AU2018360262A1

AU2018360262A1 - Electrical isolations in overhead conductor rails

Info

Publication number: AU2018360262A1
Application number: AU2018360262A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Bruno Casali; Beat Furrer
Original assignee: Furrer and Frey AG
Current assignee: Furrer and Frey AG
Priority date: 2017-11-06
Filing date: 2018-10-30
Publication date: 2020-04-30
Also published as: EP3480054A1; CN111295306A; WO2019086481A1; KR20200086694A; EP3480054B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a connection piece (22, 28) for transferring a current from a contact wire (14) tapping pantograph (30) of a train travelling on a track (3) in a direction of travel (1) from the contact wire (14) to a conductive runner (14') and an isolating runner (26) extending parallel to the conductive runner (14') in a section isolator (19) or a protective section (31), comprising: - a plate (35) that can be arranged plane-parallel to the track (3) having an input edge (23) that can be directed away from the section isolator (19) or from the protective section (31), when viewed in the direction of travel (1), in order to connect a first conductor rail (4) carrying the contact wire (14), and an output edge (24) that can be directed toward the section isolator (19) or the protective section (31), when viewed in the direction of travel (1), in order to connect a second conductor rail (4') carrying the conductive runner (14') and, at a distance therefrom, a third conductor rail (4') holding the isolating runner (26),- a first holding element (48) arranged on an underside of the plate (35), which underside can be directed toward the track (3), for carrying a first connection wire (29) leading from the first conductor rail (4) to the second conductor rail (4') at an adjustable first distance from the plate (35), and - a second holding element (48) arranged on the underside of the plate (35) for carrying a second connection wire (29) leading from the first conductor rail (4) to the third conductor rail (4') at an adjustable second distance from the plate (35).

Description

Electrical isolations in overhead conductor rails

Description

The present invention relates to a connecting device for transferring a current from a contact wiretapping pantograph of a train travelling on a track in a direction of travel from the contact wire to a conductive runner and an isolating runner extending parallel to the conductive runner in a section isolator, a conductor rail for the section isolator and an isolating runner for the section isolator.

A section isolator is known from DE 1 163 894 B. The section isolator comprises two conductive runners extending parallel to one another which are electrically interrupted in the direction of travel by isolating runners. The electrical interruption is designed so that the conductive runners overlap in the direction of travel over a section of the track. According to DE 1 163 894 B, the section isolator has the disadvantage, however, that it has to be passed by trains with speeds of significantly less than 120 km/h, because the pantograph of a train enters a torque around the direction axis into the section isolator due to the never exactly adjustable insulating and conductive runners, which negatively influences the quality of the current collection.

It is the object of the invention to improve the section isolator in such a way that the aforementioned torque is minimised in order to minimise the negative influence on the quality of current collection when a train passes the section isolator with at least lOOkm/h.

The task is solved according to the characteristics of claim 1 by a connection piece for a section isolator. Preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a connecting device for transferring a current from a contact wiretapping pantograph of a train travelling on a track in a direction of travel from the contact wire to a conductive runner and an isolating runner extending parallel to the conductive runner in a section isolator comprise the following characteristics:

- a plate that can be arranged plane-parallel to the track, having an input edge that can be directed away from the section isolator when viewed in the direction of travel in order to connect a first conductor rail carrying the contact wire, and an output edge that can be directed toward the section isolator when viewed in the direction of travel in order to connect a second conductor rail carrying the conductive runner and, at a distance therefrom, a third conductor rail holding the isolating runner,

- a first holding element arranged on an underside of the plate, which underside can be directed toward the track, for carrying a first connection wire leading from the first conductor rail to the second conductor rail, and

- a second holding element arranged on the underside of the plate for carrying a second connection wire leading from the first conductor rail to the third conductor rail.

The plate of the specified connection piece can be fixed to a base, such as a ceiling in a tunnel, to a bridge with a specially created base structure to prevent rotation. This means that the pantograph touching the connecting wires can no longer twist the section isolator around the axis of the direction of travel with the connection piece. The adjustability of the distance of the connecting wires from the plate allows them to be precisely aligned with the pantograph, so that the torque mentioned at the beginning and thus the mechanical loads on the section isolator are minimised, which in turn minimises the negative influence on the quality of current collection when a train passes the section isolator with at least lOOkm/h.

