Method and apparatus for detecting internal rail defects

摘要

An ultrasonic rail inspection system designed to detect defects in a rail which result from longitudinal cracks that propagate in the horizontal and transverse plane of the rail. Detection of this type of defect is possible by directing an ultrasonic beam into the rail at a predetermined angle from the perpendicular to the surface of the rail. The predetermined angle must be sufficient to detect these normally undetectable defects and can be in the range of 8° to 14° from the perpendicular.

主权项

1. A system for performing ultrasonic inspection of a rail comprising:
a sensing wheel arranged to roll along the top of the rail; ultrasonic transducers in said sensing wheel, each ultrasonic transducer able to direct an ultrasonic beam into the rail; and said sensing wheel being tilted perpendicular to the vertical plane extending from the rail, and thus out of vertical alignment with the rail, the amount of tilt from the vertical plane being sufficient to detect defects in the rail which result from longitudinal cracks that propagate in the horizontal and transverse plane of the rail and are normally undetectable when probed by ultrasonic beams directed perpendicular to the surface of the rail.