ELECTRONIC PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MOUNTING AN ELECTRIC PROCESSING APPARATUS

Abstract

The invention describes an electronic processing apparatus (10) for determining railroad information, comprising a sensor adapted to provide a sensor signal representing a railroad property or a railroad event, a gateway adapted to communicate with the sensor and with a remote processing unit, and a mounting base (12) adapted to be fixedly mounted to a crosstie (14) of the railroad, wherein the mounting base (12) carries at least one electronic device (8) of the electronic processing apparatus (10).

Claims

1. Electronic processing apparatus for determining railroad information, comprising: a sensor adapted to provide a sensor signal representing a railroad property or a railroad event and a gateway adapted to communicate with the sensor and with a remote processing unit, wherein a mounting base is adapted to be fixedly mounted to a crosstie of the railroad, wherein the mounting base carries at bast one or more electronic device of the electronic processing apparatus.

2. Electronic processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein it further comprises one or more anchor elements having a first portion connected to or adapted to be connected to the mounting base and a second portion adapted to be inserted into a hole of a crosstie such as to be fixedly mounted to the crosstie.

3. Electronic processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein it further comprises a curing material adapted to establish a material bonded connection between the anchor element and the crosstie and/or between the mounting base and the crosstie.

4. Electronic processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mounting base comprises a mounting plate, wherein a lower side of the mounting plate is adapted to be fixedly mounted onto an upper surface of a crosstie and an upper side of the mounting plate is carrying the one or more electronic device.

5. Electronic processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a casing is mounted to the mounting base, wherein the one or more electronic device devices is accommodated within the casing.

6. Electronic processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein it includes a plurality of sensors each being adapted to provide a sensor signal representing a railroad property or a railroad event, wherein all sensors are adapted to communicate with the same gateway.

7. Electronic processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is adapted to detect a motion state of the railroad and/or a motion state of the crosstie.

8. Electronic processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is rigidly mounted to the mounting base or to a sensor mounting body rigidly mounted to the mounting base, such that vibrations of the mounting base are transmitted to the sensor substantially without loss.

9. Electronic processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is rigidly mounted, directly or via a sensor mounting body, to another railroad element, preferably to a rail, such that vibrations of the other railroad element are transmitted to the sensor substantially without loss.

10. Electronic processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic processing apparatus is adapted to detect a time series of sensor signals, in particular a time series of motion states of the crosstie or a time series of motion states of another railroad element.

11. Electronic processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic processing apparatus further comprises a wake-up/send-to-sleep unit adapted to switch the electronic processing apparatus between a ready state and a low-power consumption state according to predetermined conditions.

12. Electronic processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the wake-up/send-to-sleep unit comprises a wake-up/send-to-sleep sensor for detecting a wake-up/send-to-sleep sensor signal, preferably a motion state of the crosstie, and wherein the wake-up/send-to-sleep unit is adapted to switch the electronic processing apparatus between the ready state and the low-power-consumption state based on detected wake-up/send-to-sleep sensor signal.

13. Electronic processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the wake-up/send-to-sleep unit is adapted to switch the electronic processing apparatus between the ready state and the low-power-consumption state based on a wake-up/send-to-sleep sensor signal received from a clock or from a remote processing unit-R-64 or from another electronic processing apparatus.

14. Electronic processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the electronic processing apparatus further comprises a power source adapted for self-sustaining operation of the electronic processing apparatus.

15. Electronic processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein it further comprises an energy harvesting device adapted to generate electric power by collecting ambient energy from the surroundings, wherein the energy harvesting device is arranged to supply power to the gateway and/or the sensor.

16. Electronic processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the gateway comprises a wireless communication module adapted to send sensor data based on the sensor signal via a wireless communication, to the remote processing unit.

17. System comprising a plurality of electronic processing apparatuses according to claim 1, a plurality of crossties, each of which having one or more of electronic processing apparatuses fixedly mounted thereto, and a remote processing unit adapted to communicate with the plurality of electronic processing apparatuses to transmit sensor data and to derive railroad information from the sensor signals.

18. Method for mounting an electronic processing apparatus according to claim 1 to a crosstie of a railroad, comprising the steps of: drilling at least one hole in the crosstie, introducing a curing material into the hole, inserting an anchor element into the hole, wherein said anchor element is connected to the mounting base and/or the method further includes a step of connecting the mounting base to the anchor element).

19. Method according to claim 18, further including a step of applying curing material to a lower surface of the mounting base and/or to a upper surface of the crosstie and establishing material bonded surface contact between the two surfaces via said curing material.

Description

[0023] A specific embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings in which

[0024] FIG. 1A shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an electronic processing apparatus according to the embodiment as attached to a crosstie,

[0025] FIG. 1B shows a schematic top view of an electronic circuit of the electronic processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention,

[0026] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the crosstie in a first step of a method for mounting an electronic processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention,

[0027] FIGS. 3-6 show further steps of the method for mounting the electronic processing apparatus by means of cross-sectional views of

[0028] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view as well as two partial views of a mounting base of the electronic processing apparatus during a later step of the method for mounting an electronic processing apparatus, and

[0029] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the crosstie and the electronic processing apparatus in a final step of the method for mounting the electronic processing apparatus.

