DE102014111453B4 - Pantograph for a model railway vehicle and model railway vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

Current collector (1) for a model railroad vehicle (12) with at least one current collector surface (2, 3), two spring-elastic retaining webs (4, 5) extending from the current collector surface (2, 3) and rising upwards relative to the current collector surface (2, 3) are bent, the retaining webs (4, 5) and the pantograph surface (2, 3) being formed in one piece with one another, the retaining webs (4, 5) each having a fastening section (6, 7), the pantograph (1) having two pantograph surfaces (2, 3), which are connected to one another via the holding webs (4, 5), the fastening sections (6, 7) being arranged in particular centrally between the current collector surfaces (2, 3), characterized in that the holding webs (4, 5) in the area of the fastening sections (6, 7) have a distance from one another which is greater than a width of the current collector surface (2, 3), the width of the holding webs (4, 5) being adapted to a desired spring stiffness of the current collector (1) is.

Description

The invention relates to a pantograph for a model railway vehicle with at least one pantograph surface.

Such pantographs are usually mounted centrally under a model railroad vehicle in order to make electrical contact with a center conductor of a model railroad track. For this purpose, the current collector surface generally runs in the longitudinal direction and is acted upon by a spring element. In this way, the potential of the electrical drive energy provided between the center conductor and the track rails is tapped via the pantograph.

Known current collectors, which are also called center conductor grinders, generally have a more or less elastic current collector surface. The pantograph surface is usually connected on its side facing away from the track with an elastic retaining bracket and attached to an underside of the model railroad vehicle. The ends of the elastic retaining bracket are movably connected to narrow sides of the pantograph surface. When deflecting, the ends of the retaining bracket can thus move relative to the current collector surface, so that the retaining bracket can be relatively freely deformed during compression.

Such a pantograph is off, for example DE 103 02 046 A1 known. In order to be able to establish a reliable contact, the pantograph surface is designed to be relatively stable, which has the disadvantage, however, that relatively strong noises occur during driving operation if the pantograph is used in connection with a center conductor which is formed by a multiplicity of point contacts, as is the norm.

To enable quieter operation, in EP 1 844 829 B1 proposed to use a thicker film instead of the relatively strong and thick material of the pantograph surface, which is held in shape by a plastic base body which is arranged on both long sides of the pantograph surface.

However, these known pantographs have some disadvantages. On the one hand, their structure is relatively complicated because they are composed of several individual parts. On the other hand, they need a considerable free height between the track and an underside of the model railway vehicle. Furthermore, there are potential electrical contact resistances between the contact points of the mounting bracket and the current collector surface, which only become small if correspondingly high contact forces are generated between the mounting surface and the mounting bracket. Accordingly, the spring action of the retaining bracket must be relatively large, which, however, has the consequence that light model railroad vehicles can be lifted, or at least greatly relieved, in particular when points and crossing points where the central conductor is raised are passed. This can lead to wheels of the model railroad vehicle losing contact with the track rails, which also leads to an electrical contact loss and. There is also the danger that such model railroad vehicles will derail under unfavorable conditions.

Furthermore, problems can arise if the relative movement between the ends of the holding bracket and the rear of the current collector surface is impeded, for example by dirt. This can also result in the pantograph not dropping sufficiently, which in turn results in contact problems.

In order to minimize such contact problems, attempts have already been made to use pantographs with longer pantograph surfaces. On the one hand, this leads to problems in tight curves, on the other hand, lateral guidance is made more difficult.

Out DE 893 626 B A current collector is known in which a contact surface is connected via a single connecting section to two fastening webs arranged next to one another in parallel. The fastening webs each have an outwardly facing pin, with which the pantograph can be suspended in a receptacle. The entire pantograph swings around these pins when it slides over the conductor rail. The pantograph, which is mounted in a swinging manner but is as such rigid, is pressed against the rail surface by means of a spring.

In DE 67 51 411 U describes a current collector that has a fastening section in the middle. Two spring sections extend mirror-symmetrically from the latter, at the ends of which a contact surface is arranged in each case. The spring sections can have different recesses, for example a row of holes or a longitudinal slot. In a variant with such a longitudinal slot, the spring elements each have two parallel spring bars.

DE 803 882 B also shows a pantograph. This is fixed in the middle of a model railroad vehicle and has two ends at which the contact surfaces sit. By means of various bends and additional spring elements, the contact surfaces are attached to a busbar pressed. A comparable pantograph also teaches DE 960 978 B .

