FR2590419A1 - Device for connecting an overhead power line to a machine which is supplied electrically by a cable - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to the connection of an overhead power line to a machine which is supplied electrically by a cable attached to a movable carriage. According to the invention, the movable carriage is a drive carriage 4 which includes continuously-supplied motorised sliding-driving means and rollers in contact with a rolling track, and the device includes a secondary cable 6 supporting the supply cable 3, the said secondary cable remaining taut solely by the effect of the traction exerted by the drive carriage, thus freeing the supply cable of any traction force. Application especially to vehicles used in mining galleries for loading and/or digging, and to carriages used for declinkering furnaces.

Description

 The present invention relates to electrically powered vehicles, such as mining vehicles for loading and / or earthmoving, trolleys with telescopic arms for scouring ovens, etc., and more particularly the connection of these vehicles to an overhead power line. .

 In the case of machines moving on rails, pantograph type systems are generally used, but these systems are generally not suitable if the machine is on wheel and must be able to move relative to a vertical plane. containing the overhead line.

 Tests have been carried out by providing two catenary 3.bows, but the lateral clearance remains very low, and the construction is complex if an electrical contact is to be maintained which is acceptable, with naturally a limitation as to the number of polarities (it is it is not possible to use a line with four conductive cables, because the contact would be too random).

 We then turned to solutions using an electric power cable, hung on a mobile cart on quidaae rails. A chain connects the machine to the mobile carriage so that it can be towed by the machine, while the electric power cable goes from the machine to the mobile carriage, then passes through clamps hung on the guide rail , to reach a fixed point, either at the level of the rail, or on the ground. To prevent the power cable from dragging on the ground, with the risk of deterioration that this would entail, it was necessary to provide a reel at one end of said cable, either on the machine itself, or on the ground.

These techniques have many disadvantages - the mobile cart is behind the driver, which em
fishing all surveillance when the driver is concentrating
be on the tasks to be carried out on the front side of the machine - the tension of the orientation cable cannot practically
never be constant, unless you plan a slave
between the reel control and the machine, to
that the cable unwinds or winds up following the evolution
tison of the machine, with a minimum pulling force in
below which we cannot descend to avoid that
the cable does not rest on the ground - the stroke remains limited by the capacity of the
roller, which is a disadvantage when it comes to
vehicles used in mine galleries, the
length can be very important - reversing is not easy and involves
risk of damage to the power cable,
while there is a load at the rear of the vehicle.

 When the machine is of the turret type, the presence of a reel is even more problematic: in addition to the aforementioned drawbacks, there is the disadvantage of the weight of the reel, especially when the vertical axis of the reel does not coincide not with the pivot axis of the turret (generation of vibrations, fatigue of the support members, etc.), and of a variable parasitic torque during the movement of the cable on the drum of the reel; in addition, it is necessary to provide brushes to ensure electrical continuity, hence a certain weakness in the case of difficult operating conditions.

 To avoid the presence of a reel associated with the power cable, it has been proposed to use a rigid pole, articulated on the machine, in the manner of a trolley bus pole. Such a system naturally implies a limited lateral movement, unless a telescopic pole is provided, which further complicates production, and the articulation link of the pole on the machine remains anyway difficult to design. This system is therefore in fact practically limited to a unidirectional use of the machine, and moreover it is practically impossible to exceed two polarities.

 The main object of the invention is to provide a connection device using a supply cable, which makes it possible to ensure a constant tension of said cable, independently of the speed of evolution of the machine (which naturally remains slow), without the need to use a servo or speed control with a cable reel.

 Another object of the invention is to allow a significant lateral movement of the machine, which allows for example to perform varied maneuvers at successive workstations.

 Another object of the invention is to allow easy visual monitoring by the driver, with in particular a provision which remains out of the range of a possible load at the rear of the vehicle.

 Another object of the invention is to provide a device which can be used with machines of very different types, in particular with machines with pivoting turret, and without limitation as to the number of phases of the supply current.

 Another object of the invention is to allow easy passage in reverse, while retaining the same advantages, without the risk of damaging the power cable.

 A final object of the invention is to propose a device of simple and robust design, making possible uses under difficult conditions (mining, traction of very heavy loads for example).

 It is more particularly a connection device between an overhead electric line and a machine electrically supplied by a primary cable hung on a mobile carriage, characterized in that the mobile carriage is a motor carriage moving on a track bearing adjacent to the overhead line, said movable carriage comprising motorized sliding drive means permanently supplied during the use of the machine and of the drive members in contact with the running track, and which the device comprises a secondary cable connecting the machine to the motor carriage and supporting the primary supply cable, said secondary cable always remaining taut by the sole effect of the tensile force exerted by the motor carriage, thereby freeing the primary supply cable from any tensile force.

