US-12623695-B2 - Rail inspection device

US12623695B2US 12623695 B2US12623695 B2US 12623695B2US-12623695-B2

Abstract

A rail inspection device is provided. The rail inspection device includes: a drive part configured to drive on a lower rail; side wheels configured to rotate such that the drive part moves in a first direction on the lower rail, wherein the side wheels are provided on two side surfaces of the drive part opposite to each other in a second direction that intersects the first direction; upper wheels provided on an upper surface of the drive part and configured to rotate in contact with a branch guide rail provided above an upper portion of the drive part; a body connected to a lower surface of the drive part in a third direction that is perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction; and an inclination sensor provided on the upper surface of the drive part and configured to measure an inclination of the body.

Inventors

In Kyeong HWANG
Hyuk Jae SUNG
Hyungsik UM
Hongjin Kim
Won Young Kim
Bo Seung HWANG
Sangjune Bae
Byeong Hyeon Lim

Assignees

SEMES CO., LTD.
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20230109
Priority Date: 20220420

Claims (19)

1 . A rail inspection device comprising: a drive part configured to drive on a lower rail; side wheels configured to rotate such that the drive part moves in a first direction on the lower rail, wherein the side wheels are on two side surfaces of the drive part opposite in a second direction that intersects the first direction; upper wheels on an upper surface of the drive part and configured to rotate in contact with a branch guide rail above an upper portion of the drive part; a body connected to a lower surface of the drive part in a third direction that is perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction; an inclination sensor on an upper surface of the body and configured to measure an inclination of the body; and a step sensor on a front surface of the drive part and configured to detect whether a front portion of the lower rail in a driving direction of the drive part is continuous or discontinuous and to identify a stepped portion of the lower rail based on the detected discontinuity, wherein the step sensor is further configured to measure a distance to the stepped portion of the lower rail from the step sensor in the third direction using a laser.
2 . The rail inspection device of claim 1 , further comprising: a object detection sensor connected to a lower portion of the drive part and configured to generate a object detection signal based on a protruding object being detected; and an alarm display on the body and configured to display a warning alarm for the protruding object based on the protruding-object detection signal of the protruding-object detection sensor.
3 . The rail inspection device of claim 2 , wherein the protruding-object detection sensor is further configured to generate the protruding-object detection signal based on the protruding object being in contact with the protruding-object detection sensor.
4 . The rail inspection device of claim 2 , wherein the protruding-object detection sensor is further configured to measure a distance between the protruding object and the protruding-object detection sensor using a laser, and to generate the protruding-object detection signal based on the distance between the protruding object and the protruding-object detection sensor being less than or equal to a threshold value determined based on a rail design specification.
5 . The rail inspection device of claim 1 , wherein the inclination sensor is further configured to measure a first inclination of the body in the first direction and a second inclination of the body in the second direction.
6 . The rail inspection device of claim 1 , further comprising: a width measurement sensor on a rear surface of the drive part and configured to measure to a distance to the lower rail from the width measurement sensor in the second direction using a laser, and generate a width detection signal based on the distance to the lower rail deviating from a threshold range determined based on a rail design specification; and an alarm display on the body and configured to display a warning alarm for the distance to the lower rail based on the width detection signal.
7 . The rail inspection device of claim 1 , wherein the lower rail comprises a first lower rail and a second lower rail, wherein the side wheels comprise a first side wheel on a first side of the drive part and a second side wheel on a second side opposite the first side, wherein the step sensor comprises a first step measurer adjacent to the first side wheel and a second step measurer adjacent to the second side wheel, wherein the first step measurer and the second step measurer are respectively at opposite ends of the front surface of the drive part, wherein the first step measurer is configured to detect whether a front portion of the first lower rail in the driving direction of the drive part is continuous or discontinuous and to identify a first stepped portion of the first lower rail based on the detected discontinuity of the first lower rail, wherein the second step measurer is configured to detect whether a front portion of the second lower rail in the driving direction of the drive part is continuous or discontinuous and to identify a second stepped portion of the second lower rail based on the detected discontinuity of the second lower rail, wherein the first step measurer is further configured to measure a distance between the first lower rail on which the first side wheel moves and the first step measurer, and wherein the second step measurer is further configured to measure a distance between the second lower rail on which the second side wheel moves and the second step measurer.
8 . The rail inspection device of claim 1 , further comprising an alarm display on the body and configured to display a warning alarm, wherein the inclination sensor is further configured to generate an inclination detection signal based on the inclination of the body being greater than or equal to a threshold value determined based on a rail design specification, and wherein the alarm display is further configured to generate the warning alarm for the inclination of the body based on the inclination detection signal.
