Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01B—MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS
  • G01B11/00—Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques
  • G01B11/16—Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques for measuring the deformation in a solid, e.g. optical strain gauge
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B61—RAILWAYS
  • B61L—GUIDING RAILWAY TRAFFIC; ENSURING THE SAFETY OF RAILWAY TRAFFIC
  • B61L23/00—Control, warning or like safety means along the route or between vehicles or trains
  • B61L23/04—Control, warning or like safety means along the route or between vehicles or trains for monitoring the mechanical state of the route
  • B61L23/042—Track changes detection
  • B61L23/047—Track or rail movements
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B61—RAILWAYS
  • B61L—GUIDING RAILWAY TRAFFIC; ENSURING THE SAFETY OF RAILWAY TRAFFIC
  • B61L27/00—Central railway traffic control systems; Trackside control; Communication systems specially adapted therefor
  • B61L27/50—Trackside diagnosis or maintenance, e.g. software upgrades
  • B61L27/53—Trackside diagnosis or maintenance, e.g. software upgrades for trackside elements or systems, e.g. trackside supervision of trackside control system conditions
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
  • E01B—PERMANENT WAY; PERMANENT-WAY TOOLS; MACHINES FOR MAKING RAILWAYS OF ALL KINDS
  • E01B35/00—Applications of measuring apparatus or devices for track-building purposes
  • E01B35/06—Applications of measuring apparatus or devices for track-building purposes for measuring irregularities in longitudinal direction
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01B—MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS
  • G01B11/00—Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques
  • G01B11/02—Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques for measuring length, width or thickness
  • G01B11/03—Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques for measuring length, width or thickness by measuring coordinates of points
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01B—MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS
  • G01B11/00—Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques
  • G01B11/14—Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or spaced apertures
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01B—MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS
  • G01B5/00—Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of mechanical techniques
  • G01B5/0002—Arrangements for supporting, fixing or guiding the measuring instrument or the object to be measured
  • G01B5/0004—Supports

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a measurement system for longitudinal displacements or sliding of at least one rail, in particular of a long welded rail.
• the present invention finds its application in the field of measurement of longitudinal displacements of a rail, in particular made in Long Welded Rail (L.W.R.), by means of optical measurements even on tracks in operation.
• L.W.R. Long Welded Rail
• the present invention in particular, is effectively usable on railway lines where tracing references consisting of the so-called “topographic pegs” are available.
• the variation of the Neutral Temperature (N.T.) of a rail made in Long Welded Rail (L.W.R.) on the tracks in operation may be determined based on the longitudinal displacements undergone by the rail itself over time.
• N.T. of a rail indicates that temperature at which, at the time of creation in L.W.R. , internal stresses (of elongation or shortening) of the rail itself are not present.
• the control operations involve conducting measurements of the longitudinal displacements on the L.W.R. during operation, verifying that each of the two rails of the track undergoes - over time - just longitudinal movements compatible with respect to the position created at the time of the internal tension adjustment of the of the L.W.R. itself.
• Patent application for industrial invention no. IT 102018000005257 filed on 10/05/2018 entitled: “Measurement method and system for longitudinal displacements or sliding of at least one rail, in particular of a long welded rail, for checks even on railway tracks in operation” in the name of Giorgio Pisani relates to a measurement system for longitudinal displacements or sliding of a long welded rail, comprising an anchoring and centering to a reference support and a collimation device adapted to generate in a repeatable manner over time a unique collimation plane projectable onto at least one web of the rail.
• An object of the present invention is to overcome prior art drawbacks.
• a particular object of the present invention is to avoid having to access the track to measure longitudinal displacements or sliding, thus increasing the safety of operators and railway traffic.
• a particular object of the present invention is to provide a measurement system for longitudinal displacements or sliding of at least one rail, which is more effective.
• a further particular object of the present invention is to provide a measurement system for longitudinal displacements or sliding of at least one rail which allows a more immediate measurement.