In a further embodiment of the specified connection piece, the plate has side edges running towards each other from the input edge to the output edge. If the side edges are axially symmetrical to each other, so that the plate essentially has the shape of an isosceles triangle, and if the plate symmetry axis of this isosceles triangle is aligned with the contact wire of the conductor rail, the lever arms of the connection piece effective around the axis of rotation, in this case the plate symmetry axis, are initially small when the train enters the connection piece and then increase only if the aforementioned distances of the connecting wires from the plate are not exactly aligned with the pantograph. In this way, the mechanical loads on the section isolator can be further minimised, which in turn further minimises the negative influence on the quality of current collection when a train passes the section isolator at at least lOOkm/h.

In an additional further embodiment of the specified connection piece, the plate has a recess in the middle, with the two holding elements located on opposite sides of the recess between the input edge and the output edge. In this way, the weight of the plate can be reduced effectively. If the recess is also symmetrical to the previously mentioned plate symmetry axis, the effective lever arms of the connection piece can be further reduced.

The recess is strutted in an additional further embodiment of the specified connection piece in order to increase the mechanical stability of the connection piece with respect to the previously mentioned mechanical loads.

In another embodiment, the specified connection piece comprises a transverse rib standing on the plate and extending at an angle to the direction of travel and/or a longitudinal rib standing on the plate and extending at an angle to the output edge, i.e. at an angle to the transverse rib. The ribs further increase the mechanical stability of the plate.

In a special embodiment of the specified connection piece, the ribs are on different sides of the plate.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the specified connection piece comprises plug-in elements extending in and against the direction of travel at the input edge and the output edge for insertion into the conductor rails. In this way, the specified connection piece can be easily connected to conventional conductor rails.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a conductor rail for connection to one of the specified connection pieces comprises a transverse arm extending in the direction of travel and two clamping arms projecting from the transverse arm at a distance from one another, between which the contact wire can be clamped, the transverse arm comprising a slot extending from one end of the conductor rail in the direction of travel, via which slot an isolating runner can be inserted into the conductor rail.

The specified conductor rail is based on the idea that this can basically be constructed like a conventional conductor rail, as known from DE 20 2004 009 420 Ul, for example. A cavity is formed between the clamping arms of conventional conductor rails, in which the isolating runner for the section isolator can be held. However, in order to minimise the negative influence on the quality of the current collection, the isolating runner must be aligned as precisely as possible with the wire clamped in the conductor rail, so that the mechanical load on the section isolator is kept sufficiently low even at high train speeds of over lOOkm/h. This exact alignment can be achieved via the slot in the conductor rail.

In a further embodiment of the specified conductor rail, guide elements are arranged on the clamping arms facing each other at an angle to the slot, which guide the isolating runner when inserted into the conductor rail. In this way, the height of the isolating runner can be aligned with the wire with millimetre precision in the slot, which results in a noticeable reduction of the mechanical loads on the section isolator with the specified conductor rail at the aforementioned speeds of the train.

In a special further embodiment, the guide elements are formed on guide plates which can be placed against the clamping arms. Thanks to the guide plates, any conductor rail can be converted into a specified conductor rail on site by simply sawing the slot into the crossbar and placing the guide elements on the clamping arms. In this way, the specified conductor rails do not have to be delivered separately from a factory, which greatly simplifies the installation of a section isolator with the specified conductor rail.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the specified conductor rail, the slot tapers from the end of the conductor rail, at least in some areas.

According to another aspect of the invention, an isolating runner for insertion into one of the specified conductor rails comprises a plate-shaped rod extending in the direction of travel and having an end as viewed in the direction of travel, on which interlocking elements are formed for a guide form-fit with the guide elements on the conductor rail when inserted into the slot of the conductor rail. The specified isolating runner can be delivered as a single part to a railway line to be manufactured with a section isolator, whereby the section isolator can be assembled modularly on site.

