The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 27, 2004
Filed:
Jul. 17, 2001
Gopichand Katragadda, San Antonio, TX (US);
Douglas Earnest, San Antonio, TX (US);
Gregory Anthony Garcia, Pueblo, CO (US);
Richard Paul Reiff, Pueblo, CO (US);
Transportation Technology Center, Inc., Pueblo, CO (US);
Abstract
A method and system for detecting transverse cracks beneath horizontal cracks in the rail way track. As a transporter moves over rail, a saturation magnetic field is generated into and across the rail head using a toroidal-shaped DC saturation magnet located a predetermined distance above the rail head. Any transverse cracks in the rail head are detected with a low frequency eddy current probe mounted centrally between the opposing pole ends of the DC magnet and over the rail head. A force is applied to the low frequency eddy current probe to hold the probe towards the rail head as the transporter moves on the rail so as to follow the wear pattern of the rail head and to minimize lift-off. A second sensor is used to sense the presence of non-relevant indications that falsely indicate possible transverse cracks by the low frequency eddy current probe.