Transportation operation fault detection
An impact load detector can include a rigid object affixed to a structure for which an impact is to be evaluated. The detector can include one or more sensors which are configured to acquire impact data corresponding to an effect the impact on the structure has on the rigid object. The detector can include a data processor that processes the impact data to evaluate for a presence of a set of faults.
1 . A fault detector comprising:
an enclosure including an object, wherein the enclosure is configured to be affixed to a structure for which a force affecting the structure is to be evaluated, wherein the structure is a single beam, wherein opposing ends of the object are affixed in the enclosure and the object is otherwise unrestrained and a long axis of the object is configured to be spaced from the enclosure and the structure and in parallel with a long axis of the structure;
a set of sensors for acquiring impact data corresponding to an effect the force affecting the structure has on the object; and
a data processor configured to process the impact data to evaluate for a presence of a set of faults.
2 . The fault detector of claim 1 , wherein the set of sensors includes at least one strain gauge affixed to the object, wherein the impact data includes strain data corresponding to a strain experienced by the object.
3 . The fault detector of claim 1 , wherein the set of sensors includes at least one accelerometer affixed to the object, wherein the impact data includes acceleration data corresponding to an acceleration experienced by the object.
4 . The fault detector of claim 1 , further comprising at least one temperature sensor for acquiring temperature data, wherein the data processor is configured to compensate raw impact data acquired by at least one sensor in the set of sensors based on the temperature data, and wherein the data processor uses the compensated impact data to evaluate for the presence of the set of faults.
5 . The fault detector of claim 1 , wherein the object is a metal beam, and wherein opposing ends of the object are affixed to the structure such that the force that affects the structure has a similar effect on the object.
6 . The fault detector of claim 1 , wherein the structure is a single rail of a railroad track, and wherein the set of faults includes a rail wheel flat spot.
7 . The fault detector of claim 1 , further comprising a mounting unit including at least one enclosure including the enclosure, wherein, the set of sensors and the data processor are located within the at least one enclosure.
8 . The fault detector of claim 7 , wherein the mounting unit includes a plurality of studs configured to separate the at least one enclosure from the single beam.
9 . The fault detector of claim 7 , wherein the mounting unit includes a plurality of clamps for removably securing the mounting unit to the single beam.
10 . The fault detector of claim 1 , wherein the data processor is configured to acquire remote sensor data from at least one other sensing device via a wired or wireless communications solution, and wherein the data processor uses the remote sensor data to evaluate for the presence of at least one of the set of faults.
11 . The fault detector of claim 10 , wherein the beam is a rail of a railroad track or a support member of a bridge, and wherein the remote sensor data comprises data corresponding to a speed of a passing vehicle.
12 . The fault detector of claim 1 , wherein the data processor is further configured to provide data corresponding to at least one of: an impact event or the presence of at least one of the set of faults, for processing on a remote processing system.
13 . A rail wheel evaluation system comprising:
a fault detector comprising:
an enclosure;
an object located within the enclosure, wherein the enclosure is configured to be affixed to a single rail of a railroad track for which a force affecting the single rail is to be evaluated, wherein opposing ends of the object are affixed in the enclosure and the object is otherwise unrestrained and a long axis of the object is configured to be spaced from the enclosure and the structure and in parallel with a long axis of the structure;
a set of sensors for acquiring impact data corresponding to an effect the force affecting the single rail has on the object; and
a data processor configured to process the impact data to evaluate for a presence of a set of faults; and
a remote processing system, wherein the remote processing system is configured to process data corresponding to at least one of: an impact event or the presence of at least one of the set of faults, received from the fault detector.
14 . The rail wheel evaluation system of claim 13 , further comprising a wheel sensor configured to acquire data regarding a speed of a passing rail vehicle, wherein the wheel sensor is configured to provide data regarding the speed for processing by at least one of: the fault detector or the remote processing system.
15 . The rail wheel evaluation system of claim 14 , wherein the wheel sensor, the fault detector, and the remote processing system use a shared communications connection.
16 . The rail wheel evaluation system of claim 13 , wherein the set of sensors includes:
at least one strain gauge affixed to the object, wherein the impact data includes strain data corresponding to a strain experienced by the object; and
at least one accelerometer affixed to the object, wherein the impact data includes acceleration data corresponding to an acceleration experienced by the object.
17 . A method of evaluating a force affecting a structure, the method comprising:
affixing an enclosure including an object to the structure, wherein the structure is a single beam, wherein opposing ends of the object are affixed in the enclosure and the object is otherwise unrestrained and a long axis of the object is configured to be spaced from the enclosure and the structure and in parallel with a long axis of the structure;
acquiring, using a set of sensors associated with the object, impact data corresponding to an effect the force affecting the structure has on the object; and
processing, by a data processor, the impact data to evaluate for a presence of a set of faults.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the acquiring includes:
acquiring strain data corresponding to a strain experienced by the object from at least one strain gauge affixed to the object; and
acquiring acceleration data corresponding to an acceleration experienced by the object from at least one accelerometer affixed to the object.
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the structure is a single rail of a railroad track, and wherein the set of faults includes a rail wheel flat spot.
20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the beam is a rail of a railroad track or a support member of a bridge, and further comprising the data processor receiving at least one of: temperature data or wheel speed data, wherein the processing further includes the data processor processing the at least one of:
temperature data or wheel speed data, to evaluate for the presence of the set of faults.