RT10-B Rail Flaw Detector

An implementation of testing truck on a push cart

10 Chanel Portable Rail Flaw Detector A-scan or B-scan, Recordable

OUTLINE

Wheel Probe 10 Channel Scope Features of the push cart mechanics Replay of the test

Illustration of the wheel probe

•Total of 9 transducers, six 70o, two 37.5o, one zero degree

10 Channel Scope

Overview B-scan A-scan Replay Other Utilities (managing files, change time

etc.)

10 Channel Scope -- Overview

10 Channel Scope -- Overview

Both A-scan and B-scan are offered with B-scan as the recommended testing mode.

Continuously Recordable B-scan. Built in Windows user interface for easy

operation, icons commenting screen. Continuously GPS tagging.

The operation of the instrument is essentially like the operation of a high speed testing vehicle

10 Channel Scope -- Overview

10 Channels, 9 of which is used for testing, one channel is used for hand verification of defect.

Frequency range: 2~5MHz Repetition Rate: Driven by shaft encoder,

4mm/pulse. Alarm: Threshold level adjustable, slope line

detection, audible. Recording range: >200 miles

•Tech Specification:

10 Channel Scope – B-scan

What is B-scan? B-scan is a two dimensional view of a scan

of the rail. It uses horizontal axis as time, vertical axis as distance, the color of the pixel represent the amplitude of the signal.

Why B-scan better? B-scan is essentially stacking the A-scan

wave form, it allows the operator to see the history of the scan.

10 Channel Scope – B-scan1 2 3 4 5

•Zone 1: Forward and backward Gauge Side 70 channels

•Zone 2: Forward and backward center 70 channels

•Zone 3: Forward and backward Field side 70 channels

•Zone 4: Forward and backward 37.5 channels

•Zone 5: zero channel

10 Channel Scope – B-scan

3mm SDH

1Zone

2 3 4 5

Joints

3mm SDH

Detail Fracture Icon

milepostspeed

GPS

Gain for each channel

cyan square for alarm

Some 3mm BHBs, see details next 3rd slide

10 Channel Scope – B-scan1 2 3 4 5

Alarm Features:

Slope line detection

Cyan square indicated on the right

Audible with different tone for different channel, 70 channel lowest, 37.5 channel higher, zero ever higher, LOB (loss of base) highest

Travel Direction

Forward 37.5 beam

Backward 37.5 beam

Horizontal BHB is 5mm, rest BHB is 3mm

Zero channel also indicates horizontal BHB, please note the shift of the white pixel,

10 Channel Scope – B-scan, defect input

With the scan line on the indication, press the CR key on the panel, the milepost will be automatically added, make selections and press OK, icon will be added to the screen

10 Channel Scope – B-scan, structure input

crossing

joint

bridge

During B-scan, press number key 1, 2, 3, 4 will put crossing, joints, turn out and bridge icon on the screen and they are also recorded in the data file

10 Channel Scope – A-scan

From the main menu, use↓and↑to highlight A-scan Single, press select key. A blank screen shows up. Press Start/Stop key to start A-scan single

10 Channel Scope – A-scan

Gate

Back wall echo

Tire Rail Interface

109 48

This is channel I •Press key, then press + and – to adjust

delay

•Press key, then press + and – to adjust gate width

•Press key, then press + and – to adjust threshold

•Press 1, 2, 3, …, 9 key to switch channel

10 Channel Scope – Utilities, managing files

From the main menu, select Managing File, a list of files will be displayed, use↓and↑to highlight the desired file, press select key, a menu selection Copy, Delete, Replay, Cancel will pop up. Then again use↓and↑to make selection

10 Channel Scope – Utilities, managing files

•Copy: Copy file to thumb drive for archiving or replay the test in PC

•Delete: Remove the file from the instrument

•Replay: Replay the test on the instrument

10 Channel Scope – Utilities, Setup Unit

From the main menu, select Setup Unit, a window with mile and kilometer displayed, use↓and↑to highlight the desired selection, press select key, the unit selected will be saved. The distance shown on the test will be based on the unit selected

10 Channel Scope – Utilities, Setup Clock

From the main menu, select Setup Clock, a window with date and date displayed, use backspace key to delete old value and use number key to type in new number, use Tab key to move to next field. When done, make OK highlighted and press select key. New time value will be saved

10 Channel Scope – Utilities

•Restore Setting: default to factory setting

•Upgrade software: for now it is used for upgrade settings from a thumb drive

•Backup setting: Copy settings to a thumb drive

Features of the push cart mechanics

Flexible design allows easy testing on track and conveniently pushing on the ground

Flexible design allows testing on frog and switch

Flexible design allows the adjustment of the wheel probe to accommodate rail condition, tile adjustment and lateral adjustment.

Features of the push cart mechanics—wheel probe tilt adjustment

Then push the base along the red arrow will tilt the wheel probe in one direction, push along the other red arrow will tilt the wheel probe in the opposite direction. Adjust the tilt to maximize the base reflection of channel 9.

First Loose these four screws use hexagon wrench

Base used to install the wheel probe on the push stick

Features of the push cart mechanics—wheel probe Lateral adjustment

Then use hex driver to rotate the screw pointed by the red arrow to adjust the lateral of the wheel so as to maximize the base reflection of channel 9. Then tight the screw pointed by the yellow arrow.

First Loose this screws use a hex driver

Features of the push cart mechanics—On and Off the rail track

The push cart in the above picture is in its off track status, during testing, the walking part can be lifted up. To do so, step 1: pull the handle along red arrow, step 2: lift up along the yellow arrow

1

Features of the push cart mechanics—testing frog and switch

Derail clamp

To testing frog and switch, move the derail clamp out of latch and rotate up.

Replay the test in PC

Besides replay testing data in the instrument, testing data can also be transferred to PC using a thumb drive for replay on PC.

PC replay program allows printing and saving B-scan screen shot.

PC replay program also show a two dimensional chart with horizontal axis as testing time and vertical axis as milepost, thus it clearly shows one day testing plan.

Replay the test in PC

In the above chart, the testing starts at 10:16:21 and milepost 207.869 and ends at 11:21:43 and milepost 210.264 for a total test of 2.395 mile. To review a particular section, use mouse left click starting point on the chart, a green line will be drawn on the chart. Use mouse right click the ending point on the chart, a red line will be drawn on the screen. Then click on start button, the selected section of the test will be replayed.

A typical data review screen on PC, bottom shows the testing time, testing speed, milepost, testing cart ID, date, track, GPS coordinate. The circled indication is a 20% detail fracture.