The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] The present subject matter described herein, in general, relates to a system and a method for monitoring, and more particularly a system and a method for monitoring a rail track.
BACKGROUND
[002] Rail transport may be understood a means of conveyance of passengers and goods, by way of wheeled vehicles running on rails. It is also commonly referred to as train transport or railways. Railway transport is capable of high levels of passenger and cargo utilization and energy efficiency, but is often less flexible and more capital-intensive than highway transport. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles run on a prepared flat surface, rail vehicles are run on a track and also directionally guided by the tracks. Track consists of two parallel steel rails, anchored perpendicular to members called ties to maintain a consistent distance apart, or rail gauge. The track guides the conical, flanged wheels, keeping the railway on the track without active steering and therefore allowing trains to be much longer than road vehicles. The rails and ties are usually placed on a foundation made of compressed earth on top of which is placed a bed of ballast to distribute the load from the ties and to prevent the track from buckling as the ground settles over time under the weight of the vehicles passing above.
[003] Currently, there are millions of kilometers of railway tracks laid out across that world. These tracks face all type of weather and are under constant risk of misalignment. The misalignment of rails can result from a variety of problems in any of the component that makes up the railway track. The common natural causes of such misalignment are bending of rails due to heat, movement of tiles due to soil erosion / landslide or natural calamity, rusting and breakdown of spikes/plates, or any other reason. One of the most common reasons of misalignment is bending due to heat and movement of tiles due to soil erosion. Generally, any minor misalignment of rails leads to disastrous accidents. Furthermore, every year numerous railway accidents happen due to such misalignment of the railway tracks. Thus there is a need for a system and a method for analysing the alignment and report in real time on any such incident.
SUMMARY
[004] Before the present systems and methods for monitoring a rail track, are described, it is to be understood that this application is not limited to the particular systems, and methodologies described, as there can be multiple possible embodiments which are not expressly illustrated in the present disclosures. It is also to be understood that the terminology used in the description is for the purpose of describing the particular implementations or versions or embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present application. This summary is provided to introduce aspects related to a system and a method for monitoring a rail track. This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter nor is it intended for use in determining or limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[005] In one implementation, a system for monitoring a rail track is disclosed. In one aspect the system may comprises an emitter sensor located on a first rail of a rail track. Further, the emitter sensor may be configured to emit a ray of light at a predefined time interval. The system may further comprise a receiver sensor located on a second rail of the rail track. The receiver sensor may be configured to transmit a safe signal or an error signal. The safe signal may be transmitted upon successful receipt of the ray of light at the predefined time interval, and the error signal may be transmitted upon failure in receipt of the ray of light at the predefined time interval. The system may furthermore comprise a global positioning sensor configured to transmit time stamp data and geographical position data associated with the emitter sensor and the receiver sensor. Furthermore, the system comprises, a rail track monitoring device communicatively coupled to the emitter sensor, the reviver sensor, and the global positioning sensor. The rail track monitoring device further comprises a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor may be capable of executing instructions to perform steps of obtaining the time stamp data, the geographical position data, historical data and one of the signal and generating an alert based on the time stamp data, the geographical position data, the signal, historical data.
[006] In one implementation, a method for monitoring a rail track is disclosed. In one aspect, the method may comprise emitting, by an emitter sensor, a ray of light at a predefined time interval. Further, the emitter sensor is located on a first rail of a rail track. Upon emitting, the method comprises transmitting, by a receiver sensor, a safe signal or an error signal. The safe signal may be transmitted upon successful receipt of the ray of light at the predefined time interval, and the error signal may be transmitted upon failure in receipt of the ray of light at the predefined time interval. Further, the receiver sensor is located on a second rail of the rail track. Subsequent to transmitting one of the signals, the method comprises transmitting, by a global positioning sensor, time stamp data and geographical position data associated with the emitter sensor and the receive sensor. Upon transmitting, the method comprises obtaining, by a rail track monitoring device, the time stamp data, the geographical position data, historical data and one of the signals. Further, the rail track monitoring device is communicatively coupled to the emitter sensor, the reviver sensor, and the global positioning sensor. Finally, the method comprises generating, by the rail track monitoring device, an alert based on the time stamp data, the geographical position data, the signal, historical data.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[007] The foregoing detailed description of embodiments is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating of the present subject matter, an example of construction of the present subject matter is provided as figures; however, the invention is not limited to the specific method and system disclosed in the document and the figures.
