Route examining system

Abstract

A system for examining a route and/or determining information about the route and/or a vehicle system are provided. The system injects a first electrical examination signal into a conductive route from onboard a vehicle system traveling along the route and detects a first electrical characteristic of the route based on the first electrical examination signal. Using a route examining system that also is configured to detect damage to the route based on the first electrical characteristic, a first frequency tuned shunt in the route is detected based on the first electrical characteristic.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a first conductive body configured to inject a first electrical examination signal into a conductive route from onboard a vehicle system traveling along the route;   a second conductive body configured to measure a first electrical characteristic of the route based on the first electrical examination signal; and   one or more processors configured to detect damage to the route based on the first electrical characteristic and configured to detect a first frequency tuned shunt in the route based on the first electrical characteristic.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to detect the first frequency tuned shunt in the route responsive to a frequency of the first electrical examination signal being one or more of a tuned frequency or within a range of tuned frequencies of the first frequency tuned shunt. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to identify the route based on detection of the first frequency tuned shunt. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine a location of the vehicle system along the route based on detection of the first frequency tuned shunt. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine a direction of travel of the vehicle system based on detection of the first frequency tuned shunt. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine a speed of the vehicle system based on detection of the first frequency tuned shunt. 
     
     
         7 . A system comprising:
 a first conductive body configured to inject a first electrical signal having a first frequency into a first conductive rail of a route from onboard a vehicle system;   a second conductive body configured to monitor a first characteristic of the first conductive rail of the route from onboard the vehicle system based on the first electrical signal;   a third conductive body configured to inject a second electrical signal having a different, second frequency into a second conductive rail of the route from onboard the vehicle system;   a fourth conductive body configured to monitor a second characteristic of the second conductive rail of the route from onboard the vehicle system based on the second electrical signal; and   one or more processors configured to detect damage to the route and to determine one or more of identify the route, determine a location of the vehicle system along the route, determine a direction of travel of the vehicle system, determine a speed of the vehicle system, or identify a missing or damaged frequency tuned shunt based on one or more of the first or second characteristic.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to identify the route based on detection of a sequence of frequency tuned shunts that includes the frequency tuned shunt. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine the location of the vehicle system along the route based on detection of a sequence of frequency tuned shunts that includes the frequency tuned shunt. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to differentiate between the damage to the route or detection of the frequency tuned shunt based on the first and second electrical characteristics. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 injecting a first electrical examination signal into a conductive route from onboard a vehicle system traveling along the route;   detecting a first electrical characteristic of the route based on the first electrical examination signal; and   detecting, using one or more processors that also are configured to detect damage to the route based on the first electrical characteristic, a first frequency tuned shunt in the route based on the first electrical characteristic.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein detecting the first frequency tuned shunt in the route occurs responsive to a frequency of the first electrical examination signal being one or more of a tuned frequency or within a range of tuned frequencies of the first frequency tuned shunt. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising identifying the route based on detection of the first frequency tuned shunt. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising determining a location of the vehicle system along the route based on detection of the first frequency tuned shunt. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising obtaining a designated location of the first frequency tuned shunt from a memory, wherein determining the location of the vehicle system is based on obtaining the designated location of the first frequency tuned shunt responsive to detecting the first frequency tuned shunt. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising determining a direction of travel of the vehicle system based on detection of the first frequency tuned shunt. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising determining a speed of the vehicle system based on detection of the first frequency tuned shunt. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further determining that a second frequency tuned shunt is one or more of missing or damaged based on a failure to detect the second frequency tuned shunt at a designated location associated with the second frequency tuned shunt. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising identifying the route based on detection of a sequence of frequency tuned shunts that includes the first frequency tuned shunt and one or more other frequency tuned shunts, wherein the sequence is associated with the route. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising determining a location of the vehicle system along the route based on detection of a sequence of frequency tuned shunts that includes the first frequency tuned shunt and one or more other frequency tuned shunts, wherein the sequence is associated with the location along the route.