems and methods may comprise a projector device positioned on a first rail vehicle and a pair of receiver devices positioned on a second rail vehicle. The projector may include a Fresnel lens and a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) arranged to emit a light beam. In some embodiments, the LEDs are infrared LEDs and the Fresnel lens is replaced with a convex lens or other optical lens that cooperates with the LEDs to collimate the light source In some embodiments, the projector device may be positioned on a buggy vehicle deployed ahead of a rail maintenance vehicle, such as a tamping machine. The rail maintenance vehicle may be equipped with receiver pairs disposed on each side of the machine as well as a receiver pair disposed on top of the machine.
In practice, the projector device is activated to provide a beam that provides a uniform “spot” (i.e., a uniform beam). The light beam is then modulated in such a manner that the receivers can detect the light source. For example, the light emitted from the projector device may be modulated in a range of between about 50 Hz and 2200 Hz. In this manner, the light intensity and frequency of wavelength of light received into each receiver of a receiver pair is substantially equal. Recorded values may be used to triangulate the geometry of the section of track being worked, while a computer (e.g., disposed on the rail maintenance vehicle) compares the previous section of track already corrected to the current section and makes calculations for desired corrections to be made at work heads on the rail maintenance vehicle.
Embodiments are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying figures, in which like reference numbers indicate similar parts, and in which:
While the making and using of various embodiments of the present disclosure are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present disclosure provides many applicable inventive concepts that can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the disclosure and do not limit the scope of the disclosure.
To facilitate the understanding of this disclosure, a number of terms are defined below. Terms defined herein have meanings as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the areas relevant to the present disclosure. Terms such as “a”, “an”, and “the” are not intended to refer to only a singular entity, but include the general class of which a specific example may be used for illustration. The terminology herein is used to describe specific embodiments of the disclosure, but their usage does not limit the disclosure, except as outlined in the claims.
Various embodiments of systems and methods of rail track corrections according to the present disclosure are described. It is to be understood, however, that the following explanation is merely exemplary in describing the devices and methods of the present disclosure. Accordingly, several modifications, changes and substitutions are contemplated.
The second rail vehicle 104 may further comprise one or more shadow boards 108 operable to work in conjunction with the one or more projector devices 102 and the one or more receiver devices 106. The projector devices 102, the receiver devices 106, and the shadow boards 108 may be configured for rail leveling, rail lining, or a combination of the two. In the leveling configuration, a projector device 102 may be positioned on top of the first rail vehicle 100 and a corresponding shadow board 108 and pair of receiver devices 106 may be positioned on top of the second rail vehicle 104. In the lining configuration, a projector device 102 may be positioned on either (or both) side(s) of the first rail vehicle 100, proximate to the rail, and a corresponding shadow board 108 and receiver device 106 may be positioned on the corresponding side of the second rail vehicle 104, also proximate to the rail. During operation, in both rail lining and rail leveling configurations, the first rail vehicle 100 and the one or more projector devices 102 are spaced at a distance from the second rail vehicle 104 and the one or more receiver devices 106, and the one or more shadow boards 108 are positioned between the one or more projector devices 102 and the one or more receiver devices 106. The shadow boards 108 may be located proximate to the receiver devices 106 and are operable to block a light beam emitted from one or more projector devices 102 and prevent the one or more receiver devices 106 from receiving the light beam.
The frame structure 122 may comprise a plurality of wheels 124 that allow the first rail vehicle 100 to move along the rail. The frame structure 122 may further comprise a lining projector carrier 126 operable to extend below the frame structure 122 and travel along the rail independently of the plurality of wheels 124. The lining projector carrier 126 may be operable to receive one or more projector devices 102, and the one or more projector devices 102 may be extended outwardly from the frame structure 122. In an embodiment, one or more projector devices 102 may be positioned on the sides of the first rail vehicle 100 for lining operations.
In operation, the one or more projector devices 102 may be positioned on the first rail vehicle 100, i.e., the buggy vehicle, deployed ahead of the second rail vehicle 104, i.e., a rail maintenance vehicle, such as a tamper vehicle. The buggy vehicle may be tethered to the rail maintenance vehicle, or in some embodiments, the buggy vehicle may operate as a drone vehicle (i.e., untethered from the rail maintenance vehicle). The first rail vehicle 100 and the second rail vehicle 104 may be spaced 40′ to 200′ or more apart from each other during lining and leveling operations. The light source generated by the one or more projector devices 102 may be received at one or more receiver devices 104 disposed substantially adjacent to one another (i.e., a “receiver pair”). In some embodiments, additional receiver device 104 pairs are disposed at different points along the second rail vehicle 104, e.g., a first receiver device 106 pair disposed on a first side of the tamper vehicle, a second receiver device 106 pair disposed on a second side of the tamper vehicle, and third and fourth receiver device 106 pairs disposed at a top of the tamper vehicle. In some embodiments, lining operations may only require one receiver device 106 per projector device 102, while leveling operations may require two receiver devices 106 per projector device 102.