In a further embodiment, the specified isolating runner comprises a reinforcing plate which, when viewed in a vertical direction, is placed on the plate-shaped bar at least in some areas. The plate-shaped bar is normally loaded in tension in the inserted state, but can also be subjected to buckling loads. To absorb these buckling loads, the reinforcing plate is placed on the plate-shaped bar.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a section isolator comprises two specified connecting devices directed with their output edges towards each other and two contact sections extending parallel to each other and connecting the output edges to each other, each with two specified conductor rails, the slotted transverse arms of which are directed towards each other and between each of which a specified isolating runner is held, the isolating runners of the two contact sections being arranged offset to each other when viewed in the direction of travel.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a neutral section comprises two specified connecting devices directed with their output edges towards each other and two contact sections extending parallel to each other and connecting the output edges to each other, each with two specified conductor rails, the slotted transverse arms of which are directed towards each other and between each of which two specified isolating runners are held, the isolating runners of the two contact sections being arranged in an offset position to each other, and each connected by a further conductor rail when viewed in the direction of travel.

The above-described properties, features and advantages of this invention, as well as the manner in which they are achieved, will become clearer in connection with the following description of the embodiments, which are explained in more detail in connection with the drawing, in which

Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a driving path for a train,

Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of a section isolator for the driving path of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a schematic plan view of the neutral section for the driving path of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of a connection piece for the section isolator of Fig. 2 or the neutral section of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a schematic exploded view of a part of the connection piece of Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a schematic exploded view of a holding element for the connection piece of Fig. 4,

Fig. 7 is a schematic exploded view of a conductor rail which can be connected to an input edge of the connection piece of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 8 is a schematic exploded view of a connection point between a conductor rail and an isolating runner in the section isolator of Fig. 2 or the neutral section of Fig. 3.

In the drawings, the same technical elements are provided with the same reference signs, and are only described once. The drawings are purely schematic and, in particular, do not reflect the actual geometric proportions.

Reference is made to Fig. 1 showing a track section 2 extending in a direction of travel 1 with a track 3, on which a train not shown here can move electrically driven on track 3. For the electrical power supply of the train, a conductor rail 4 is arranged at a not further referenced height above track 3, also extending in the direction of travel 1, from which the train with a not further referenced pantograph can draw electrical current in a manner known per se.

The conductor rail 4 is suspended from a carrier, which is shown in Fig. 1 in the form of a ceiling 5. Ceiling 5 could, for example, be part of a tunnel or a bridge. The conductor rail 4 can be held at a suspension distance 6 from the ceiling 5 by means of suspension which are not shown here in any further detail in Fig. 2.

Fig. 1 shows an enlargement of the profile 7 of the conductor rail 4.

When viewed in profile 7, the conductor rail 4 is axisymmetrical to a profile axis 8. The profile axis 8 runs parallel to a vertical direction 9 of track section 2. Viewed in height direction 9, there is a transverse arm 10 on the upper side of the conductor rail 4, from which two tension arms 12 extend at a distance from each other in a transverse direction 11 running at a right angle to the direction of travel 1, and at a right angle to the height direction 9, against the height direction 9. A clamping arm 13 is connected to the end of each tension arm 12 opposite the transverse arm 10, between which a contact wire 14 is held clamped by the tension arms 12.

The conductor rail 4 shown in Fig. 1 is usually made up of a large number of conductor rail sections which, as seen in profile 7 of Fig. 1, are laid against each other at the front end and exactly aligned with each other via fishplates 15. The mutual alignment takes place via an engagement in the vertical direction 9 between the fishplates 15 and the conductor rail sections, which is designed in Fig. 1 as a tongue and groove connection 16. To fix the individual conductor rail sections against each other, screws 17 can be screwed into the fishplates 15.

In order to clamp the contact wire 14 between the clamping arms 13, track sections 18 extending at a connection point between the clamping arms 13 and the tension arms 12 are connected in or against the transverse direction 11, on which a threading carriage not shown in more detail can move. Since this is no longer necessary for understanding the embodiment, a more detailed introduction to this is not intended.

Reference is made to Fig. 2 showing a schematic plan view of a section isolator 19.

