RAIL-MONITORING ELEMENT, METHOD FOR MOUNTING A RAIL-MONITORING ELEMENT, AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A RAIL-MONITORING ELEMENT

Abstract

A rail-monitoring element includes a carrier on which a strain sensor is attached. The strain sensor may be an optical fiber having a fiber Bragg grating. The carrier has an adhesive layer for adhesive attachment to a rail having a thermally activatable or thermally curable adhesive. The adhesive layer has a heating element having contacts for receiving electrical energy. The rail-monitoring element can be installed more easily and in a manner which saves more energy.

Claims

1. A rail-monitoring element comprising: a carrier on which a strain sensor is attached; the strain sensor comprising an optical fiber having a fiber Bragg grating; the carrier having an adhesive layer for adhesive attachment to a rail having a thermally activatable or thermally curable adhesive; wherein the adhesive layer comprises a heating element having contacts that can be supplied with electrical energy.

2. The rail-monitoring element according to claim 1, wherein the strain sensor comprises an optical fiber having a fiber Bragg grating.

3. The rail-monitoring element according to claim 1, wherein the heating element is in the form of a wire.

4. The rail-monitoring element according to claim 3, wherein the heating element is arranged in the form of a grid in the adhesive layer.

5. The rail-monitoring element according to claim 1, wherein the heating element is flat, being a film, a mesh or a fabric.

6. The rail-monitoring element according to claim 1, wherein the heating element is embedded in the adhesive layer.

7. The rail-monitoring element according to claim 1, wherein the heating element is applied to the adhesive layer.

8. The rail-monitoring element according to claim 1, wherein the heating element has a thermally conductive, electrically insulating sheath.

9. The rail-monitoring element according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive layer is a heat activated film.

10. The rail-monitoring element according to claim 1, wherein a temperature sensor is embedded in the adhesive layer.

11. The rail-monitoring element according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive layer has a thickness of at least 0.5 mm.

12. A mounting arrangement comprising a rail-monitoring element according to claim 1 and a mobile energy supply, the heating element comprising contacts that are electrically connected to the mobile energy supply.

13. The mounting arrangement according to claim 12, wherein a control unit controls a switching state of a switch for the electrical connection of the energy supply to the contacts of the heating element as a function of a temperature detected by a temperature sensor.

14. A method for mounting the rail-monitoring element according to claim 1 at a mounting point of the rail, comprising the following steps: positioning the rail-monitoring element at the mounting point, the adhesive layer of the carrier coming into contact with the rail; and heating the adhesive layer by supplying electrical energy to the heating element.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the electrical energy is controlled as a function of the temperature of the adhesive.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein before the adhesive layer is arranged on the rail, heat is applied to the rail in the area of the mounting point.

17. The method for manufacturing a rail-monitoring element comprising the following steps: attaching a strain sensor on a first side of a flat carrier; applying an adhesive layer on the side of the carrier opposite the strain sensor; wherein a heating element having contacts for receiving electrical energy is arranged in or on the adhesive layer.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the strain sensor comprises an optical fiber having a fiber Bragg grating.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the heating element is arranged and fixed between two heat activated films.

20. A rail-monitoring element manufactured by the method according to claim 17.

21. The rail-monitoring element according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive layer has a thickness of at least 0.8 mm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] In the drawings:

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a cross-section through a rail comprising an applied rail-monitoring element having a carrier, an adhesive layer and contacts;

[0033] FIG. 2 shows a cross-section through a rail-monitoring element comprising a carrier with an adhesive layer, consisting of two layers and a heating element arranged between them;

[0034] FIG. 3 shows a cross-section through a rail-monitoring element comprising a carrier having an adhesive layer and a heating element arranged thereon having an insulating sheath;

[0035] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of an adhesive layer comprising a heating element in the form of a grid and a voltage supply;

[0036] FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of an adhesive layer comprising a heating element and a control unit; and

[0037] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a rail having a rail-monitoring element attached thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a section through a rail S having a rail web ST. A rail-monitoring element SUE, comprising a carrier T and an adhesive layer K, is mounted to the rail web. According to the invention, a heating element HE is arranged in the adhesive layer K. Contacts KO are connected to the heating element HE. The contacts KO are electrical contacts and serve to supply electrical energy to the heating element HE.

