Automatic Wayside Friction Wedge Inspection System

WedgeView is a wayside detector which is designed to measure friction wedge heights and inspect truck spring integrity. WedgeView is designed as a normal track speed train monitoring system. The system is vision based and uses high speed, high resolution digital imaging components to capture images of the central part of every truck for inspection and measurement.

After the truck type is identified, wedge rise is measured in both sides of the bolster and reported. An average wedge rise is also reported. Depending on the truck type, an alarm is generated for excessive wedge rise.

Inspections in a standard system include the following:

1. Truck type identification
2. Wedge detection and height measurement
3. Alarm generation for excessive high wedges
4. Truck Spring Inspection
5. Excessive Load imbalance detection

WedgeView can operate at speeds of up to 90 mph and a report is generated based on the available AEI data. The system is offered with a database software package for wedge data storage, searching and tracing. The data can also be integrated into the data measured by WheelView wheel profile measurement system and BrakeView brake shoe inspection system. Such data can be used in truck performance and condition analysis systems.

This system, like all of Beena Vision’s systems is hardened to survive in the railroad environment.