Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
  • B60L5/00—Current collectors for power supply lines of electrically-propelled vehicles
  • B60L5/18—Current collectors for power supply lines of electrically-propelled vehicles using bow-type collectors in contact with trolley wire
  • B60L5/20—Details of contact bow
  • B60L5/205—Details of contact bow with carbon contact members
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R41/00—Non-rotary current collectors for maintaining contact between moving and stationary parts of an electric circuit
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
  • G01R31/00—Arrangements for testing electric properties; Arrangements for locating electric faults; Arrangements for electrical testing characterised by what is being tested not provided for elsewhere
  • G01R31/005—Testing of electric installations on transport means
  • G01R31/008—Testing of electric installations on transport means on air- or spacecraft, railway rolling stock or sea-going vessels

Definitions

• the invention relates to the monitoring of the state of an electric power transmission band intended to rub against a catenary wire.
• a pantograph system comprises a band made mainly of carbon, or completely made of carbon, and intended to rub against a live catenary wire to supply power to an electrically driven vehicle on which the band is mounted.
• the catenary wire is generally installed to form a zigzag along an expected path of travel.
• the strip extends in a longitudinal direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the direction of instantaneous movement of the vehicle. Due to this zigzag installation, the catenary wire is arranged slightly oblique with respect to this direction of displacement.
• the catenary wire is in contact with the strip on a contact zone representing only a portion of the length of the strip, and this zone evolves along the strip when the vehicle on which the pantograph is mounted is driven in motion .
• Document JP57-80201 describes a detection system in which an electrical conductor wire is installed in the sensing strip, this conductive wire forming a U whose branches extend longitudinally along the entire length of the strip. When the wear is sufficient, the catenary wire then comes into electrical contact with the wire forming a U, and a detection circuit can detect the current from the catenary wire. The pantograph corresponding to this band is then immediately deactivated.
• the pantograph strip extends in a longitudinal direction and is installed on the electric vehicle such that this direction is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to a direction of travel of the vehicle.
• the catenary wire is disposed obliquely with respect to the direction of movement of the vehicle, so that the catenary wire is in electrical contact with the strip on a contact zone representing only a portion of the length of the strip, and which evolves along the belt when the vehicle is driven in motion in the direction of travel.
• the monitoring system includes:
• At least one sensor device intended to be at least partly installed in the strip so as to occupy only a portion of the length of the strip, this device being arranged to detect a catenary passage when the contact zone corresponds to this portion of the strip, at least when the wear height of the strip at level of the band portion has exceeded a threshold.
• This sensor device is furthermore arranged to make it possible to measure at least two different wear heights.
• the portion of band length occupied by a sensor device may for example represent between 0.01% and 20% of the length of the strip, advantageously between 0.1% and 5% of the length of the strip.
• the portion of band length occupied by a sensor device may for example correspond to a length of between 0.1 millimeter and 10 centimeters, advantageously between 1 millimeter and
• a point sensor device capable of measuring at least two levels of wear, and capable of detecting moments of catenary passage.
• This monitoring system makes it possible to track wear, since the sensor device or devices can measure several wear heights.
• the passage of the catenary wire is detected, it is possible to correlate the wear relatively easily with the mileage traveled.
• the catenary son are arranged in zigzag with distances, in the direction of movement, between the relatively regular zigzag extrema. It is thus possible to assume the distance traveled between two detections of passage of the catenary wire, and thus to qualify relatively easily the wear per kilometer traveled.
• the measurement of at least two different wear heights can advantageously be made from the signal at the catenary passage detection times, for example from the amplitude of this signal at these times.
• the sensor device may comprise at least one conductive element.
• the catenary passage can be detected following the passage of current from the catenary wire in the conductive element.
• the current from the catenary wire can pass, during the electrical contact with the sensor device, by one or more conductive elements, and this current passage can be detected.
• the invention is of course not limited to this type of sensor.
• the sensor device may comprise at least two conductive elements, each conductive element extending within the band to a band height associated with this conductive element.
• the invention is in no way limited to the use of several conductive elements each having an associated wear height.
• the resistance encountered by the electrons coming from the catenary wire is thus a function of the length of the resistive element to be scanned, and therefore of the height of the band at the portion of band corresponding to this sensor device.
• a plurality of sensor devices intended to be at least partly installed on the same strip so that the strip length portions corresponding to this plurality of sensor devices are separate from each other .
