JPH11108655A - Equipment and method for measuring shape of rail - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable continuous and highly accurate measurement of the shape of rails on a 100% basis by a constitution wherein a measuring device having laser range finders is provided on a rail conveyance line and rail supporting devices are provided with rolls holding the lateral parts of a rail top from both of the right and left sides. SOLUTION: A rail 9 is conveyed into a measuring device 2 in a state wherein vertical and horizontal vibrations thereof are held down by supporting devices 1a and 1b provided in front and rear of the measuring device 2. Laser range finders 11a and 11b for vertical deflection measure the displacement in the height, at the top part and the bottom part of the rail 9, while laser range finders 10a and 10b for horizontal deflection measure the deflection in the width direction, and measured values thus obtained are collected at intervals of a prescribed length and sent to a computer 16. Integration of the length of the rail 9 is conducted from the time point when material detecting sensors 14a and 14b detect the rail from pulse signals of pulse generators 13a and 13b connected to the rotating shafts of rolls 6a and 6b for conveying the rail. Before the top part and the bottom part of the rail 9 arrive at the roll 6b on the exit side or 6a on the entrance side or after they separate therefrom, the rail, is measured in a free-end state wherein it is supported by the supporting devices 1a and 1b.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rail shape measuring apparatus and method for accurately measuring the shape of each part of a rail being conveyed on a rail manufacturing line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when measuring the shape of each part of a railway rail, a person has measured the top and bottom of the rail with a micrometer. Above all, bends at the top and bottom of the rail are measured using a combination of multiple microgauges or stretches and taper gauges. I was measuring. On the other hand, in spite of increasing demands from customers for measuring the total number of rails, there is no specific method for continuously measuring the total number of rails during transportation.

[0003]

On the other hand, the inventor has prototyped a measuring device using a laser distance meter, and has tried to measure the shape of all the rails continuously while the rails are being conveyed. However, there has been a problem that the rails are deviated from the measurement range of the laser range finder due to the vertical and horizontal vibrations of the rails during transportation, thereby causing measurement errors. Furthermore, it is necessary to enable measurement in a free end state in which the top or bottom of the rail is supported on only one of the entry and exit sides of the measuring device.

[0004] In the conventional measurement of the top and bottom of the rail, the measurement is performed while the rail is stationary.
In addition, a large error may occur depending on how a plurality of micro gauges or stretch and taper gauges are applied to the rail.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a rail shape measuring apparatus and method capable of measuring with an accuracy of about 1/10 of a tolerance in order to solve the above problems.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for measuring a shape of a rail while a rail is being conveyed on a rail manufacturing line. It is characterized by comprising a measuring device provided with a laser distance meter provided above, and a rail supporting device provided with rolls for holding the head side of the rail provided on the entrance side and the exit side of the measuring device from both left and right sides. This is a rail shape measuring device.

(2) An apparatus for measuring the shape of a rail while the rail is being conveyed on a rail manufacturing line. This apparatus comprises a measuring apparatus provided with a laser distance meter provided on the rail conveying line and an input of the measuring apparatus. A rail shape measuring device comprising: a rail support device provided with rolls for suppressing the top of the rail provided on the side and the exit side.

(3) An apparatus for measuring the shape of a rail while the rail is being conveyed on a rail manufacturing line, comprising a measuring apparatus having a laser distance meter provided on the rail conveying line and an input of the measuring apparatus. A rail shape measuring device comprising a rail supporting device provided with a roll provided on a side and an outgoing side for suppressing a head side of a rail from both right and left sides and a roll for suppressing a top portion of the rail.

(4) In measuring the torsion of the rail while the rail is being conveyed on the rail manufacturing line, the bottom surface of the rail forms the distance from the reference point to the bottom of the top and bottom of the rail for the reference length. Measure at four points near the top of the rectangle, calculate the plane calculated from the measured values of the three distances, and the value on the plane corresponding to the measuring position of the remaining one distance, and calculate this value and the measured value of the actual distance This is a method for measuring dimensions and shapes for rails, which is characterized in that the torsion is calculated with high precision from the difference between the torsion and the shape.

The "reference length" in the present invention refers to a predetermined length from the end determined by the customer standard at the top and bottom of the rail.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The measuring device provided with a laser distance meter according to the present invention relates to a measuring device capable of measuring the vertical and horizontal bending of a rail and measuring the torsion of a rail. The measurement device is not limited to the measurement device, and may be a measurement device capable of performing at least one of the measurements. However, preferably, up and down the rail,
This is a measuring device for measuring left and right bending and rail torsion.