 According to a preferred embodiment, the motor carriage comprises a chassis supporting a sliding geared motor group beyond a predetermined torque for a constant traction force.

 If curved overhead lines are envisaged, the chassis of the motor carriage is advantageously articulated, the axis of articulation being situated at the level of the coupling link between motor and reduction gear.

 With a double raceway, it is advantageous that the device comprises, for each raceway, drive rollers mounted on either side of the reduction gear; preferably, carrier rollers are also provided, the drive rollers being in contact with the associated raceway, below the latter, and lateral guide rollers.

 In particular, at least some of the carrier and guide rollers are mounted on a common frame, the vertical position of which relative to the chassis is adjustable; then, it is provided on the common frame of the own adjustment means ~ to the side rollers, and, for good control of the grip, of the common frame adjustment means comprising elastically deformable members.

 Preferably, the point of attachment of the secondary cable to the chassis of the motor carriage is substantially situated in a vertical plane passing through the axis of the drive members, or else of the drive rollers.

In particular, in the case of two rolling tracks, the point of attachment of the secondary cable to the chassis of the motor carriage is substantially situated on the intersection between the vertical transverse plane passing through the axis of the drive rollers, and the median longitudinal vertical plane of the two raceways, which ensures good grip in the event of significant lateral travel.

 As far as possible, the chassis of the motor carriage carries sensing elements projecting laterally from said chassis, so as to produce a stabilizing effect, the track or tracks in this case being arranged between two sub-assemblies of conductors forming the overhead power line.

 However, in the context of particularly difficult conditions of use such as mine galleries in the course of construction, the chassis of the motor carriage carries pick-up elements arranged between the drive rollers, the overhead line, then provided between the two tracks. , which can be protected by an element connecting said tracks.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly in the light of the description which follows and of the appended drawings, relating to a particular embodiment of the invention, with reference to the figures, where - Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating a device
connection according to the invention, including the carriage
motor is articulated - Figure 2 is an elevational view, to a scale
enlarged, of a motor carriage (not articulated) made
according to the invention - Figure 3 is a side view of a motor carriage
of the type illustrated in FIG. 2, with two tracks
and two sub-assemblies of conductors
forming the overhead line - Figure 4 schematically illustrates a variant of the
Figure 3, in which the overhead line is arranged
between the two tracks.

 FIG. 1 illustrates a connection device according to the invention, between an overhead electric line i and a machine 2, electrically supplied by a primary cable 3 hooked on a mobile carriage 4. It is here a heavy vehicle, for the transport of large loads (for example of the order of fifteen tonnes), of the type used in the nuclear field for the transport of containers. It goes without saying that such vehicles move at slow speeds, for example of the order of 75 m / min, and that the power cable used is relatively heavy, due to a length of up to ten meters.

 In accordance with an essential aspect of the invention, the mobile carriage 4 is a motor carriage moving on a rolling track 5 adjacent to the overhead line 1, said mobile carriage comprising sliding drive means permanently supplied during the use of the machine, and the connection device comprises a secondary cable 6, connecting the machine to the motor carriage 4 and supporting the primary power cable 3: the secondary cable 6 then always remains taut by the sole effect of the tensile force exerted by the motor carriage, thus freeing the primary supply cable 3 from any traction force. The secondary cable 6, hooked at 7 on the machine and at 8 on the motor carriage, is here provided with a plurality of collars 9 through which the primary power cable 3 can pass, thus connecting a connection box 10 of the machine to a connection box -11 of the motor carriage. In some cases, the secondary cable may have a relatively high inherent rigidity, giving it a certain stiffness in the direction of its length. It is also possible to envisage a continuous support, with a flexible sheath, for example polyvinyl chloride, inside which would be housed a braided cable for traction, and conductors for the electrical supply, this in view a lighter design with a smaller arrow.

 The overhead electrical line 1 with its support members 12, and the running track 5 (single or double depending on the type of application) with its suspension members 13, are only illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 1, so as not to load an overall representation to illustrate the general design of the inventive connection device. It will be returned in detail to the structure of the motor carriage 4 with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, but in FIG. 1, the chassis 14 of the motor carriage is distinguished, supporting a geared motor group with sliding beyond a torque determined for a constant tensile force, as well as drive members 15 in contact with the raceway 5.

In FIG. 1, a motor carriage has been shown, the chassis 14 of which is articulated, the articulation axis 16 being essentially vertical and situated at the level of the coupling link 17 between the motor and the reduction gear; this articulation, which is naturally only optional, offers possibilities of using the connection device with overhead electrical lines and curved running tracks, which is particularly advantageous when the device of the invention cleans up a mining machine which must be able to move in non-rectilinear galleries.

