ROUTE EXAMINING SYSTEM AND METHOD

摘要

A route examining system includes first and second application devices, a control unit, first and second detection units, and an identification unit. The first and second application devices are disposed onboard a vehicle traveling along a route having conductive tracks. The control unit controls injection of a first examination signal into the conductive tracks via the first application device and injection of a second examination signal into the conductive tracks via the second application device. The first and second detection units monitor electrical characteristics of the route in response to the first and second examination signals being injected into the conductive tracks. The identification unit examines the electrical characteristics of the conductive tracks in order to determine whether a section of the route is potentially damaged based on the electrical characteristics.

主权项

1. A system comprising:
a signal communication system configured to be disposed onboard a vehicle system traveling along a route having two conductive tracks, the signal communication system disposed between two shunts of the vehicle system that are spaced apart along a length of the vehicle system, each of the two shunts configured to at least one of conductively or inductively couple the two conductive tracks to each other, the two shunts and two conductive tracks defining a conductive test loop, the signal communication system including at least one application device and at least one detection device, each application device configured to be at least one of conductively or inductively coupled with the conductive tracks and configured to electrically inject at least one examination signal into the conductive test loop, each detection device configured to monitor one or more electrical characteristics of the conductive tracks in response to the at least one examination signal being injected into the conductive test loop; and an identification unit configured to examine the one or more electrical characteristics monitored by the at least one detection device in order to determine a status of a test section of the route that extends between the two shunts, wherein the identification unit is configured to determine that the test section is potentially damaged when the one or more electrical characteristics indicate that the at least one examination signal is not received by the at least one detection device, the identification unit is configured to determine that the test section is neither damaged nor includes an electrical short when the one or more electrical characteristics indicate that the at least one examination signal is received by the at least one detection device, and the identification unit is configured to determine that the test section is not damaged and includes an electrical short when the one or more electrical characteristics indicate at least one of a phase shift in the at least one examination signal or an increased amplitude of the at least one examination signal above a base line amplitude.