Download product brochure "Plasma - Track Measurement System"

PLASMA
intelligent
TRACK MEASUREMENT
simple
system
ACCURATE
RHOMBERG RAIL

PLASMA:
System with
Precision –
simply
intelligent
PLASMA – A TAILOR-MADE SOLUTION FOR
RAILWAY SURVEYING
Modern railway engineering places high demands
not only on the quality of the railway
but also on the accuracy and reliability of
track surveying systems. This prompted RTE
Technologie GmbH to develop the PLASMA
system, on behalf of Rhomberg Rail, and in
close cooperation with users and customers.
PLASMA is a compact, light-weight, and
highly accurate instrument, based on longitudinal
chord measurement. It delivers a
continuous survey of rail geometry, and can
be used instead of heavy and expensive
track control vehicles.
The system was introduced in 2001
at the Cologne-Rhine/Main (Germany)
high speed slab track line, for checking
and correcting of the rails. Since then,
PLASMA has been successfully used
world-wide in a variety of projects,for
ballast track, slab track, and light rail
traffic.
At the same time, PLASMA is constantly
refined and advanced, in regards of both
hardware and software, with customer
requirements being the top priority.

Applications
REFERENcEs
MAINTENANCE OF EXISTING TRACKS
The safe operation of railway lines means that continuous
monitoring, maintenance and renewal of the tracks have to
be carried out. The position of the track and especially the
inner geometry, are an absolute necessity for safety and passenger
comfort. The application of the PLASMA system is
extremely efficient - even for short sections. All the relevant
data concerning the track geometry can be accurately documented
in its entirety.
• High-speed line Cologne-Rhine/Main (Germany)
• High-speed line Nuremberg-Ingolstadt (Germany)
• Lötschberg base tunnel (Switzerland)
• San Pedro Tunnel (Spain)
• Tranvia Tramway Tenerife (Spain)
• Metro Istanbul (Turkey)
• Metro Caracas (Venezuela)
• Citytunneln Malmö (Sweden)
CONSTRUCTION AND CONTROL OF NEW LINES
On new lines, particularly high-speed lines, precision (especially
of the inner geometry) is of considerable importance
for safety and passenger comfort. PLASMA is able to provide
results with the required high accuracy in a fast and reliable
way. Combined with GPS or a total station, even the deviations
from the design geometry may be calculated.
EXAMPLES
Irrespective of whether you perform maintenance or build
new lines - from tramways to high speed rail lines, PLASMA
is the ideal measuring system for all of these areas of application:
• Control measurements right after installation or during
the course of final inspection (if required with a
propelled unit)
• Comparison of as-built vs. design geometry (by using
existing reference points, and the inner geometry)
• Offset lists for rail correction works
• Provision of tamping data (for ballast track works)
• Fast and flexible control measurement after local
correction works
Measuring principle
The inner geometry of the track is continuously recorded as the
PLASMA moves along the track, by measuring (at the midpoint
of the chord) the distance between the chord and the rail (refer
to the graphic). This method of overlapping chords is a tried
and tested, widely applied measuring technique, normally used
for the conventional ballast roadbed alignment. The sensor
readings are recorded at a high frequency providing a seamless
measurement of the track.
distance between the measuring points
Track axis
(e.g. the rail supporting points or sleepers)
Measuring principle of overlapping chords (string-lining)

System description
MEASUREMENT RESULTS
PLASMA is characterised by its modular and compact configuration
which enables the transport, installation, and operation
to be carried out by one person, providing the user with a high
degree of mobility and flexibility.
The system comprises three trolleys: the main, or central trolley,
and two satellite trolleys. The satellites run in front of, and behind,
the main trolley, respectively, and are connected by a mechanical
chord (aluminum profile). The main trolley is equipped
with an industrial PC and a touch screen monitor, as well as
sensors for horizontal and vertical track alignment, superelevation,
gauge and chainage.
The front satellite is connected to the central trolley by a spacing
element, at a distance that corresponds to half the chord
length. The back satellite is pulled by the chord, and runs behind
the central trolley. The main trolley itself is pushed by the operator
along the track at walking speed. The chord can be delivered
at various lengths, up to a maximum of 10m.
The following parameters are measured immediately:
• Horizontal and vertical versine
• Super elevation
• Longitudinal inclination
• Gauge
• Chainage
The following values can be derived from the measurement data:
• Horizontal and vertical curvature
• Torsion
• Versines for any given chord length
• Horizontal and vertical offsets (for known design geometry)
During operation the system displays the current sensor readings
on the monitor, both in numeric format and as a multichannel
diagram.
By connecting the resulting track geometry to existing reference
points, it is possible to evaluate the measurement within a global
three-dimensional coordinate system.
Horizontal versine
curved track
(highly exaggerated
to increase clearness)
chord (schematic)
Schematic configuration of the PLASMA system
Real-time, multi-channel measurement plot on the PLASMA touch screen

Technical Data
Power supply
12 V DC, Standard battery
Horizontal versine Accuracy: ± 0,05 mm Measuring Range: ± 25 mm
Vertical versine Accuracy: ± 0,05 mm Measuring Range: ± 10 mm
Gauge Accuracy: ± 0,2 mm Measuring Range: – 40 mm to + 20 mm
Superelevation Accuracy: ± 0,3 mm Measuring Range: ± 10°
Chainage
Accuracy: ± 10 mm
Total weight
Approx. 80 kg
Weight of heaviest single component Approx. 35 kg
Performance
2-3 km per hour (walking speed)
Recording rate
max. 1.000Hz (corresponding to a 1mm interval at 3kph measurement speed)
At a Glance – The biggest advantages
of the PLASMA-System
• Mobility and flexibility: All components of the measuring
system can be carried by one person and fit into the trunk
of a vehicle (preferably a station wagon or a van). Assembling
and start up take less than 10 minutes.
• Simple handling: All measurements can be easily carried
out by a single person.
• The system is weather-independent:
- unlike survey systems which use geodetic methods
- unaffected by rain, fog, or wind
- no refraction influence
• Automatic elimination of negative vibration influences
• Mobility allows increased productivity
• Convenient operation during measurement via touch
screen
• High accuracy
- Continuous measurements (chord overlapping)
- High-precision versine sensors
• User-friendly and powerful post-processing software
• 3D calculation of the inner geometry, and absolute coordinates
using reference points
• Tailor-made presentation and documentation of the
results, according to the customer requirements

Since 2001 RTE’s developments have expanded the competence
profile of the Rhomberg Rail Group in the area of railway track
systems and measuring technology. The team consists of a wide
range of experts, which include construction engineers, surveyors,
electronic engineers and software engineers. They develop and
optimise complex systems for a variety of specialised disciplines.
image processing, and microprocessor control systems) for
outside companies. Our office in Salzburg is fully equipped with
a test track and the necessary infrastructure to support CAD software
and electronic developments.
Marketing and sales is carried out by Rhomberg Rail Consult GmbH.
The core competences of RTE Technologie GmbH are the development
of track surveying systems and slab track railway systems.
All these developments are characterised by their practical application
as all systems have been tested and applied to in-house
projects for the Rhomberg Rail Group. RTE Technologie GmbH
also develops solutions in other technical areas (mechanical
construction, software development, geometry tasks, digital
Rhomberg Rail Consult GmbH
info@rhombergrail.com
Mariahilfstrasse 29
6900 Bregenz/Austria
Ph. +43 5574 403-0
Engelbert Weiss Weg 2/B/4
5020 Salzburg/Austria
Ph. +43 662 421066
www.rhombergrail.com