It is known to electrically separate the overhead contact line 14 from Fig. 1 in the direction of travel 1 into different sections, whereby the abovementioned train must be able to pass these electrical isolation points. The section isolator 19 shown in Fig. 2 connects the conductor rail 4 of a first line section 20 with the conductor rail 4 of a second line section 21.

Seen in the direction of travel 1, the section isolator 19 comprises a first connecting device 22 with an input edge 23 and an output edge 24 opposite the input edge 23 seen in direction of travel 1. The input edge 23 and the output edge 24 are connected by side edges 25. In the plan view, seen against the height direction 9, the first connecting device 22 has an essentially triangular or trapezoidal shape.

The conductor rail 4 of the first line section 20 is connected to the input edge 23 of the first connecting device 22. The contact wire 14, which is led through the conductor rail 4 of the first line section 20, is led into the area of the first connecting device 22. The output edge 24 is followed by special conductor rails arranged at a distance apart from one another in the transverse direction 11, which are designated below by the reference sign 4'. The special features of these special conductor rails 4' will be discussed in more detail later. Each special conductor rail 4' is connected to a corresponding isolating runner 26, positioned with an offset 27 in relation to each other in the direction of travel 1. Each isolating runner 26 is in turn connected to a special conductor rail 4', whereby the output edge 24 of a second connecting device 28 is then connected to these special conductor rails 4'. The second connecting device 28 is mirror-symmetrical to the first connecting device 22 when viewed in driving direction 1. The conductor rail 4 of the second line section 21 is connected to the input edge 23 of the second connecting device 28.

When viewed in the height direction 9 below the connecting devices 22, 28, in the area of each side edge 25 a contact wire is routed, which is called connection wire 28 in distinction to the contact wires 14 held in the conductor rails 4. The individual connection wires 29 are indicated by dashed lines in Fig. 2. Likewise, when viewed in the height direction 9, contact wires are held below the special conductor rails 4', which are marked with the reference sign 14' in the line sections 20, 21 to clearly distinguish them from contact wires 14 below the conductor rails 4. Also the contact wires 14' of the special conductor rails 4' are shown as dashed lines in Fig. 2.

The connection wires 29 together with the contact wires 14' of the special conductor rails 4' form conductive runners 14', 29, which are electrically connected to the contact wires 4 of the two line sections 20, 21. The isolating runners 26 interrupt the conductive runners 14', 29 electrically. If a pantograph 29 indicated by a dashed line in Fig. 2 enters the section isolator 19 in the direction of travel 1, the pantograph 30 remains electrically connected to the first section of the line 20 until the first isolating runner 26 is reached when viewed in direction of travel 1. When passing the first isolating runner 26, the pantograph 40 remains in electrical contact with the first line section 20 and, after leaving the first isolating runner 26, makes electrical contact with the second line section 21 within offset 27. However, as soon as the pantograph 30 has also passed the second isolating runner 26 when viewed in the direction of travel 1, it loses electrical contact with the first line section 20 and only has electrical contact with the second line section 21.

The section isolator 19 of Fig. 2 has the disadvantage that in the area of offset 27 the pantograph 30 contacts both line sections 20, 21 simultaneously. If the two line sections 20, 21 have different voltage potentials, such as at a transition between two different electrical power supply systems, arcs can occur between the two line sections 20, 21 in the area of the offset 27.

To prevent arcing between the two line systems 20, 31 in the event of different voltage potentials in the area of the offset 27, the section isolator 19 can be easily reconfigured to a neutral section 31 shown in Fig. 3.

Starting from the first line section 20 up to the two isolating runners 26, the neutral section 31 has the same configuration as the section isolator 19. However, the two isolating runners 26 are connected to two conductor rails with earthing connections 32 which earth the contact wire 14' carried under the conductor rail. These conductor rails are therefore referred to below as earthing rails 33. Here, the earthing rail 33, which projects into the area of the offset 27 of the two isolating runners 26, is longer than the other isolating runner 26 when viewed in the direction of travel 1. The earthing rails 33 then continue in the direction of travel 1 up to a symmetry axis 34, in relation to which the neutral section 31 is arranged axisymmetrically.