Each of the distance detectors is preferably movable in the direction perpendicular to the line and in the longitudinal direction of the line. However, it is needless to say that the distance detector may be movable in only one of the directions depending on the purpose. Then, it may be moved by a moving drive mechanism or moved manually.

The following embodiment is an example in which only a torsion measuring laser distance meter is provided with a drive mechanism that can be driven in the direction perpendicular to the line.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings of embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are a front view and a plan view, respectively, showing the configuration of the entire apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention and the arrangement of sensors for measuring vertical and horizontal bending and torsion. FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line II-II in FIG. 1 and shows the arrangement of the distance detector without the rail support device and the torsion measurement laser range finder drive mechanism. The shape measurement includes a measuring device 2 provided with a laser distance meter provided on a line, and an entrance-side rail support device 1a and an exit-side rail support device 1b on the entrance and exit sides of the measurement device 2.

The entrance-side rail support device 1a is provided with a V-shaped roll 4a for holding a rail top provided so as to be able to ascend and descend above the line, a V-shaped roll elevating drive air cylinder 3a for driving the V-shaped roll up and down, and left and right lines. Rolls 5a and 5b which are provided so as to be able to advance and retreat in a direction substantially perpendicular to the line, and which hold down the head side of the rail from the left and right, and carry-in rails provided on the entrance side, the center and the exit side of the support device 1a , Material detection sensors 7a, 7b, 7c for detecting unloading
And a rail transmitter roll 6a, and a pulse transmitter 13a connected to the rotating shaft of the rail transport roll 6a and detecting the moving length of the rail.

Similarly, the exit side rail support device 1b holds the rail top provided so as to be able to ascend and descend above the line.
V-shaped roll 4b, V-shaped roll elevating drive air cylinder 3b that drives the V-shaped roll up and down, and roll 5c that is provided on the left and right of the line so as to be able to advance and retreat in a direction substantially perpendicular to the line, and suppresses the head side of the rail from the left and right. , 5d, material detection sensors 8a, 8b, 8 for detecting the loading and unloading of the rails provided on the entrance side, the center and the exit side of the support device, respectively.
c, a rail transport roll 6b, and a pulse transmitter 13b connected to the rotating shaft of the rail transport roll 6b and detecting the moving length of the rail.

A measuring device 2 equipped with a laser range finder is provided with a laser range finder 10a provided on both sides of the line on the entrance side for measuring the right and left bending, and a laser range provided for measuring the vertical bending provided above the line. A total of 11a, laser rangefinders 12a and 12b for measuring the distance to two points in the width direction of the bottom surface of the rail, which are below the line, and the laser rangefinders 12a and 12b for measuring the torsion are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the line. Laser distance meter driving mechanisms 15a and 15b to be driven, a material detection sensor 14a on the input side of the measuring device 2, a laser distance meter 10b on the output side for left and right bending measurement, a laser distance meter 11b for up and down bending, twisting It comprises laser rangefinders 12c and 12d for measurement, laser rangefinder driving mechanisms 15c and 15d for torsion measurement, and a material detection sensor 14b. Then, the laser distance meters 12a, 12b and 12c, 12d for measuring the distance to the bottom of the rail are arranged at a reference length Ls in the longitudinal direction.

These laser rangefinders 12a and 12b and 12c and 12d are a laser rangefinder driving mechanism 1 for torsion measurement.
5a, 15b, 15c and 15d are provided so as to be drivable in the direction perpendicular to the line. A computer 16 for controlling the data processing of the laser distance meter and controlling the driving mechanism of the laser distance meter for torsion measurement.
Receives the rail information such as the rail standard from the host computer 17, and changes the position of the laser distance meter in the direction perpendicular to the line based on this information.

1 and 2, the operation of the V-shaped rolls 4a and 4b and the rolls 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d in the entrance and exit rail support devices 1a and 1b will be described. The rail 9 is conveyed, and the material detection sensors 7a and 8 on the entrance side of the support device.
When a detects the rail 9, the signal is input to the computer 16 and the counting of the timer is started. After counting up a timer corresponding to the time required to reach the V-shaped roll after the tip of the rail 9 has passed through 7a, 8a, the computer 16 outputs a closing command to the V-shaped roll lifting drive cylinders 3a, 3b, The V-shaped rolls 4a and 4b descend to hold down the rail top, and the rail transport rolls 6a and 6b
The rail 9 is supported at the line center between the V-shaped rolls 4a and 4b to suppress vertical vibration during conveyance. Further, the rail 9 is transported, and the material detection sensors 7a, 8a,
When the rail 9 is detected in the order of the material detection sensors 7b and 8b at the center of the apparatus, the signal is input to the computer 16. Then, the computer 16 outputs a close command to the roll advance / retreat drive air cylinder (not shown) in response to the AND of the signal from the material detection sensors 7a, 7b or 8a, 8b.
5c is closed, and the head side portion of the rail 9 is supported from right and left. Subsequently, the rail is transported, and the material detection sensor 7b,
When the rail 9 is detected in the order of 8b and the material detection sensors 7c and 8c on the device exit side, the signal is input to the computer 16. Then, the material detection sensors 7a, 7b or 8a,
In response to the AND of the signal 8b, the computer 16 outputs a closing command to the roll advance / retreat driving air cylinder, and the rolls 5b, 5
d closes to hold down the head side of the rail to suppress vibration.

