Flat Sensors
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FORPS - Fiber Optic Railway Wheel Load Sensors
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A fiber optic wheel load sensor is shaped like one of the common elastomer plates (rail pads) to be placed between rail and sleeper.
Utilising the same measuring principle as road and airport sensors railway sensors have a completely different structure. They are designed to be mounted between rail and sleeper responding to loads up to 20 tons and more. The sensor consists of an elastomer plate with an embedded fiber optic structure the optical loss of which increases as load is applied. There are also versions with more than one fiber optic structure incorporated which can e.g. be used to determine the direction of travel.
Although these sensors are not yet manufactured in series we encourage our customers to obtain test samples in order to develop their own applications. The exact shape of the sensors and the fiber optic configuration can easily be adapted to a large variety of special requirements. The sensors can easily be operated using MA-110 or MD-220 interfaces.
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When installed under the rail a fiber optic wheel load sensor (see arrow) is not easily discovered.
On its way from Hamburg to Munich the ICE-2 "Riemenschneider" is speeding across a sensor test setup (see arrow in upper pic). The signal displayed on the oscilloscope shows the axles of the power unit (78t) and the first two cars (47t each) and allows for computation of the speed: 250 km/h (155 mph).
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SMS Fiber Optic Road Traffic Sensor
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The SENSOR LINE Surface-Mounted sensor (SMS) is a flat ribbon shaped axle sensor for temporary installation in a road pocket stuck on the pavement. Geometric accuracy and durability of this kind of installation does not reach that of permanent installations but it is much easier and faster, and the setup can also easily be removed.
Up to two zones of sensitivity can be defined as desired. Thus, monitoring of two lanes is possible as well as monitoring of one lane across another one. |
