Abstract:
This invention is related to an economic and practical method of using barcode systems for the management of railroad tracks. The systems consist of barcodes and device(s) which can optically read and decode the barcodes. The barcodes are permanently installed on one or both rails of a railroad track at predetermined locations along the track. The barcodes include coded contents such as track location coordinates and other railroad property information along the track. By using these novel track barcode systems, sections of problematic tracks could be accurately located either manually or automatically for repeatable monitoring, repairing or replacement purposes.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Application No. 61/836,522 
         [0002]    Filing or 371(c) Date: Jun. 18, 2013 
         [0003]    Confirmation No.: 5777 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    This invention relates to the utilization of track barcode systems to provide marking and identification for each and every section of a railroad track. The barcodes consisting of each and every unique barcode provide accurate and fixed reference points or coordinates of the track for monitoring, repairing and replacement of railroad track sections. Other railroad properties such as rail types, railroad ties and etc. could also be coded into the barcodes for associated railroad management purposes. 
         [0005]    Railroad tracks are consistently monitored by using sensors based on optical, capacitive, eddy current measurements and other mechanisms throughout their lifespan of service. The track gauge between the two paralleled rails and individual rail profile are examples of the parameters that need to be measured and monitored closely for the safety of train operation. Based on modern sensor and automation technologies, the track gauge and rail profile can be measured automatically and accurately at any specific point of the track. In order to calculate rail profile wear or track gauge variation over time, however, it is critical to have accurate and fixed track location identifications for each and every measurement made. Without accurate location repeatability, individual track gauge and rail profile measurements are not very useful no matter how accurate they are. 
         [0006]    One of the track section identification methods is to use the existing global positioning system (GPS). However, the current GPS system can only provide location accuracy up to a few meters, which is not accurate enough for the purpose of monitoring track wear. Besides, geographical environment around the monitored tracks, such as underground tunnels, surrounding mountains and nearby tracks, may affect the performance or accuracy of the GPS system as well. In order to calculate the amount of track wear between two measurements taken at two different times, for example, it is necessary to overlap the two rail profiles using a common track location coordinate. Without accurate location identifications, it is impossible to calculate the track wear accurately, even though both individual rail profiles are accurate themselves. 
         [0007]    Another track positioning method is to use the existing posts or marks that are located beside and along the railroad tracks. However, it is a very challenging task for a measuring vehicle to detect those posts or marks automatically, since those posts or marks share no standard relative position against the tracks or standard appearance. Manual identification of those reference posts was occasionally adopted, and the location triggers were inputted to a measurement system manually. However, the accuracy and repeatability of manual triggers were not satisfactory due to inevitable human error in this manual operation. 
         [0008]    Yet another track positioning method is to use RFID (radio frequency identification) chips and a corresponding chip detector. Since RFID technology is based on radio frequency technology and radio signal could be detected from all directions, the corresponding positioning accuracy is a distance of plus or minus a few feet. Another disadvantage of RFID technology is the high costs associated with a vast amount of RFID chips that should be positioned along the track with a predetermined spacing. 
         [0009]    The method of the present invention is to use a track barcode system including an array of pre-coded barcodes and one or more scanners to provide accurate, repeatable and unique track location identifications that could be used by any railroad track management systems. Barcode technologies have been established and are widely used in daily life applications such as library computers, supermarket check-outs and on automated production lines. Outdoor weather-proof barcode sticks were used on the vehicle identification plates which could stay as long as the life of the vehicle. One dimensional and two dimensional barcodes are available. Those barcodes are much more affordable than RFID chips. The corresponding high speed barcode scanners which are capable to carry out thousands of scans per second are also readily available. The trigger signals and the readings generated by the barcode scanners could be transmitted into any existing track measurement systems. Those triggers and location identifications are the important data that could provide the common yet repeatable track coordinates to synchronize different track measurement systems based on a single moving vehicle or different vehicles. 