[008] The present subject matter is described detail with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer various features of the present subject matter.
[009] Figure 1A illustrates a network implementation of a plurality of systems for monitoring a rail track, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[010] Figure 1B illustrates an implementation of the system for monitoring a rail track, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[011] Figure 2 illustrates a rail track monitoring device of the system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[012] Figure 3 illustrates a method for monitoring a rail track, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[013] Some embodiments of this disclosure, illustrating all its features, will now be discussed in detail. The words "comprising," "having," "containing," and "including," and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items. It must also be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Although any systems and methods for monitoring a rail track, similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of embodiments of the present disclosure, the exemplary, systems and methods for monitoring a rail track are now described. The disclosed embodiments for monitoring a rail track are merely examples of the disclosure, which may be embodied in various forms.
[014] Various modifications to the embodiment will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the generic principles herein may be applied to other embodiments for monitoring a rail track. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the present disclosure for monitoring a rail track is not intended to be limited to the embodiments described, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein.
[015] In an implementation, a system and method for monitoring a rail track, is described. In the implementation an emitter sensor may configured to emit a ray of light at a predefined time interval. In one example, the emitter sensor may be located on a first rail of a rail track. Further to emitting of the ray of light, a receiver sensor may be configured to transmit a safe signal or an error signal. In one embodiment, the safe signal may be transmitted upon successful receipt of the ray of light at the predefined time interval, and the error signal may be transmitted upon failure in receipt of the ray of light at the predefined time interval. Further, the receiver sensor may be located on a second rail of the rail track. Further to transmission of one of the signals, a global positioning sensor may be configured to transmit time stamp data and geographical position data associated with the emitter sensor and the receiver sensor.
[016] In the embodiment, subsequent to the transmissions, a rail track monitoring device may be configured to obtain the time stamp data, the geographical position data, historical data and one of the signal and generate an alert based on the time stamp data, the geographical position data, the signal, historical data. In the embodiment, the rail track monitoring device may be communicatively coupled to the emitter sensor, the reviver sensor, and the global positioning sensor.
[017] Referring now to Figure 1, a network implementation of a plurality of systems 104-1, 104-2….104-N for monitoring a rail track 104, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter may be described. It will also be understood that the system 104 may be accessed by multiple users through one or more display devices 108, or applications residing on the display devices 108. Examples of the display devices 108 may include, but are not limited to, a portable computer, a personal digital assistant, a handheld device, a television and a workstation. The display devices 108 are communicatively coupled to the system 102 via network 106.
[018] In one implementation, the network 106 may be a wireless network, a wired network or a combination thereof. The network 106 can be implemented as one of the different types of networks, such as intranet, local area network (LAN), Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN), Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), wide area network (WAN), the internet, and the like. The network 106 may either be a dedicated network or a shared network. The shared network represents an association of the different types of networks that use a variety of protocols, for example, MQ Telemetry Transport (MQTT), Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP), Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), and the like, to communicate with one another. Further the network 106 may include a variety of network devices, including routers, bridges, servers, computing devices, storage devices, and the like. In one embodiment, the system 102 may be communicatively coupled via a network to a database and a server 110.
[019] Referring now to Figure 1B, the system 102 for monitoring a rail track is illustrated in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. In the embodiment, the system may comprises an emitter sensor 124, a receiver sensor 126, a global positioning sensor 134, a rail track monitoring device 132, a rechargeable battery module 130 and a solar cell 128.
