US3675233A - Light reference system for railroad track surveying - Google Patents

Light reference system for railroad track surveying Download PDF

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Publication number
US3675233A
US3675233A US855591A US3675233DA US3675233A US 3675233 A US3675233 A US 3675233A US 855591 A US855591 A US 855591A US 3675233D A US3675233D A US 3675233DA US 3675233 A US3675233 A US 3675233A
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United States
Prior art keywords
shadow board
photo
deadband
cells
cell
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Expired - Lifetime
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US855591A
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English (en)
Inventor
Odon Steven Bencsics
Helmut Rolf Erich Von Beckmann
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    • 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
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01C—CONSTRUCTION OF, OR SURFACES FOR, ROADS, SPORTS GROUNDS, OR THE LIKE; MACHINES OR AUXILIARY TOOLS FOR CONSTRUCTION OR REPAIR
    • E01C19/00—Machines, tools or auxiliary devices for preparing or distributing paving materials, for working the placed materials, or for forming, consolidating, or finishing the paving
    • E01C19/004—Devices for guiding or controlling the machines along a predetermined path
    • E01C19/006—Devices for guiding or controlling the machines along a predetermined path by laser or ultrasound
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01B—PERMANENT WAY; PERMANENT-WAY TOOLS; MACHINES FOR MAKING RAILWAYS OF ALL KINDS
    • E01B2203/00—Devices for working the railway-superstructure
    • E01B2203/16—Guiding or measuring means, e.g. for alignment, canting, stepwise propagation