• the sensor devices can be distributed along the strip. The wear monitoring can thus be more accurate and in addition, one can better estimate the homogeneity of wear along the strip.
• This system can thus be relatively accurate, even in turn-like or tunnel-like road portions, in which the catenary wire is capable of moving relative to the web in a range corresponding only to the length of the web. the band.
• the invention is in no way limited to this embodiment, and it could for example provide a system with a single sensor device installed for example in the middle of the band.
• the conductive elements may be made mainly or completely of copper.
• the elements of the same sensor device can be separated from each other by an insulator, for example ceramic or glass fibers.
• each conductive element may be sheet-shaped.
• the sensor device may advantageously be installed so that at least one conductive sheet, and preferably each conductive sheet is disposed in a plane having a normal vector substantially in the direction of travel.
• At least one sensor device may comprise a stack of sheets separated two by two by the insulator. This stack may advantageously be embedded in a resin.
• the monitoring system may comprise:
• an electrical measuring circuit comprising a first transformer winding and a generator capable of delivering an alternating current, the electric measuring circuit being arranged to at least a part of the current delivered by the generator passes through this first winding,
• this circuit comprising a second transformer winding, a reference branch of the electrical potential of the detection circuit, this branch being designed to be in contact with the strip or with weakly resistive conducting means in contact with the band, so that the ground voltage of the detection circuit is equal to or very close to the voltage of the catenary wire when in contact with the band, and this at least one sensor device,
• a transformer comprising the first and second windings, for isolating the electrical circuit for measuring the ground voltage of the detection electric circuit
• the voltages in the detection circuit can be relatively high and variable with respect to the earth, since the mass of this circuit is connected to the band.
• the catenary wire can be traversed by a signal of 25000 volts AC at 50 Hz, or even 1500 V DC.
• weakly resistive conducting means and “equal or very close” is meant here one (or more) conductive element, for example a stirrup, opposing a sufficiently weak resistance between the reference arm and the band so that the mass voltage the detection circuit does not deviate more than 5% of the tension of the strip, preferably no more than 2% of the tension of the strip.
• the signal injected by the generator may have a relatively low peak voltage with respect to this supply voltage, for example 3 volts or 5 volts.
• the electrical measuring circuit may have a floating mass, or not, for example a mass connected to the chassis of a railroad vehicle or to the earth.
• the passage of the catenary and the wear of the strip may have an impact on the detection circuit, via the one or more sensor devices, and thus on the voltage collected across the measuring circuit-side winding.
• the detection circuit may advantageously comprise other detection elements, sensitive to the state of the band, that the measurement device (s).
• the detection circuit may further comprise an electrically insulated wire, intended to be installed along the tape, for example within the tape or on a surface of the tape. In the event of cracking or breaking of the tape, this wire is likely to break, thus affecting the transmission of the generated alternating signal and therefore the voltages across the windings of the transformer.
• this wire is mounted in parallel with a resistor, in the event of wire breakage, the equivalent resistance increases, and the voltage across the first winding decreases. It is thus possible to detect the breakage of this wire by analyzing the signal measured at the terminals of this winding.
• the detection circuit may comprise at least one additional insulated wire intended to be installed along the strip, for example inside the strip or on one surface of the strip, mounted in parallel with the strip.
• the breaking strength may be different from one insulated wire to another.
• Each insulated wire may comprise a conductive core and an insulating sheath.
• the conductive core may have a linear resistance sufficiently high that the equivalent resistance variation can be detected.
• it may be provided to mount each insulating wire in series with a corresponding resistor, to allow the detection of the breakage of the wire.
• the core of the wire may have a low linear resistance and it is possible to refrain from mounting resistance in series with this insulated wire.
• the detection circuit may be arranged so that one or more outputs of the at least one sensor device and the at least one insulated wire are connected (or, in case of contact with the catenary wire, connectable) to the strip or to weakly resistive conductive means in contact with the strip. It is thus forbidden to provide an output wire connecting the output (s) of these detection elements to the ground of the detection circuit.
• a detection circuit with an end which is, at least part of the time of use, in contact with the band or with weakly resistive conductive means in contact with the band. The installation can thus be simpler, and it also limits the risk of inversion son.
• these elements can be mounted in parallel with each other or with one or more resistive elements. If one of these detection elements connected in parallel is faulty or destroyed due to the state of the band, it will nevertheless be possible to measure a signal between the terminals of the first winding. It will be possible to provide a warning signal, alarm type, rather than immediately driving a lowering of the pantograph.