[020] In the embodiment, the emitter sensor 124 may be located on a first rail 120 of a rail track 112 and the receiver sensor 126 may be located on a second rail 120 of the rail track 112. Further, the global positioning sensor 134, the rail track monitoring device 132, the rechargeable battery module 130 and the solar cell 128 may be located between two ties 112 connecting and perpendicular to the first rail 120 and the second rail 120. In one other example, the rail track monitoring device 132 may be located in a remote server or a device at a geographically different location. The rail track monitoring device 132 may be communicatively coupled to the emitter sensor 124, the reviver sensor 126, and the global positioning sensor 134. The rechargeable battery module 130 may be electrically coupled to the emitter sensor 124, the receiver sensor 126, and the global positioning sensor 134 for providing power. Further, the solar cell 128 may be electrically coupled to the rechargeable battery module 130 for recharging the battery module 130.
[021] In the embodiment, the emitter sensor 124 may emit a ray of light at a predefined time interval. Further to emitting of the ray of light the receiver sensor 126 may transmit a safe signal or an error signal. In one example, the safe signal may be transmitted upon successful receipt of the ray of light at the predefined time interval, and the error signal may be transmitted upon failure in receipt of the ray of light at the predefined time interval. In the example, the property of light to travel in a straight line is utilized to generate on of the signal. It may be considered, that in case of misalignment of the tracks 120 or and obstruction the ray of light emitted by the emitter sensor 124 would not reach the receiver sensor 126 thus enabling transmission of an error signal. In one example, the emitter sensor 124 and the receiver sensor 126 may be Light Dependent Resistors. Upon transmission of one of the signals, the global positioning sensor 134 may transmit time stamp data and geographical position data associated with the emitter sensor 124 and the receiver sensor 136.
[022] In the embodiment, further to transmission the rail track monitoring device 132 may obtain the time stamp data, the geographical position data, historical data and one of the signals. Further to obtaining, the rail track monitoring device 132 may generate an alert based on the time stamp data, the geographical position data, the signal, and historical data. In one example, the alert may be generated when the geographical position data is different from one of the predefined geographical position data or the historical data. In one other example, the alert may be generated when the signal the error signal is obtained for more than a predefined number of times, for example, 5 consecutive times, or 1o time in 1 hour. In one example, the alert may be a phone call to a predefined phone number, a message to a predefined phone number, an email to a predefined email address, a buzzer alarm, a siren or a combination.
[023] Referring now to Figure 2, a rail track monitoring device 132 of the system 104 is illustrated in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. . In one embodiment, the present subject matter is explained considering that the rail track monitoring device 132 of the system 104 may be implemented on the rail track. In one other embodiment, the rail track monitoring device 132 installed within the server 110 connected to a network 106. It may be understood that the rail track monitoring device 132 may also be implemented in a variety of computing systems, such as a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a notebook, a workstation, a mainframe computer, a server, a network server, a cloud-based computing environment and the like connected to the system 104 by network 106. In another embodiment, the rail track monitoring device 132 may also be implemented on a display device 108. It may be understood that the system implemented on the display device supports a plurality of browsers and all viewports. Examples of the plurality of browsers may include, but not limited to, Chrome™, Mozilla™, Internet Explorer™, Safari™, and Opera™.
[024] In one embodiment, the rail track monitoring device 132 may include at least one processor 202, an input/output (I/O) interface 204, and a memory 206. The at least one processor 202 may be implemented as one or more microprocessors, microcomputers, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, central processing units, state machines, logic circuitries, and/or any devices that manipulate signals based on operational instructions. Among other capabilities, the at least one processor 202 may be configured to fetch and execute computer-readable instructions stored in the memory 206.
[025] The I/O interface 204 may include a variety of software and hardware interfaces, for example, a web interface, a graphical user interface, and the like. The I/O interface 204 may allow the rail track monitoring device 132 to interact with the user directly or through the client devices 104. Further, the I/O interface 204 may enable the rail track monitoring device 132 to communicate with other computing devices, such as web servers and external data servers (not shown). The I/O interface 204 can facilitate multiple communications within a wide variety of networks and protocol types, including wired networks, for example, LAN, cable, etc., and wireless networks, such as WLAN, cellular, or satellite. The I/O interface 204 may include one or more ports for connecting a number of devices to one another or to another server.
[026] The memory 206 may include any computer-readable medium or computer program product known in the art including, for example, volatile memory, such as static random access memory (SRAM) and dynamic random access memory (DRAM), and/or non-volatile memory, such as read only memory (ROM), erasable programmable ROM, flash memories, hard disks, optical disks, and magnetic tapes. The memory 206 may include modules 208 and data 210.
