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EP-3269615-B1 - POINT MACHINE, POINT MACHINE MONITORING SYSTEM, USE OF A FIBER OPTIC SENSOR FOR PREDICTIVE MAINTENANCE OF A POINT MACHINE AND METHOD FOR PREDICTIVE MAINTENANCE OF A POINT MACHINE

EP3269615B1EP 3269615 B1EP3269615 B1EP 3269615B1EP-3269615-B1

Inventors

  • AREZKI, AMINE
  • Rath, Ingo

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20160714

Claims (12)

  1. Point machine (1, 1', 1") comprising: • a housing (4) and an actuating assembly with a motor (3) arranged inside the housing; • an actuating rod (2) driven by the motor (3) for moving at least one point blade of a point; • a fiber optic sensor (5, 6, 7, 8) for detection of a parameter which indicates the condition of the point machine (1, 1', 1"); characterized in that the fiber optic sensor (5, 6, 7, 8) comprises a sensor fiber and a carrier device to which the sensor fiber is attached in a prestressed manner; and the fiber optic sensor (5, 6, 7, 8) is force locking contacted to the point machine (1, 1', 1") over the whole bottom area of the fiber optic sensor by adhesive bonding only, without any additional mechanical fixing devices and without any connecting devices and without any gearing devices.
  2. Point machine (1, 1', 1") according to claim 1 characterized in that the fiber optic sensor (6, 8) is attached to a non-moving element of the point machine, in particular the housing (4) or a console (14) attached to the housing (4).
  3. Point machine (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that the fiber optic sensor (5) is directly attached to the actuating rod, in particular by means of adhesive bonding.
  4. Point machine (1') according to claim 1 characterized in that the actuating rod comprises a connection section (12) with an eyelet for connecting the actuating rod (2) to the point blade and that the fiber optic sensor (7) is arranged within the eyelet.
  5. Point machine (1, 1', 1") according to any one of claims 1 through 4 characterized in that the fiber optic sensor (5, 6, 7, 8) is a strain gauge force sensor.
  6. Point machine (1, 1', 1") according to any one of claims 1 through 4 characterized in that the fiber optic sensor (5, 6, 7, 8) is a vibration sensor.
  7. Point machine (1, 1', 1") according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that more than one fiber optic sensor (5, 6, 7, 8) is directly attached to the point machine.
  8. Point machine monitoring system comprising: • a point machine (1, 1', 1") according to any one of the preceding claims; • a data acquisition unit (9) which is connected to the fiber optic sensor (5, 6, 7, 8) via a fiber optic cable (10); • a diagnostic system (11) for processing data measured by means of the fiber optic sensor (5, 6, 7, 8); and • means for transmitting of data from the data acquisition unit (9) to the diagnostic system (11).
  9. Use of a fiber optic sensor (5, 6, 7, 8) for predictive maintenance of a point machine (1, 1', 1"), wherein the fiber optic sensor (5, 6, 7, 8) comprises sensor fiber and a carrier device to which the sensor fiber attached in a prestressed manner, and is force locking contacted to the point machine (1, 1', 1") over the whole bottom area of the fiber optic sensor (5, 6, 7, 8) by adhesive bonding only, without any additional mechanical fixing devices and without any connecting devices and without any gearing devices.
  10. Method for predictive maintenance of a point machine (1, 1', 1"), wherein: • a fiber optic sensor (5, 6, 7, 8) comprises sensor fiber and a carrier device to which the sensor fiber attached in a prestressed manner, and is force locking contacted to the point machine (1, 1', 1") over the whole bottom area of the fiber optic sensor (5, 6, 7, 8) by adhesive bonding only, without any additional mechanical fixing devices and without any connecting devices and without any gearing devices. • data is detected by means of a fiber optic sensor (5, 6, 7, 8); • the detected data is transferred to a data acquisition unit via a fiber optic cable (10); • a diagnostic system (11) evaluates whether a maintenance operation is required or not.
  11. Method according to claim 10 characterized in that a frequency analysis is carried out resulting in frequency pattern, wherein the detected frequency pattern is compared to a target frequency pattern or with a previously detected frequency pattern.
  12. Method according to claim 11 characterized in that the frequency pattern is used to determine the direction of movement of a point blade.

