Patent ID: 11893322
Assignee: LORAM TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Field: Computer technology (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC G  B  E | IPC B  E  G

Claim 0:
1. A method for maintaining a train track, the method comprising:
modeling a plurality of predicted rail profiles of a rail based on a plurality of sets of maintenance parameters, each set of the plurality of sets of maintenance parameters associated with a respective predicted rail profile of the plurality of predicted rail profiles, each set of the plurality of sets of maintenance parameters includes different maintenance parameters, the maintenance parameters including at least one of a grinding profile for at least one grinding operation to be performed on the rail to produce artificial wear or an application of a friction modifier to be applied to the rail, wherein modeling each of the plurality of predicted rail profiles comprises:
modeling wear in the rail due to estimated train traffic and the set of maintenance parameters over an initial predetermined time period by:
obtaining material properties of the rail, a rail profile of the rail, and a train wheel profile of a wheel of a train car;
generating a contact model of the interaction between the rail and the train car based on the rail profile, the train wheel profile, and the estimated train traffic on the rail during the predetermined time period;
running the contact model to produce a simulated loading on the rail for the predetermined time period using the rail profile, wherein the simulated loading represents a passage of the wheel of the train car;
generating a wear model based on the material properties and/or properties of the friction modifier on the rail during the predetermined time;
running the wear model using the rail profile and the simulated loading from the contact model to produce a simulated wear profile of the rail for the predetermined time period, wherein the simulated wear profile represents the rail of the train track; and
generating an updated rail profile by modifying the rail profile by the simulated wear profile and the grinding profile; and
determining whether the updated rail profile exceeds a predetermined wear limit for the rail; and

iteratively modeling wear in the rail over subsequent predetermined time periods until the updated rail profile exceeds a predetermined wear limit for the rail by:
running the contact model to produce a subsequent simulated loading;
running the wear model to produce a subsequent simulated wear profile based on the subsequent simulated loading; and
generating a subsequent updated rail profile by modifying the prior updated rail profile by the subsequent simulated wear profile and/or a subsequent grinding profile; and
calculating a wear time until the final updated rail profile exceeds the predetermined wear limit;

determining the predicted rail profile having the longest wear time; and
maintaining the rail for at least the initial predetermined time period in accordance with the set of maintenance parameters associated with the predicted rail profile having the longest wear time.