The pantograph 30 entering the neutral section 31 in the direction of travel 1 passes the same elements as in section isolator 19 until it reaches the area of the first offset 27 when viewed in the direction of travel 1. In the area of the offsets 27, however, the line systems 20, 21 do not overlap, but each line system 20, 21 overlaps with one of the earthing rails. In this way it is avoided that the above-mentioned arc passes between the two line systems 20, 21.

The section isolator 19 and the neutral section 31 in the area of the connection pieces 22, 28 are described in more detail below. For this purpose, reference is made to Fig. 4, which shows the section isolator 19 and the neutral section 31 in the area of the first connection piece 22 when viewed in the direction of travel 1, as well as Fig. 5, which shows a part of the connection piece 22 from Fig. 4 in an exploded view.

The connection piece 22 has a plate 35 which is limited by the input edge 23, the output edge 24 and the two side edges 25. At the input edge 23 and at the output edge 24, plug-in elements 36 are attached, which are inserted into the conductor rails 4, 4' to hold the conductor rails 4, 4' to the connection piece 22. The plug-in element 36 on the input edge is not visible in the perspective view in Fig. 4. Each plug-in element 36 comprises a plug-in body 37 and a fastening body 38. Both bodies 37, 38 are firmly connected to each other. Held on the conductor rails 4, 4', the plug-in body 37 is inserted into the conductor rails 4, 4' and has screw-in openings 39 extending in and against the transverse direction 11. The fastening body 37 is placed on an underside of the plate 35 on the output edge 24 when viewed in the height direction 9, and fixed to the plate 35 with bolts 40 driven through the plate 35 into the fastening body 38. In this way, each plug-in element 36 is held firmly in place on the connection piece 22. To fix the position of the conductor rails 4, 4' on the connection piece 22, screws 41 are screwed through the conductor rails 4, 4' into the screw-in openings 39 of the plug-in elements 35.

The plate 35 has a recess 42 in the middle, through which three struts 43 run to connect the side edges 25. Furthermore, the plate 35 is reinforced at the output edge 24 by a transverse rib 44 running between the side edges 25. This transverse rib 44 can be attached to the plate 35 in any way, for example by welding. The transverse rib 44 runs at an angle to the longitudinal direction 1, in the present embodiment perpendicular to it. Furthermore, two longitudinal ribs 45 are attached to the plate 35 on the side opposite the transverse rib 44. The longitudinal ribs 45 can be attached to the plate 35 in the same way as the transverse rib 44. The longitudinal ribs 45 run at an angle to the transverse rib 44. In the present embodiment, the longitudinal ribs 45 run parallel to the side edges 25, and are bent in and against the transverse direction 11 at their front longitudinal rib end 46 and rear longitudinal rib end 47 when viewed in the direction of travel 1. The struts 43, the transverse rib 44 and the longitudinal ribs 45 make it possible to realize the connection piece 22 with a low weight on the one hand and a high mechanical stability on the other.

Seen in height direction 9, the connecting wires 29 and the contact wire 14 are held below the plate 37 by means of holding elements 48. The holding elements 48 are guided through openings 49 in the plate 37, and are held on the top of the plate 37 with holding nuts 50. In particular, the holding elements 48 carrying the connection wires 29 and thus their corresponding openings 49 through the plate 35 are arranged along the side edges 25, while the holding elements 48 carrying the contact wire 14 coming from the first line section 20 and thus their corresponding openings are arranged centrally between the two side edges 25. In this way the effects are reduced by leverage forces around an axis extending in the direction of travel 1. In order to further reduce these effects by leverage forces, the plate 35 is designed axially symmetrical to a plate symmetry axis 51 aligned in driving direction 1.

An example of the holding elements 48 is shown in detail in an exploded view in Fig. 6.

The holding element 48 clamps the contact wire 4, 29 between a first clamping jaw 52 and a second clamping jaw 53. For this purpose, both clamping jaws 52, 53 each have on their underside, when viewed in the height direction 9, an engagement tooth 54 extending in the direction of the contact wire 4, 29, which can engage in contact wire grooves 55 of the contact wire 4, 29 known per se in order to adhere the contact wire 4, 29 positively against the height direction 9. To achieve a positive fit, the two clamping jaws 52, 53 are screwed together via two lock screws 57 and two lock nuts 57' which can be passed through corresponding duct openings 56 in the clamping jaws 52, 53. The duct openings 56 are guided at right angles to the contact wire 4, 29, so that the engagement of the engagement teeth 54 in the grooves 55 is correspondingly at right angles to the form fit.

