Abstract: A system for on-board measurement and modelling of dynamic wheel/rail loads employs an accelerometer in addition to force sensors at the axle box of the test vehicle. The force sensors accurately measure dynamic wheel/rail force at low frequencies. The force transfer function at higher frequencies is calculated as a predetermined function of both the accelerometer and force sensor data. For example, this can be calculated by means of a predetermined compensation force transfer function in terms of both the force and acceleration readings.

Abstract: A controlled-impact test wheel provides repeatable vertical wheel impact load events to a rail during testing. The test wheel has a generally circular tread with at least one small recessed landing zone having a reduced rolling radius with bordering transition regions to exert a series of vertical impact loads on a rail as the wheel rolls along the rail during testing.

Abstract: A wheel load sensor system has two independent shear load sensing circuits, a wide circuit and a narrow circuit, that are fixed along the neutral axis of the rail in the span between ties. The responses of both circuits are initially calibrated by applying known loads at predetermined points along the span to generate sensitivity curves from each circuit. This configuration allows the present system to account for the longitudinal position of the load applied within the crib based on the ratio of the response signals from the two circuits. This ratio can be used to accurately determine the location of the wheel load within the crib. The magnitude of the load can then be calculated from the sensitive curve for either circuit.

Abstract: A system for inspecting railroad rail using phased array ultrasonic technology measures the time of flight of ultrasonic signals at locations across the rail head to determine the wear profile of the rail. The rail wear profile is then used to adjust the focal laws of the phased array ultrasonic probes to dynamically compensate for changes in the rail profile as the inspection vehicle moves along the rails.

Abstract: A system for inspecting railroad rail using phased array ultrasonic technology includes both high-speed and high-resolution inspection modes that obviate the need for an operator to dismount the truck to perform detail inspection. In high-speed inspection mode, the phased array probes operate at fixed angles with respect to the rail to identify potential rail defects as the vehicle moves along the track. The vehicle can then return to the location of a potential rail defect and switch to a high-resolution inspection mode in which the phased array probes sweep over a range of beam angles at the location of a potential rail defect.

Abstract: An electrical system of an electrochemical purification apparatus is presented. The system includes a plurality of electrodes for deionizing fluids passing through the electrodes, a power supply connected to the electrodes, the power supply providing power to the electrodes while maintaining a predetermined current, a predetermined voltage, or a power within some range, a programmable logic controller, connected to the power supply, for controlling the power supply, and a monitoring device connected to the programmable logic controller for delivering data regarding the system to the programmable logic controller.