1150+ Units deployed
100+ Broken Rails detected
Over $80 Million In incident prevention
1150+ Units deployed 100+ Broken Rails detected Over $80 Million In incident prevention
Advanced Rail Condition Detector
Advanced Rail Condition Detection (ARCD) system is a robust, autonomous detection system to detect Train Presence and Broken Rail in monitored areas with emphasis on Dark Territory. The system was designed to detect Broken Rail and Train Presence in areas that do not have signals or train control systems (Dark Territory) with emphasis on locations without available communication services.
Technical Information
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Node box (WxHxD):
12” x 16” x 7”
Mounted on pole (WxHxD):
12” x 92” x 14”
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Node box: 27 lbs
Mounted on pole: Approx. 50 lbs
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Power Source: Surface solar, external 12V - 22V
Battery: 12 AH (AGM or gel cell)
Power into rail: < 1W @ < 4VRMS for 0.3 s
Min/Max power: 0.1 W - 1.2 W
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Package: IP65
Operating: -55 C to +50 C ambient
Storage: -55 C to +70 C ambient
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Rail: 40 KA field replaceable module
Antenna: 20 KA field replaceable module
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Rail: 8Ga AREMA rated
Connectors: Quick disconnects
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Node-to-Node: LoRa 915MHz certified for North America
Cell: LTE certified for North America
Auxiliary: RS-422 serial port
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Train presences start
Train presence end
Rail break start
Rail break end
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Total length min/max: 0.75 mi - 1.25 mi.
Node position: At mid-point +/- 15% of monitored rail length.
Scan period interval min/max: 10 seconds – 12 Hr.
Distance to switch or frog: 0.25mi min.
Distance to protected crossing shunt: 0.25mi min.
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-All clean breaks within the rail.
-Breaks which happen under the train will be detected once the train leaves the monitored section.
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-Breaks are isolated to the specific monitored mile section.
-Further development may allow location to read as follows:
-Closer to the shunt (either side)
-Closer to the node
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-Breaks that do not disrupt the conductive loop
-Breaks on tie plates where rail remains attached to the plate
-Partial breaks
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-Customizable analytics have reduced FP alerts to low single digit percentage
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US Pat# 11,975,750 B2
CAN Pat# 3,154,954
The rail is monitored every minute for Rail Break and Train Presence conditions. Sampling interval is user defined depending on the operators requirements and can be from 15 secs to 12 hours.
When a reportable event occurs, it is transmitted through a linear adaptive mesh network system to the asset owners.
ARCD unit monitors rail in ¾ mile to 1-¼ mile segments without requiring supporting infrastructure such as electrical power and signal transmission cables.
This allows the equipment to be readily installed in areas that are often referred to as ‘Dark Territory’.
Principles Of Operation
ARCD nodes are placed at approximately one-mile intervals.
Two standard hard shunts are installed 0.5 miles on each side of the node, which creates a conductive loop condition.
Nodes induce a low power signal for less than 0.50 seconds into the rail in different distinct frequencies.
The responses are analyzed for Rail Break (RB) and Train Presence (TP) events, processed and identified. Individual onboard communication suites allow for remote recalibration of the ARCD node in the event of major track repairs or modifications in the monitored area.
Event Notification
Customizable Email reporting
Text Message
Immediate notification of reportable events
Web Portal
Microsoft Azure based web service for remote monitoring and management.