To fix the holding element 48 to the plate 35, a connecting rod 58 is provided in the holding element 48. The connecting rod 58 is placed in a trough 59 on the first clamping jaw 52. When viewed in the height direction 9, on the left and right of the trough 59, engagement slots 60 are passed through the first clamping jaw 52, in which engagement feet 62 formed on a counterpart 61 can engage. If the engagement feet 62 engage in the engagement slots 60, the counterpart 61 closes the trough 59 in the first clamping jaw 52 to form a circular channel. So that the counterpart 61 can be brought close enough to the first clamping jaw 52, a recess 63 is formed in the second clamping jaw 53, in which the counterpart 61 can be accommodated.

The connecting rod 58 has a circumferential notch 64 on its underside seen in the height direction 9. Furthermore, the counterpart 61 has a through slot 65 extending in the direction of the contact wire 4, 29. The notch 64 and the through slot 65 are arranged in such a way that when the connecting rod 58 is placed on a bottom of the trough 59 at the first clamping jaw 52, and the counterpart 61 is inserted with its engagement feet 62 into the engagement slots 60 at the first clamping jaw 52, the through slot 65 lies flat on the circumferential notch 64. In this way, a retaining spring 66 can be passed through the through slot 65 and the notch 64, which holds the clamping jaws 52, 53 positively on the connecting rod 58 in the height direction 9. The retaining spring 66 has spring struts 67 which can be directed towards the first clamping jaw 52 and which can be directed away from the connecting rod 58 when the retaining element 48 is mounted. In order to guide these spring struts 67 through the first clamping jaw 52, corresponding mounting grooves 68 are formed in the engagement slots 60. When the retaining element 48 is assembled, the spring struts 67 of the retaining spring 66 thus push the engagement feet 62 away from the connecting rod 58 as seen from the latter, thereby securing the counterpart 61 to the first clamping jaw 52.

To install the section isolator 19 or the neutral section 31, the holding elements 48 are first applied to the overhead contact line 14, 29 in the manner described above and assembled. The two clamping jaws 52, 53 remain loose, so that although the contact wire 14, 29 can no longer be detached from the two engagement teeth 54 in and against the height direction 9, it can still be moved in and against the direction of the contact wire 14, 29. Then the connecting rods 58 of the retaining elements 14, 29 are guided through the openings 49 from the underside of the plate 35 to the top, where they are screwed together with the retaining nuts 50. In this state the holding elements 48 can be positioned with millimetre accuracy and the distance of the contact wire 14, 29 to the plate 35 can be adjusted with millimetre accuracy and fixed with the holding nuts 50 and the lock nuts 57'. However, since the connecting rods 58 can rotate in the circumferential direction in the holding elements 48 due to a lack of positive locking, a tool form locking element 69 is formed at the opposite end of each connecting rod 58 for screwing to the notch 64. A tool such as a screwdriver or wrench can engage with this tool form locking element 69.

The mechanical connection of the conductor rails 4, 4' with the connection pieces 22, 28 is made via the plug-in elements 36 on the connection pieces 22, 28 which are inserted into the conductor rails 4, 4'. For completion, the electrical contact between the connection wires 29 and the contact wires 4 in the area of the input edges 23 of the connection pieces 22, 28 is described below. In the present embodiment this is done on the side of the conductor rails 4 connected to the connection pieces 22, 28. For further explanation, reference is made to Fig. 7 which shows the conductor rail 4 which is connected to the input edge 23 of the first connection piece 22 when viewed in the direction of travel 1.