Description

Background of the invention The invention concerns a point machine, a point machine monitoring system, the use of a fiber optic sensor for predictive maintenance of a point machine, and method for predictive maintenance of a point machine. An according point machine is known from [4]. Point machines for railway applications are those elements that cause the most delays in a railway network. The point machine moves a point blade, which makes contact with one or another rail and thus enabling a passing train to take one or the other direction. Providing a diagnostic system to detect degradation of point machine and/or turnout functionality can help to keep the infrastructure in operation before an operational impact (delays) occurs. Switch diagnosis systems have been suggested to monitor the function of the point machine by monitoring the electrical power consumption during point blade repositioning [1], [2]. Relevant data, like voltage, amperage, and effective power, are directly measured at the engine and then processed in a remote diagnostic component. Yet, this method is not accurate as the motor (the energy consumer) is not directly coupled with the turnout and therefore only gives indirect information about the applied force. Further, measuring the voltage always causes an interference into the electrical circuitry. This triggers a technical safety discussion and approval activities on any system which the measurement is applied to. discloses a point inspection system which measures the force directly by using a force measuring bolt with a classic strain gauge force sensor which changes its resistance if it is deformed. Yet, the railway tracks are subjected to various electromagnetic interference. In order to achieve reliable results, the sensor has to be made immune to those electromagnetic interferences which requires further efforts. Further disadvantages of this system is that strain gauge force sensor needs to be powered locally. Outdoor electronics or copper cables for connection are required. discloses a dynamic monitoring method and device of a stress sensitization fiber Bragg grating of locking rods of a railway turnout switch machine. A fiber Bragg grating strain gauge is fixed between two semi-circular clamping blocks of each locking rod by means of a screw, the large strain capacity generated by the long distance between the two clamping blocks of each locking rod is applied to the fiber Bragg grating for sensitization through a rigid lengthened arm. When the locking rods of the switch machine work, the system detects the switching force, the intensity and direction of locking force, switching speed etc. and compares the data with values stored in the history to obtain whether the turnout switch machine works normally or not. Yet, due to vibrations the screws which fix the clamping block to the rod tends to get loose which affects the force measurement. discloses an optical system for detecting perturbations indicative of the performance of the piece of equipment being monitored. The optical system comprises sensors each of which use Bragg grating induced. discloses an improved railroad switch monitoring unit of the type that determines whether a mobile rail is brought into a closed state or an open state with respect to a stationary rail. The improvement comprises a fiber Bragg grating. discloses a predictive maintenance system in point mechanism of railway systems based on unobserved components models for increasing the quality service. discloses a method to increase ultrasonic detection sensitivity and the accuracy of soundness evaluation when detecting an ultrasonic wave using an ultrasonic wave measuring apparatus having a fiber Bragg grating. Object of the invention It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a point machine, a point machine monitoring system and a method for predictive maintenance which work reliable and with reduced technical effort. Description of the invention This object is solved by a point machine according to claim 1, a point machine monitoring system according to claim 8, the use of a fiber optic sensor for predictive maintenance of a point machine according to claim 9 and a method for predictive maintenance according to claim 10. According to the invention the fiber optic sensor is directly attached to the point machine for detection of a parameter which indicates the condition of the point machine. Parameters which indicate the condition of the point machine (e.g. degradation) are parameters which allow prediction of a required maintenance operation, e.g. force/stress, vibration, temperature. Due to the usage of a fiber optic sensor predictive maintenance can be carried out without electromagnetic interference and without interference with the safe controlling system. The fiber optic sensor comprises a sensor fiber and a carrier device to which the sensor fiber attached in a prestressed manner. Thus, the fiber optic sensor is capable of detecting s