System and Method for Non-Destructive Testing of Railroad Rails Using Ultrasonic Apparatuses Mounted Within Fluid-Filled Tires Maintained at Constant Temperatures

摘要

A rolling search unit including an ultrasonic device and a heat exchanger mounted within a fluid-filled tire may be utilized to perform ultrasonic testing on an underlying railroad rail. The ultrasonic device may transmit or receive ultrasonic beams into or from the railroad rail, and the heat exchanger may be utilized to maintain the temperature of the fluid within the tire at a preferred level or within a preferred range. In such a manner, the results of testing obtained using the rolling search unit may be standardized regardless of the ambient temperature in the environment where the testing is being performed, and regardless of any heat gained or lost by the rolling search unit during operation.

主权项

1. A tire comprising:
at least one ultrasonic transducer suspended within the tire; and a heat exchanger suspended within the tire, wherein the tire is substantially filled with a liquid, and wherein the heat exchanger is adapted to receive a flow of a heat transfer medium from an external source for regulating a temperature of the liquid.