• a further particular object of the present invention is to provide a measurement system for longitudinal displacements or sliding of at least one rail which allows carrying out of all the control operations required by the regulations in force on the Long Welded Rail even by one person and without interfering with the movement of trains on the track in operation.
• An idea underlying the present invention is to provide a measurement system for longitudinal displacements or sliding of at least one rail, comprising: centering means configured to anchor the measurement system to at least one reference support; an optical collimation device adapted to generate a collimation plane, unique with respect the at least one reference support and projectable onto at least one web of the rail, to perform a position reading of at least one fixed mark on the rail; a displacement device configured to provide a lateral displacement of the collimation plane; a sensing device configured to measure the lateral displacement for the position reading of the at least one fixed mark.
• the displacement device comprises an optical transformation device acting on the collimation plane.
• the present invention advantageously, allows performing the detection and measurement of the longitudinal displacements of the at least one track, evaluating the displacement of the fixed mark on the rail with respect to an original collimation plane; the displacement is measured causing the generated collimation plane to displace laterally by an amount corresponding to the longitudinal displacement undergone by the track, causing it to coincide with the fixed mark in its new position.
• the present invention allows operators to avoid access the track and to perform detections from the walkway lateral to the track, even in the presence of active railway traffic.
• the present invention allows reproducing over time, for each reference support on which the system is hooked, always the same collimation plane.
• the collimation plane thus generated intercepts the two rails of the facing track through a luminous dot or line and allows measuring over time, with respect to the original mark on each track, a longitudinal displacement of the rails.
• the measurement system allows conducting all of the control operations required by the regulations in force on the Long Welded Rail even by a single person and above all without interfering with the movement of trains on the track in operation.
• the present invention allows a calculation of the thermal stress status of the Long Welded Rail upon each detection, through the use of a calculation model that correlates the variation of Neutral Temperature with the longitudinal sliding of the rails.
• the present invention allows an automatic drafting of specific verification tables for the certification of the thermal stress status of the Long Welded Rail upon the detection.
• FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a preferred embodiment of a measurement system according to the present invention.
• Figure 2 illustrates a top view of Figure 1.
• FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the measurement system in a first operating condition.
• FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of the measurement system in a second operating condition.
• Figure 6 illustrates a top view of Figure 5.
• FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of the measurement system in a third operating condition.
• Figure 8 illustrates a top view of Figure 7.
• FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of a module constituted by the displacement device and the sensing device of the measurement system according to the present invention.
• FIG. 10 illustrates the module of Figure 9 separated from the body of the measurement system according to the present invention.
• FIG. 11 illustrates a first embodiment of centering means of the measurement system according to the present invention.
• FIG. 12 illustrates a second embodiment of centering means of the measurement system according to the present invention.
• Figure 1 illustrates a side view and Figure 2 illustrates a top view of a preferred embodiment of a measurement system 100 according to the present invention.
• Said measurement system 100 is usable for measuring longitudinal displacements and sliding of a rail, in particular of a long welded rail.
• the measurement system 100 comprises centering means 101 configured to anchor the measurement system 100 to a reference support, as it will be further described.
• the measurement system 100 further comprises an optical collimation device 102 adapted to generate a collimation plane, unique with respect to the reference support and projectable onto at least one web of the rail, to perform a position reading of at least one fixed mark on the rail, as it will be further described.
• Tale optical collimation device 102 in a preferred embodiment, comprises a laser-type light source, adapted to project a dot or vertical dash on a web of a rail.
• the centering means of the measurement system 100 further comprise a subsidiary reference element 103 configured to coincide with a fixed reference, such as a hole, associated with the reference support.
• Said subsidiary reference element 103 is adapted to constrain the rotation with respect to the reference support of the cylindrical clench 101, ensuring the repeatability over time of the projection of the collimation plane.