         [0010]    Depending on the size and the orientation of the barcodes, the scan rate of the scanner and the speed of the moving vehicle carrying the scanner, the position accuracy resulted from the method of the present invention could be in a range of a few centimeters or even better. Although this barcode application for railroad track management systems is novel, the barcode technology adopted in the method of the present invention is a solid and proved one. The implementation of a track barcode system for railroad management systems, such as the existing track gauge and rail profiling measurement systems, is economic yet practical. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    In accordance with the present invention, a track barcode system is provided for railroad management purposes. The track barcode system includes a plurality of barcodes for coding contents such as track location coordinates and other railroad property information; a plurality of labels carrying the plurality of barcodes on a one-for-one basis, wherein the plurality of labels are attached firmly to a rail of a railroad track at predetermined locations along the railroad track to mark the track location coordinates and other railroad property information; and one or more barcode scanners capable of reading and decoding the plurality of barcodes optically, for providing the contents of the plurality of barcodes. 
         [0012]    According to another aspect of the present invention, a track barcode system is provided for railroad management purposes. The track barcode system includes a plurality of barcodes attached firmly to a rail of a railroad track at predetermined locations along the railroad track, for coding contents such as track location coordinates and other railroad property information; and one or more barcode scanners capable of reading and decoding the plurality of barcodes optically, for providing the contents of the plurality of barcodes. 
         [0013]    According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a track barcode system is provided for railroad management purposes. The track barcode system includes a plurality of barcode labels attached firmly to a first position and a second position of one or both rails of a railroad track at predetermined locations along the railroad track, for coding contents such as track location coordinates and other railroad property information; a first barcode scanner capable of reading and decoding the plurality of barcodes attached to the first position optically, for providing the contents of the plurality of barcodes attached to the first position; and a second barcode scanner capable of reading and decoding the plurality of barcodes attached to the second position optically, for providing the contents of the plurality of barcodes attached to the second position, wherein the second barcode scanner and the first barcode scanner could be one single barcode scanner; wherein the track barcode system uses the contents of the plurality of barcode labels attached to the first position and the second position to cross-reference each other for increasing system accuracy and (or) diagnosing damaged barcode labels. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0014]      FIG. 1A  provides a schematic diagram of a rail and the possible installation positions of the barcode on the rail related to the track barcode system of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 1B  shows a front view of a typical linear or one-dimensional barcode used in  FIG. 1A . 
           [0016]      FIG. 1C  shows a front view of a typical matrix or two-dimensional barcode used in  FIG. 1A . 
           [0017]      FIG. 2A  provides a front view of one arrangement of the track barcode system of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2B  provides a side view of the arrangement of the track barcode system in  FIG. 2A . 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  shows a front view of another arrangement of the track barcode system of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  shows a front view of yet another arrangement of the track barcode system of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5A  shows a schematic diagram of a barcode with a protective cover on a rail before or after barcode scanning. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5B  shows a schematic diagram of a barcode with a protective cover on a rail during barcode scanning. 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  shows a schematic diagram of an alternative method for barcode installation on the rail. 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  shows a schematic diagram of another alternative method for barcode installation on the rail. 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  shows a chart diagram for the applications of the track barcode systems of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0026]      FIG. 1A  shows the possible locations for the installation of the barcode  4  on the surface of a rail  10 .  FIG. 1B  shows a typical one-dimensional barcode.  FIG. 1C  shows a typical two-dimensional barcode. Both the one-dimensional barcodes and the two-dimensional barcodes could be used for the track barcode systems of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 1A , a typical rail  10  consists of rail head  1 , web  2  and rail foot  3 . Barcode  4  could be attached firmly to location A which is located on the inside surface of the web facing the other rail of the track (not shown), or location B on the outside surface of the web opposite to the other rail of the track. Location C at the rail head  1  outside of the tracks is another possible location for barcode  4  installation. Although the barcode  4  at location C is very close to the moving wheels of the train (not shown), there is no contact between the barcode  4  and the rotating wheels of the train. Location E and D are also two potential locations to install the barcode  4 . However, barcode  4  installed at location E or D has higher chances to be covered by dusts or stone track ballast (not shown). The barcode  4  could be directly printed or etched onto the surface of the rail  10 . If a label is used, the barcode label  4  could be attached to the surface of the rail  10  by using permanent glue. If metal barcode label  4  is used, other methods such as spot welding and mechanical screws could also be used to fasten the barcode label  4  to the rail  10 . 