• the at least one branching node between the second winding and the detection elements can be in or on the strip.
• the detection circuit may comprise a single input wire between the second bearing and the band.
• the second winding can be connected to the sensing element (s) by a wire threshold penetrating into or mounted on the band.
• the detection circuit may comprise a single wire penetrating into the band.
• a single input wire penetrating into or mounted on the tape may connect the second winding to the sensing element (s), and each sensing element may include an output connected to the tape or connectable to the tape. in case of contact with the catenary wire.
• this at least one insulated wire and this at least one sensor device can be connected in series or bypass from a single input wire for connection to the second winding.
• this signal between the terminals of the first winding is extracted both information as to cracking or breaking and information as to wear.
• the monitoring system may further comprise processing means in communication with this at least one sensor device, these processing means, for example all or part of one or more processors, being arranged to identify from at least one signal received from the at least one sensor device two consecutive catenary passage times, to associate the duration between these instants a predetermined distance and, when at least two wear heights have been reached, estimate from of this at least one signal received a wear of the band per kilometer traveled.
• these processing means for example all or part of one or more processors, being arranged to identify from at least one signal received from the at least one sensor device two consecutive catenary passage times, to associate the duration between these instants a predetermined distance and, when at least two wear heights have been reached, estimate from of this at least one signal received a wear of the band per kilometer traveled.
• pantograph assembly comprising a monitoring system as described above, as well as the current transmission band.
• the monitoring system can be installed on the tape.
• an electrically driven vehicle comprising a pantograph assembly as described above, for example a railroad tractor, or the like.
• At least one signal and preferably a single signal, of at least one sensor device at least partly installed in the strip so as to occupy only a portion of the length of the strip, this device being arranged to detect a catenary passage when the contact area corresponds to this portion of the strip, at least when the wear height of the strip at the portion of the strip has exceeded a threshold, and this sensor device is further arranged to be able to measure at least two different wear heights.
• the method may advantageously comprise a processing step during which a predetermined distance is associated with two consecutive catenary passage signal times, and during which it is estimated from the at least two measurements of height made a wear of the band per kilometer traveled.
• the method may also comprise a development step, according to this estimate, and transmission to control means of the pantograph of a message to control the lowering of the pantograph.
• This method may for example be implemented by a processing device of the processor type, for example a microcontroller, a microprocessor, a DSP (Digital Signal Processing), or other.
• a processing device of the processor type for example a microcontroller, a microprocessor, a DSP (Digital Signal Processing), or other.
• a processing device comprising receiving means for performing the reception step described above, for example an input port, an input pin or the like, and processing means for carrying out the operation.
• estimation step described above for example, a processor core or the like, and means transmission, for example an output port, an output pin, or the like, for transmitting the developed signal to control means of the pantograph, for example a stepper motor.
• Figure 1 schematically shows a monitoring system according to one embodiment of the invention, when installed in a sensor strip in contact with a catenary wire.
• Figure 2 shows in more detail an example of a sensor device for the monitoring system schematically shown in Figure 1.
• Figure 3 is a top view schematically showing an example of a sensor device of the monitoring system of Figures 1 and 2, when installed on a partially shown band, and in contact with a catenary wire also partially shown.
• FIG. 4 schematically represents an example of a monitoring system according to one embodiment of the invention.
• Figure 5 shows schematically an example of a monitoring system according to another embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 6 is a graph showing an example of the appearance of a voltage signal measured at the terminals of a first winding of a transformer of a surveillance system according to one embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 7 is a flow chart for illustrating an exemplary method according to an embodiment of the invention.
• a band 1 made mainly or completely of carbon extends in a longitudinal direction corresponding here to the vector x.
• This carbon band is transverse with respect to a direction of movement of the electric traction vehicle on which this band is mounted, this direction of displacement corresponding to the vector y.
• the terms front, rear refer to the front and rear directions of the vehicle on which is mounted the monitoring system described.
• the vertical direction can be the direction of the gravity vector.
• the axes x, y, z correspond respectively to the longitudinal direction of the capture band, the direction of movement of the vehicle, and the vertical direction.
• the monitoring system is installed on a powerplant installed on a flat and horizontal ground, and at a location without turning, that is to say that it is assumed that the capture strip extends longitudinally following normal vertical direction and direction of travel.