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT This invention relates to reference systems of the type used for surveying railroad track in which a light beam transmitter, a beam receiver spaced therefrom and a railroad condition sensor having a single edged shadow board is located therebetween.
  • the invention contemplates positioning at least two photo-cells in the receiver physically closely spaced apart in the direction of shadow board motion.
  • the outputs from the photo-electric cells are electrically connected in a differential configuration so that a command signal is generated to stop shadow board movement into the transmitted beam when the shadow board reaches a datum position at which point the distribution of the transmitted light on the photo-cells will have achieved a predetermined difference.
  • a deadband producing photo-cell is provided in the receiver and located physically closely spaced apart from the other two photo-cells in the direction of the shadow board motion and inwardly of the edge thereof when it is in datum position.
  • the deadband producing photo-cell is electrically connected to generate a command signal to commence shadow board movement into the beam when the deadband producing FOREIGN PATENTS QR APPLICATIONS photo-electric cell is exposed by a predetermined amount to the transmitted beam.
  • This invention relates to reference systems of the type which use a beam transmitter, usually a light beam projector which transmits a reference beam towards a receiver and in which a single edged shadow board is mounted on a road condition sensor between the transmitter and the receiver.
  • the present invention provides in a reference system of the type described, the improvement wherein the receiver includes at least two light sensitive transducers physically closely spaced apart in the direction of shadow board motion; and means for electrically connecting the outputs from the transducers in a differential configuration whereby to roduce a command signal to stop shadow board movement when the shadow board is positioned at a datum position in the transmitted beam so as to distribute the transmitted light on the transducers with a predetermined difference.
  • a deadband producing transducer is provided for the system and is physically closely spaced apart from the first mentioned transducers in the direction of the shadow board motion and inwardly of the shadow board edge when it is in datum position; and means electrically connecting the output from the deadband transducer to the output from the transducer close to the shadow board edge, when it is in datum position, to provide a command signal to commence shadow board movement into the beam when said deadband producing transducer is exposed by a predetermined amount to the transmitted beam.
  • FIG. 1 which is a schematic representation of the device
  • FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of the device according to FIG. 1, further modified by the inclusion of a deadband transducer.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 there is schematically shown a surveying system of the type generally in use on railroads where a projector 10, of infra-red light, is mounted on a satellite car which precedes a track surveying or correcting car along the track.
  • a receiver 12 is mounted on the surveying or correcting car and a track condition sensor having a shadow board 13 is mounted between the projector and receiver.
  • the arrangement may be for a track surveying or alignment operation, or for a track horizontal condition surveying or alignment operation.
  • the system of the invention is utilized for a track aligning operation.
  • the receiver 12 has two transducers or photo cells 14 and 15 which convert the beam energy received from the projector 10 into a useful electrical signal.
  • the photo cells 14 and 15 are mounted in the receiver 12 physically closely spaced apart in the direction of shadow board motion, in this instance, transversely of the track.
  • Two amplifier stages 16 and 17 bring the signal from the photo cells 14 and 15 up to an output level, if necessary. Further, the amplification stages can include tuning," if the transmitted beam is modulated, and detection to convert the alternating signal to direct current.
  • the stages 16 and 17 may also include adjustable gain controls.
  • a summing and weighing network 18 provides an operating signal to a trigger network 19 when the signals from the photoelectric cells 16 and 17 are in a predetermined ratio to one another, say 2-1 for the photo cell 15 relative to the photo cell 14.
  • the trigger circuit 19 is arranged to react to the sum from the station 18 and provides the type of control output required in the application of the receiver.
  • the trigger network controls a relay which may operate to stop the movement of the shadow board into the projected beam when it reaches the datum position shown in FIG. 1, at which datum position the shadow board shades the photo-electric cell 14 and provides it with only half of the energy which is received by the photo-electric cell 15 because the photo-cell 15 is still outside (or more remote from) the shadow board edge.
  • the relay will operate to stop the outward drive of the shadow board itself while in an aligning mode the relay will operate a track-moving jack to throw the track, with the shadow board thereon, towards the transmitted beam.
  • a deadband photo cell 20 is provided in the receiver 12 physically closely spaced apart from the photo cells 14 and 15 in the direction of shadow board motion and inwardly of its edge when it is in datum position.
  • the cell 20 has its own amplification stage 21, similar to amplifiers l6 and 17, the output of which passes to a second summing and weighing network 22 which also receives the output from the amplifier 16.
  • the shadow board 13 will have to be retracted away from the transmitted beam sufficiently to establish a predetermined ratio of signal from the photo-electric cell 14 and the photoelectric cell 20 before the summing and weighing circuit 22 will fire the trigger circuit 23 and thereby initiate corrective action by moving the shadow board back into the beam. This ensures that a detected error is of sufficient magnitude to warrant correction before corrective action is taken.
  • the network 22 may be adjustable, for example, by the setting of a potentiometer to produce a controllable deadband. It is to be understood that alternatively, the photo cells 14 and 15, or the photo cells l4, l5 and 20, may be physically mounted so as to be adjustable in their spacing in the direction of the shadow board motion, if required to vary the ratios involved.
  • a second receiver 12a may be mounted outwardly of the receiver 12 and be connected to an alarm circuit 25 such that if an operator inadvertently stands into the path of the transmitted beam, such that the receiver 12 will be obscured from the transmitter, an alarm will be sounded.
  • a reference system comprising a light beam projector, a beam receiver spaced therefrom, a road condition sensor including a single edged shadow board therebetween, the improvement wherein the receiver includes at least two photoelectric cells physically closely spaced apart in the direction of shadow board motion; and means for electrically connecting the outputs from the cells whereby to produce a command signal to stop shadow board movement when the shadow board is positioned at a datum position in the transmitted beam so as to distribute the transmitted light on the cells with a predetermined difference and in which a deadband producing transducer is provided physically closely spaced apart from the said two cells in the direction of the shadow board motion and inwardly of the shadow board edge when it is in datum position; means electrically connecting the output from the deadband producing transducer to the output from the cell close to the shadow board edge, when it is in datum position, to provide a command signal to commence shadow board movement into the beam when said deadband producing transducer is exposed by a predetermined amount to the transmitted beam, which means electrically connecting the output from the deadband producing trans
  • a system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said summing and weighing network is adjustable by potentiometer setting whereby to produce a controllable deadband 4.
  • the output from the photo-electric cell remote from the shadow board edge is amplified in an amplifying means and wherein a second summing weighing network is electrically connected to receive the output signals from the amplifying means for said outermost photo cell and from the amplifier for said inner photo cell which second summing and weighing network produces an operating signal when the output signals from the two amplifying means connected thereto are in a predetermined ratio to one another; and a second trigger circuit activated by said operating signal from said second summing and weighing circuit and providing a control signal to retract the shadow board out of the transmitted beam.
  • a device as claimed in claim 4 in which a second receiver is provided outwardly of the first receiver and is electrically connected to an alarm system operable if the transmitted beam is inadvertantly interrupted.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Train Traffic Observation, Control, And Security (AREA)
  • Geophysics And Detection Of Objects (AREA)
  • Photometry And Measurement Of Optical Pulse Characteristics (AREA)
  • Optical Radar Systems And Details Thereof (AREA)
  • Length Measuring Devices By Optical Means (AREA)
US855591A 1969-09-05 1969-09-05 Light reference system for railroad track surveying Expired - Lifetime US3675233A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US85559169A 1969-09-05 1969-09-05

Publications (1)

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US3675233A true US3675233A (en) 1972-07-04

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US855591A Expired - Lifetime US3675233A (en) 1969-09-05 1969-09-05 Light reference system for railroad track surveying

Country Status (11)

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US (1) US3675233A (es)
JP (1) JPS511138B1 (es)
AT (1) AT317964B (es)
CA (1) CA950989A (es)
CH (1) CH519056A (es)
CS (1) CS189568B2 (es)
DE (1) DE2043580C3 (es)
ES (1) ES383383A1 (es)
FR (1) FR2060993A5 (es)
GB (1) GB1322785A (es)
ZA (1) ZA705907B (es)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3775618A (en) * 1972-08-09 1973-11-27 Cannon Inc Method and apparatus for checking and/or correcting railway tracks
US4120093A (en) * 1975-10-23 1978-10-17 Dr. Johannes Heidenhain Gmbh Planar measuring instrument
JPS5794812U (es) * 1981-10-29 1982-06-11
US5930904A (en) * 1997-06-17 1999-08-03 Mualem; Charles Catenary system measurement apparatus and method
US20060032063A1 (en) * 2004-08-16 2006-02-16 Fabrication Technology Associates, Inc., Also Known As Fab Tech Method and system for controlling railroad surfacing
US20170022672A1 (en) * 2015-07-24 2017-01-26 Dutch Enginnering Llc Projector for track alignment reference systems
US9592843B2 (en) 2013-07-24 2017-03-14 Ansaldo Sts Usa, Inc. System and method for identifying point detection calibration prior to point detector lock-out and switch machine failure