• the measurement system 100 further comprises a slope adjustment element 104, configured to vary a slope of the optical collimation device 102 on the collimation plane, thus generating a plurality of laser beams, in the example, which identify the collimation plane.
• a slope adjustment element 104 configured to vary a slope of the optical collimation device 102 on the collimation plane, thus generating a plurality of laser beams, in the example, which identify the collimation plane.
• the measurement system 100 further comprises a displacement device 105 configured to provide a lateral displacement of the collimation plane, and a sensing device 106 configured to measure the lateral displacement, allowing the position reading of the fixed mark on the rail.
• the displacement device 105 comprises an optical transformation device 107 which comprises a plane-parallel plate or one or more prisms, optically equivalent to a plane-parallel plate.
• the module 107 thanks to the plane-parallel plate, allows the lateral displacement, in a quick and accurate manner, of the collimation plane, in particular laterally displacing the laser beam generated by the optical collimation device 102 parallel to the optical axis thereof.
• the lateral displacement of the collimation plane will also be zero.
• Figure 3 exemplifies the schematic constitution of a collimation plane at a pair of rails 1.
• the measurement system 100 comprises an optical collimation device 102 adapted to generate the collimation plane 2.
• the collimation plane 2 is in particular unique with respect to the reference support 3 and is projectable onto at least one web of the rails 1, so as to perform a position reading of at least one fixed mark on the rail 1.
• the reference support 3, which the measurement system 100 is anchored to comprises a topographic peg 3, in particular a peg 3 of the type already installed on railway lines and is also used to check the plano-altimetric status of the rail 1.
• topographic peg 3 allows uniquely defining the collimation plane 2 thus advantageously exploiting an infrastructure already available in the railway sector.
• said topographic pegs 3 are advantageously already installed on the electric traction poles or on other existing artifacts, with immovability features. Therefore, their use has the purpose of facilitating the detection operations, improving data accuracy, and reducing costs.
• a further fixed reference 4 such as a hole, is associated with the reference support 3, said further fixed reference 4 allows assuring the positioning of the measurement system 100 as already described.
• the collimation plane 2 preferably generated by a laser source that projects a bright dot or line, is projected on the track 1, in particular constituted in L.W.R.
• a fixed mark (not visible in the figure) is present.
• the measurement method provides repeatably generating over time the collimation plane 2 projected on the web of the rail 1, from the reference support 3.
• the bright dot or line defining the collimation plane 2 may be moved over the entire height of the two rails 1 of the facing track.
• the displacement device 105 of the measurement system 100 allows providing a lateral displacement with respect to the collimation plane 2, to make it coincide again with the fixed mark in case of displacement or sliding of the track 1.
• the sensing device 106 of the measurement system 100 is configured to measure the elapsed lateral displacement, thus allowing the position reading of the fixed mark on the rail.
• the position reading is performed by detecting a distance existing between the original projection of the unique collimation plane 2, and the laterally displaced projection of the collimation plane 2’ led to coincide with the fixed mark on the rail 1, which displaced as a result of the displacement or sliding of the rail 1.
• the unique collimation plane 2 is in particular defined at a first installation right as the plane passing through the center of the topographic peg 3, which a fixed mark on the rail is associated 1 with.
• the unique collimation plane 2 will be compared, every time a measurement is made, with the current position of the fixed mark that was made on the web of the rail 1 upon the first installation.
• the present invention thus allows measuring the longitudinal sliding of the rails 1 in successive instants of time, by intersection with the collimation plane 2 suitably laterally displaced.
• Figure 4 illustrates a side view of the measurement system 100 in a first operating condition.
• the optical transformation device 105 is separatable from the optical collimation device 102 to free the optical path and generate a collimation plane 2 devoid of any lateral displacement.
• the plane-parallel plate 107 could be left installed, taking care to exactly center the collimation plane on the ‘zero’.
• the sensing device 106 configured to measure the lateral displacement of the collimation plane is currently in a position that does not intersect the optical path of the collimation plane 2.
