Abstract: An equipment housing assembly removably securable to a hi-rail vehicle operable to advance along first and second rails of a railroad track includes a housing that houses and/or supports at least one rail sensor. The at least one rail sensor is operable to sense at least one property of at least one of the first and second rails as the hi-rail vehicle advances along the first and second rails. The at least one rail sensor is advanceable from a retracted configuration relative to the equipment housing to a deployed configuration relative to the equipment housing to sense the at least one property of at least one of the first and second rails. A power distribution system is removably and electrically connectable to a power source in the hi-rail vehicle. A control system is communicatively coupled the at least one sensor to control operation thereof and communicate sensor data therefrom.

Abstract: An equipment housing assembly removably securable to a hi-rail vehicle operable to advance along first and second rails of a railroad track includes a housing that houses and/or supports at least one rail sensor. The at least one rail sensor is operable to sense at least one property of at least one of the first and second rails as the hi-rail vehicle advances along the first and second rails. The at least one rail sensor is advanceable from a retracted configuration relative to the equipment housing to a deployed configuration relative to the equipment housing to sense the at least one property of at least one of the first and second rails. A power distribution system is removably and electrically connectable to a power source in the hi-rail vehicle. A control system is communicatively coupled the at least one sensor to control operation thereof and communicate sensor data therefrom.

Abstract: A rail testing system comprises a proximal mobile track system and a distal mobile track system. Each of the proximal mobile track system and the distal mobile track system are movable in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. A carriage is movably coupled to the proximal mobile track system and the distal mobile track system. The system has a sensor pod comprising a roller search unit. The sensor pod is configured to lock to the carriage for testing of a rail. The system includes a sensor array comprising time of flight sensors. The sensor array is usable to maintain an alignment of the roller search unit with the rail.

Abstract: A roller search unit for detecting rail defects with integrated digital circuitry includes a liquid filled tire mounted to an axle assembly with wheels. An ultrasonic transducer array positioned within a housing is positioned within the within the tire and coupled to the axle. The housing contains transducer interface circuitry operable to receive analog signals from the ultrasonic transducer array and contains digital flaw detection circuitry operable to convert the analog signals to digital signals and perform analysis on the digital signals to detect flaws in a rail. The transducer interface circuitry and digital flaw detection circuitry are configured to stack to provide a compact, small footprint assembly. The conversion of the transducer signals from analog to digital within the tire permits transmission of the digitized data without susceptibility to interference and noise.