• the longitudinal direction attached to the capture band, the direction of movement may not be quite normal between them and the plane defined by these two directions may not be perfectly horizontal.
• the strip 1 is disposed under a high voltage catenary wire 2 (for example 1500 V or 25000V), and when the vehicle is moving, the strip 1 can be in contact with the catenary wire 2, in order to collect the electric current necessary to pull the vehicle.
• a high voltage catenary wire 2 for example 1500 V or 25000V
• the catenary wire 2 is generally arranged zigzag along the expected path for the vehicle, that is to say that when the vehicle is moved in the y direction, the catenary wire 2 performs a scan relative to the strip 1, in the direction x.
• the strip 1 is thus traversed longitudinally by the catenary wire 2, which allows a better distribution of the wear of the strip.
• the monitoring system of this embodiment comprises a plurality of sensor devices 3, each sensor device occupying a relatively small portion of the length of the strip 1.
• the strip 1 may extend in the x direction on nearly one meter, while each sensor device 3 may have a diameter of a few millimeters, for example 3 millimeters.
• the sensor devices 3 are arranged at different locations along the belt 1, so that when the vehicle is driven in motion, these sensor devices are intended to be in contact with the catenary wire 2 one after the other .
• Each sensor device 3 comprises conductive elements referenced 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 in FIG.
• the catenary wire 2 When the catenary wire 2 is in contact with a conductive element, current from this catenary wire passes into this conductive element.
• the conductive element is connected via a cable 4 to a processing device, local or remote, and the electrical signal from the catenary wire 2 can thus be detected by this processing device, thus making it possible to detect the passage of the catenary wire at the corresponding sensor device.
• the cable 4 is part of an electrical detection circuit having its mass voltage equal to the voltage of the strip. In operation, the strip is in contact with the wire 2, so that the ground voltage of the detection circuit is the voltage of the catenary wire 2.
• a contact between the catenary wire 2 and a conductive element among the elements 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, is equivalent to a grounding of this conductive element, which modifies the equivalent resistance of the detection circuit.
• each sensor device 3 comprises a plurality of conductive elements 5, here made of copper and leaf form extending substantially in the plane normal to the y direction.
• Each of these copper sheets 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 is connected to a corresponding resistor 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, also connected to the cable 4.
• the electrical signal received during the passage of catenary wire will have a value depending on the resistance values 15 and 16.
• Resistors 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 may have different values, or not.
• the electrical signal measured during the passage of catenary is a function of the effective wear height.
• the electrical signal on the cable 4 may have the shape of a set of peaks, each peak corresponding to the passage of the catenary wire on a sensor device, and the amplitude of the peaks being representative of the level of wear .
• the wear By associating the time interval between two peaks at a predetermined distance, a function of the zigzagging of the catenary wire, and a function of the band gap between two adjacent sensor devices, the wear can be correlated with mileage traveled.
• the sensor device 3 may have a diameter of the order of a few millimeters, and a height corresponding, for example, to 50-90% of the height of the strip when new, for example included between a few millimeters and a few centimeters.
• the catenary wire may have a diameter of the order of a centimeter, that is to say that the contact area may extend in the x direction for a few millimeters, for example 2 or 3 mm.
• the carbon band 1 may have a width in the y direction, for example between 35 and 60 millimeters.
• the copper sheets 5, 6, 7, 8 9 may be insulated from each other by a ceramic material, and the stack comprising these copper sheets and the ceramic may be embedded in a resin, the resin assembly plus stack having and a section of diameter of about 3 millimeters.
• the invention is not limited to a predetermined number of sensor devices.
• the invention is also not limited by the number of copper foils in a sensor device.
• five conductive elements 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 are provided, thus making it possible to measure five different wear heights.
• a monitoring system 40 comprises an isolation transformer 50 comprising a first winding 31 and a second winding 22.
• the system 40 comprises an electric detection circuit 20 and an electric measuring circuit 30.
• the detection circuit comprises a reference branch 23 in contact with the band 1, that is to say that the ground of the circuit 20 is at the potential of the band, and therefore of the catenary wire as long as there is contact between the band 1 and the wire 2.
• the reference branch 23 could be welded to a stirrup not shown.
• a generator 2 1 makes it possible to inject a current into this detection circuit 20.
• This current may vary sinusoidally, with a peak amplitude of for example a few milliamps, and a frequency of, for example, several kHz, for example 4 kHz.