The connection wires 29 entering the connecting piece 22 are connected together with the contact wire 14 coming from the first line system 20 via a clamping jaw pack 70. The clamping jaw pack 70 consists of several not further referenced clamping jaws which act in the same way as clamping jaws 52, 53 of the holding element 48. The entire clamping jaw pack 70 is held together with pack bolts 71 and pack nuts 72 and thus also clamps the contact wires 14, 29. For the sake of clarity, any necessary washers and/or spring washers have been omitted.

After the contact wires 14, 29 have been picked up and fixed in the clamping packs 70, they are inserted into a clamping pack groove 73 in the conductor rail 4. As the contact wire 4 from the corresponding line system 20, 21 is held between the clamping arms 13, no further fixing of the clamping pack 70 within the clamping pack groove 73 is necessary.

Finally, the fixing of the isolating runners 26 from Figs. 2 and 3 is described in more detail. As already described, the isolating runners 26 disconnect the electrical contact between the two line systems 20, 21. However, the isolating runners 26, together with the conductor rails 4' between the two connectors 22, 28, should also ensure mechanical contact between the pantograph 30 and the section isolator 19 or the neutral section 31 respectively in order to ensure a high quality of current collection even at very high speeds. In the area of the connection piece 22, 28 the mechanical contact can be ensured by the exact alignment of the contact wires 14, 29 via the holding elements 48. However, in a contact section 47 between the connection pieces 22, 28, which is formed by a string of conductor rails 4' and isolating runners 29, there is no support as a reference to which the individual elements can be precisely aligned.

For this reason, the individual elements are aligned against each other on the contact section 74. For alignment, the conductor rails 4' in the contact section 74 include a longitudinal slot 75 formed in the transverse arm 10 where an isolating runner 26 is to be connected. When viewed in height direction 9 below the longitudinal slot 75, guide plates 76 are inserted into the conductor rail 4'. With their side 77 facing the wall of the conductor rail 4', they can form the same tongue-and-groove joint 16 with the conductor rail 4' as the abovementioned fishplates 15. On the other side 78 of the guide plates 76 there are parallel guide rails 79 in the height direction 9. Through holes 80 are drilled through both the guide plates 76 and the ends of the conductor rails 4', with the longitudinal slot 75 in the transverse arm 10, through which fixing screws 81 can be passed and tightened with fixing nuts 82.

The isolating runners 26 have a plate-shaped bar 83 whose ends have guide grooves 84 into which the guide rails 79 of the guide plates 76 can be inserted. When viewed in the height direction 9, there are oblong holes 85 running to the left and right of the guide grooves 84 in the height direction 9. For installation, the guide grooves 84 of one of the plate-shaped bars 83 are inserted into the guide rails 79 of one of the conductor rails 4' via the longitudinal slot 75 and pushed into the corresponding conductor rail 4' until the oblong holes 85 coincide with the through hole 80. Then the fixing screw 81 is passed through the through holes 80 and the oblong holes 85. Then a lower edge 86 of the plate-shaped bar 83 can be aligned exactly with the contact wire 14' of the corresponding conductor rail 4'. In this aligned state, the position of the corresponding isolating runner 26 can then be fixed relative to the corresponding conductor rail 4' by tightening the fixing screw 81 and the fixing nut 82.

To increase the buckling resistance, a reinforcing plate 87 can be placed on the upper edge of the plate-shaped bar 83 opposite the lower edge 86 and fixed with locking screws 88.

Claims

1. Connecting device (22, 28) for transferring a current from a contact wire (14) tapping pantograph (30) of a train travelling on a track (3) in a direction of travel from the contact wire (14) to a conductive runner (14') and an isolating runner (26) extending parallel to the conductive runner (14') in a section isolator (19) or a neutral section (31), comprising:

- a plate (35) that can be arranged plane-parallel to the track (3) having an input edge (23) that can be directed away from the section isolator (19) or from the neutral section (31) when viewed in the direction of travel (1) in order to connect a first conductor rail (4) carrying the first contact wire, and an output edge (24) that can be directed toward the section isolator (19) or to the neutral section (31), when viewed in the direction of travel (1), in order to connect a second conductor rail (4') carrying the conductive runner(14') and, at a distance therefrom, a third conductor rail (4') holding the isolating runner (26),

- a first holding element (48) arranged on an underside of the plate (35), which underside can be directed toward the track (3), for carrying a first connection wire (29) leading from the first conductor rail (4) to the second conductor rail (4') at an adjustable distance to the plate (35), and

- a second holding element (48) arranged on the underside of the plate (35) for carrying a second connection wire (29) leading from the first conductor rail (24) to the third conductor rail (4') at an adjustable distance to the plate (35).

