A METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR MARKING AN OBJECT IN RELATIVE MOVEMENT

Abstract: For measuring an object which is in relative movement with another object there is used a signal-controlled dispensing unit (10) having a nozzle directed onto the object (6), the nozzle being arranged to dispense under high pressure a marking substance in the form of a blob which adheres to the object. The marking operation can be effected within 20 milliseconds of a dispensing signal being sent. The method can be applied, for example, in connection with railway equipment and devices, for clearly marking wheels, bearing boxes or the like exhibiting faults which are registered or detected by an indicating device. Alternatively, the method can be used to mark locations on foundation surfaces with great accuracy from a moving vehicle, e.g. locations on a rail, which locations can be utilized for exact length determinations, for example in respect of a track slewing machine adjusting the setting of a track. Instead of a colouring substance, the dispenser may be arranged to dispense some other kind of marking agent, for example a radio-active or light-emitting agent enabling automatic optical registration or sensing of the marked location to be made. The invention also relates to an arrangement for carrying out the method, which arrangement may be fixedly mounted or placed on a vehicle, such as a rail trolley.

Description: A method and arrangement for marking an object in relative movement ^ ___ Technical Field The present invention relates to a method of marking an object in relative movement with a marking agent or substance dispensed from a dispensing means, and more particularly to a method of dispensing a marking agent from a rail-bound vehicle onto a rail, or from a location at a distance from a rail onto a - rail-bound vehicle. There are many instances where it is required to mark an object in relative movement, not least within the field of railway technology. Thus, for example, there is a need for marking the wheel of a • locomotive or railway carriage when detectors located in the track detect the presence of faults, such as a faulty wheel track, brake malfunctioning, e.g. in- advertant brake application, so-called brake flats, overheating in bearings, etc. Background Art Measuring stations located along the railway line incorporate devices which register the presence of faults of the aforementioned kind, for example, and emit a signal which can be observed by the train drivers, who must then stop the train and check which carriage or wheel is faulty, and disconnect the carriage in which the fault is found from the line of carriages, so as to prevent a possible derailment. In one present day automatic fault-finding indicating method, the train driver is provided with information concerning the numerical location of the fault, counting from the ' end' of the train. This information is given by means of an electronic plotter or telewriter which is in communication with fault detectors of the aforementioned kind. Having received information as to which wheel axle or axles is or are faulty, the train driver must then wander from the end of the train - perhaps in the dark or in fog - and count the number of axles until he reaches that one which corresponds to the information received. Since a long train may include several hundred axles, it is understandable that counting errors are quite often made, and that the wrong carriage has been taken out of service. This results in a serious risk of derailment when the train is restarted. It will be seen from this that a more precise method of marking, for example, faulty bearing boxes or the wheels of a train is required. To this end various methods of colour-marking indicated faults have been considered. Those systems available at present, e.g. the systems proposed in U.S. Patent Specification No. 3,745,333 (McLean) and French Patent Specification No. 2,108,297 (Dyrekcja) are based on different spray systems . It has been shown however, that such spray systems cannot be used for the above purposes, because they are far too slow. The train - which may be travelling at 160 km/hour - is able to move through too long a distance after activation of the dispensing device for the dye to strike the intended target. In the U.S. Patent Specification (cf. column 2, lines 59-61) it is proposed to spray the covering substance or dye onto the train wheels for a period of approximately one second. It will be realized that a train travelling at high speed will move trough quite a distance in that time, and that the proposal is not feasible. In addition, the colouring substance, which is dispensed in finely-divided spray form, is readily carried away by the airstream and, because of this, never reaches its intended target. Such spray methods cannot there¬ fore be applied in practice. In other contexts there is the converse problem of accurately marking