• Figure 5 illustrates a side view
• Figure 6 illustrates a top view of the measurement system 100 in a second operating condition.
• the displacement device 105 is in general configured to provide a lateral displacement of the collimation plane 2’.
• the optical transformation device 107 comprises a pair of surfaces 107a and 107b, respectively configured for a double refraction of the collimation plane 2, maintaining a direction of the collimation plane 2 and providing a lateral displacement in a parallel manner to define the collimation plane 2’.
• the optical transformation device 107 further comprises un rotation element 108, such as a pin, configured to rotate the optical transformation device 107 about an own vertical axis.
• un rotation element 108 such as a pin, configured to rotate the optical transformation device 107 about an own vertical axis.
• Said pin 108 could comprise or be associated with further rotation locking elements.
• Figure 7 illustrates a side view
• Figure 8 illustrates a top view of the measurement system 100 in a third operating condition.
• the sensing device 106 is used to measure the lateral displacement of the collimation plane 2’, with the purpose of performing a position reading of the at least one fixed mark on the rail
• the sensing device 106 comprises a graduated element 106b configured to be selectively interposed on the optical path of the collimation plane 2’, downstream of the optical transformation device 107.
• the interception of the collimation plane 2’, in displaced conditions, on the graduated element 106b allows measuring the lateral displacement of the collimation plane 2’ with respect to a predetermined center corresponding to the original collimation plane 2.
• the graduated element 106b comprises at least one rotatable movement hinge 106a, and it is thus movable to interpose in or to free the optical path of the collimation plane 2’.
• the graduated element 106b is rotatable on an axis transversal to the collimation plane 2 or 2’ of the measurement system 100.
• Figure 9 illustrates a perspective view of a module 200 constituted by the displacement device 107 and by the sensing device 106 of the measurement system 100
• Figure 10 illustrates the module 200 separated but close to the body of the measurement system 100.
• the displacement device 105 comprises a plane-parallel plate 107 suitably protected by a metal casing.
• the module 200 preferably comprises a precision coupling system 201, which ensures that the collimation plane actually passes on the central zero of the sensing device 106.
• the module 200 may be separated and newly coupled to the measurement system 100.
• the measurement system devoid of the module 200 in fact, remains adapted to generate a collimation plane thanks to the optical collimation device 102.
• the module 200 which can therefore be added to measurement systems devoid of the displacement device 107 and of the sensing device 106, thus allows measuring the lateral displacement to perform the position reading of the fixed mark on the rail, with respect to the reference support.
• the present invention provides transferring the reading point of the collimation plane laterally displaced, from the fixed marks on the rails to the graduated element 106b of the tiltable sensing device 106, positioned on the end of the module 200.
• the rotation with straightening of the sensing device 106 allows intercepting the collimation plane 2 at the end of the measurement system 100, after the lateral displacement by an appropriate quantity by means of the displacement device 107 to align the collimation plane 2’ with the fixed mark present on the rails, allows measuring the lateral displacement corresponding to the longitudinal displacement of the rails.
• the lateral displacement of the collimation plane 2 is made by means of an optical transformation device 107 such as a plane-parallel plate.
• an optical transformation device 107 such as a plane-parallel plate.
• the output laser beam is displaced and with the laser dot, visible from the railway platform, the original fixed marks on the rails are centered.
• the displaced laser beam is intercepted on the tilting millimetric reference or tilting electronic sensor.
• the zero of the tilting millimeter reference or electronic sensor is centered on the unique collimation plane generated by the original tool as it is forced by the particular coupling system to the original tool.
• a different displacement device comprises a mechanical slide configured to translate in a calibrated manner the optical collimation device 102 in a direction perpendicular to the collimation plane 2.
• the translation is calibrated by means of a suitable sensing device configured to measure the lateral displacement of the mechanical slide, so as to allow the position reading of the fixed mark on the rail.