 The motorized means of the mobile carriage 4, which can be of the torque motor or sliding system type comprising a speed variator or a coupler (hydraulic, magnetic or electromagnetic) are permanently supplied from the overhead electrical line 1, thanks to to wipers 18 here arranged in front and behind the carriage. Thus, as soon as the machine 2 is moving forwards, the motor carriage 4 supplied permanently and autonomously, exerts a permanent traction on the secondary cable 6, without the use of any system being required control or regulation. The primary power cable 3 is then free of any tensile force, and remains freely suspended from the secondary cable 6, without any risk of deterioration, and with easy visual monitoring for the operator of the machine.

 The connection device thus makes it possible to obtain a constant tension of the primary power cable 3 without the use of a reel being required, as was the case with known devices. It is important to note that this connection device allows a significant lateral movement of the machine relative to the overhead electric line, the extreme limit of this movement being naturally given by the length of the secondary traction cable 6. As soon as it is put under tension, which is the only operation required for the operator of the machine, the motor carriage tends to move forward, exerting a constant tensile force, without the slightest risk of exceeding a predetermined force due to the sliding of the drive group at the beyond a predetermined torque. A torque motor gives excellent results because it does not involve any wear as long as a speed range is chosen or the torque is constant. The motor should also preferably include a brake, in order to maintain the distance when the electrical supply is cut off, as well as a forced ventilation system for heating, mainly in the stop position. As an indication, a magnetic or hydraulic coupler corresponding to 25 N.m allows the use of a power cable 12 to 15 m long.

 It will be noted that the device of the invention allows easy passage in reverse, while retaining the same advantages, without risking damaging the power cable 3.

 It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the type of vehicle used, and that vehicles of very diverse types, in particular vehicles with pivoting turret, can be fitted with this connection device. In the case of trolleys with telescopic arms for example, such as those usable for the cleaning of furnaces, we will conventionally use a vertical pole, taking care to position this pole on the axis of articulation of the turret, and the connection box 10 as well as the attachment point 7 will then be placed at the top of the pole, the connections to the motor carriage of the primary supply cable and of the secondary traction cable remaining unchanged The turret of the carriage is then released from the disturbing presence of a reel, which greatly facilitates its use.With a pole of sufficient height, in particular exceeding the level of the cabin, the operator can thus easily carry out the desired maneuvers, without any risk of damage of the power supply cable, which remains suspended from a secondary tension cable permanently stretched, this avoids exerting significant efforts at the connection between the power cable and the pole, this connection must include slip rings to ensure electrical continuity in all positions taken by the machine.

 Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the structure of a motor trolley according to the invention, this trolley being, unlike that illustrated in Figure 1, longitudinally rigid while the previous trolley was articulated, which does not change anything as to the general principle of the invention. Therefore, the organs already described will retain identical references in the description which follows.

 The chassis 14 of the motor carriage 4 supports a torque motor 19, with integrated braking, with which is associated a ventilation member 20 also permanently supplied. This chassis also supports, in the rear part, a reduction gear 21, the input shaft 22 of which is connected to the output shaft 23 of the motor by a coupling 17, preferably of the elastic coupling type. On the single output shaft 24 of the reduction gear 21, there are mounted, on either side of said reduction gear, drive rollers 15 contacting the lower part of the associated rolling tracks 5. It will be noted that the load of the movable carriage n is here not supported by the drive rollers, but by carrier rollers 25, rolling on an opposite face of each of the rolling tracks 5: here three pairs of carrier rollers are provided, two of them being arranged symmetrically by relative to a vertical plane passing through the axis 24 of the drive rollers. Side guide rollers 26, of essentially vertical axis, are also provided to ensure good centering of the motor carriage relative to the double raceway. Adjustment means 28 make it possible to adjust the play of the lateral guide rollers 26, by virtue of an upper plate.

port oblong, according to a well known technique. For the rear part of the motor carriage, and on either side thereof, the support rollers 25 and the lateral guide rollers 26 are mounted on a common frame 27 movable in vertical translation relative to the chassis 14 of the motor carriage ; the central part of this common frame 27 is connected to the chassis 14 by a sliding spring connection 29, ensuring good adhesion of the drive rollers 15 against the opposite face of the rolling tracks (the end 30 of the rod link also makes it possible to adjust the setting of the associated adhesion spring). We also note the presence, in front and behind each drive roller, of two gussets 31 reinforcing the rigidity of the chassis 14, as well as that of stops elastic 32 at each end of the motor carriage.