The invention is based on the object of eliminating the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, a current collector is to be provided which enables simple manufacture and has a low overall height. It should also have the lowest possible line resistance.

This object is achieved by a pantograph with the features of claim 1. Advantageous refinements are described in the subclaims.

In the case of a pantograph for a model railroad vehicle with at least one pantograph surface, the invention provides that the pantograph surface has two resilient retaining webs which are bent upward relative to the pantograph surface, the retaining webs and the pantograph surface being formed in one piece with one another.

In contrast to the prior art, not only one but two spring-elastic retaining webs are used, these being formed in one piece with the current collector surface and not being movably mounted on the current collector surface. In particular, the one-piece design enables very simple production with little effort. There are also no electrical resistances between the holding bars and the pantograph surface. In the context of the invention, the current collector area is the entire section of the current collector which has the contact area for current consumption from the center conductor. The pantograph can be made very flat, so it can also be used on low model railroad vehicles.

The resilient retaining webs run side by side and are bent such that they can press the current collector surface against a center conductor when the current collector is installed.

In a preferred embodiment, the holding webs start from a narrow side of the pantograph surface. The holding bars are then, so to speak, an extension of the pantograph surface. As a result, one-piece production is relatively easy.

In an alternative embodiment, the retaining webs start from opposite long sides of the pantograph surface. This also enables a one-piece design with little effort, the moments acting on the retaining webs in the first-mentioned embodiment possibly being reduced.

In all configurations, the retaining webs preferably diverge from the current collector surface at least for a certain length. This results in good lateral stabilization of the pantograph surface.

The current collector surface is preferably flat, at least in a central region. Furthermore, the current collector surface can have bent ends. Due to the bent ends, the pantograph can slide relatively easily over unevenness of the center conductor or over the point contacts of the center conductor. The flat central area provides a sufficiently long contact area to ensure reliable electrical contact and mechanically quiet operation. The latter happens, among other things, by the fact that a sufficient number of contacts of the point contacts of the center conductor are occupied at the same time.

According to the invention, the holding webs each have a fastening section. The fastening section serves to fasten the pantograph to an underside of the model railroad vehicle. The fastening sections are therefore spaced apart from the pantograph surface. Each landing stage can be attached to the model railway vehicle, so that a secure hold is guaranteed.

In the area of the fastening sections, the holding webs have a section to one another which, according to the invention, is larger than a width of the pantograph surface. In this way, a stable, lateral guidance of the pantograph surface over the retaining webs is achieved. Lateral forces can be transferred well from the holding bars to the fastening sections and thus to the model railroad vehicle.

According to the invention, the current collector has two current collector surfaces which are connected to one another via the holding webs, the fastening sections being arranged in particular centrally between the current collector surfaces. The retaining webs run next to each other, each of them diverging from the pantograph surfaces so that lateral forces can be absorbed. Sufficient electrical contact can always be ensured by two pantograph surfaces. In addition, there is a symmetrical structure of the pantograph with a symmetrical and thus advantageous force distribution of the elastic spring forces.

It is particularly preferred that the holding webs are adjacent to the fastening sections run parallel to each other. A distance between the pantograph surfaces can be set over the length of these parallel fastening sections. Even at a greater distance, an angle at which the holding webs diverge from one another starting from the current collector surface can still be relatively large, so that they can absorb lateral forces.

The current collector is preferably produced from a flat plate by means of an etching process and subsequent bending process. For this purpose, the plate then has an electrically conductive and etchable material which is resiliently deformable. The pantographs can be manufactured with little effort by an etching process and the corresponding spring action can be brought in by the subsequent bending process, in which in particular the holding webs are pre-bent.

It is particularly preferred that the fastening sections are offset in a direction perpendicular to the pantograph surface 1.5 mm to 5 mm, in particular up to 3 mm, relative to the pantograph surface. The distance defines the possible travel, which is more than sufficient. At the same time, a low installation height of the pantograph can be maintained.

According to the configuration according to the invention, a width and optionally also the thickness of the holding webs are adapted to a desired spring stiffness. The width, but also the thickness, of the holding webs can be precisely adjusted, for example by means of an etching process, in order to adjust the rigidity of the holding webs. In this way, for example, the weight of the model railroad vehicle and the installation height can be taken into account in order to always set an optimal compromise between contact pressure and driving safety, particularly in the case of light model railroad vehicles.