         [0027]    Based on different applications, various types of information related to the railroad track management could be coded in the barcode  4  shown in  FIG. 1B  and  FIG. 1C . The information may include track location coordinates, rail type, tie identification and wayside assets such as switch, signal, intersection and many more. 
         [0028]      FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B  show the first embodiment of the track barcode system  100  of the present invention.  FIG. 2A  shows the front view of the track barcode system  100 .  FIG. 2B  shows the side view of the track barcode system  100 . Although the one-dimension barcode shown in  FIG. 1B  has the bars aligned vertically, horizontal barcode could also be used. One major component of the track barcode system  100  consists of an array of pre-coded barcode labels  4  installed on the rail  10  along the railroad track at a predetermined spacing as shown in  FIG. 2B . Another major component of the track barcode system  100  consists of one or two barcode scanner(s)  28  as shown in  FIG. 2A . The scanner(s)  28  is (are) attached to a structural beam  26  which in turn is attached to a vehicle  22  movable on wheels  24  along the railroad track consisting of two rails  10 . 
         [0029]    In the most simplified configuration of the barcode system  100 , only a pair of barcodes and scanner combination is necessary. The combination could consist of an array of barcode labels  4  installed at location A of the rail along the track and a single barcode scanner  28  installed between the two rails as shown in  FIG. 2A . The combination could also consist of an array of barcode labels  4  at location B and a single barcode scanner  28  installed on the corresponding side of the vehicle  22  as shown in  FIG. 2A . The orientation of the scanner  28  is adjusted so that the scanner  28  is pointing to the barcode  4  through the optic beam  30  and capable of reading the barcode  4 , as shown in  FIG. 2A . Ideally, the location of the scanner  28  should be above the ground level defined by the two heads of the rails  10 , in order to avoid collision and damage of the scanner  28  when the vehicle is moving. 
         [0030]    With the vehicle  22  moving on the track, the scanner  28  scans continuously. If a barcode is detected, the scanner  28  can de-code the barcode which carries the coordinate information and other track or rail properties of the specific position where the barcode is installed. The scanner  28  can send the coordinate information associated with the specific barcode  4  and a trigger signal to any track management systems (not shown) mounted on the vehicle  22 . Those track management systems include measurement system, grinding system, tamping system and etc. With the coordinate information supplied by the track barcode system  100  of the present invention, other track management systems can have accurate and repeatable track coordinates that are very important for track monitoring and other track management purposes. 
         [0031]    In a more complex configuration of the track barcode system  100 , two or more pairs of barcodes and scanner combination could be adopted.  FIG. 2A  shows two pairs of barcodes and scanner combination. A total of four scanners  28 , with two scanners for each rail, could be installed on a single structural beam  26  if necessary. The configuration with multiple scanners has an added feature. If a specific barcode in one array is damaged somehow, the corresponding barcode in another array could be used to identify the location of the damaged barcode. Therefore, identification, repairing or replacement of the damaged barcode  4  is possible. Multiple scanners could increase the reliability of the track barcode system  100  of the present invention. 
