Mobile Ultrasonic Rail Inspection System and Method

摘要

An ultrasonic rail inspection system includes an ultrasonic transducer mounted on a yoke for attachment to a frame of a rail inspection vehicle. The ultrasonic transducer transmits ultrasonic pulses and receives reflected ultrasonic pulses. A control device controls the ultrasonic transducer. A clock device provides clock signals to the control device. The control device controls the ultrasonic transducer to transmit the ultrasonic pulses at a fixed pulse repetition period.

主权项

1. An ultrasonic rail inspection system comprising:
an ultrasonic transducer designed to transmit ultrasonic pulses and to receive reflected ultrasonic pulses; a control device for controlling the ultrasonic transducer; a clock device for providing clock signals to the control device; wherein the control device is adapted to control the ultrasonic transducer to transmit ultrasonic pulses at a fixed pulse repetition period (P) that obeys the following formulas:
P≦Δi  (1)2P≧Δi+ΔeMAX  (2) in which Δi indicates the travel time of the ultrasonic pulses from the ultrasonic transducer to a rail under inspection and back; and in which ΔeMAX indicates the maximum expected travel time of the ultrasonic pulses within such rail.