초록 ▼

A method and apparatus for nondestructive testing a railroad rail is provided. The method includes locating at least one magnetic exciter adjacent to the rail, the at least one magnetic exciter includes an emitting end and a longitudinal axis extending perpendicularly through the emitting end, disch

A method and apparatus for nondestructive testing a railroad rail is provided. The method includes locating at least one magnetic exciter adjacent to the rail, the at least one magnetic exciter includes an emitting end and a longitudinal axis extending perpendicularly through the emitting end, discharging the energy storage circuit through the at least one magnetic exciter such that only a magnetic pulse enters the rail at a location of the exciter, and controlling a shape of the magnetic pulse. The apparatus includes at least one magnetic exciter adjacent to a rail, a energy storage circuit electrically coupled to the at least one magnetic exciter the energy storage circuit is configured to supply a shaped current pulse to the at least one exciter, and a power source electrically coupled to the energy storage circuit.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of inducing ultrasonic waves into a railroad rail including a rail web, a first edge of the rail web coupled longitudinally to a rail base and a second opposing edge of the rail web coupled longitudinally to a rail head, the rail web includes a first side extending from the rail base to

1. A method of inducing ultrasonic waves into a railroad rail including a rail web, a first edge of the rail web coupled longitudinally to a rail base and a second opposing edge of the rail web coupled longitudinally to a rail head, the rail web includes a first side extending from the rail base to the rail head, and a second side opposite the first side, said method comprising: locating at least one magnetic exciter adjacent to the rail, the at least one magnetic exciter including an emitting face and a longitudinal axis extending perpendicularly through the emitting face; discharging an energy storage circuit through the at least one magnetic exciter such that only a magnetic pulse enters the rail at a location of the exciter; and controlling the magnetic pulse shape to induce ultrasonic waves into a railroad rail. 2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein locating at least one magnetic exciter further comprises locating the at least one magnetic exciter such that the emitting face is adjacent to the rail and the magnetic exciter longitudinal axis is perpendicular to the rail.3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein locating at least one magnetic exciter comprises operationally coupling the at least one magnetic exciter to at least one of a railroad service vehicle, a railroad locomotive and a railroad train car such that the at least one magnetic exciter is configured to move with the railroad service vehicle, the railroad locomotive a or the railroad train car while remaining adjacent to the rail.4. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein locating at least one magnetic exciter comprises locating at least one magnetic exciter adjacent to at least one of the rail base and the rail head such that the emitting face is adjacent to the rail base or the rail head, and the exciter longitudinal axis is perpendicular to the rail.5. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein a first node is defined by an intersection of a longitudinal axis of a first magnetic exciter and a longitudinal axis of the rail, a second node is defined by an intersection of a longitudinal axis of a second magnetic exciter and a longitudinal axis of the rail, such that a distance d1is a distance between the first node and the second node, wherein locating at least one magnetic exciter comprises locating a first magnetic exciter adjacent to the first side of the rail and locating a second magnetic exciter adjacent to the second opposing side of the rail, the first magnetic exciter and the second magnetic exciter spaced apart a distance d1.6. A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein locating at least one magnetic exciter comprises locating a first magnetic exciter and a second magnetic exciter such that d1is equal to at least one of about zero and about an integral multiple of a predetermined wavelength of ultrasonic energy induced into the rail by the first magnetic exciter and the second magnetic exciter.7. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein charging an energy storage circuit further comprises charging a capacitive reactance circuit.8. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein discharging the energy storage circuit further comprises: supplying a current to the at least one magnetic exciter; generating a magnetic field from the current; penetrating the rail with the magnetic field; and generating an ultrasonic wave in the rail using the magnetic field. 9. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein supplying a current to the at least one magnetic exciter further comprises supplying a current pulse to the at least one magnetic exciter.10. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein penetrating the rail with the magnetic field further comprises: penetrating the rail with the magnetic field such that the strength of the magnetic field is greater than the magnetic saturation point of the rail; and wherein generating the ultrasonic wave in the rail comprises generating a shaped acoustic pulse in the rail. 11. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein generating a an ultrasonic wave in the rail further comprises generating a longitudinal wave in the rail.12. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein discharging the energy storage circuit further comprises: discharging the energy storage circuit through a first magnetic exciter at a predetermined frequency; and discharging the energy storage circuit through a second magnetic exciter laterally positioned a predetermined distance d 1from the first magnetic exciter such that a wave in the rail generated by the second magnetic exciter is superimposed upon a wave generated by the first magnetic exciter passing the second magnetic exciter.13. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein discharging the energy storage circuit further comprises: discharging the energy storage circuit through the at least one magnetic exciter at a first predetermined frequency; varying at least one of a capacitance, a resistance, an inductance, and a switching circuit of the energy storage circuit; and discharging the energy storage circuit through the at least one magnetic exciter at a second predetermined frequency different from the first predetermined frequency. 14. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein locating at least one magnetic exciter adjacent to the rail further comprises locating the at least one magnetic exciter at least partially within a rail tie.15. An apparatus for inducing ultrasonic waves into a railroad rail, said apparatus comprising: at least one magnetic exciter adjacent to said rail; an energy storage circuit electrically coupled to said at least one magnetic exciter, said energy storage circuit configured to supply a shaped current pulse to said at least one magnetic exciter to induce ultrasonic waves into said railroad rail; and a power source electrically coupled to said energy storage circuit and configured to charge the energy storage circuit with electrical energy. 16. An apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein said at least one magnetic exciter comprises: an emitting face comprising a planar face; a magnetic core adjacent said emitting end; and a winding surrounding at least a portion of said magnetic core. 17. An apparatus in accordance with claim 16 wherein said core is configured to facilitate emitting a magnetic field perpendicular to said planar face of said emitting end.18. An apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein said energy storage circuit is configured to supply simultaneous pulses to a plurality of exciters spaced laterally a distance d1apart, wherein a first node is defined by an intersection of a longitudinal axis of a first magnetic exciter and a longitudinal axis of the rail, a second node is defined by an intersection of a longitudinal axis of a second magnetic exciter and a longitudinal axis of the rail, such that distance d1is a lateral distance between the first node and the second node, the pulses being timed to superimpose a longitudinal wave upon an existing longitudinal wave in the rail.19. An apparatus in accordance with claim 18 wherein said energy storage circuit is configured to supply sequential pulses to the plurality of exciters.20. An apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein said energy storage circuit is configured to supply a current pulse to said at least one exciter such that the magnetic field generated by said at least one magnetic exciter exceeds the saturation flux density of the rail.21. An apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein said energy storage circuit is configured to control a current pulse shape supplied to said at least one magnetic exciter.22. A railroad locomotive comprising: a platform having a first end and a second end; a propulsion system coupled to said platform for supporting and propelling said platform on a pair of rails; and a rail ultrasonic wave inducement system comprising at least one magnetic exciter, a energy storage circuit electrically couple d to said at least one magnetic exciter, and a power source electrically coupled to said energy storage circuit, said at least one magnetic exciter coupled to said locomotive such that said at least one magnetic exciter is movable in concert with said locomotive and maintains a position adjacent to a rail, said energy storage circuit configured to supply at least one of sequential current pulses to said at least one magnetic exciter and simultaneous current pulses to said at least one magnetic exciter according to a predetermined configuration, said energy storage circuit further configured to control the shape of said pulses to induce ultrasonic waves into at least one of said rails. 23. A railroad vehicle comprising: a platform having a first end and a second end; a truck coupled to said platform for supporting said platform on a pair of rails; and a rail ultrasonic wave inducement system comprising at least one magnetic exciter, a energy storage circuit electrically coupled to said at least one magnetic exciter, and a power source electrically coupled to said energy storage circuit, said at least one magnetic exciter coupled to said vehicle such that said at least one magnetic exciter is movable in concert with said vehicle and maintains a position adjacent to a rail, said energy storage circuit configured to supply at least one of sequential current pulses to said at least one magnetic exciter and simultaneous current pulses to said at least one magnetic exciter according to a predetermined configuration, said energy storage circuit further configured to control the shape of said pulses to induce ultrasonic waves into at least one of said rails.