[027] The modules 208 include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc., which perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. In one implementation, the modules 208 may include an obtaining module 212, a generating module 214 and an other module 218. The other modules 218 may include programs or coded instructions that supplement applications and functions of the rail track monitoring device 132. The modules 208 described herein may be implemented as software modules that may be executed in the cloud-based computing environment of the rail track monitoring device 132.
[028] The memory 206, amongst other things, serves as a repository for storing data processed, received, and generated by one or more of the modules 208. The memory 206 may include data generated as a result of the execution of one or more modules in the other module 220. In one implementation, the memory may include data 210. Further, the data 210 may include a system data 220 for storing data processed, computed received and generated by one or more of the modules 208. Furthermore, the data 210 may include other data 224 for storing data generated as a result of the execution of one or more modules in the other module 220.
[029] In one implementation, at first, a user may use the device 108 to access the rail track monitoring device 132 via the I/O interface 204. The user may register using the I/O interface 204 in order to use the rail track monitoring device 132. In one aspect, the user may access the I/O interface 204 of the rail track monitoring device 132 for obtaining information or providing input information. In one implementation the rail track monitoring device 132 my automatically provide information to the user through I/O interface 204.
OBTAINING MODULE 212
[030] Referring to figure 2, in an embodiment the obtaining module 212 may obtain the time stamp data, the geographical position data from the global positioning sensor 134, historical data and one of the signals from the emitter sensor 124. Further, the obtaining module 212 may store the obtained the time stamp data, the geographical position data and the signal in the system data 220.
GENERATING MODULE 214
[031] In the implementation further to obtaining, the generation module 214 may generate an alert based on the time stamp data, the geographical position data, the signal, and historical data. In one example, the generation module 214 may generate the alert when the geographical position data is different from one of the predefined geographical position data or the historical data. In one example, the generation module 214 may generate the alert when the signal obtained comprises the error signal for more than a predefined number of times. In an example, the alert may be one or combination of a phone call to a predefined phone number, a message to a predefined phone number, an email to a predefined email address, a buzzer alarm or a siren. Further, the generation module 214 may store the alarm in the system data 220. Further, the generation module 214 may store the obtained the time stamp data, the geographical position data and the signal in the historical data for further reference in subsequent cycles.
[032] Exemplary embodiments for monitoring a rail track discussed above may provide certain advantages. Though not required to practice aspects of the disclosure, these advantages may include those provided by the following features.
[033] Some embodiments of the system and the method enable identification of the movement of rails, which can cause train accidents.
[034] Some embodiments of the system and the method enable collection historical data to identify and categorize the rail routes based on their safety index.
[035] Some embodiments of the system and the method provide crucial information to railways to avert any accident by the possibility of track displacement.
[036] Referring now to Figure 3, a method 300 for monitoring a rail track is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The method 300 may be described in the general context of computer executable instructions. Generally, computer executable instructions can include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, procedures, modules, functions, etc., that perform particular functions or implement particular abstract data types.
[037] The order in which the method 300 for monitoring a rail track as described is not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number of the described method blocks can be combined in any order to implement the method 300 or alternate methods. Additionally, individual blocks may be deleted from the method 300 without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter described herein. Furthermore, the method can be implemented in any suitable hardware, software, firmware, or combination thereof. However, for ease of explanation, in the embodiments described below, the method 300 may be considered to be implemented in the above described system 102.
[038] At block 302, a ray of light may be emitted by the emitter sensor 124 at a predefined time interval. In one example, the emitter sensor 124 may be located on a first rail 120 of the rail track 112.
[039] At block 304 a safe signal or an error signal may be transmitted by the receiver sensor 126. In one example, the safe signal may be transmitted upon successful receipt of the ray of light at the predefined time interval, and the error signal is transmitted upon failure in receipt of the ray of light at the predefined time interval. Further, the receiver sensor 126 is located on a second rail 120 of the rail track 112.
[040] At block 306, time stamp data and geographical position data associated with the emitter sensor 124 and the receiver sensor 126 may be transmitted by the global positioning sensor 134.
