DE102021209292A1 - Device for energy and/or signal transmission and rail vehicle comprising such a device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (4) for energy and/or signal transmission between a first element (2) and a second element (3) movable relative thereto, comprising a roller (40) made of an electrically conductive material, the roller (40) being an axle (42) is rotatably mounted, and a roller bearing (44) is arranged between the roller (40) and the axle (42) and energy and/or signals are transmitted via roller bodies (444) of the roller bearing (44). The invention further relates to a rail vehicle and a system comprising such a device (4).

Description

FIELD OF APPLICATION AND PRIOR ART

The invention relates to a device for energy and/or signal transmission and a rail vehicle comprising such a device.

The device is used in particular for energy and/or signal transmission between a first element, for example a stationary element, and a second element which is moved relative to the first element. The first element is, for example, a rail and the second element is a rail vehicle.

Out of EP 0 618 123 A1 a rail vehicle with rollers and with a direct current motor arranged on the rail vehicle is known, the rollers being able to be driven by means of the direct current motor. The motor is connected to current collectors in the form of brushes, which are in a sliding connection with busbars on the rail. Alternatively, it's over DE 195 06 670 A1 It is known to provide a roller of electrically conductive material on the rail vehicle for the transmission of current to a rail vehicle, the roller being held rotatably between two bearing tongues with which it is in sliding contact.

TASK AND SOLUTION

It is the object of the invention to provide a low-maintenance and low-wear device for energy and/or signal transmission between a first element and a second element that can be moved relative thereto. It is further objects of the invention to provide a rail vehicle and a system with such a device.

These objects are achieved by the device having the features of claim 1, a rail vehicle having the features of claim 9 and a system having the features of claim 10. Further advantageous refinements result from the dependent claims.

According to a first aspect, a device for energy and/or signal transmission between a first element and a second element movable relative thereto is created, which comprises a roller made of an electrically conductive material and an axis, the roller being rotatably mounted about the axis. The device comprises a roller bearing arranged between the roller and the axle, energy and/or signals being transmitted via roller bodies of the roller bearing.

In contrast to conventional devices, energy and/or signals are not transmitted via a sliding contact, but via a rolling contact on the rolling elements.

The design of the roller bearing can be suitably selected by the specialist depending on the application. In one embodiment, the roller bearing is designed as a ball bearing. In other configurations, a cylindrical roller bearing is provided. In one configuration, the roller bearing is configured as a single row, in other configurations there are multiple row roller bearings.

In advantageous configurations, the roller bearing has bearing rings, in particular an outer ring connected to the roller and an inner ring connected to the axle. In other configurations, the roller and/or the axle serve as a bearing ring. In advantageous configurations, the axis has a rotationally symmetrical cross section. In one embodiment, the roller bearing comprises an inner ring connected to the axle, with a core of the inner ring and the axle having mutually complementary, rotationally symmetrical or non-rotationally symmetrical cross sections. In another embodiment, the roller bearing comprises an inner ring, with a core of the inner ring and the axle having cross-sections that are not complementary to one another, for example cross-sections of different diameters, and with an intermediate element functioning as an adapter, in particular a bushing, being provided between the inner ring and the axle.

The terms first element and second element are used for distinction only and do not indicate any order of elements.

During use, the roll rolls off a counter-element. In one embodiment, a stationary counter-element is provided, with the roller rolling along the stationary counter-element. In other configurations, the device is arranged on a stationary element, with a moving counter-element being guided along the roller.

The roller is made of an electrically conductive material. Depending on the application, the electrically conductive material can be selected by a person skilled in the art. In configurations of the device, the electrically conductive material is selected from the group comprising copper and copper alloys, sintered metals with and without additives, stainless steel, silver and/or coated plastics with and without additives.

The device includes a suspension for the axle with an axle holder. In a form The suspension comprises a force element acting on the axle holder and forcing the axle holder in the direction of a free end, in particular a spring element. An end pointing in the direction of a counter-element during use is referred to as the free end of the axle holder. By means of the force element, the roller can thus be forced during use onto a counter-element on which the roller rolls. This prevents the roller from lifting off the counter element and/or a loss of contact between the rolling elements and the bearing rings or--if the roller or the axle acts as a bearing ring--between the rolling elements and the roller and the axle. The prestress applied to the device during use by means of the force element thus prevents an interruption in the energy and/or signal transmission due to a short-term loss of contact.

The terms "a", "an", "an" etc. are used in connection with the application only as indefinite articles and not as measure words. In particular, in one embodiment, the suspension comprises more than one force element.

Alternatively or additionally, in one configuration, a current-conducting medium, in particular a copper paste, is provided in the roller bearing. By means of the current-conducting medium, sparking due to a short-term loss of contact in the roller bearing can be prevented.