The width of the holding webs is preferably not more than 2 mm, in particular a maximum of 1 mm. Since the differences in the rigidity of the holding webs and the pantograph surface are significantly influenced by the width of the holding webs, it is advantageous if the holding webs are designed to be narrow. At the same time, it must be ensured that a sufficient spring action is achieved in order to press the pantograph surface resiliently against a central conductor of the tracks. A width of the holding webs between 0.5 mm and 1 mm has proven to be particularly advantageous.

Advantageously, the current collector can be fastened under the model railroad vehicle via the fastening sections in such a way that the current collector surfaces are placed in the region of axes of the model railroad vehicle. The pantograph surface is thus placed in the area of the axles or a bogie and is therefore always optimally between the track rails, even with more curved track sections. Furthermore, there is a favorable introduction of force.

The object is also achieved by a model railway vehicle with a pantograph according to the invention. It is particularly preferred that the current collector is arranged as a center conductor grinder below the model railroad vehicle and is connected in an electrically conductive manner to a chassis of the model railroad vehicle via the fastening sections. Additional electrical connections such as a cable do not have to be connected to the pantograph. Rather, the electrical contacting takes place via the fastening sections and the chosen fastening means. For example, the pantograph is simply screwed onto the chassis of the model railroad vehicle without being insulated. Subsequent replacement of the pantograph, for example due to wear, is particularly easy. In addition, the internal wiring within the model railway vehicle can be kept simple and largely corresponds to the wiring used in model railway vehicles without a center conductor. This results in simplified and variable production.

• 1 einen Stromabnehmer in Draufsicht,
• 2 eine Seitenansicht des Stromabnehmers,
• 3 eine Unteransicht eines Fahrzeugmodells mit montiertem Stromabnehmer und
• 4 eine Seitenansicht eines Fahrzeugmodells mit montiertem Stromabnehmer.

The invention is described below with reference to a preferred embodiment in conjunction with the drawings. Show here:

• 1 a pantograph in top view,
• 2nd a side view of the pantograph,
• 3rd a bottom view of a vehicle model with a mounted pantograph and
• 4th a side view of a vehicle model with a mounted pantograph.

In 1 is a pantograph according to the invention 1 shown in top view. The pantograph 1 , which is a central conductor wiper, has been produced from a metallic plate using the etching process and comprises two current collector surfaces 2nd , 3rd , over two resilient retaining webs running side by side 4th , 5 are interconnected. In the middle, i.e. at the same distance from the pantograph surfaces 2nd , 3rd , are the footbridges 4th , 5 each with a fastening section 6 , 7 provided which has openings for the passage of a screw or other fastening means.

The footbridges 4th , 5 each go from one long side of the pantograph surface 2nd , 3rd off, first diverge and then adjacent to the mounting sections 6 , 7 to run parallel to each other. This makes a section of the fastening sections 6 , 7 to each other larger than the width of the pantograph 1 in the area of its pantograph surfaces 2nd , 3rd . In other words, there is a maximum width of the pantograph 1 in the area of the fastening sections 6 , 7 , a free gap being formed between the fastening sections. This in turn avoids over-determination when attaching the pantograph to the model railway vehicle, so that the pantograph can be manufactured with correspondingly large tolerances.

Due to the design according to the invention, the holding webs can 4th , 5 forces acting transversely from the pantograph surfaces 2nd , 3rd are recorded and thus a lateral guidance of the pantograph surfaces 2nd , 3rd can be achieved.

In 2nd is a side view of the pantograph 1 shown. The pantograph surfaces 2nd , 3rd each have at least one bent end 8th , 9 on. The footbridges 4th , 5 are based on the pantograph surfaces 2nd , 3rd bent upwards so that they are in the area of the fastening sections 6 , 7 for example by 2 mm compared to the pantograph surfaces 2nd , 3rd are deflected. When the pantograph surfaces are supported 2nd , 3rd a resilient deformation of the retaining webs is thus on a central conductor 4th , 5 take place so that the pantograph surfaces are pressed against the center conductor in a spring-elastic manner.

The pantograph receives the form shown 1 by a bending process following an etching process, in which the holding webs 4th , 5 be transformed accordingly. If necessary, these can also be pulled apart by the desired distance in the area of the fastening sections 6 , 7 to each other.