[041] At block 308, the time stamp data, the geographical position data, historical data and one of the signals may be obtained by the rail track monitoring device 132. Further, the rail track monitoring device may be communicatively coupled to the emitter sensor 124, the reviver sensor 126, and the global positioning sensor 134.
[042] At block 310, an alert may be generated by the rail track monitoring device 132 based on the time stamp data, the geographical position data, the signal, historical data.
[043] Exemplary embodiments discussed above may provide certain advantages. Though not required to practice aspects of the disclosure, these advantages may include a method and system for monitoring a rail track.
[044] Although implementations for methods and systems for monitoring a rail track have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methods, it is to be understood that the appended claims are not necessarily limited to the specific features or methods described. Rather, the specific features and methods are disclosed as examples of implementations for monitoring a rail track.

Claims:
1. A system for monitoring a rail track, the system comprising
an emitter sensor located on a first rail of a rail track, wherein the emitter sensor is configured to emit a ray of light at a predefined time interval;
a receiver sensor located on a second rail of the rail track, wherein the receiver sensor is configured to transmit a safe signal or an error signal, wherein the safe signal is transmitted upon successful receipt of the ray of light at the predefined time interval, and wherein the error signal is transmitted upon failure in receipt of the ray of light at the predefined time interval;
a global positioning sensor configured to transmit time stamp data and geographical position data associated with the emitter sensor and the receiver sensor; and
a rail track monitoring device communicatively coupled to the emitter sensor, the reviver sensor, and the global positioning sensor, wherein the rail track monitoring device comprising:
a memory; and
a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is capable of executing instructions to perform steps of:
obtaining the time stamp data, the geographical position data, historical data and one of the signals; and
generating an alert based on the time stamp data, the geographical position data, the signal, historical data.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a rechargeable battery module configured to power the emitter sensor, the receiver sensor, and the global positioning sensor.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising a solar cell electrically coupled to the battery module for recharging the rechargeable battery module.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the solar cell electrically is located between two tiles of the rail track.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the emitter sensor and the receiver sensor are a Light Dependent Resistors.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the alert is one or more of a phone call to a predefined phone number, a message to a predefined phone number, an email to a predefined email address, a buzzer alarm and a siren.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising storing the time stamp data, the geographical position data and the signal in the historical data.

8. The system of claim 1, the alert is generated when the geographical position data is different from one of the predefined geographical position data or the historical data.

9. The system of claim 1, the alert is generated when the error signal is obtained for more than a predefined number of times.

10. A method for monitoring a rail track, the method comprising
emitting, by an emitter sensor, a ray of light at a predefined time interval, wherein the emitter sensor is located on a first rail of a rail track;
transmitting, by a receiver sensor, a safe signal or an error signal, wherein the safe signal is transmitted upon successful receipt of the ray of light at the predefined time interval, and wherein the error signal is transmitted upon failure in receipt of the ray of light at the predefined time interval, and wherein the receiver sensor is located on a second rail of the rail track;
transmitting, by a global positioning sensor, time stamp data and geographical position data associated with the emitter sensor and the receiver sensor; and
obtaining, by a rail track monitoring device, the time stamp data, the geographical position data, historical data and one of the signal, wherein the rail track monitoring device is communicatively coupled to the emitter sensor, the reviver sensor, and the global positioning sensor; and
generating, by the rail track monitoring device, an alert based on the time stamp data, the geographical position data, the signal, and historical data.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising powering, by a rechargeable battery module, the emitter sensor, the receiver sensor, and the global positioning sensor.

12. The system of claim 2, further comprising recharging, by a solar cell electrically, the rechargeable battery module.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the emitter sensor and the receiver sensor are a Light Dependent Resistors.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the alert is one or more of a phone call to a predefined phone number, a message to a predefined phone number, an email to a predefined email address, a buzzer alarm and a siren.

15. The method of claim 10, the alert is generated when the geographical position data is different from one of the predefined geographical position data or the historical data.

16. The method of claim 10, the alert is generated the error signal is obtained for more than a predefined number of times.