         [0032]      FIG. 3  shows the second embodiment of the track barcode system  200  of the present invention. Comparing to the track barcode system  100  described above, the major difference in this arrangement is the installation location of the barcodes  4 . The barcodes  4  are installed at location C on the head of the rail  10 . In order to avoid the direct contact of the barcode  4  with the moving wheels  24 , which could destroy the barcode easily, the location C has to be on the external side of the rail head as shown in  FIG. 3 . For each array of barcodes  4 , a barcode scanner  28  is needed. Similar to the track barcode system  100  of the present invention, the barcode scanner is installed on the structural beam  26 , which in turn is attached to the vehicle  22  that has wheels  24 . The barcode scanner is directed to scan and read the barcodes  4  through the scanning light beam  30 . A pair of barcodes and scanner combination is enough to provide the required track coordinates for all track management systems. When two pairs of barcodes and scanner combination are used, the track barcode system  200  of the present invention adds another cross-checking feature for barcode self-maintenance. One could use barcode labels from one array to identify and fix the problems of the barcode labels that belong to the other array, as long as that the two barcode labels of the two arrays at the same track location do not fail at the same time. In the case that both barcode labels fail, one could still use the neighboring barcodes that belong to the same barcode array to identify the failing barcode label or labels. 
         [0033]    Comparing to the barcode location of the track barcode system  100 , the barcode location of the track barcode system  200  of the present invention has an advantage of easier access. It will be relatively easier to design an automated barcode installation machine if location C of the rail  10  is selected as the location for the barcode installation. It will also be easier for maintenance workers to use handheld smart phone or scanner to read the label and identify the specific tie that is monitored and needs to be replaced. The associated disadvantage is that the barcode  4  may be too close to the head of the rail  10 , especially in the case of track grinding operation. 
         [0034]      FIG. 4  shows the third embodiment of the track barcode system  300  of the present invention. Comparing to the track barcode system  100 , the major difference of the track barcode system  300  is the installation location of the barcode  4 . The barcode  4  is now installed on location E or location D on the foot of the rail  10 . Except for the barcode location, and the corresponding orientation adjustment of the scanners  28 , all other aspects of the track barcode system  300  are similar to that of the track barcode system  100  of the present invention. 
         [0035]    The advantage of the barcode location related to the track barcode system  300  is that the scanning light beam  30  from the scanner  28  is almost perpendicular to the barcode  4 , which may make the scanning process easier or quicker. However, the disadvantage associated with the barcode location of the track barcode system  300  is that the barcode maybe easily covered by dusts and/or stone track ballasts around the barcode labels. 
         [0036]      FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B  show another embodiment of the track barcode system  400  of the present invention. The individual barcode assembly  4  of the track barcode system  400  consists of a barcode label  41 , a cover  42  and a hinge mechanism  44 . The hinge  44  connects the label  41  together with the cover  42 . The hinge  44  should be a low friction one, so that the cover  42  can be flipped over easily.  FIG. 5A  shows the barcode  4  with the cover  42  at the down position under the effect of gravity on the weight of the cover  42 . The barcode assembly  4  is firmly attached to the web of rail  10  at either location A or location B. 
         [0037]      FIG. 5B  shows the barcode assembly  4  when the barcode label  41  is under scanning. The scanner  28  is attached to a structural beam  26  similar to the track barcode system  100  of the present invention. Near the scanner  28 , an air nozzle  46  is also attached to the beam  26 . An air compressor (not shown) mounted on the vehicle (not shown) supplies the compressed air to the nozzle  46 . The nozzle  46  blows a stream of air  48  against the foot E of the rail  10 . When the air stream  48  hits the foot, it turns up against the curvature of the rail around the foot E as shown by  47 . The upward air stream  47  blows against the cover  42  of the barcode assembly  4 , so that the cover  42  is flipped over around the hinge  44 . With the air nozzle  46  energized, the cover  42  stabilizes at an up position as shown in  FIG. 5B . In the up position, the free end of the cover  42  contacts the lower surface  49  of the rail head. With the cover  42  at its up position, the scanner  28  can scan and read the barcode label  41  as if there were no cover  42 . After scanning, the air stream  48  and  47  released from nozzle  46  moves with the moving vehicle (not shown). Without the air steam  47  presented, the cover  42  falls down due to the gravity force to cover and protect the barcode label  41 . 