2. Connection piece (22, 28) according to claim 1, wherein the holding elements (48) each comprise two clamping jaws (52, 53) which can be closed via a first fastening element (57, 57') and are fastened via a second fastening element (64, 66) to a connecting rod (58) leading to the plate (35).

3. Connection piece (22, 28) according to claim 2, wherein the two fastening elements (57, 57'; 64, 66) act independently of each other.

4. Connection piece (22, 28) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the plate (35) has a recess (42) in the middle, with the two holding elements (48) located on opposite sides (25) of the recess (42) between the input edge (23) and the output edge (24).

5. Connection piece (22, 28) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, comprising a transverse rib (44) standing on the plate (35) and extending at an angle to the direction of travel and/or a longitudinal rib (45) standing on the plate (35) and extending at an angle to the output edge (24).

6. Connection piece (22, 28) according to claim 5, wherein the ribs (44, 45) stand on different sides of the plate (35).

7. Connection piece (22, 28) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, comprising plug-in elements (36) extending in and against the direction of travel (1) at the input edge (23) and the output edge (24) for insertion into the conductor rails (4, 4').

8. Conductor rail (4') for connection to a connection piece (22, 28) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, comprising a transverse arm (10) extending in the direction of travel (1) and two clamping arms (10) projecting from the transverse arm (10) at a distance from one another, between which the contact wire (14') can be clamped, the transverse arm (10) comprising a slot (75) extending from one end of the conductor rail (4') in the direction of travel (10), via which slot (75) an isolating runner (26) can be inserted into the conductor rail (4').

9. Conductor rail (4') according to claim 8, wherein guide elements (79) are arranged on the clamping arms (12) directed towards each other at an angle to the slot (75), which guide the isolating runner (26) when inserted into the conductor rail (4').

10. Conductor rail (4') according to claim 9, wherein the guide elements (79) are executed on guide plates (76), which can be placed against the clamping arms (12).

11. Conductor rail (4') as claimed in one of the preceding claims 8 to 10, wherein the slot (75) tapers at least partially starting from the end of the conductor rail (4').

12. Isolating runner (26) for insertion into one of the conductor rails (4') as claimed in one of the preceding claims 8 to 11, comprising a plate-shaped rod (83) extending in the direction of travel (1) and having an end as viewed in the direction of travel (1), on which interlocking elements (84) are formed for a guide form-fit with the guide elements (79) on the conductor rail (4') when inserted into the slot (75) of the conductor rail (4').

13. Isolating runner (26) according to claim 12, comprising a reinforcing plate (87) which, when viewed in a vertical direction (9), is placed on the plate-shaped bar (83) at least in some areas.

14. Section isolator (19) comprising two connecting pieces (22, 28) which are directed towards one another with their outlet edges (24) according to one of claims 1 to 7 and two contact sections (74) which run parallel to one another and connect the outlet edges (24) to one another and each having two conductor rails (4') according to one of claims 8 to 11, whose slotted transverse arms (10) are directed towards one another and between each of which an isolating runner (26) is held in accordance with one of claims 12 or 13, wherein the isolating runner (26) of the two contact sections (74) are arranged offset from one another when viewed in the direction of travel (1).

15. Neutral section (31) comprising two connecting pieces (22, 28) which are directed towards one another with their outlet edges (24) according to one of claims 1 to 7 and two contact sections (74) which run parallel to one another and connect the outlet edges (24) to one another and each having two conductor rails (4') according to one of claims 8 to 11, whose slotted transverse arms (10) are directed towards one another and between each of which two isolating runners (26) are held in accordance with one of claims 12 or 13, wherein the isolating runners (26) of the two contact sections (74) are arranged offset from one another when viewed in the direction of travel (1) and are each connected by a further conductor rail (4') which overlap in the direction of travel (1).