Description:
Reference #: 01473
The University of South Carolina is offering licensing opportunities for Laser-based Non-destructive Spike Defect Inspection System
Background:
Although many new types of elastic fasteners and concrete ties have been introduced recently, cut spikes (referred as spike hereafter) together with tie plates and timber ties are the dominant track components in North America freight railroads. For centuries, spikes, with marginal changes in terms of geometry and material, have been consistently providing reliable restrictions to rails. Spikes have also been used to fix tie plate to the timber or composite ties when elastic fasteners are used to restrain the rail. With the increasing axle load and operational speed, spikes are subjected to more demanding loading conditions, especially in the territories where tracks have high curvature. It is reported that broken spikes were observed frequently, including cut spikes, screw spikes, and driven spikes that were used to restrict both tie plates and rails.
Invention Description:
The objective of this research effort is to develop a low-cost, non-destructive and contact-free intelligent inspection system, that is field-deployable on a geometry car, high-rail vehicle, or other types of track inspection platforms to identify broken spikes at the real-time rate.
Potential Applications:
It is reported that broken spikes were observed frequently, including cut spikes, screw spikes, and driven spikes that used to restrict both tie plates and rails. Since the cracks are typically underneath the spike head, it is very difficult to distinguish the broken spikes without physical check which raises great challenges in track health evaluation and operation safety. Several recent derailments in Canada and the United States are attributed to a large number of broken spikes or screws within a certain section of track.
Advantages and Benefits:
Currently, the inspection is performed manually. Railroad workers need to go to the track and pull each spike by hand to see if they are broken or loose, which is, subjective, time-consuming, and labor-intense. This system will greatly improve inspection efficiency and save inspection costs.