         [0038]    The advantage of using barcode assembly  4  in the track barcode system  400  of the present invention is to provide an extra layer of protection for the barcode label  41  from dusts, rains, sparks of a grinding machine and etc. The disadvantage of the barcode system  400  is the added costs associated with barcode assembly  4 , air nozzle  46  and the required air compressor (not shown). 
         [0039]      FIG. 6  shows yet another embodiment of the track barcode system  500  of the present invention. This track barcode system takes advantage of the lower portion of the rail for barcode installation. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the barcode  4  is attached to a bendable thin plate  56  at location F. The bendable plate  56  could be a metal plate or plastic plate. The thin plate  56  has been pre-bent according to the foot contour of the rail  10  at locations  52  and  54 . The thin plate  56  with barcode  4  could be inserted under the rail. In order for the insertion of the thin plate  56 , stone track ballast under the rail  10  may need to be replaced during the installation. The dashed line  57  represents the thin plate  56  before being bent. The portion  57  of the thin plate  56  is then bent at location  58  and location  59  to wrap around the foot of the rail  10 . Glue between the thin plate  56  and the surface of the rail  10 , or other mechanical fastening methods may not be necessary in this configuration. Barcode label  4  may be glued to the plate  56 . The surface of the plate  56  could be custom designed or prepared for the barcode  4  installation in this configuration. 
         [0040]      FIG. 7  shows yet another embodiment of the track barcode system  600  of the present invention. The barcode installation of the track barcode system  600  is similar to that of the track barcode system  500 . The difference is that there are two pieces of the thin plate  61  and  66  in the track barcode system  600  comparing to only one plate  56  in the track barcode system  500 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the barcode  4  is attached to the plate  61  at location G. The plate  66  has been pre-bent at location  68  and location  67  according to the contour of the foot of the rail  10 . The plate  66  is then inserted under the rail  10  as shown in  FIG. 7 . The plate  61  and plate  66  is then attached together using bolts, nuts or rivets, or other mechanical fasteners  63  and  64 . Similar to the track barcode system  500 , this configuration allows clean or controlled surface at location G for barcode  4  installation. 
         [0041]      FIG. 8  shows a chart diagram  700  for the applications of the track barcode systems of the present invention. The track barcode system  710  could be any of the track barcode systems discussed above, which consists of at least one array of barcodes attached to the track of a railroad at predetermined locations, and at least one barcode scanner installed on a moving vehicle, with the barcode scanner directed at the corresponding array of the barcodes. The barcode scanner can provide two signals through an interface  720  to any track management systems  750 . One of the signals is a trigger whenever the barcode scanner, which moves along the tracks with the vehicle, detects the existence of a barcode. The other signal contains the track coordinate or other information pre-coded on the barcode. The track barcode systems  710  of the present invention can provide accurate and repeatable track coordinates along the tracks for any track management systems. The track coordinates provided by the track barcode system  710  of the present invention could be as accurate as a few centimeters. A GPS device  730  could be integrated with the track barcode system through the interface  720  to provide global information of each barcode. Rotary decoder  740  could be used to determine the locations on the track between track coordinates defined by the track barcode system of the present invention. 
         [0042]    The track barcode system  710  of the present invention has advantages of being repeatable, accurate, practical and affordable. The trigger signal and track coordinates provided by the track barcode system  710  of the present invention can be used by other track management systems  750  such as track gauge measurement system, rail profile measurement system, grinding machine, tamping machine or other systems which need repeatable and accurate track coordinates. 
         [0043]    As those of ordinary skill in the art can appreciate, the track barcode systems of the present invention can have other applications where the need exists for a repeatable and accurate track coordinates. It is to be understood that the description of the embodiment(s) in this application is (are) intended to be only illustrative, rather than restrictive, of the present invention. Those of ordinary skill will be able to make certain additions, deletions, and/or modifications to the embodiment(s) of the disclosed subject matter without departing from the spirit of the invention or its scope, as defined by the appended claims.