EP-4739560-A1 - INSPECTION PLATFORM FOR INSPECTING UNDERFLOOR AREAS OF RAIL VEHICLES

Abstract

The invention relates to an inspection platform (1) for inspecting underfloor areas of rail vehicles and to a method for operating the inspection platform (1). Said inspection platform (1) comprises a support apparatus (2) having wheels (10, 11, 12, 13) for supporting and moving the support apparatus (2) on rails of a rail vehicle track and having at least one drive (3, 31) for at least one of the wheels (10, 11), wherein the inspection platform (1) comprises at least one imaging sensor (5) and at least one energy storage means (4) for supplying at least the at least one drive (3, 31) and the at least one imaging sensor (5) with power, wherein at least the at least one energy storage means (3, 31) is connected or connectable exchangeably with the support apparatus (2) and wherein the support apparatus (2) is divided into at least two parts and the at least two parts (21, 22) of the support apparatus (2) are connected movably together or the at least two parts (21, 22) of the support apparatus (2) are connectable together.

Inventors

• Frühwald, Gernot
• RIESS, Manuel

Assignees

• Siemens Mobility GmbH

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20240926

Claims (1)

1. 202317366 Foreign version 29 patent claims 1. Inspection platform (1) for inspecting underfloor areas of rail vehicles, comprising a carrier device (2) with wheels (10, 11, 12, 13) for supporting and moving the carrier device on rails of a track of the rail vehicle and with at least one drive (3, 31) for at least one of the wheels (10, 11), wherein the inspection platform (1) comprises at least one imaging sensor (5) and at least one energy storage device (4) for supplying at least the at least one drive (3, 31) and the at least one imaging sensor (5) with energy, characterized in that at least the at least one energy storage device (4) is or can be connected interchangeably to the carrier device (2), and wherein the carrier device (2) is divided into at least two parts, and the at least two parts (21, 22) of the support device (2) are connected to one another so as to be movable relative to one another, or the at least two parts (21, 22) of the support device (2) are detachably connected to one another. 2. Inspection platform according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least two parts (21, 22) of the support device (2) are connected to one another via a lockable joint (23). 3. Inspection platform according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the support device (2) comprises a framework made of mounting profiles. 4. Inspection platform according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the support device (2) has at least one carrying handle (24). 202317366 Foreign version 30 5. Inspection platform according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the at least one imaging sensor (5) is or can be connected to the carrier device (2) in an exchangeable manner. 6. Inspection platform according to claim 5, characterized in that the at least one imaging sensor (5) is arranged on a robot arm, wherein the robot arm is or can be connected to the carrier device (2) in an exchangeable manner. 7. Inspection platform according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the inspection platform (1) comprises at least one communication device for establishing a wireless connection to an external evaluation or control device. 8. Inspection platform according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the inspection platform (1) comprises at least one computing unit (6) for processing data from the at least one imaging sensor (5) and/or for processing control data from the at least one drive (3, 31), wherein the at least one computing unit (6) is or can be exchangeably connected to the carrier device (2). 9. Inspection platform according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the inspection platform (1) comprises at least one device for orienting the inspection platform (1) to the underfloor area of the rail vehicle. 202317366 Foreign version 31 10. Inspection platform according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the at least one energy storage device (4) is or can be connected to the carrier device (2) via mutually complementary plug connectors. 11. Inspection platform according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that at least two first wheels (10) are arranged on a first side (8) of the carrier device (2) for supporting and moving the carrier device on a first rail of the track of the rail vehicle, and wherein at least one second wheel (11) is arranged on a second side (9) of the carrier device (2) for supporting and moving the carrier device (2) on a second rail of the track of the rail vehicle, wherein the at least one second wheel (11) is pretensioned or can be pretensioned against the second rail so as to be movable relative to the carrier device. 12. Inspection platform according to claim 11, characterized in that the at least one second wheel (11) is driven. 13. Inspection platform according to one of claims 11 or 12, characterized in that the inspection platform comprises a first drive (3) for at least one of the at least two first wheels (10) and a second drive (31) for the at least one second wheel (11), wherein the first and second drives (3, 31) are electronically synchronizable or synchronized. 14. Inspection platform according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that at least one third wheel (12) on the first side 202317366 Foreign version 32 (8) of the carrier device (2) and is aligned on a rail foot of the first rail of the track of the rail vehicle for supporting and moving the carrier device (2), and wherein at least two fourth wheels (13) are arranged on the second side (9) of the carrier device (2) and are aligned on a rail foot of the second rail of the track of the rail vehicle for supporting and moving the carrier device (2), wherein the at least two first wheels (10) are aligned on a running flank or on an inner profile of a web of the first rail for supporting and moving the carrier device (2), and wherein the at least one second wheel (11) is aligned on a running flank or on an inner profile of a web of the second rail for supporting and moving the carrier device (2). 15. A method for operating an inspection platform according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized by the following method steps: - transporting the support device (1) and at least the at least one energy storage device (4) of the inspection platform (1) detached from the support device (2) to the track of the rail vehicle; - inserting the support device (2) into the track by connecting the at least two parts (21, 22) of the support device that can be releasably connected to one another or by moving the at least two parts (21, 22) of the support device (2) that can be moved relative to one another; - connecting at least the at least one energy storage device (4) that can be exchangeably connected to the support device (2) to the support device inserted into the track; 202317366 Foreign version 33 - Moving the inspection platform (1) on the track under a rail vehicle by means of the at least one drive (3, 31) and the wheels (10, 11, 12, 13) and examining the undercarriage of the rail vehicle by means of the at least one imaging sensor (5) of the inspection platform (1).

