GB2077822A

GB2077822A - Recording railway track measurements

Info

Publication number: GB2077822A
Application number: GB8113755A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: WH Dunn and Son Ltd
Current assignee: WH Dunn and Son Ltd
Priority date: 1980-05-30
Filing date: 1981-05-06
Publication date: 1981-12-23
Also published as: GB2077822B

Abstract

A self-contained track vehicle (10), has a plurality of chart recorders (22), the charts of which are movable in proportion to the distance travelled by the vehicle (10). The recorders (22) are respectively connected with a transducer (24), which is operatively connected to a connecting rod for monitoring the in-line condition of the track (14), a transducer (26) which is operatively connected with an axle for monitoring lateral tilt, and an apparatus (28) with wheels (30) for monitoring the track gauge. Various other monitoring facilities can be provided, all within the self-contained vehicle, within which an operator can be located for continuous supervision in either direction of movement along the track. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to monitoring apparatus This invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to apparatus for monitoring changes in a parameter of a track roadway.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for monitoring changes in a track roadway, said apparatus comprising a structure supported on a track wheel arrangement, means operatively connected with the track wheel arrangement for generating a sequence of signals at a rate proportional to the rate of movement along a track, information receiving means, means for presenting information to the receiving means, means responsive to the signals for operating one or other of the information receiving means and the presentation means, and means for operating the bther of the information receiving means and the presentation means.

Preferably the information receiving means comprises a movable chart. Preferably also the means responsive to the signals is operatively connected with the chart such that the latter moves in proportion to the distance moved along the track.

Preferably also the operating means is operatively connected with the information presentation means and with a transducer so as to monitor a condition of the track.

Alternatively the means responsive to the signals is selectively operatively connected with the chart or with the information presentation means. The operating means is operatively connected with a transducer for monitoring a condition of the track and is selectively operatively connected to the information presentation means.

Further operating means may comprise an independent power source which is selectively connectible to the chart to be capable of driving the latter at a constant speed when the means responsive to the signals is selected to be operatively connected with the information presentation means.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a track vehicle comprising apparatus as described in any of the four preceding paragraphs.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention; and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of another embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention.

In underground locations such as mines, the workfaces can extend considerable distances from the pit head location and it is often necessary to transport men or materials or both over such distances. The means of transport may comprise vehicles running on tracks laid in the excavated tunnels and it is important to continually monitor the conditions of the track and of the drive vehicles. Indeed this is required by the safety regulations.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, a track vehicle 10 is provided as a self-contained unit containing equipment for carrying out monitoring procedures. The vehicle 10 is arranged to be connected to a drive vehicle for movement along a track 14. The vehicle 10 has a cabin 1 6 mounted on a bogie 18 having track wheels 20 and a suspension allowing additional wheel movement to meet the requirements of the test facilities hereinafter described.

Within the cabin 1 6 there is provided a unit housing three chart recorders 22. Normally it is desired that each chart is moved in proportion to the distance travelled by the vehicle 10 on the track 14 and to enable this a mechanical transmission system, which will be described in some further detail with reference to Fig. 2, transmits drive from a wheel 20 of the vehicle 10 to a pulse generator (not shown) in the form of a shaft angle encoder. The pulse generator is formed of a spark resistant material so as to be intrinsically safe when used underground. The pulses emitted by the pulse generator are transmitted to a stepping motor within the chart recorder unit such that, for example, one inch of chart movement corresponds to 30 feet of distance travelled on the track 1 4.

To present information on the chart of each recorder 22, a pen unit for each chart is operatively connected with a transducer mounted on the vehicle to monitor different conditions of the track 14. For monitoring the in-line condition of the track 14, between each pair of wheels 20 at a respective side of the vehicle 10 there is provided a transducer 24 operatively connected to a connecting rod extending between the wheels and controlling operation of the pen unit on one of the chart recorders 22. For monitoring lateral tilt, a transducer 26 is operatively connected with an axle of the bogie 1 8 and controls operation of the pen unit on another of the chart recorders 22.

Further, for monitoring the track gauge, an apparatus 28 with wheels 30 controls the pen unit on the third of the chart recorders 22.

With reference to Fig. 2, like numerals with Fig.

