Patent ID: 11947881
Assignee: LORAM TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Field: Computer technology (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC G  B  E | IPC B  E  G

Claim 16:
17. A method for maintaining a train track, the method comprising:
modeling wear in a rail of the train track due to an estimated train traffic in order to provide maintenance recommendations for the train track by:
configuring a computer-based system to predict wear in the rail of the train track and provide cost value estimates associated with at least three sets of maintenance parameters, the computer-based system comprising:
an input device operable to receive a train wheel profile and the at least three sets of maintenance parameters, each set of maintenance parameters including:
a rail profile;
grinding parameters; and
rail material properties;
wherein at least one corresponding set of maintenance parameters in the at least three sets of maintenance parameters is different from one another;

an output device operable to convey wear and cost value information relating to the rail;
memory operable to store a train wheel profile of a wheel of a train car and the at least three sets of maintenance parameters, and computer-executable instructions including wear prediction processes; and
a processor;

predicting wear in the rail for each of the at least three sets of maintenance parameters with the computer-based system according to the wear prediction processes of the computer-executable instructions, wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to predict wear in the rail by:
generating a contact model of an interaction between the rail profile and a wheel of a train based on the rail profile, the train wheel profile, and the estimated train traffic on the rail;
generating a wear model based on the material properties;
performing a wear simulation using the rail profile for a predetermined time period by:
running the contact model to produce a simulated loading on the rail, wherein the simulated loading represents a passage of the wheel of the train;
running the wear model to produce a simulated wear profile based on the simulated loading, 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 a grinding profile, wherein modifying the rail profile by the grinding profile includes reducing rail material of the rail profile;

repeating the wear simulation iteratively by using, in each subsequent wear simulation, the updated rail profile generated during the previous wear simulation until a final updated rail profile exceeds a predetermined wear limit for the rail, wherein the predetermined time period of the wear simulation is one month or less, and wherein the predetermined wear limit includes a wear fail limit; and
calculating a wear time until the final rail profile exceeds the predetermined wear limit, wherein the wear time is at least one year;
calculating, via the processor, a cost value for each set of maintenance parameters, wherein the cost value is based on
maintenance costs associated with the corresponding set of maintenance parameters, wherein the maintenance costs are based on a grinding cost, and wherein the grinding cost increases inversely to a speed and a depth of a number of grinding passes on the rail of the train track, and
an annual depreciation cost associated with the corresponding set of maintenance parameters, wherein the annual depreciation cost is based on (i) a cost of replacing at least a portion of the rail of the train track upon the wear time elapsing and (ii) is inversely proportional to the wear time; and

selecting the set of maintenance parameters with a lowest cost value based on the cost value associated with the corresponding set of maintenance parameters; and

removing a material from the rail using a grinding machine according to the grinding parameters of the selected set of maintenance parameters.