Track Geometry Car
ProductOverview
A track geometry measurement car is a specialised railway vehicle carrying laser, optical and acceleration sensors to measure the precise shape and alignment of the track bed. Every railway must monitor its track geometry periodically, the rail alignment, gauge, profile, cant, twist, and ride quality. Worn or misaligned track causes accelerated damage and increases energy consumption.
How it works
The Coach Body houses the sensor stack and data processing electronics. The two measurement bogies carry wheels at precisely measured axle spacing with stiff springs and dampers.
The Laser Measurement Head is a non-contact laser head mounted below the car. It emits a laser beam at the rail top, and a photodiode receiver detects the reflection. The system builds a point cloud of the rail profile at speeds of 10–20 km/h.
The Imaging & Lighting System captures high-resolution line-scan images with high-brightness LED lighting. The Data Acquisition System system samples laser signals and acceleration data synchronously.
Bill of materials for Track Geometry Car
7 top-level lines as of r174877| # | Item / sub-assembly | Part no. | Qty/assy | Ext. qty | Parts | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Measurement Bogie 5 parts | track-geometry-car-bogie | 2× | 2 | 0 | assembly |
| 2 | Coach Body 5 parts | track-geometry-car-body | 1× | 1 | 0 | assembly |
| 3 | Laser Measurement Head 4 parts | track-geometry-car-measurement-head | 1× | 1 | 0 | assembly |
| 4 | Imaging & Lighting System 4 parts | track-geometry-car-imaging-system | 1× | 1 | 0 | assembly |
| 5 | Data Acquisition System 4 parts | track-geometry-car-data-acquisition | 1× | 1 | 0 | assembly |
| 6 | Power & Distribution 3 parts | track-geometry-car-power-distribution | 1× | 1 | 0 | assembly |
| 7 | Vibration Isolation System 2 parts | track-geometry-car-mechanical-damping | 1× | 1 | 0 | assembly |
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