An image measurement device acquires a first measurement region and a second measurement region on an image, acquires distance information corresponding to the first measurement region and distance information corresponding to the second measurement region, and computes a distance between the two regions. In a case where the first measurement region is displaced on the image, the second measurement region is displaced on a contour or a plane on the image, and a distance between the first measurement region after the displacement and the second measurement region after the displacement is computed. Thereby, distance measurement is able to be performed over a wide range without a complicated operation in the image measurement device for measuring a distance between two regions by using an image.

A guide system including a railway rail extending along an axis and including an upper element having a rolling face; a lower element having a bearing face; a connecting element between the lower and upper elements, at least one lateral recess being formed between the lower and upper elements; at least first and second attitude sensors fixed to the rail by glue at respective positions offset along the axis of the rail, the attitude sensors being housed at least partially in the lateral recess; a processing circuit configured to recover attitude measurements supplied by the first and second attitude sensors and configured to calculate a deformation of the railway rail relative to the axis as a function of the recovered attitude measurements.

A method for determining vertical and lateral position faults of a track employs a track position measuring system having a common reference base formed of a single measuring chord disposed centrally between the rails and extending in the longitudinal direction of the machine. Two sensors are disposed on a central track position measuring unit for determining a longitudinal height and for determining a versine. The sensors each contact the measuring chord. Each track position measuring unit has two laser scanners, which are associated with respective rails, for scanning in a y-axis extending normal to a longitudinal direction of the rails and in a z-axis extending in a vertical direction. A track maintenance machine for carrying out track position corrections is also provided. Thus, a simplification of the track position measuring system with increased accuracy can be achieved.

A method and a measuring system for determining the surface condition on a rail head along a laid railway track formed by rails uses a measuring carriage and a measuring unit with at least a first measuring arrangement. The first measuring arrangement includes a measurement base carrier, a guide arrangement, and at least one first sensor located on the measurement base carrier. The measurement base carrier is guided in a movable manner relative to the carriage frame by the guide arrangement in a normal alignment with respect to a rail plane defined by one of the respective rails. Furthermore, the measurement base carrier including the at least one first sensor is mechanically supported on at least one of the rails by a supporting device during displacement of the measuring carriage, and is thus constantly guided at a predetermined, fixed distance above the rail.

An apparatus for measuring a displacement of a railroad includes a pair of rail fixing members 100 fixed to enclose a lower part of one rail 10, and installed to be spaced from each other; a lengthwise sensor casing 200a installed between the pair of rail fixing members 100; and an angle sensor installed at the lengthwise sensor casing 200a so as to measure a change of an angle between the pair of rail fixing members 100. With such a configuration, the present invention can be applied to a structure of railroad ties formed of a concrete material. Further, data can be obtained with high reliability, since a displacement of the rail is directly measured.

An apparatus for measuring a displacement of a railroad includes a pair of rail fixing members 100 fixed to enclose a lower part of one rail 10, and installed to be spaced from each other; a lengthwise sensor casing 200a installed between the pair of rail fixing members 100; and an angle sensor installed at the lengthwise sensor casing 200a so as to measure a change of an angle between the pair of rail fixing members 100. With such a configuration, the present invention can be applied to a structure of railroad ties formed of a concrete material. Further, data can be obtained with high reliability, since a displacement of the rail is directly measured.

A method for the contactless detection of a position of a measurement device that can be moved by a rail running gear on a track relative to at least one rail of the track. A projection of a laser beam that is projected onto the at least one rail and onto the inner side of a wheel of the rail running gear is detected by way of a camera. A detected position of the measurement device with respect to the wheel inner side is evaluated by an evaluation device. The inner side of the wheel disc is used as a reference base for determining at least one position value of the measurement device.

A system is described for the diagnosis of the operating conditions of joints between rails, including: a frame configured for installation on a railway vehicle at a wheel of the railway vehicle, a first distance sensor and a second distance sensor installed on said frame and arranged in such a way as to be on opposite sides of a wheel of the railway vehicle, each of said first distance sensor and second distance sensor being configured to detect, respectively, a first distance and a second distance between said frame and a top of a rail, and a third distance sensor installed on said frame and configured to detect a third distance of said frame with respect to a journal box associated to the wheel of the railway vehicle.

A track maintenance machine, with a sensor for identifying an A-point of a chord, having a frame, axles, and wheels operatively connected to the axles and configured to support the machine on a track. A workhead is arranged between the axles. A B-point is placed at the workhead at a predetermined height above the track, and a C-point placed at a rear end of the at a predetermined height above the track. A sensor is arranged at a forward end of the frame at a predetermined height above the track. The sensor scans forward of the machine to identify an A-point; acquire track data for the A-point; and transmit the data to a machine control system. The machine control system is configured to calculate a chord by combining the track data for the A-point with the C-point to calculate operation data for the workhead at the B-point.

A track maintenance machine, with a sensor for identifying an A-point of a chord, having a frame, axles, and wheels operatively connected to the axles and configured to support the machine on a track. A workhead is arranged between the axles. A B-point is placed at the workhead at a predetermined height above the track, and a C-point placed at a rear end of the at a predetermined height above the track. A sensor is arranged at a forward end of the frame at a predetermined height above the track. The sensor scans forward of the machine to identify an A-point; acquire track data for the A-point; and transmit the data to a machine control system. The machine control system is configured to calculate a chord by combining the track data for the A-point with the C-point to calculate operation data for the workhead at the B-point.