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH643619A5 (fr) * 1981-09-25 1984-06-15 Sig Schweiz Industrieges Machine de chantier ferroviaire.
CH643618A5 (fr) * 1981-09-25 1984-06-15 Sig Schweiz Industrieges Machine de chantier ferroviaire.
CA2892885C (en) 2015-02-20 2020-07-28 Tetra Tech, Inc. 3d track assessment system and method
US11377130B2 (en) 2018-06-01 2022-07-05 Tetra Tech, Inc. Autonomous track assessment system
US10807623B2 (en) 2018-06-01 2020-10-20 Tetra Tech, Inc. Apparatus and method for gathering data from sensors oriented at an oblique angle relative to a railway track

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3129335A (en) * 1961-06-30 1964-04-14 Stewart John Kenneth Photosensitive railroad surveying system
US3144834A (en) * 1961-06-30 1964-08-18 Stewart John Kenneth Means for determining roadbed level and super elevation
US3218623A (en) * 1961-04-19 1965-11-16 Gen Precision Inc 3 plate proximity scorer
CA737154A (en) * 1966-06-28 Canada Iron Foundries Limited Means for continually and simultaneously surveying and aligning railroad track
US3381626A (en) * 1966-03-25 1968-05-07 Jackson Vibrators Track working assembly and control system
US3444384A (en) * 1966-11-07 1969-05-13 Geza E Horeczky Motion selector using ratio of responses of two photoelectric cells
US3521066A (en) * 1969-02-13 1970-07-21 Fairmont Railway Motors Inc Railroad track alignment indicating system employing modulated infrared techniques

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3207904A (en) * 1962-04-09 1965-09-21 Western Electric Co Electro-optical article positioning system
US3270690A (en) * 1962-06-04 1966-09-06 Jackson Vibrators Railway track grading apparatus
CH467386A (de) * 1962-10-15 1969-01-15 Canron Ltd Auf einem Gleis fahrbare Vorrichtung zum Ausrichten des befahrenen Gleises

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA737154A (en) * 1966-06-28 Canada Iron Foundries Limited Means for continually and simultaneously surveying and aligning railroad track
US3218623A (en) * 1961-04-19 1965-11-16 Gen Precision Inc 3 plate proximity scorer
US3129335A (en) * 1961-06-30 1964-04-14 Stewart John Kenneth Photosensitive railroad surveying system
US3144834A (en) * 1961-06-30 1964-08-18 Stewart John Kenneth Means for determining roadbed level and super elevation
US3381626A (en) * 1966-03-25 1968-05-07 Jackson Vibrators Track working assembly and control system
US3444384A (en) * 1966-11-07 1969-05-13 Geza E Horeczky Motion selector using ratio of responses of two photoelectric cells
US3521066A (en) * 1969-02-13 1970-07-21 Fairmont Railway Motors Inc Railroad track alignment indicating system employing modulated infrared techniques

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3775618A (en) * 1972-08-09 1973-11-27 Cannon Inc Method and apparatus for checking and/or correcting railway tracks
US4120093A (en) * 1975-10-23 1978-10-17 Dr. Johannes Heidenhain Gmbh Planar measuring instrument
JPS5794812U (es) * 1981-10-29 1982-06-11
US5930904A (en) * 1997-06-17 1999-08-03 Mualem; Charles Catenary system measurement apparatus and method
US20060032063A1 (en) * 2004-08-16 2006-02-16 Fabrication Technology Associates, Inc., Also Known As Fab Tech Method and system for controlling railroad surfacing
US9592843B2 (en) 2013-07-24 2017-03-14 Ansaldo Sts Usa, Inc. System and method for identifying point detection calibration prior to point detector lock-out and switch machine failure
US10370013B2 (en) 2013-07-24 2019-08-06 Hitachi Rail Sts Usa, Inc. System and method for identifying point detection calibration prior to point detector lock-out and switch machine failure
US20170022672A1 (en) * 2015-07-24 2017-01-26 Dutch Enginnering Llc Projector for track alignment reference systems
US10407835B2 (en) * 2015-07-24 2019-09-10 Focus Point Solutions Projector for track alignment reference systems

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AT317964B (de) 1974-09-25
CS189568B2 (en) 1979-04-30
DE2043580C3 (de) 1981-12-10
JPS511138B1 (es) 1976-01-14
FR2060993A5 (es) 1971-06-18
DE2043580A1 (de) 1971-04-01
GB1322785A (en) 1973-07-11
CA950989A (en) 1974-07-09
DE2043580B2 (de) 1981-03-26
CH519056A (de) 1972-02-15
ES383383A1 (es) 1973-01-16
ZA705907B (en) 1971-04-28

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