Patent ID: 9701326
Date: 2017-07-11
CPC Classifications: B61L

Claim:
1. A broken rail detection system for a portion of a railway track having a first and second opposing rail, each supported by at least one railroad tie and ballast material, the system comprising: a power module positioned at a first end of the portion of the railway track, the power module comprising: (1) a first electrical connection to the first rail and configured to apply a direct current voltage to the first rail; and (2) a second electrical connection to the second rail and configured to apply a direct current voltage to the second rail; a at least one diode shunt arrangement positioned at a distance from the at least one power module; at least one measurement device configured to sense or measure current resulting from the application of the direct current voltage from the first electrical connection and the second electrical connection; and at least one controller in direct or indirect communication with the at least one power module and the at least one measurement device and programmed or configured to: (i) cause at least one application of a direct current voltage of a first polarity on the railway track through the first electrical connection and second electrical connection; (ii) determine the current resulting from the application step (i) using the at least one measurement device; (iii) cause at least one application of a direct current voltage of a second polarity on the railway track through the first electrical connection and the second electrical connection; (iv) determine the current resulting from the application step (iii) using the at least one measurement device; and (v) determine the presence or absence of a break in at least one of the first and second rail based at least partially on the current determined in steps (ii) and (iv).