a location on a stationary object from a moving one, for example in order to obtain an exact reference point from which accurate length measurements can be made. This problem is manifest in connection with the measuring of the depth of curves in railway tracks in which there is used a rail trolley, where precisely located reference points must be obtained for the track-shifting or track-slewing machine which, after data-processing the measuring result, must slew the track at precisely that point at which the curve-depth value in question was fed into tne data processor. An important point in this connection is that the rail trolley is able to move at a satisfactory speed, since otherwise the- work becomes too expensive, so that exact positions for the reference points can be obtained. Attempts at using conventional spray methods based on an ejector effect have been made also in this case. It has not been possible, however, to obtain sufficiently accurate indication of the~ measuring points. The Swedish Published Specification No. 408,158 (Borup et al) describes a method in which particles of grease are dispensed onto the inner surfaces of a curved rail. The grease is dispensed from a fixedly mounted dispenser unit, and the problem relating to objects in relative movement is not relevant in this case. Also, such particles of grease are not permanent and cannot be used efficiently for marking purposes. Object of the invention Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method of the kind aforementioned which avoids the disadvantages ' of known methods and enables an object in relative movement to be marked precisely, even at high speeds and/or when a high degree of accuracy is demanded when applying the marking substance. Short description of the invention This object is achieved by the method according to the invention, which is mainly characterized in that the marking substance is held under high pressure in the dispenser unit and is discharged from the nozzle when said nozzle is located at a distance of less than 35 cm, preferably less than 25 cm from said object to be marked, in the form of a readily identifiable adhes ble blob which will adhere to said object within- a time period of less than 35 milliseconds, preferably less than 25 milliseconds after a dispensing signal has been sent. Because the marking substance reaches the object to be marked within such a short time after the dis¬ pensing signal has been sent, the method according to the present invention is a great improvement over earlier known methods. Furthermore, because the marking agent is shot from the dispenser in the form of a blob - for example in the form of a blob of white paint - the marking is obtained as a readily identifiable, precisely located point from which accurate positional and/or length measurements can be made, when desired. The pressure in the dispenser valve is preferably so high that a blob " of marking substance will be shot from the dispenser even when the time lapse between two consecutive dispensing signals is of such duration that residues from a preceding marking operation have dried in the dispensing nozzle. Even though the apparatus has been in disuse for a long period of time and a plug has dried in the nozzle, this plug will be forced from the nozzle when said apparatus is again used. Thus, the method according to the invention is also superior in this respect to previously known methods, in which it is necessary to carefully clean the equipment when it has lain in disuse over an extended period of time. It will readily be understood that the necessity of disassembling the nozzle and cleaning the same each time the apparatus is used is problematic. Pressures of the magnitude envisaged can be obtained with the aid of known pressure boosters in the form of a pump which can be placed directly in the vessel containing the marking substance and which is supplied with a normal operating pressure of, for example, 6-8 bars via a regulator. A pressure of this order of magnitude, i.e. . 6-3 bars, can be applied, via an operating line, to a magnet valve which also serves as an operating valve and which is arranged to open the valve of the dispensing unit upon receipt of an electric signal, so as to dispense a blo'b of said marking substance, which is under said high pressure. In this way, the pressure booster continuously ensures that the required high pressure prevails in the dispensing chamber of the dispensing unit. Instead of dispensing a blob or jet of colouring substance, said dispenser may be arranged to dispense a blob or jet of some other substance, for example a radio active substance or preparation, or a substance which emits radiation in the form of ultra-violet light and which can therefore be sensed or detected optically. The invention also relates to an arrangement for carrying out the method according to the invention, the essential characterizing features of said arrangement being set forth in the accompanying claims. Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings. Brief description of the drawings Figure 1 illustrates in perspective the method according to the invention when applied for colour- marking an overheated bearing box in a set of carriages or a train unit. Figure 2 illustrates the invention in curve- depth measuring operations, etc., using a measuring trolley. Figure 3 is a principle diagram illustrating how the components incorporated in an arrangement according to the invention cooperate with one another. Description of a preferred embodiment In Figure 1 there is shown a rail carriage 1 having a wheel 2 which runs on a rail 3. The wheel 2 has an axle 4 on which there is provided a bearing box 5. It is assumed here that the bearing box has been found to be overheated- by means of an optically operating indicating means 6. The indicating means will thus send a signal to a dispensing unit 10 having a nozzle 10a which is level with the bearing box 5. When the dispensing unit 10 receives said signal, the unit will dispense under high pressure a blob of paint, for example, which adheres to the bearing box. The distance between the nozzle 10a and the bearing box may be about 20 cm. The time lapse between the moment when the dispensing unit 10 receives a dispensing signal and the moment when the blob of paint meets the bearing box is only about 20 milliseconds. If the speed of the train is 160 km/hour, the bearing box will have moved through a distance of the order of 1 m during this time interval. The airstream generated by the train will have no influence, and the dispensed blob of paint will be dispatched to and adhere on the bearing box so as to be readily noticeable. The distance between the indicating means 6 and the dispensing unit 10 may be from 10 to 20 m, and the indicating means may be arranged to co-act with a means for calculating the speed of the ' train (not. shown) and-to decide, in dependence upon the result obtained, the point of time at which the dis- pensing signal shall be sent to the dispensing unit 10. Colouring substance, e.g. paint, and propelling gas are supplied to the dispensing unit 10 from a container 15 which is placed under pressure from a nitrogen-gas container 19 via a regulator 18. A low- pressure line 24 extends from the regulator 18 to an operating valve (not shown) adjacent the dispensing unit 10. The colouring substance is supplied to the dispensing unit 10 from the container 15 via a line 11. In practice, the pressure in the line 11 supplying colouring substance to the dispensing valve may be approximately 10Q bars or more. Figure 2 illustrates an alternative use of the dispensing unit 10 for colour marking purposes, namely arranged on a trolley 1 for measuring the depth of curve of a railway track. In the Figure 1 embodiment the arrangement according to the invention is housed in a cabinet arranged adjacent the track. In the Figure 2 embodiment the cabinet housing the arrangement is placed on the trolley and is not shown in Figure 2. ^ Thus, in the Figure 2 embodiment it is the dispensing. nit which moves while the object to be marked with said colouring substance is stationary. In this case, the nozzle 10a of the dispensing unit 10 is also located at a distance of about 20 cm, or possibly less, from the rail 3, which will be marked with a blob of colouring substance at a location at which a curve-depth measurement is made and fed into a data processor associated with the measuring equipment. For example, a curve-depth measurement can be made every 5 and when the -data processor has calculated the slewing values of corresponding locations, a following slewing machine can carry out the necessary slewing of the track at exactly tne correct location of the rails. If a blob of colouring substance is dispensed every 5 metres, work can be facilitated by dispensing two adjacently located blobs of colouring substance every 100 metres, This can readily be achieved by means of the dis¬ pensing unit, which is able to dispense up to 10 distinct blobs of colouring substance each second, if so desired. In order to automatisize the slewing work, the dispensing unit 10 may be arranged, instead, to dispense a radio-active preparation or a preparation which can be detected optically. In this case the locations at which track slewing shall be carried out need not be observed by the human eye. Figure 3 is a principle diagram of the components of an arrangement according to the invention, and shows how said components cooperate with one another. As will be seen from Figure 3, the dispensing unit 10 provided with nozzle 10a is supplied with marking substance, such as paint, under high pressure through a line 11 which is connected to the output side of a pressure booster in the form of a pump 16, -which is inserted into a paint container 15. Propelling gas, for example air, under a pressure of 6-8 bars is 'supplied via a