In yet another embodiment, a radially preloaded roller bearing is provided between the axle and the roller. The preload in the radial direction is selected in such a way that a loss of contact between the rolling elements and the bearing rings is prevented during use.

In one embodiment, the axis is also made of an electrically conductive material, with a line for energy and/or signal transmission being attached to the axis. In one embodiment, the line is welded, soldered, glued and/or pressed to the axle. In other configurations, a detachable connection is provided. In other configurations, the axle is made of a non-conductive material, the line being attached to the bearing ring and/or to an intermediate element which is conductively connected to the bearing ring, in particular a bushing arranged between the bearing ring and the axle.

In one embodiment, the line is embedded in the axle holder of the suspension of the axle. In one embodiment, an axle holder made of a non-conductive material is provided, with an uncoated or cast-in line being provided in one embodiment. In one embodiment, a termination point for a pantograph is provided on an outside of the axle holder.

In one configuration, the roller bearing has a seal made of a non-conductive material in the axial direction.

According to a second aspect, a rail vehicle is created, comprising a device for energy and/or signal transmission with a roller made of an electrically conductive material, an axle and a roller bearing arranged between the roller and the axle, the roller being rotatable about the axle by means of the roller bearing is stored, and wherein an energy and / or signal transmission takes place via rolling elements of the rolling bearing. During use, the roller rolls off, for example, on a conductor rail which is provided on a rail for the rail vehicle.

As mentioned, the terms "a", "an", "an" etc. are used in connection with the application only as indefinite articles and not as measure words. In particular, in one configuration for energy transmission, the rail vehicle has two devices which can be connected to two phases of a power supply. In another embodiment, the device is used for signal transmission, with only one device being provided on the rail vehicle. In yet other configurations, the device is arranged in pairs for an uninterrupted transmission of energy or signals.

In one embodiment, the rail vehicle is a driverless rail vehicle.

However, the use of the device is not limited to use in a rail vehicle and numerous areas of use are conceivable.

According to a third aspect, a system comprising a first element, a second element movable relative thereto and a device for energy and/or signal transmission between the first element and the second element is created.

character list

• 1 schematisch eine Draufsicht auf ein System umfassend ein feststehendes Element und ein relativ dazu bewegbares Element mit vier Vorrichtungen zur Energie- oder Signalübertragung und
• 2 schematisch einen Ausschnitt des System gemäß 1 in einer teilweise freigeschnittenen Darstellung.

Further advantages and aspects of the invention result from the claims and from the description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention, which is explained below with reference to the figures. show:

• 1 schematically shows a plan view of a system comprising a fixed element and an element movable relative thereto with four Devices for energy or signal transmission and
• 2 schematically a section of the system according to 1 in a partially cropped view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

1 shows a schematic plan view of a system 1 comprising a stationary element 2 and an element 3 that can be moved relative thereto, with four devices 4 for energy or signal transmission between the stationary element 2 and the element 3 that can be moved relative thereto, with four devices 4 in 1 only two devices are partially or totally covered and therefore not visible. 2 shows a section of the system 1 according to FIG 1 in a partially cropped view.

The fixed element 2 shown is a conductor rail and the element 3 which can be moved relative thereto is a rail vehicle which is only shown in sections and which can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the conductor rail—as indicated schematically by a double arrow. Rollers, not shown in the figures, are provided for moving the rail vehicle along the busbar.

The devices 4 for energy transmission to the movable element 3 are each arranged in pairs, with two devices 4 offset in the direction of movement of the movable element 3 being connected to a pole 51 , 52 of a connection socket 5 . The devices 4 each serve to transmit energy between the stationary element 2 designed as a busbar and the connection socket 5 on the second element 3, which can be moved relative to the busbar and is designed as a rail vehicle, with the paired arrangement ensuring uninterrupted transmission of energy to the poles 51, 52 of the connection socket 5 is ensured when cornering and/or at switches of the rail vehicle. In other configurations, only two devices 4 are provided for energy transmission, with an arrangement in pairs being dispensed with.

The devices 4 each comprise a roller 40 made of an electrically conductive material, an axle 42 and a roller bearing 44 arranged between the roller 40 and the axle 42 (see Fig. 2 ), wherein the roller 40 is rotatably mounted about the axis 42 by means of the roller bearing 44 and energy and/or signal transmission takes place from the stationary element 2 to the movable element 3 via roller bodies 444 of the roller bearing 44 .

The roller bearing 44 shown comprises a bearing ring 440 connected to the roller 40, also referred to as the outer ring, and a bearing ring 442 connected to the axle 42, also referred to as the inner ring. A bushing 43 is provided between the axle 42 and the bearing ring 442 in the exemplary embodiment shown. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the axle 42 has a diameter which is smaller than an inner diameter of the bearing ring 442 , with the bushing 43 serving as an adapter between the bearing ring 442 and the axle 42 . In other configurations, an inside diameter of the bearing ring 442 is approximately equal to an outside diameter of the axle 42, so that a bushing 43 can be omitted.

