Abstract

A method for detecting anomalies along a railway track (20) is provided, the method comprising detecting at least one first sensor signal (F) by a fiber optic sensor (21) for a measurement segment (22) of the fiber optic sensor (21), the fiber optic sensor (21) being arranged along the railway track (20), detecting at least one second sensor signal (S) by the fiber optic sensor (21) for the measurement segment (22) after detecting the first sensor signal (F), determining a first difference signal (FD) where the first difference signal (FD) relates to the difference between an average sensor signal (AS) and the first sensor signal (F), wherein the average sensor signal (AS) relates to an average of previous sensor signals detected by the fiber optic sensor (21) for the measurement segment (22) before detecting the first sensor signal (F), determining a second difference signal (SD) where the second difference signal (SD) relates to the difference between the average sensor signal (AS) and the second sensor signal (S), and providing an alarm signal (AL) for the case that a confidence condition is fulfilled, wherein the confidence condition requires at least that the first difference signal (FD) and the second difference signal (SD) are each larger than a predefined threshold signal or the confidence condition requires at least that the absolute value of the first difference signal (FD) and the absolute value of the second difference signal (SD) are each larger than a predefined threshold signal. Furthermore, a device (24) for detecting anomalies along a railway track (20) is provided.

IPC Classes  ?

• B61L 23/04 - Control, warning or like safety means along the route or between vehicles or trains for monitoring the mechanical state of the route
• B61L 27/53 - Trackside diagnosis or maintenance, e.g. software upgrades for trackside elements or systems, e.g. trackside supervision of trackside control system conditions
• B61L 1/06 - Electric devices associated with track actuated by deformation of railElectric devices associated with track actuated by vibration in rail

Abstract

A device (10) for inducing mechanical vibrations is provided, the device (10) being configured to induce mechanical vibrations at the position of the device (10) during the passage of a rail vehicle at the position of the device (10), wherein the device (10) is connectable to a rail (11) on which the rail vehicle is moving. Furthermore, a method for inducing mechanical vibrations is provided.

IPC Classes  ?

• B61L 1/04 - Electric devices associated with track mechanically actuated by a part of the vehicle
• B61L 1/06 - Electric devices associated with track actuated by deformation of railElectric devices associated with track actuated by vibration in rail
• B61L 23/04 - Control, warning or like safety means along the route or between vehicles or trains for monitoring the mechanical state of the route
• B61L 25/02 - Indicating or recording positions or identities of vehicles or trains

Abstract

A method for monitoring a railway track (29) is provided, the method comprising: detecting a first monitoring signal (M1) by a distributed acoustic sensor (20) at an initial position (21) while a rail vehicle passes the initial position (21), wherein the distributed acoustic sensor (20) is arranged along the track (29), detecting a second monitoring signal (M2) by the distributed acoustic sensor (20) at at least one predefined position (22) along the track (29) while a rail vehicle passes the predefined position (22), comparing the first monitoring signal (M1) and the second monitoring signal (M2) with each other, wherein the first monitoring signal (M1) comprises features (23) that each relate to one axle of the rail vehicle passing the initial position (21) and the second monitoring signal (M2) comprises features (23) that each relate to one axle of the rail vehicle passing the predefined position (22), and comparing the first monitoring signal (M1) and the second monitoring signal (M2) with each other comprises counting the features (23) relating to axles of the respective passing rail vehicle for the first monitoring signal (M1) and the second monitoring signal (M2). Furthermore, a monitoring unit (24) for monitoring a railway track (29) is provided.

IPC Classes  ?

• B61L 1/16 - Devices for counting axlesDevices for counting vehicles
• B61L 27/00 - Central railway traffic control systemsTrackside controlCommunication systems specially adapted therefor

Abstract

A method for monitoring a railway track (11) is provided, the method comprising detecting monitoring signals (MS) by a distributed acoustic sensor (10) being arranged along the track (11), where each monitoring signal (MS) comprises a monitoring signal value (MSV) for a first measurement segment (12) of the distributed acoustic sensor (10) and a monitoring signal value (MSV) for a second measurement segment (22) of the distributed acoustic sensor (10), determining a first event monitoring signal value (EV1) for the first measurement segment (12) from the monitoring signal values (MSV) that are detected during the passage of a rail vehicle over the position of the first measurement segment (12), determining a second event monitoring signal value (EV2) for the second measurement segment (22) from the monitoring signal values (MSV) that are detected during the passage of a rail vehicle over the position of the second measurement segment (22), and determining a difference value (DV) where the difference value (DV) relates to the difference between an average relative value (ARV) and a relative value (RV), where the relative value (RV) is given by the relative difference between the first event monitoring signal value (EV1) and the second event monitoring signal value (EV2), wherein the average relative value (ARV) relates to an average value of relative values (RV) determined from previous passages of rail vehicles. Furthermore, a monitoring system (15) for monitoring a railway track (11) is provided.

IPC Classes  ?

• B61L 1/06 - Electric devices associated with track actuated by deformation of railElectric devices associated with track actuated by vibration in rail
• B61L 23/04 - Control, warning or like safety means along the route or between vehicles or trains for monitoring the mechanical state of the route
• B61L 25/02 - Indicating or recording positions or identities of vehicles or trains