When the conveyance of the rail is completed, the rolls 5a and 5c are opened by detecting the absence of the rail by the material detection sensors 7a and 8a on the entrance side of the support device.
The character-shaped rolls 4a, 4b rise. Similarly, the material detection sensors 7b and 8b at the center of the support device detect that the rails have run out, and the rolls 5b and 5d open. V of entry side support device
Even when the rolls 4a are raised and the rolls 5a, 5b are open, the rails are supported at three points by the V-shaped rolls 4b, 5c, 5d on the exit side, so that vibration during transport is suppressed. Further, even when the output V-shaped roll 4b is raised and the rolls 5c and 5d are open, the rails are supported at three points by the input V-shaped rolls 4a, 5a and 5b. Is suppressed.

Next, the measuring operation will be described. The rail is conveyed into the measuring device 2 in a state where the vertical and horizontal vibrations are suppressed by the supporting devices provided before and after the measuring device. During the transport, the measuring device 2 uses the laser range finder 11 for vertical bending at the top or bottom of the rail.
a and 11b measure the displacement of the height and measure the measured value,
The left and right bending laser rangefinders 10a and 10b measure the displacement of the rail in the width direction, collect the measured values at regular intervals, and send the vertical bending and the left and right bending to a computer that calculates the bending.

The integration of the lengths of the rails to be transported is performed by the rail transport rolls 6a, 6a provided in the rail support devices 1a, 1b.
The pulse signals of the pulse transmitters 13a and 13b connected to the rotating shaft of b are sent from the time when the material detection sensors 14a and 14b detect the rail. The longitudinal position of the rail corresponding to the measured value of the laser distance meter is calculated from the integrated value of the length of the conveyed rail, that is, the measured value of each position in the longitudinal direction of the rail is obtained. And Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 09-3
Using a conventional technique such as Japanese Patent No. 3243, the computer 16 calculates the bending at a certain position in the longitudinal direction of the rail. For example, referring to the measured values of the collected reference length, the difference between the measured values of the displacement to the rail surface measured at a position apart by the reference length at the same time is calculated, and the rail at the position in the rail longitudinal direction is calculated. Calculate the bend.

Until the top of the rail reaches the outgoing rail transport roll 6b, measurement is performed in the free end state supported only by the incoming rail support device 1a.
In addition, the bottom of the rail is the entrance side rail transport roll 6.
After leaving a, measurement is performed in the free end state supported only by the outgoing rail support device 1b.

Next, measurement of torsion of the reference length portion of the rail will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the calculation of the amount of twist at the top of the rail, and FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the calculation of the amount of twist of the bottom of the rail. The measured values of the distance of the laser rangefinders 12a, 12b, 12c and 12d to the bottom of the rails are respectively ha, hb, hc and hd,
Laser Distance Meter Drive Mechanisms 15a, 15b, 15 for Torsion Measurement
La and L denote the positions of lines c and 15d in the direction perpendicular to the line, respectively.
Assuming that b, Lc, Ld, and the distance between the laser rangefinders 12a and 12c and the distance between 12b and 12d are Ls (reference length), FIG.
The amount of twist Nt at the top of the rail is as follows: hd ′ = hc + (ha · (Lb−Lc) + hb · (Lc−La)) / (La−Lb) + Ld · (ha−hb) / (La−Lb) + (La · hb−Lb · ha) / (La−Lb) (1) Nt = | hd′−hd | (2)

Similarly, the amount of twist Nb at the bottom of the rail in FIG. 3 is as follows: hb '= ha + (hc. (Ld-La) + hd. (La-Lc)) / (Lc-Ld) ) + Lb. (Hc-hd) / (Lc-Ld) + (Lc.hd-Ld.hc) / (Lc-Ld) (3) Nb = | hb'-hb | (4) . For the torsion at the top of the rail, the material detection sensor 1
4a detects the top of the rail,
Using the measured values of 2a, 12b, 12c and 12d,
The torsion at each point is calculated by the equations (1) and (2). In addition,
In practice, the average of several points is taken as the twist of the top of the rail. Also, regarding the twist of the bottom part of the rail,
Before the material detection sensor 14b detects the bottom of the rail, the torsion is calculated by the equations (1) and (2) using the measured values of the laser distance meters 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d, and the average value thereof is calculated. Is the twist at the bottom of the rail.