line 19 and passes a regulator 18, in which the pressure is reduced to 1-8 bars. This pressure is then applied to the pressure booster via line 17. Extending from line 19 is an operating line 24 for a magnetic valve 12, which is controlled by electric signals via a line 30. The pressure in the operating line 24 may be the same as the pressure in line 19, i.e. 6 to 8 bars. Located in front of the nozzle 10a is the object to be marked, which may, for example, be a bearing box 6 according to Figure 1 or a rail according to Figure 2 In the Figure 2 embodiment the components illustrated in the diagram shown in Figure 3 are arranged on the trolley 1 itself, the compressor of which (not shown) supplies the line 19. A measuring device (not shown) on the trolley 1 gives simultaneous signals for a measuring operation and, via line 30, for -dispensing a quantity of marking substance from the dispenser 10. Industrial applicability In addition to the aforementioned modes of application, the method according to the invention ca-n also be applied within, for example, the following fields; 1. Length-measuring indications registered by means of some type of measuring vehicle. 2. Marking of locations where limit values, for example, relating to non-permitted acceleration of a vehicle have been exceeded by said vehicle, for example a rail-bound vehicle. 3. Marking of locations on rails which when applying ultrasonic checking systems from rail-bound measuring carriages indicate internal faults which may cause fracture of a rail. 4. Indications of locations on rails which when measured from a rail-bound measuring carriage exhibit high irregularities in the form, for example, of ripples in curves. As will be understood, the method according to the invention can also be applied in many other fields, even fields which lie outside railroad technology. i )_ .. VΛ-rø

Claims: Claims 1. A method of marking an object in relative movement with a dispensing means by means of a marking agent or substance dispensed from said dispensing means, and more particularly for dispensing a marking agent from a rail-bound vehicle onto a rail or from a location at a distance from a rail onto a rail-bound vehicle, in which method said agent or substance is supplied from a storage container under pressure to a signal-controlled dispensing unit having a dispensing nozzle and is dispensed when the nozzle is directed towards the associated part of the object in relative movement to be marked, characterized in that said substance is held in the dispensing, unit under high pressure and is delivered from the nozzle when said nozzle is located at a distance of less than 35 cm, preferably less than 25 cm from said associated part, in the form of a readily identifiable adhesive blob, which adheres to the object within a time lapse of less than 35 milliseconds, preferably less than 25 milli¬ seconds, after receiving a dispensing signal. 2. A method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the pressure in the dispensing unit is maintained at such a high level that a blob is dispensed even when the time lapse between two consecutive dispensing pulses is of such duration that residues from a preceding dispensed blob have been able to dry in the nozzle. 3. A method according to Claim 2, characterized in that the substance is supplied to the dispensing unit under a pressure exceeding 40 bars, preferably exceeding 75 bars. 4. A method according to any one of Claims 1-3, characterized in that the dispensing unit is arranged to dispense two sequential blobs of colouring substance within a period of about 1/lOth of a second. 5. An arrangement for marking with a marking agent or substance an object in relative movement with a colouring-substance dispensing means, particularly a means for dispensing marking substance from a rail- bound vehicle onto a rail or from a location at a distance from a rail onto a rail-bound vehicle, said arrangement including a signal-controlled dispensing unit (10) provided with a nozzle (10a) and a dispensing chamber arranged to receive the marking substance and to dispense said substance onto the object (3:6) in relative movement subsequent to receiving a signal from a control unit (12), characterized in that ' the pressure in the dispensing chamber of the dispensing unit exceeds 40 bars, preferably exceeds 75 bars; and in that when the nozzle is located at a distance of less than 35 cm, preferably less than 25 cm from the part of the object to be marked, the dispensing unit is arranged to dispense said colouring substance in the form of an adhesive, readily identifiable "blob which adheres to the object within a period of time less than 35 milliseconds, preferably less than 25 milliseconds after a dispensing signal has been sent.

Inventors: ASTROEM E, BORUP A
Applicants: ASTROEM E, BORUP A, SWEDISH RAIL SYSTEM AB SRS, SWEDISH RAIL SYSTEMS AB SRS
Application year: 1981
Main classification: B61K9
IPC codes: B61K9