9 . The rail inspection device of claim 1 , further comprising: a camera in the drive part and configured to capture an image of a driving environment of the drive part; an operation bar removably attached to the body and configured to manually adjust a position or orientation of the body; and a controller in the operation bar and configured to change a location of the upper wheels and control an operation of the camera.
10 . The rail inspection device of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of drive parts, including the drive part, are provided on the body.
11 . A rail inspection device comprising: a drive part configured to drive on a lower rail; side wheels configured to rotate such that the drive part moves in a first direction on the lower rail, wherein the side wheels are on two side surfaces of the drive part opposite in a second direction that intersects the first direction; upper wheels on an upper surface of the drive part and configured to rotate in contact with a branch guide rail above an upper portion of the drive part as part of an external guide rail; a body connected to a lower surface of the drive part in a third direction that is perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction; an inclination sensor on an upper surface of the body, and configured to measure an inclination of the body in the second direction and to generate an inclination detection signal based on the inclination being greater than or equal to a threshold value determined based on a rail design specification; and a step sensor on a front surface of the drive part and configured to detect whether a front portion of the lower rail in a driving direction of the drive part is continuous or discontinuous and to identify a stepped portion of the lower rail based on the detected discontinuity, wherein the step sensor is further configured to measure a distance to the stepped portion of the lower rail from the step sensor in the third direction based on the inclination detection signal.
12 . The rail inspection device of claim 11 , wherein the lower rail comprises a first lower rail and a second lower rail, wherein the side wheels comprise a first side wheel provided on a first side of the drive part and a second side wheel on a second side of the drive part opposite the first side, wherein the step sensor comprises a first step measurer adjacent to the first side wheel and a second step measurer adjacent to the second side wheel, wherein the first step measurer and the second step measurer are respectively at opposite ends of the front surface of the drive part, wherein the first step measurer is configured to measure a distance between the first lower rail on which the first side wheel moves and the first step measurer based on the inclination detection signal indicating that the first side wheel floats from the lower rail, and wherein the second step measurer is configured to measure a distance between the second lower rail on which the second side wheel moves and the second step measurer based on the inclination detection signal indicating that the second side wheel floats from the lower rail.
13 . The rail inspection device of claim 11 , further comprising a protruding-object detection sensor connected to a lower portion of the drive part and configured to detect a protruding object.
14 . The rail inspection device of claim 11 , further comprising a width measurement sensor on a rear surface of the drive part, and configured to measure a distance to the lower rail from the width measurement sensor in the second direction using a laser.
15 . The rail inspection device of claim 11 , wherein the step sensor is further configured to measure a distance between the lower rail and the step sensor regardless of the inclination detection signal.
16 . The rail inspection device of claim 11 , further comprising an alarm display in the body and configured to display a warning alarm, wherein the alarm display is configured to display the warning alarm for the inclination of the body based on the inclination detection signal.
17 . The rail inspection device of claim 11 , wherein the inclination sensor is further configured to measure the inclination of the body in the first direction.
18 . The rail inspection device of claim 11 , further comprising: a camera in the drive part and configured to capture an image of a driving environment of the drive part; an operation bar removably attached to the body and configured to manually adjust a position or orientation of the body; and a controller in the operation bar and configured to change a location of the upper wheels and to control an operation of the camera.
19 . A rail inspection device comprising: a drive part configured to drive on a lower rail; side wheels configured to rotate such that the drive part moves in a first direction on the lower rail, wherein the side wheels are on two side surfaces of the drive part opposite in a second direction that intersects the first direction; a body connected to a lower surface of the drive part in a third direction that is perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction; an inclination sensor on an upper surface of the body and configured to measure an inclination of the body; a protruding-object detection sensor connected to a lower portion of the drive part and configured to detect a protruding object; a width measurement sensor on a rear surface of the drive part and configured to measure a distance to the lower rail from the width measurement sensor in the second direction using a first laser; a step sensor on a front surface of the drive part, configured to detect whether a front portion of the lower rail in a driving direction of the drive part is continuous or discontinuous and to identify a stepped portion of the lower rail based on the detected discontinuity, and to measure a distance to the stepped portion of the lower rail from the step sensor in the third direction using a second laser; an alarm display on the body and configured to display a