ULTRASONIC SIDE-LOOKER FOR RAIL HEAD FLAW DETECTION

摘要

An ultrasonic rail flaw detection system and technique are described for the detection of flaws in the sides of rail heads. An ultrasonic transducer (20) is oriented, sized, and located so as to produce an ultrasonic beam (50) within the rail head (48) whereby at least a portion of the beam will intersect a lower side corner independent of the curvature of the rail head running surface and the amount of head wear. The presence of premature reflections or the absence of reflections can be used to detect flaws such as vertical fractures in the rail head. The side-looker is so oriented as to produce a beam in the rail head that lies within 45 degrees to 75 degrees of the normal to the rail surface, and can be located such that its beam and the beams from other ultrasonic transducers do not interfere with each other.