[0030] An electronic processing apparatus 10 is shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B as comprising a mounting base 12 for fixing the apparatus 10 to a crosstie 14 of a railroad, and a casing 16 mounted on the mounting base 12. Casing 16 accommodates an electronic circuit 18 having at least one electronic device. In the present embodiment, the electronic circuit 18, as illustrated in more detail in FIG. 1B, is implemented by a circuit board carrying circuitry and electronic devices such as a sensor 22 adapted to provide a sensor signal representing a railroad property or a railroad event, a gateway 24 adapted to communicate with the sensor and with a remote processing unit 26, a power source 28 such as a battery adapted for self-sustaining operation of the electronic processing apparatus 10, a wake-up/send-to-sleep unit 30 adapted to switch the electronic processing apparatus 10 between a ready state and a low-power consumption state, a storage unit 32 for storing data and/or signals, and a processing unit 34 such as a CPU.

[0031] The mounting base is preferably formed by a solid plate having a lower side 36 adapted to establish surface contact with an upper side 38 of the crosstie 14, wherein an upper side of the mounting base 12 carries circuit board 20 and housing 16. A plurality of anchor elements 42 are provided to fix the mounting base 12 to the crosstie 14. Furthermore, housing 16 may be fixed to the mounting base by means of a plurality of screws 43 or any other suitable connection.

[0032] A method for mounting the electronic processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention is now described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 8.

[0033] At the start of the mounting method a suitable crosstie is chosen on which the apparatus 10 is to be mounted. It is preferred to mount the apparatus 10 on a crosstie that is subject to large vertical forces or vibrations of relatively high amplitude, because wear and damage are expected to occur first at such crossties. Preferably, at least one electronic processing apparatus is mounted on a crosstie of a turnout (track switch), for example near a crossing nose of a turnout. Not only is this part of the railroad especially prone to wear and damage, but also the function of a turnout may additionally be monitored by the electronic processing apparatus. Most preferably, an electronic processing apparatus is mounted in a region of up to three crossties before or after the tip of a crossing nose of a turnout.

[0034] In a further step shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, holes 44 are drilled into the crosstie 14 in a vertical direction from the upper side 38, for example by using a drill hammer. Preferably, the holes 44 have a diameter between 6 mm and 14 mm and a depth between 50 mm and 100 mm. Best results have been achieved by using holes with a diameter of 10 mm and a depth of 75 to 80 mm. To assist the drilling procedure, a drilling rig 45 may be used that positively fits to the upper side of the crosstie and allows an easy finding of the right position of the at least one holes 44.

[0035] In a further step of the mounting method, illustrated in FIG. 4, a curing material 46 is inserted into hole 44. The curing material 46 may be a suitable glue that can be inserted into hole 44 in a liquid, semi-liquid or granular condition.

[0036] In a further preferred embodiment, the curing material 46 is included in a cartridge 48 that has a cylindrical shape adapted to be partially or completely inserted into the hole 44. The advantage of using such a cartridge 48 is that it may contain the exact amount of curing material 46 that is required for the hole. Furthermore it ensures that the worker will not come into contact with the curing material 46.

[0037] The cartridge 48 can be made of a breakable material such as glass or a breakable plastic material. The cartridge can then be destroyed by the worker after having been inserted into the hole 44. For example, the cartridge 48 can be of such size that it slightly stands out of the hole 44 making it easier for the worker to break the top of the cartridge 48 by any suitable tool or by an anchor element to be placed into the hole 44.

[0038] In a further step of the mounting method an anchor element 42 is inserted into hole 44 such that a first portion 50 of anchor element 42 stands out of the hole 44 and a second portion 52 of anchor element 42 is placed inside the hole 44. The insertion of the anchor element 42 can be done by using a suitable tool such as a setting tool or a drill hammer, and the first portion 50 may have any suitable tool engagement portion such as a thread 54 in order to allow engagement of the tool for inserting the anchor element 42. As the anchor element 42 penetrates the hole 44, the curing material may slightly ooze out of the hole 44 as can be seen at reference signs 56 in FIG. 6. This may indicate that hole 44 is sufficiently filled with curing material 46. Excessive curing material may be removed from the crosstie 14.

[0039] The curing material 46 is then allowed to cure or dry. Depending on the material used as a curing material, this may take a time of a couple of minutes.

[0040] In a further step of the mounting method as depicted in FIG. 7, the plate-shaped mounting base 12 is placed at the upper side 38 of crosstie 14 such that through-holes 58 of the mounting base 12 are receive the first portions 50 of the anchor elements 42. Preferably, another curing material which may be the same curing material 48 as used for anchor elements 42 or may be a different material, is applied to the lower side 36 of mounting base 12 and/or to the upper side 38 of crosstie 14 in order to establish additional material bonded surface contact between mounting base 12 and crosstie 14.

