Tracking system non-contact
Non-contact tracking system for mobile flaw detection equipment is designed to provide non-contact tracking of transducer units for the longitudinal axis of the rail head when moving transducer units in the process of ultrasonic inspection.
In currently used tracking systems for mobile defectoscopy equipment tracking of the longitudinal axis of the rail is carried out due to mechanical friction of the tracking ski (cart rollers) against the side edge of the rail head. The disadvantage of this tracking system is that:
-when mechanical friction of the tracking ski against the side edge of the rail head causes ultrasonic vibrations (interference) in the range of operating frequencies of the flaw detector equipment, which significantly complicates the processing of useful information;
-when contact tracking of the side edge of the rail head, it is difficult for the tracking system to pass the crossbars of switches. There were cases of breakdowns of tracking and searching systems and even ejections of ultrasonic bogie;
– in winter time of the year on snowy sections of track the tracking ski rakes snow, which, when water gets on it, freezes, forming huge ice on the skis, as a result of which the alignment of transducer units is disturbed and the control of rails becomes impossible.
The proposed non-contact tracking system for mobile flaw detection equipment is free from these disadvantages. (Fig.1)
Principle of operation of the SWBMS
The search beam 10 with search skis 11, with transducer blocks 7 and magnetic assemblies 8 installed therein, is lowered by means of pneumatic cylinders 9 and presses the transducer blocks to the working surface of the rail. The axis of symmetry of magnetic assemblies coincides with the axis of symmetry of transducer blocks. Magnetic assemblies together with transducer blocks, due to physical properties of magnets, are installed along the longitudinal axis of the rail. The method of fixing the beam, on which the search skis with transducer blocks and magnetic assemblies are fixed, by means of bearing supports 4 and levers 5 provides sufficient freedom of movement of the beam 6 (across the rail), due to which the influence of displacement of the mobile vehicle (defectoscope cart) relative to the track axis on the alignment of transducer blocks is eliminated.
The SSBMD is designed for outdoor operation at ambient temperatures from -40°C to +60°C with an operating speed of up to 60 km/hour.
Main features
| Type | automatic |
| Distance between the contact plane of the tread of transducer units and the rolling surface of the rail in the transport position of the search ski, not less, mm | 40 |
| Transducer unit must rotate relative to the longitudinal axis inside the frame from the center position, mm | ±4 |
| Distance between the bottoms of magnetic assemblies by the rail head, mm | 5÷8 |
| Overall dimensions: (length x width x height), mm | 1200x750x200 |
| Weight (not more than), kg | 50 |
The method of tracking the longitudinal axis of the rail at high-speed ultrasonic defectoscopy and the device for its implementation is protected by patent No. 89 dated 11.03.2009.
In the period from June to September 2009 acceptance tests and pilot operation of hardware-software complex РДМ-15K with non-contact tracking system on defectoscope car PS-323, Northern Railway (RF) were carried out.
By the decision of the acceptance commission, the SSBMD is recommended for use on the railroads of the Russian Federation.
At present, contactless tracking systems (CCBMD) are successfully operating on the Belarusian and Russian railroads.