warning alarm; and a processor configured to control the inclination sensor, the protruding-object detection sensor, the width measurement sensor, the step sensor and the alarm display, wherein the inclination sensor is further configured to provide an inclination detection signal to the processor in-based on the inclination of the body being greater than or equal to a threshold value determined based on a rail design specification, wherein the protruding-object detection sensor is further configured to provide a protruding-object detection signal to the processor based on detecting the protruding object, wherein the width measurement sensor is further configured to provide a width detection signal to the processor based on the distance to the lower rail in the second direction deviating from a first threshold range determined based on the rail design specification, wherein the step sensor is further configured to provide a step detection signal to the processor based on the distance to the lower rail in the third direction deviating from a second threshold range determined based on the rail design specification, and wherein the processor is further configured to control the alarm display to display the warning alarm based on the inclination detection signal, the protruding-object detection signal, the width detection signal, or the step detection signal.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0048967 filed on Apr. 20, 2022 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field The present disclosure relates to a rail inspection device. 2. Description of the Related Art Overhead hoist transports are installed in semiconductor production plants, where there are numerous small objects to be transported. The overhead hoist transport system drives along a rail installed on a ceiling and includes a transport hoist configured to carry an object and a track with the rail for guiding driving of the transport hoist. The overhead hoist transport includes a lower rail and an upper rail. The lower rail has branch and confluence rails to connect straight rails spaced apart from each other so as to allow the carriage to move between the spaced apart straight rails. The upper rail may refer to a rail installed for the carriage to change a movement direction in the branch and confluence rails. After the installation of the rail of the overhead hoist transport, there is a need to confirm whether the rail is properly installed to fit the design specification. In general, a worker directly measures the installation state of the rail using a measuring machine, such as a step difference of the rail, the width thereof, the installation location of the guide rail, and the like. In this case, measured values may vary according to the worker, leading to decreased reliability, and the longer inspection time causes a decrease in productivity. SUMMARY One or more embodiments provide a rail inspection device that may have improved inspection reliability for a design specification of a rail. According to an aspect of an example embodiment, a rail inspection device includes: a drive part configured to drive on a lower rail; side wheels configured to rotate such that the drive part moves in a first direction on the lower rail, wherein the side wheels are provided on two side surfaces of the drive part opposite to each other in a second direction that intersects the first direction; upper wheels provided on an upper surface of the drive part and configured to rotate in contact with a branch guide rail provided above an upper portion of the drive part; a body connected to a lower surface of the drive part in a third direction that is perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction; and an inclination sensor provided on the upper surface of the drive part and configured to measure an inclination of the body. According to an aspect of an example embodiment, a rail inspection device includes: a drive part configured to drive on a lower rail; side wheels configured to rotate such that the drive part moves in a first direction on the lower rail, wherein the side wheels are provided on two side surfaces of the drive part opposite to each other in a second direction that intersects the first direction; upper wheels provided on an upper surface of the drive part and configured to rotate in contact with a branch guide rail provided on an upper portion of the drive part; a body connected to a lower surface of the drive part in a third direction that is perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction; an inclination sensor provided on the upper surface of the body, and configured to measure an inclination of the body in the second direction and generate an inclination detection signal based on the inclination being higher than or equal to a threshold value; and a step sensor provided in a front surface of the drive part and configured to measure a distance to the lower rail from the step sensor in the third direction based on the inclination detection signal. According to an aspect of an example embodiment, a rail inspection device includes: a drive part configured to drive on a lower rail; side wheels configured to rotate such that the drive part moves in a first direction on the lower rail, wherein the side wheels are provided on two side surfaces of the drive part opposite to each other in a second direction that intersects the first direction; a body connected to a lower surface of the drive part in a third direction that is perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction; an inclination sensor provided on an upper surface of the body and configured to measure an inclination of the body; a protrusion detection sensor connected to a lower portion of the drive part and configured to detect a protruding object; a width measurement sensor provided on a rear surface of the drive part and configured to measure a distance to the lower rail from the width measurement sensor in the second direction using a first laser; a step sensor provided on a front surface of the drive part and configured to measure a distance to the lower rail from the step sensor in the third direction using a second laser; an