[0041] When approaching mounting base 12 to a crosstie 14 in a correct position, the first portion 50 of the anchor elements 42 will engage through-holes 58 of mounting base 12 and will stand out at an upper side 60 of mounting base 12. In the preferred embodiment, the first portion 50 is provided with threads 54 which allows to fix the mounting base 12 to the anchor element 42 by means of a suitable threated nut 62. As can be seen in the example shown in FIG. 7, a connection can be made by using a washer 64 between nut 62 and mounting base 12 and by providing an additional lock nut 66 securing nut 62.

[0042] It should be noted that mounting base 12 further may include an indication such as an arrow 68 which ensures that the mounting base 12 is mounted in the correct position, for example such that arrow 68 is aligned with the main running direction of the railroad.

[0043] In a further step of the mounting method, housing 16 which includes the electronic circuit 18, is to be mounted to mounting base 12. In a preferred embodiment, the connection between housing 16 and mounting base 12 is established by an additional screw connection using a plurality of screws 43 engaging in corresponding holes of either housing 16 or mounting base 12. As can be seen in the upper drawing of FIG. 7, a sealing lip 72 may be provided between mounting base 12 and housing 16 along an outer perimeter of the contact area between these two elements in order to avoid moisture or liquids to enter the gap between housing 16 and mounting base 12.

[0044] Furthermore, in a particular example of the invention, housing 16 comprises a lower housing part 74 and an upper housing part 76 attached and connected to one another by means of housing screws 78 such as to form a sealed cavity therebetween, in which the electronic circuit 18 is arranged. Lower housing part 74 may be formed by a plate to achieve good surface contact with the plate shaped mounting base 12. Lower housing part 74 forms a sensor mounting body as mentioned in the claims. By using a sealed housing 16, the electronic circuit 18 can be protected even during the mounting procedure and the method of mounting the electronic processing apparatus 10 becomes easier and more reliable.

[0045] After fixing the housing 16 to the mounting base 12, the electronic processing apparatus 10 is firmly connected to the crosstie 14 and can be set into operation.

[0046] An example of a mode of operation of the sensor will be explained in the following. In this example it is assumed that a plurality of electronic processing apparatuses 10 have been installed at particular crossties along a railroad track. Each apparatus is powered by its power supply unit 28 which may be a battery, preferably a primary battery, but which may alternatively be formed by a rechargeable battery or an energy harvesting device adapted to generate electric power by collecting ambient energy from the surroundings.

[0047] Measurements and data communication are usually not desired continuously, but only at certain times. If no measurement or data communication is to be carried out, the electronic circuit 18 is switched to a low power consumption state. The wake-up/send-to-sleep unit 30 decides that the electronic processing apparatus 10 is to be switched to a ready state on the basis of, for example, a signal received from a clock or from remote processing unit 26. In such an embodiment, the ready state could be activated for a certain time of the day when certain train passing events are to be expected according to a train schedule. As a further example, the wake-up/send-to-sleep unit 30 could receive a signal from a wake-up/send-to-sleep sensor 31 which indicates a certain event or condition for which measurement or data communication is desired. For example, the wake-up/send-to-sleep sensor 31 could be a vibration sensor or an acoustic sensor, and the wake-up/send-to-sleep unit 30 may switch to the ready mode if vibration or sound detected by sensor 31 exceeds a certain threshold value indicating a train passing event. Preferably, the wake-up/send-to-sleep sensor 31 is operable continuously under extremely low-power consumption. As a further option, sensor 31 may collect its energy from the surroundings (energy harvesting), which could be realized, for example, by using a Piezo-electric device.

[0048] After setting the electronic processing apparatus 10 to a ready state, sensor 22 starts measuring, for example measuring an acceleration in the vertical direction, in order to detect vibration of the crosstie 14. The sensor signal of sensor 22 is transmitted to processing unit 34 for further processing, to storing unit 32 for storing the signal or to gateway 24 for further transmission of the signal to remote processing unit 26. Transmission of sensor signals 22 to gateway 24 or storing unit 32 are preferably carried out via processing unit 34, such that a certain algorithm run by processing unit 34 can be used to control the operation of the electronic processing apparatus 10. In a further embodiment, the gateway may also be adapted to receive data from remote processing unit 26 to allow the operation of electronic processing apparatus 10 to be controlled remotely.

[0049] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, sensor 22 detects a time series of sensor signals which are stored in storing unit 32. The gateway 24 is controlled to send packages of sensor signals or a time series stored in the storing unit 32, i.e. not continuously but only at predetermined times, for example either at the end of a measurement or a train passing event or at certain times according to a time table. Since operation of the gateway 24 involves relatively high power consumption, storing multiple sensor signals in storing unit 32 and transmitting packages of multiple sensor signals or data processed from such sensor signals by processing unit 34 through gateway 24 at only certain points in time will achieve an improved power management and reduction in power consumption of the electronic processed apparatus 10.

[0050] Gateway 24 preferably uses a mobile phone network or a Low-Power Network which allows to send data over a large distance to the remote processing unit 26, preferably over a distance of more than 12 km, if necessary, while requiring only a minimum of electric energy.