The one or more projector devices 102 may be adapted to produce a uniform light source 124 resulting in a uniform “spot” such that the light intensity received into each receiver device 106 of a receiver pair is substantially equal. That is, each receiver device 106 of a receiver pair is adapted to receive substantially the same intensity of light 124. In addition, the light source 124 is modulated in such a manner that each receiver device 106 of a receiver pair can detect the light source 124. In this manner, the light source 124 has a predefined signature, which is detected by each receiver device 106 of a receiver pair. In some embodiments, the receiver pair may be tuned to work with a range of frequency and wavelength, e.g., substantially between 50 Hz and 2200 Hz. Accordingly, upon activation of the projector device 102 and receipt of the light source 124 at the receiver device 106, the system of the present disclosure may recognize such light 124 as being emitted by the projector device 102 due to the amount of frequency and intensity of the light source. This is helpful for purposes of excluding other light sources, such as ambient light sources.
In some embodiments, the rail maintenance vehicle may be equipped with a plurality (e.g., three) shadow boards 108 generally positioned at an area adjacent to one or more work heads, such as linear actuators. In a surfacing operation, the track is lifted via clamps and actuators until the top shadow board 108 shields the light beam 124 emitted from the projector device 102 and the light 124 is not received at a pair of corresponding receiver devices 106. Jacking/lifting would occur at the actuators until the shadow board 108 intersects the infrared light beam 124. At this time, the lifting ceases while the work heads tamp the particular tie being worked upon. The total lift that is applied to the track may be controlled by changing the position of receiver device 106. The position may be changed manually by using an up/down button on an operator keypad or automatically by a computer controlled surface ramp. Likewise, lining operations may also be performed in which the amount of correction is determined by the laterally placed (i.e., side) shadow boards 108 shielding the light beam 124 from reaching receiver device 106 pairs laterally disposed on the rail maintenance vehicle.
While various embodiments in accordance with the principles disclosed herein have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and are not limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the invention(s) should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the claims and their equivalents issuing from this disclosure. Furthermore, the above advantages and features are provided in described embodiments, but shall not limit the application of such issued claims to processes and structures accomplishing any or all of the above advantages.
It will be understood that the principal features of this disclosure can be employed in various embodiments without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, numerous equivalents to the specific procedures described herein. Such equivalents are considered to be within the scope of this disclosure and are covered by the claims.
Additionally, the section headings herein are provided for consistency with the suggestions under 37 CFR 1.77 or otherwise to provide organizational cues. These headings shall not limit or characterize the invention(s) set out in any claims that may issue from this disclosure. Specifically and by way of example, although the headings refer to a “Field of Invention,” such claims should not be limited by the language under this heading to describe the so-called technical field. Further, a description of technology in the “Background of the Invention” section is not to be construed as an admission that technology is prior art to any invention(s) in this disclosure. Neither is the “Summary” to be considered a characterization of the invention(s) set forth in issued claims. Furthermore, any reference in this disclosure to “invention” in the singular should not be used to argue that there is only a single point of novelty in this disclosure. Multiple inventions may be set forth according to the limitations of the multiple claims issuing from this disclosure, and such claims accordingly define the invention(s), and their equivalents, that are protected thereby. In all instances, the scope of such claims shall be considered on their own merits in light of this disclosure, but should not be constrained by the headings set forth herein.
The use of the word “a” or “an” when used in conjunction with the term “comprising” in the claims and/or the specification may mean “one,” but it is also consistent with the meaning of “one or more,” “at least one,” and “one or more than one.” The use of the term “or” in the claims is used to mean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only or the alternatives are mutually exclusive, although the disclosure supports a definition that refers to only alternatives and “and/or.” Throughout this application, the term “about” is used to indicate that a value includes the inherent variation of error for the device, the method being employed to determine the value, or the variation that exists among the study subjects.
As used in this specification and claim(s), the words “comprising” (and any form of comprising, such as “comprise” and “comprises”), “having” (and any form of having, such as “have” and “has”), “including” (and any form of including, such as “includes” and “include”) or “containing” (and any form of containing, such as “contains” and “contain”) are inclusive or open-ended and do not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps.
As used herein, words of approximation such as, without limitation, “about”, “substantial” or “substantially” refers to a condition that when so modified is understood to not necessarily be absolute or perfect but would be considered close enough to those of ordinary skill in the art to warrant designating the condition as being present. The extent to which the description may vary will depend on how great a change can be instituted and still have one of ordinary skilled in the art recognize the modified feature as still having the required characteristics and capabilities of the unmodified feature. In general, but subject to the preceding discussion, a numerical value herein that is modified by a word of approximation such as “about” may vary from the stated value by at least ±1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 12 or 15%.
The term “or combinations thereof” as used herein refers to all permutations and combinations of the listed items preceding the term. For example, “A, B, C, or combinations thereof is intended to include at least one of: A, B, C, AB, AC, BC, or ABC, and if order is important in a particular context, also BA, CA, CB, CBA, BCA, ACB, BAC, or CAB. Continuing with this example, expressly included are combinations that contain repeats of one or more item or term, such as BB, AAA, AB, BBC, AAABCCCC, CBBAAA, CABABB, and so forth. The skilled artisan will understand that typically there is no limit on the number of items or terms in any combination, unless otherwise apparent from the context.
All of the compositions and/or methods disclosed and claimed herein can be made and executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While the compositions and methods of this disclosure have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that variations may be applied to the compositions and/or methods and in the steps or in the sequence of steps of the method described herein without departing from the concept, spirit and scope of the disclosure. All such similar substitutes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and concept of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/882,448 entitled “Projector Device for Rail Applications” filed on Sep. 25, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61882448 | Sep 2013 | US |