In 3rd an underside of a schematically represented model railroad vehicle is shown. The pantograph 1 is designed as a center grinder, the pantograph surfaces 2nd , 3rd each in the range of axes 10th , 11 of the model railway vehicle 12th are arranged. The pantograph 1 is also about the mounting sections 6 , 7 on the underside of the model railway vehicle 12th attached. It can be seen that the fastening sections 6 , 7 are arranged as far apart from each other as there is a width of the model railway vehicle model 12th allowed. This ensures sufficient lateral rigidity of the pantograph 1 guaranteed.

4th shows a side view of the vehicle model 12th with the pantograph 1 , corresponding 3rd . A middle conductor 13 is formed by a plurality of point contacts in this embodiment. This is a classic design, for example for rails from the Märklin company.

The pantograph is located 1 with its pantograph surfaces 2nd , 3rd on the middle conductor 13 on while the also current-absorbing wheels 14 , 15 of the vehicle model 12th on the current-carrying track rails 16 lie on. Thus, the vehicle model 12th a potential difference between the center conductor and the track rails over the wheels 14 , 15 and the pantograph 1 provided that can be used to drive an electric motor, to operate lighting or the like.

The pantograph according to the invention requires only a minimal overall height, which only has to be insignificantly less than an unevenness in the center conductor. The pantograph itself contains no moving parts, rather the inherent elasticity of the material used is exploited. The pantograph can be optimally matched to the weight of the model railroad vehicle by choosing a material thickness. Due to the low mass of the pantograph, the mechanical energy in the pantograph is very low, which is why only a slight acoustic excitation and a barely perceptible transmission to the vehicle model itself occur. The pantograph runs very quietly.

The desired spring force is achieved in the pantograph according to the invention by the corresponding shaping of the thin retaining webs, which is connected to the pantograph surfaces of the pantograph. Due to their greater width and the same thickness, these are sufficiently rigid to be able to make good contact with the center conductor.

The pantograph surfaces are preferably arranged in the region of axles or a bogie of the model railroad vehicle, such as a locomotive or a wagon. However, it is also conceivable to design the pantograph, for example, with only one pantograph surface or, in the case of model railroad vehicles with larger wheelbases, to arrange only one of the pantograph surfaces in the region of an axle or in the vicinity of a bogie.

The pantograph according to the invention is therefore very simple to manufacture, has a high level of reliability with low internal electrical resistances and, moreover, has only a very small overall height. This makes it universal and inexpensive to use.

Reference list

1

Pantograph

2, 3

Pantograph surface

4, 5

Footbridges

6, 7

Fastening sections

8, 9

end up

10, 11

axes

12th

Model train vehicle

13

Center conductor

14, 15

bikes

16

Track rail

Claims (9)

Current collector (1) for a model railroad vehicle (12) with at least one current collector surface (2, 3), two spring-elastic retaining webs (4, 5) extending from the current collector surface (2, 3) and rising upwards relative to the current collector surface (2, 3) are bent, the retaining webs (4, 5) and the pantograph surface (2, 3) being formed in one piece with one another, the retaining webs (4, 5) each having a fastening section (6, 7), the pantograph (1) having two pantograph surfaces (2, 3), which are connected to one another via the holding webs (4, 5), the fastening sections (6, 7) being arranged in particular centrally between the current collector surfaces (2, 3), characterized in that the holding webs (4, 5) in the area of the fastening sections (6, 7) have a distance from one another which is greater than a width of the current collector surface (2, 3), the width of the holding webs (4, 5) being adapted to a desired spring stiffness of the current collector (1) is. Pantograph after Claim 1 , characterized in that the retaining webs (4, 5) start from a narrow side of the pantograph surface (2, 3). Pantograph after Claim 1 or 2nd , characterized in that the retaining webs (4, 5) extend from opposite longitudinal sides of the current collector surface (2, 3). Pantograph according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pantograph surface (2, 3) is flat at least in a central region. Pantograph according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding webs (4, 5) run parallel to one another adjacent to the fastening sections (6, 7). Current collector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is produced by means of an etching process and subsequent bending process from a flat plate. Current collector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fastening sections (6, 7) are offset in a direction perpendicular to the current collector surface (2, 3) 1.5 to 3 mm with respect to the current collector surface (2, 3). Current collector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it can be fastened under the model railroad vehicle (12) via the fastening sections (6, 7) in such a way that the current collector surfaces (2, 3) in the region of axes (10, 11) of the model railroad vehicle ( 12) are placed. Model railway vehicle with a pantograph (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pantograph is arranged as a central conductor grinder below the model railway vehicle and is electrically conductively connected to a chassis of the model railway vehicle via the fastening sections.

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