Protran Technology’s SmartGrind is an analysis package which recommends grinding patterns in real-time to a grinding operator/machine for segments of rail, based on a target template.  The user-friendly software system interfaces with rail profile measurement systems on grinding machines or track inspection vehicles. On-board a grinder, two systems can be used as input; a pre-grind and post-grind system. SmartGrind provides grinding requirements, current grinding production, and a rating of the rail via grind quality index (GQI) both pre and post grinding.

 

Features:

  • Optimized rail grinding with maximized rail life
  • Monitors effectiveness in real time
  • Determines next pass requirements
  • Provides production reports for segments (curves, tangents)

Innovations:

  • Interfaces with rail profile measurement system
  • Calculates Grind Quality Index (GQI) to compare rail profile conformity over multiple measurements
  • Evaluates grinding requirements (number of passes, patterns, speed)
  • Updatable collection of desired rail templates and grinding patterns (metal removal)
  • Dynamic pattern generation for real-time creation of custom grinding patterns which explicitly target the current condition of the rail