Between the bearing rings 440, 442, the rolling elements 444 are arranged. The rolling elements 444 shown schematically are designed as balls in the illustrated embodiment. Other rolling bodies are provided in other configurations.

As in 1 As can be seen, in the exemplary embodiment shown, the roller bearings 44 each have a seal 446 made of a non-conductive material on their end faces.

The device 4 further includes a suspension 46 by means of which the axle 42 is supported on a housing 30 . In the exemplary embodiment shown, the suspension comprises an axle holder 460 which is movable on a guide rod 32 (cf. 2 ) is arranged. The guide rod 32 extends transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to a direction of movement of the movable element 3, so that the axle holder 460 with the axis 42 and thus the roller 40 mounted on the axle 42 can be adjusted transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to a direction of movement of the movable element 3 . In the exemplary embodiment shown, a maximum displacement path is limited by stops 300, 302 on the housing 30.

The suspension 46 shown also includes a force element acting on the axle holder 460, which is designed as a spring element 462 in the exemplary embodiment shown, the axle holder 460 being forced in the direction of its free end by means of the spring element 462. This forces the axle holder 460 and therefore the roller 40 towards the fixed element 2 in use, thus preventing loss of contact between the roller 40 and the fixed element 2 and thus an interruption in the transmission of energy and/or signals due to a momentary loss of contact.

1 shows schematically the axle holder 460 of the two devices 4 connected to a pole 51 in two maximum positions, the in 1 axle holder 460 shown on the left is arranged in a first maximum position, in which the axle holder 460 is moved against a restoring force of the spring element 462 in the direction of the housing 30 and thus away from the stationary element 2. the inside 1 The axle holder 460 shown on the right is arranged in a second maximum position, in which the axle holder 460 is forced in the direction away from the housing 30 and thus towards the stationary element 2 due to a restoring force of the spring element 462 . A distance between the stationary element 2 and the element 3 that can be moved relative thereto is exaggerated for better clarity. In use, a spacing in embodiments of the system 1 is chosen such that when the roller 40 contacts the fixed member 2, the axle holder 460 is located between the first and second maximum positions.

As described above, in the illustrated embodiment, the devices 4 are arranged in pairs, with two devices 4 being connected to a pole 51 , 52 of a connection socket 5 . The axle brackets 460 are made of a non-conductive, insulating material. The devices 4 each comprise lines 48 for connection to the poles 51, 52, which are embedded in the axle holders 460. The lines 48 are electrically conductively and mechanically connected to the axles 42 . Connections for lines 50 to the poles 51, 52 are provided on the outside of the axle holder 460.

The system 1 shown, comprising a movable element 3 designed as a rail vehicle, is merely an example and the invention is not limited to the use of the devices 4 in a rail vehicle.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• EP 0618123 A1 [0003]
• DE 19506670 A1 [0003]

Claims (10)

Device for energy and/or signal transmission between a first element (2) and a second element (3) movable relative thereto, comprising a roller (40) made of an electrically conductive material, characterized in that the roller (40) rotates about an axis (42 ) is rotatably mounted, with a roller bearing (44) being arranged between the roller (40) and the axle (42) and energy and/or signal transmission taking place via roller bodies (444) of the roller bearing (44). device after claim 1 , characterized in that the roller (40) is made from an electrically conductive material selected from the group consisting of copper and copper alloys, sintered metals with and without additives, stainless steel, silver and/or coated plastics with and without additives. device after claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that a suspension (46) is provided for the axle (42), comprising an axle holder (460) and a force element acting on the axle holder (460) and forcing the axle holder (460) in the direction of a free end, in particular a spring element (462). device after claim 1 , 2 or 3 , characterized in that a current-conducting medium, in particular a copper paste, is provided in the roller bearing. Device according to one of Claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that a radially preloaded roller bearing is provided. Device according to one of Claims 1 until 5 , characterized in that a line (48) for energy and/or signal transmission is attached to the axle (42). device after claim 6 , characterized in that the line (48) is embedded in the axle holder (460). Device according to one of Claims 1 until 7 , characterized in that the roller bearing (44) has a seal (446) made of a non-conductive material in the axial direction. Rail vehicle comprising a device (4) according to one of Claims 1 until 8th for energy and/or signal transmission between the rail vehicle and a counter-element, in particular a conductor rail. System comprising a first element (2), a second element (3) movable relative thereto and a device (4) according to one of Claims 1 until 8th for energy and/or signal transmission between the first element (2) and the second element (3).

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