If the reference length of the consumer is different from Ls, and the value is Ls', the twists Nt 'and Nb' at the top and bottom are respectively as follows: Nt '= Nt · Ls' / Ls (5) Nb '= Nb · Ls' / Ls (6). It should be noted that the distance detector of the present invention is not limited to the laser distance meter of the above-described embodiment, but may be a distance detector such as an eddy current sensor.

[0028]

According to the present invention, when measuring the shape on the rail manufacturing line, the horizontal and vertical vibrations during conveyance can be suppressed to several mm by the roll for suppressing the head side of the rail from the left and right and the roll for suppressing the top of the rail. Thus, the shape can be measured continuously and with an accuracy of about 1/10 of the tolerance while transporting the entire number of rails.

The free end state in which the vertical and horizontal bending of the top and bottom of the rail is switched by switching the laser distance meter even while the rail is being conveyed, and the rail is cantilevered by one of the rail support devices on the entrance and exit sides. It becomes possible to measure with.

Further, the distance from the reference point to the bottom of the top part and the bottom part of the rail for the reference length is measured at four points, and a plane calculated from the measured values of the three distances and the remaining one point are measured. Is calculated on the plane corresponding to the measured position of the distance, and the torsion is calculated with high accuracy from the difference between this value and the measured value of the actual distance. Twist can be measured with an accuracy of about 10.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a sensor arrangement for measuring a vertical bending and a horizontal bending according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a sensor arrangement for measuring vertical bending and horizontal bending according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an arrangement of a distance detector in a view taken along a line II-II in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining calculation of a twist amount of a top portion of the rail according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining calculation of a twist amount of a bottom portion of the rail according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1a: Inlet rail support device 1b: Outlet rail support device 2: Measuring device 3a, 3b: V-shaped roll up / down driving air cylinder 4a, 4b: V-shaped roll 5a to 5d: Roll 6a, 6b: Rail transport roll 7a to 7c, 8a to 8c: Material detection sensor 9: Rail 10a, 10b: (Spot type) laser range finder (for left and right bending) 11a, 11b: (Scan type) laser range finder (for vertical bending) 12a to 12d: (Spot type) laser rangefinder (for twisting) 13a, 13b: pulse transmitter 14a, 14b: material detection sensor 15a to 15d: laser rangefinder driving mechanism for twisting measurement 16: computer 17: host computer

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Toshihiro Ishibashi 20-1 Shintomi, Futtsu-shi, Chiba Nippon Steel Corporation Technology Development Division (72) Inventor Kazuhiko Saeki 1 Tobata-cho, Tobata-ku, Kitakyushu-shi -1 Inside Nippon Steel Corporation Yawata Works

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A device for measuring a shape of a rail while the rail is being conveyed on a rail manufacturing line, comprising a measuring device having a laser distance meter provided on a rail conveying line and an input side of the measuring device. And a rail support device provided with rolls for holding the head side of the rail on the output side from both left and right sides. 2. A device for measuring the shape of a rail while a rail is being conveyed on a rail manufacturing line, comprising a measuring device having a laser distance meter provided on the rail conveying line and an input side of the measuring device. And a rail support device provided with a roll provided on the output side for suppressing the top of the rail. 3. An apparatus for measuring the shape of a rail while a rail is being conveyed on a rail manufacturing line, comprising a measuring apparatus having a laser distance meter provided on a rail conveying line and an input side of the measuring apparatus. And a roll support device provided with a roll provided on the outgoing side for suppressing the head side of the rail from both left and right sides and a roll for suppressing the top of the rail. 4. When measuring the torsion of a rail while the rail is being conveyed on a rail manufacturing line, a distance from a reference point to a bottom of a top portion and a bottom portion of the rail for a reference length is defined by a rectangle formed by the bottom surface of the rail. A plane calculated from the measured values of three distances at four points near the vertex of
A method for measuring dimensions and shapes for rails, comprising calculating a value on a plane corresponding to a measurement position of two distances, and calculating a torsion with high accuracy from a difference between the value and a measured value of an actual distance.