[0039] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the rail-monitoring element according to the invention, in which the adhesive layer K applied to the carrier T consists of two layers. The heating element HE is arranged between the two layers of the adhesive layer K. FIG. 2 shows a cross-section through this arrangement. In the present example, the heating element HE consists of wires that run between the two layers of the adhesive layer K. When electrical energy is supplied to the heating element HE, the two layers of the adhesive layer K connect and enclose the heating element HE.

[0040] FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of the rail-monitoring element according to the invention, in which the adhesive layer K applied to the carrier T is a single layer. The heating element HE is arranged between the adhesive layer K and the carrier T. In the present example, the heating element HE consists of wires that are surrounded by an insulating sheath I. FIG. 3 shows a cross-section through this arrangement. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, it is possible to arrange the heating element HE between the adhesive layer K and the carrier T, in contrast to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, in which the heating element HE is completely embedded in the adhesive layer K. Here, electrical insulation from the carrier T is ensured by an insulating sheath I. By supplying electrical energy to the heating element HE, the adhesive layer K connects to the carrier T and encloses the heating element HE.

[0041] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an adhesive layer K comprising a heating element HE. This can be a plan view (when the heating element is arranged on the adhesive layer) or a sectional view (when the heating element is arranged in the adhesive layer or between two layers of the adhesive layer) parallel to the surface area of the adhesive layer. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the heating element forms a type of grid, formed by a wire running zigzag and meandering over a surface. The heating element HE can run between two layers of the adhesive layer K. The heating element HE has contacts KO via which, for example, a direct voltage source V, for example in the form of a battery, is connected. The heating element HE can be supplied with electrical energy via the voltage source, for example the direct voltage source V. Instead of the direct voltage source V, it is also possible to use an alternating voltage source.

[0042] FIG. 5 shows an arrangement A for mounting the rail-monitoring element. A temperature sensor TS is also arranged in the adhesive layer K with the heating element HE. As in FIG. 4, here too the heating element HE is connected to the direct voltage source V via the contact elements KO. The connection of the direct voltage source V to the contact elements KO is controlled in a control unit CU. This control takes place via a switch SW, which can be opened and closed by the control unit CU. The temperature sensor TS detects the temperature of the adhesive layer K. The collected data are recorded by the control unit CU. The supply of electrical energy via the contact elements KO is controlled via the switch SW as a function of the detected temperature of the adhesive layer K. A user can control the control unit CU via a user interface UI.

[0043] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the rail S comprising a neutral axis NF. A rail-monitoring element SUE in the form of a fiber optic sensor element is mounted to the rail S. The rail-monitoring element SUE comprises a carrier T on which two fiber Bragg gratings FBG are pre-mounted. An optical fiber F connects the two fiber Bragg gratings FBG on the rail-monitoring element SUE. The rail-monitoring element SUE is preferably mounted in the region of the neutral axis NF, in particular such that each fiber Bragg grating FBG is arranged with one end below the neutral axis NF and with the other end above the neutral axis NF. The carrier T of the rail-monitoring element SUE is preferably mounted to the rail web ST of the rail S. After mounting, the direct voltage source is removed and can be used to mount additional rail-monitoring elements.

[0044] With the method according to the invention, a simple and secure planar bonding between the carrier T of the rail-monitoring element SUE and the rail S is made possible. In particular, mounting is made cheaper and simplified, which in particular improves use in the field. The rail-monitoring element SUE can be mounted faster and more safely.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0045] A Mounting arrangement [0046] CU Control unit [0047] F Optical fiber [0048] FBG Fiber Bragg grating [0049] HE Heating element [0050] I Electrically insulating sheath [0051] K Adhesive layer [0052] KO Electrical contacts [0053] NF Neutral axis [0054] S Rail [0055] ST Rail web [0056] SUE Rail-monitoring element [0057] SW Switch [0058] T Carrier [0059] TS Temperature sensor [0060] UI User interface [0061] V Direct voltage source

REFERENCE LIST

[0062] DE 10 2017 216 811 A1 [0063] EP 3 069 952 A1 [0064] WO 2016/150670 A1 [0065] WO 2017/162829 A1