ROUTE EXAMINING SYSTEM AND METHOD

摘要

A system includes an application device, a control unit, a detection unit, an identification unit, and a secondary analysis module. The application device is configured to be at least one of conductively or inductively coupled with a route. The control unit is configured to control supply of electric current to inject an examination signal into the route via the application device. The detection unit is configured to monitor one or more electrical characteristics of the route. The identification unit is configured to examine the one or more electrical characteristics of the route to determine whether a section of the route is potentially damaged. The secondary analysis module is configured to perform a secondary analysis of the potentially damaged section of the route to at least one of confirm that damage has occurred, identify a type of damage, or assess a level of damage.

主权项

1. A system comprising:
an application device configured to be disposed onboard a first vehicle of a first vehicle system traveling along a route and to be at least one of conductively or inductively coupled with the route during travel along the route; a control unit configured to control supply of electric current from a power source to the application device in order to electrically inject an examination signal into the route via the application device; a detection unit configured to monitor one or more electrical characteristics of the route in response to the examination signal being injected into the route; an identification unit configured to examine the one or more electrical characteristics of the route in order to determine whether a section of the route extending between the application device and the detection unit is potentially damaged based on the one or more electrical characteristics; and a secondary analysis module configured to, responsive to an identification of a potentially damaged section of the route by the identification unit, perform a secondary analysis of the potentially damaged section of the route to at least one of confirm that damage has occurred to the potentially damaged section of the route, identify a type of damage that has occurred to the potentially damaged section of the route, or assess a level of damage to the potentially damaged section of the route.