• said sensing device comprises an adjustment element, such as a graduated wheel or a graduated slider, configured to provide a calibrated measurement of the lateral displacement.
• the sensing device is not provided with a movement hinge and with a graduated reference, but comprises an adjustment element, such as a graduated wheel or a graduated slider, configured to provide a calibrated measurement of the lateral displacement provided by the optical transformation device 107.
• an adjustment element such as a graduated wheel or a graduated slider, configured to provide a calibrated measurement of the lateral displacement provided by the optical transformation device 107. For instance, by rotating the plane-parallel plate, which is located inside the tool, the line of sight of the collimation plane 2’ is translated and at this point a number is read on an eyepiece or on a graduated scale, corresponding to the lateral displacement.
• FIG. 11 illustrates a first embodiment of centering means 101 of the measurement system according to the present invention.
• the centering means 101 comprise a front abutment cylindrical clench 110, configured for a locking with centering on a lower generatrix line of a cylinder defined by the reference support or topographic peg 3.
• the cylindrical clench 110 comprises a substantially circular profile.
• Figure 12 illustrates a second embodiment of centering means 101 of the measurement system according to the present invention.
• the centering means 101 comprise a front abutment cylindrical clench 110b which comprises a sloping profile, in particular V-shaped, configured to cooperate with the reference support or topographic peg 3 at the lower generatrix line.
• the front abutment cylindrical clench 110 or 110b positions the measurement system 100 in a same spatial position, with respect to each topographic peg 3, since it tightens on the lower generatrix line of the cylinder constituted by the topographic peg 3 itself.
• the subsidiary reference element 103 mounted on the measurement system 100, prevents the transversal rotation of the unique collimation plane 2 on the topographic peg 3.
• a computerized reading device of the lateral displacement could be provided, by means of an electronic system with digital output, or by photographic recognition through an associated device, for instance a smartphone or tablet.
• a GPS module associated with the computerized reading device could be provided, for instance the GPS already contained in the smartphone or tablet, which is configured to automatically detect a measurement position close to the rail.
• a computerized reading of the photographic image of the graduated element 106b could be provided.
• direct computerized reading with electronic laser detection system could be provided.
• optical-electronic and computer systems for the automatic acquisition and import of measured data could be provided.
• the measurement system allows performing measurements in successive instants of time, by means of successive generations of collimation planes 2 and 2’ laterally displaced from each other, in order to detect and measure the longitudinal displacements and sliding of the rails 1, with respect to the fixed mark reported thereon. Said value of the longitudinal displacements and sliding is detected by means of the measurement of a lateral displacement with respect to a central zero defined by an original unique collimation plane 2, made to coincide with a reference support.
• the measurement system according to the present invention therefore allows a single operator to perform all the longitudinal displacements and sliding measurement activities during operation - provided for by the regulations in force on the Long Welded Rail - with simultaneous automatic drafting of the appropriate control and certification modules.
• the present invention does not require the installation of dedicated fixed brackets. Moreover, advantageously, the present invention is fully operable from the outside of the tracks and therefore does not involve any interference with the overall outline generated by the train traffic.
• the present invention also allows the measurement data to be transferred and processed more effectively and to automatically draw up the certification of the thermal stress status of the Long Welded Rail, upon the detection, on specific verification tables. Considering the description herein reported, a skilled person can make further changes and variants in order to meet contingent and specific needs.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Biomedical Technology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Machines For Laying And Maintaining Railways (AREA)
• Length Measuring Devices By Optical Means (AREA)
• Length Measuring Devices With Unspecified Measuring Means (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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ID=77627345

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 2021
  • 2021-06-10 IT IT102021000015224A patent/IT202100015224A1/it unknown
• 2022
  • 2022-06-08 EP EP22732180.9A patent/EP4352453A1/de active Pending
  • 2022-06-08 WO PCT/EP2022/065472 patent/WO2022258650A1/en active Application Filing

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