Description

202317366 Foreign version 1 Description Inspection platform for inspecting underfloor areas of rail vehicles The invention relates to an inspection platform for inspecting underfloor areas of rail vehicles and a method for operating the inspection platform, wherein the inspection platform comprises a carrier device with wheels for supporting and moving the carrier device on rails of a track of the rail vehicle and with at least one drive for at least one of the wheels as well as at least one imaging sensor and at least one energy storage device for supplying at least the at least one drive and the at least one imaging sensor with energy. Rail vehicles are subjected to regular visual inspections in depots. To examine the underfloor areas of the rail vehicles, these are usually equipped with a pit. The delivery of rail vehicles to depots is time-consuming and costly. A train driver must be commissioned to order and pay for a route to the corresponding depot as well as the infrastructure around the depot. Inspection platforms for inspecting underfloor areas of rail vehicles have now become known. These platforms can be guided on the same rails underneath the rail vehicle to perform the visual inspection automatically or to assist the service technician in performing the visual inspection. EP3519269B1 and EP3531101B1 relate to generic inspection platforms. EP3531102B1 teaches an inspection platform according to the preamble of independent patent claim 1. 202317366 Foreign version 2 The invention is based on the object of specifying a mobile inspection platform for inspecting underfloor areas of rail vehicles at any location on a track infrastructure. This object is achieved by the subject matter of independent patent claims 1 and 15. Further developments and embodiments of the invention can be found in the features of the dependent patent claims. An inspection platform according to the invention for inspecting underfloor areas of rail vehicles comprises a carrier device with wheels for supporting and moving the carrier device on rails of a track of the rail vehicle and with at least one drive for at least one of the wheels. In addition, the inspection platform comprises at least one imaging sensor, as well as optionally at least one illumination device for a recording area of the at least one imaging sensor, and at least one energy storage device for supplying at least the at least one drive and the at least one imaging sensor with energy, in particular electrical energy. Furthermore, at least the at least one energy storage device is replaceably connected to the carrier device or designed to be connectable to the carrier device. Furthermore, the carrier device is divided into at least two parts, wherein the at least two parts of the carrier device are connected to one another so that they can move relative to one another, or the at least two parts of the carrier device are designed to be connectable to one another. The inspection platform is thus modular in design, being easy and quick to disassemble and reassemble into individual modules or components. Thus, its modules or components are individually easy to transport and easy and quick to assemble at the site. The carrier device forms a basic module of the inspection platform on which the other modules or components of the inspection platform are mounted. 202317366 Foreign version 3 platform, i.e. at least the at least one energy storage device is replaceably connected to the carrier device or can be connected to the carrier device. The replaceable components of the inspection platform can advantageously be physically connected to or detached from the carrier device without special tools, for example only with a screwdriver or Allen key that must be carried along, another commercially available screw head drive or similar, in particular completely without tools. Furthermore, the carrier device as such is divided into at least two parts, in particular in its width, wherein the at least two parts of the carrier device are connected to one another so that they can move relative to one another or the at least two parts of the carrier device are designed so that they can be detachably connected to one another. This additionally facilitates the transport of the carrier device and enables the carrier device to be easily inserted into the track of the rail vehicle. In one embodiment, the at least two parts of the carrier device can be transported physically separately from one another and releasably connected to one another for use. The disassembly of the carrier device into the at least two parts and the assembly of the at least two parts is advantageously carried out without special tools, for example only with a screwdriver or Allen key, another commercially available screw head drive or similar, in particular even completely tool-free. The at least two parts of the carrier device each have correspondingly complementary connection partners, for example connecti