• the generator 2 1 and the first winding 31 are arranged in series, so that the first winding 31 is traversed by the generated current.
• the transformer 50 makes it possible to isolate the measuring circuit 30 from the ground voltage of the detection circuit 20.
• the detection circuit 20 comprises two detection elements connected in parallel, namely a set of sensor devices 3 for measuring the wear of the strip 2, and an insulated wire 25 bonded to the strip.
• the insulated wire 25 has a wire resistance Rm, due to the linear resistance of a conductive core of this sheathed wire 25.
• the sensor devices 3 are each similar to that described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.
• This set of sensors 3 is connected in parallel with a resistor
• the insulated wire 25 is relatively fragile, and therefore liable to break in the event of web breakage. No current then passes into the detection circuit and the signal measured across the winding 31 goes to zero. In case of contact between a broken end of the wire 25 and the band, the resistance encountered becomes quite low, depending on the length of wire corresponding to this end, and we can also detect the rupture of the band.
• a control signal is generated so as to control the lowering of the pantograph.
• the measuring circuit comprises a resistor R32 connected in series with the generator 2 1, and a processor 33 for receiving a signal proportional to the signal across the winding 31.
• one of the terminals of the winding 22 is in electrical contact with a current collection bracket (not shown), installed under the strip.
• a reference branch 23 between this terminal and the stirrup is thus connected to a non-resistive conductive element in contact with the band.
• not only one insulated wire 25, but two wires 25, 25 'with different mechanical strength properties are provided.
• the wire 25 ' has a lower breaking strength than that of the sheathed wire 25. This wire 25 can thus be broken while the wire 25 is still intact, thereby detecting cracking before breaking the strip.
• a node 28 provides bypassing the insulated wires 25, 25 ', and also a set of sensor devices 3 similar to the set described above.
• Figure 6 shows a theoretical example of the type of curve that could be recorded by a processor 33 during the life of a carbon band. The abscissa corresponds to time and the ordinate to tensions.
• the catenary wire does not touch any wear sensor 3.
• the equivalent resistance of the detection circuit is therefore equal to the sum of the resistor R3 and the equivalent resistance to parallel mounting of the insulated wires. .
• the catenary wire touches a wear sensor 3, the wear depth being relatively low at the wear sensor in contact with the catenary wire 2.
• the equivalent resistance of the detection circuit is therefore equal to the sum of the resistance R3 and the equivalent resistance to the parallel mounting of the insulated wires and this wear sensor. The equivalent resistance is therefore lower than at the instant ti, and the recorded voltage is therefore higher than at this moment
• the moment Î3 corresponds to a moment of passage of catenary at a sensor 3, at which the depth of wear is relatively high.
• the resistance opposed by this wear sensor is therefore lower than that opposed by the sensor in contact with the catenary wire at time ⁇ 2.
• the peak corresponding to this moment Î3 is therefore higher in amplitude than that corresponding to the instant Î2.
• the moment U corresponds to a break of the most fragile wire 25 '.
• the equivalent resistance of the circuit increases accordingly, and the measured voltage drops sharply.
• FIG. 7 is a logic diagram for illustrating an exemplary method implemented in the processor referenced 33 in FIGS. 4 and 5.
• a voltage signal U (t) is received from which an equivalent resistance value of the detection circuit is estimated during a step not shown.
• a value of wear parameter S w and a break parameter value Sb are deduced from this equivalent resistance value.
• step 102 it is also possible to calculate a wear value per kilometer traveled S w -km (not shown), as a function of the moments corresponding to peak maxima and as a function of the amplitudes of the peaks.
• a test step 103 it is ensured that the wear has not exceeded an acceptable threshold THR and that the band is not broken. It can also be ensured that the value of wear per kilometer traveled does not exceed a threshold THR 'not shown.
• an SCONTROL signal is generated, allowing contact between the strip and the catenary wire. Then the processor goes into a standby state during a step 106, before receiving a new voltage value.
• the signal SCONTROL takes a value, for example equal to

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Power Engineering (AREA)
• Transportation (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Current-Collector Devices For Electrically Propelled Vehicles (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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• 2015
  • 2015-06-30 FR FR1556138A patent/FR3038269B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2016
  • 2016-06-30 EP EP16742364.9A patent/EP3317137A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2016-06-30 WO PCT/FR2016/051660 patent/WO2017001799A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2016-06-30 CN CN201680039122.9A patent/CN108025649A/zh active Pending

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