1 represent like parts. The mechanical transmission from the wheel 20 to the pulse generator comprises a first sprocket 32 associated with the wheel 20 and a first motion chain 34 driving a sprocket 36 from the sprocket 32. From the sprocket 36, a second motion chain (not shown) drives a shaft which powers the pulse generator. For the correct ratio the sprockets are designed to produce a predetermined pulse rate from the pulse generator. The mounting of the sprocket 36 compensates for movement of the wheel 20 and thus the sprocket 32.

The recorders 22 are preferably provided with a switching facility whereby the pulse generator controls the operation of the pen unit in any one of the recorders 22 as an alternative to the chart movement. In this event, an internal battery of the recorder 22 is utilised to drive the chart at a constant speed. With this arrangement, the varying pulse output resulting from a change in the track wheel speed provides a facility for checking, for example, stopping distances of the drive vehicles after braking.

It is also envisaged that the vehicle may be provided with an independent mechanical mechanism operating a reciprocating arrangement for example at a location 38 externally of the cabin 1 6 (Fig. 2). This reciprocating arrangement may comprise an emitter of acoustic signals and a receiver transducer, both of which are swung through a sweep angle of up to 1 800 to measure acoustically distances to walls or roofs of tunnels in which the tracks are laid. By fitting a dual mechanism, a sweep range well in excess of 1 800 can be achieved with two emitters and receivers in operation. The signals from an acoustic transducer or transducers are fed to the pen unit on the respective recorder 22 for monitoring.For powering the reciprocating mechanism, the apparatus may be operatively connected with a track wheel 20 or alternatively, an independent intrinsically safe battery can be provided within the vehicle 10. To accommodate this monitoring facility, it will be appreciated that a further chart recorder 22 will be provided within the cabin 1 6.

It is also to be appreciated that further monitoring facilities can be provided in the vehicle.

In a modification, means may be provided for transmitting electrical signals from the wheel 20 to the pulse generator to avoid the requirement for a mechanical transmission.

The provision of a self-contained vehicle within which all the test facilities can be provided, and within which an operator can be comfortably located for continuous supervision, is extremely advantageous. The operation of the monitoring facilities is possible in whichever direction the vehicle 10 is being towed so that some tests can be carried out on movement in one direction along the mine roadway, and other tests can be carried out when travelling in the reverse direction, without requiring the vehicle to be turned around.

Various other modifications may be made without departing from the invention.

Claims

1. Apparatus for monitoring changes in a track roadway, said apparatus comprising a structure supported on a track wheel arrangement, means operatively connected with the track wheel arrangement for generating a sequence of signals at a rate proportional to the rate of movement along a track, information receiving means, means for presenting information to the receiving means, means responsive to the signals for operating one or other of the information receiving means and the presentation means, and means for operating the other of the information receiving means and the presentation means.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the information receiving means comprises a movable chart.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the means responsive to the signals is operatively connected with the chart such that the latter moves in proportion to the distance moved along the track.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the operating means is operatively connected with the information presentation means and with a transducer so as to monitor a condition of the track.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the means responsive to the signals is selectively operatively connected with the chart or with the information presentation means.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the operating means is operatively connected with a transducer for monitoring a condition of the track and is selectively operatively connected to the information presentation means.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein further operating means comprises an independent power source which is selectively connectible to the chart to be capable of driving the latter at a constant speed when the means responsive to the signals is selected to be operatively connected with the information presentation means.

8. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the means responsive to the signal comprises a stepping motor.

9. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the means for generating the signals is a shaft angle encoder which is formed of a spark resistant material.

10. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the operating means is operatively connected to a connecting rod extending between in line track wheels for monitoring the in-line condition of a track.

11. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the operating means is operatively connected with an axle of the track wheel arrangement for monitoring lateral tilt of a track.

12. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the operating means comprises a pair of wheels engageable with a track for monitoring the track gauge.

13. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherien the operating means comprises a reciprocating arrangement which sweeps an acoustic signal laterally of the structure for monitoring the distance between a track and any, side well thereat.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the reciprocating arrangement is driven from a track wheel.

1 5. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the reciprocating arrangement has an independent power source.

1 6. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 9 and including a plurality of units each having the information receiving means, the information presentation means and the operating means, respective ones of the latter being operatively connected or connectible with their respective information receiving means and information presentation means according to claims 10 to 1 5.

1 7. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the structure is formed with a cabin within which an operator can be positioned.

1 8. Apparatus for monitoring changes in the track roadway substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 9. A track vehicle comprising apparatus according to any of the preceding claims.

20. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.