System and method for identifying a compromised or damaged section of a conductive body extending along a route
An examining system includes one or more application devices onboard a vehicle system. The application devices may electrically conduct an examination signal into one or more conductive bodies extending along a route and may include a catenary, a third rail, and/or a cable. The examining system may include one or more detection units that may be disposed onboard the vehicle system and that may monitor one or more electrical characteristics of the one or more conductive bodies in response to the examination signal being conducted into the one or more conductive bodies. The examining system may include an identification unit that may examine the one or more electrical characteristics of the one or more conductive bodies monitored by the one or more detection units to identify a compromised or damaged section of the one or more conductive bodies.
1 . A system, comprising:
one or more application devices configured to be disposed onboard a vehicle system traveling along a route, the one or more application devices configured to be coupled with one or more conductive bodies extending along the route during movement of the vehicle system along the route, the one or more application devices configured to electrically conduct an examination signal into the one or more conductive bodies, and the examination signal configured to circulate through a closed loop positioned within a length of the vehicle system, the closed loop formed by the vehicle system and the one or more conductive bodies, and the length defined by a single grouping of one or more mechanically coupled vehicles of the vehicle system;
one or more detection units configured to be disposed onboard the vehicle system and to monitor one or more electrical characteristics of the one or more conductive bodies in response to the examination signal being conducted into the one or more conductive bodies; and
an identification unit configured to examine the one or more electrical characteristics of the one or more conductive bodies monitored by the one or more detection units to identify a compromised or damaged section of the one or more conductive bodies, the compromised or damaged section of the one or more conductive bodies positioned within the length of the vehicle system.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more application devices include a first application device and a second application device disposed at spaced apart locations along a length of the vehicle system.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more detection units include a first detection unit and a second detection unit disposed at spaced apart locations along a length of the vehicle system.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more application devices are configured to electrically conduct the examination signal into the one or more conductive bodies with a unique identifier included in the examination signal.
5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the unique identifier includes at least one of a frequency, a modulation, or an embedded signature.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the identification unit is configured to identify the compromised or damaged section of the one or more conductive bodies responsive to the one or more electrical characteristics indicating no conduction of the examination signal through the one or more conductive bodies.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the identification unit is configured to identify the compromised or damaged section of the one or more conductive bodies based on detection of an electrical short connected with the one or more conductive bodies.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more conductive bodies includes a catenary extending along the route.
9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more conductive bodies includes a third rail extending along the route.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more conductive bodies includes a cable extending along the route.
11 . A method, comprising:
electrically conducting an examination signal into one or more conductive bodies from onboard a vehicle system as the vehicle system traverses a pathway, the examination signal configured to circulate through a closed loop positioned within a length of the vehicle system, the closed loop formed by the vehicle system and the one or more conductive bodies, and the length defined by a single grouping of one or more mechanically coupled vehicles of the vehicle system;
monitoring one or more electrical characteristics of the one or more conductive bodies via the examination signal; and
determining a compromised or damaged section of the one or more conductive bodies based on the examination signal, the compromised or damaged section of the one or more conductive bodies positioned within the length of the vehicle system.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the examination signal is electrically conducted into or received from the one or more conductive bodies at spaced apart locations along the length of the vehicle system.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the examination signal is electrically conducted into the one or more conductive bodies with a unique identifier included in the examination signal, and wherein the unique identifier includes at least one of a frequency, a modulation, or an embedded signature.
14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising obtaining a location of the vehicle system based on the determination of the compromised or damaged section of the one or more conductive bodies.
15 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising determining the one or more electrical characteristics of the one or more conductive bodies.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the one or more electrical characteristics include no conduction of the examination signal through the one or more conductive bodies.
17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the one or more electrical characteristics include one or more of an increased electrical resistance, a decreased electrical resistance, a drop in voltage, a spike in voltage, or intermittent conductivity.
18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the compromised or damaged section of the one or more conductive bodies is determined based at least in part by detecting an electrical short connected with the one or more conductive bodies.
19 . A system, comprising:
one or more detection units configured to be disposed onboard a vehicle system and to couple with one or more conductive bodies that extend along a route while the vehicle system is moving along the route, the one or more detection units configured to monitor a closed loop positioned within a length of the vehicle system to monitor one or more electrical characteristics of the one or more conductive bodies during movement of the vehicle system, the closed loop formed by the vehicle system and the one or more conductive bodies, and the length defined by a single grouping of one or more mechanically coupled vehicles of the vehicle system; and
an identification unit configured to examine the one or more electrical characteristics of the one or more conductive bodies monitored by the one or more detection units to identify a compromised section of the one or more conductive bodies during movement of the vehicle system, the compromised or damaged section of the one or more conductive bodies positioned within the length of the vehicle system.
20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the one or more detection units include a first detection unit and a second detection unit disposed at spaced apart locations along a length of the vehicle system.
21 . The system of claim 19 , further comprising one or more application devices configured to electrically conduct an examination signal into the one or more conductive bodies with a unique identifier included in the examination signal, the one or more detection units configured to measure the one or more electrical characteristics responsive to the one or more application devices conducting the examination signal into the one or more conductive bodies.
22 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the one or more application devices are a pantograph.
23 . The system of claim 21 , further comprising a controller configured to determine, based at least in part on the one or more electrical characteristics, if the one or more conductive bodies are compromised, if the one or more application devices are compromised, or if the one or more application devices are decoupled from the one or more conductive bodies.
24 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the identification unit is configured to identify the compromised section of the one or more conductive bodies based on detection of an electrical short connected with the one or more conductive bodies.
25 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the one or more conductive bodies includes a catenary extending along the route.
26 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the one or more conductive bodies includes a third rail extending along the route.
27 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the one or more conductive bodies includes a cable extending along the route.