 The position of the attachment point 8 of the secondary traction cable 6 to the chassis 14 of the motor carriage will preferably be close to that which has been illustrated in FIG. 2 shows that this attachment point is substantially located in a vertical plane passing through the 'axis of the drive rollers, which respects the balanced centering of the three support points against the associated raceway (central support of the drive roller 15 between the two supports of the support rollers 25); Figure 3 shows that this attachment point is also substantially located on the longitudinal vertical plane of the motor carriage, median plane of the two rolling tracks, which makes it possible to be sure that at least one of the two central rollers - Enement 15 will be well in grip contact against the associated raceway when the lateral movement of the machine is large. The primary power cable 3 and its connection box 11 have been shown diagrammatically in dotted lines in FIG. 2, but it goes without saying that the position of this box could be provided for another location of the chassis.

 The arrangement of the conductors of the overhead power line can naturally vary according to the type of application considered and therefore also the position of the sensing elements 18. It will however be observed that the number of these conductors is not limited to two, as this was frequently the case with the devices of the prior art: here four conductors have been illustrated, corresponding to three phases and to the ground.

 With the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 3, the chassis of the motor carriage carries sensing elements 18 projecting laterally from said chassis, so as to produce a stabilizing effect, the rolling tracks in this case being arranged between the two sub-assemblies of conductors forming the overhead power line 1; an even number of conductors is in this case advantageous to preserve the overall balance and not to harm stabilization. In FIG. 3, the pick-up lines are fixed at the two ends of a cross-member 33, on either side of the rolling tracks 5, while in FIG. 4 these pick-up lines are arranged between the rollers of drive 15, the overhead line 1, then provided between the two running tracks, being able to be protected by a sheet metal element 34 connecting said running tracks (the means for fixing the overhead line have not been illustrated in FIG. 4 , any technique that can be used, for example of the type of that with half-claw fastening shown in FIG. 3). The arrangement in FIG. 4 is particularly suitable for difficult conditions of use, such as, for example, in the galleries of mines under construction.

 The capture elements 18 represented in FIG. 3 correspond to a conventional design: there is on each side of the motor carriage a bar of square section 35, on which is fixed a sensor support 36 used for the floating mounting of friction shoe carriers 37. support bars 35 are preferably mounted on the chassis in the vertical plane of the axis 24 of the drive rollers, to guarantee proper positioning of the wipers against the associated conductive tracks. In the case of an articulated chassis, as illustrated in FIG. 1, it will be possible to provide for capture elements 18 in front and behind said motor carriage.

 It is naturally possible to add to the device of the invention particular equipment, made necessary by special conditions of use for example, for use at low temperatures, provision may be made to mount a rack adjacent to the running track, on which meshes a pinion mounted coaxially to the drive rollers, which eliminates any risk of slippage of the drive rollers due to a possible deposit of ice on the associated raceways.

The connection device of the invention thus has many advantages - a constant tension of the power cable is obtained
naked for all speeds of evolution of the machine,
without the need to use any asser
screwing at speed with a cable reel - the motor carriage is placed in front of the vehicle,
which allows easy visual monitoring by the con
conductor, and moreover ensures an arrangement of the cable of
feeding out of range of a possible charge in
rear of the vehicle - this device can be used on very different types of vehicle
towards, in particular rolling and / or tou
pivoting relle - a stop of the vehicle, or a passage. in reverse does
no problem, and preserves the power cable
any damage - it is possible to envisage a significant lateral travel
so much of the craft, which allows for maneuvers
varied at successive workstations; we will be able to
naturally provide additional security for
avoid any risk of being torn off during an error in my
noeuvre, by means of a mechanical fuse at
the attachment of the secondary cable and / or of a connection
unpluggable for the power cable; - the connection device remains simple in design
and robust, which makes it possible to envisage uses
under very difficult conditions, such as the exploitation
mining in particular.

 The invention is not limited to the embodiment which has just been described, but on the contrary encompasses any variant incorporating with equivalent means the essential characteristics appearing in the claims.

In particular, the term "cable" used throughout the description to designate the power and traction cables must be understood in a broad acceptance, covering in particular flat or hollow elements, and of various materials.

Claims (13)

 1. Connection device between an overhead electric line and a machine electrically supplied by a primary cable hung on a mobile carriage, characterized by the fact that which mobile carriage is a motor carriage (4) moving on an adjacent running track (5) at the overhead line, said movable carriage comprising motorized sliding drive means (19) supplied continuously when the machine and the drive members (15) are in contact with the running track, and that the device comprises a secondary cable (6) connecting the machine to the motor carriage (4) and supporting the primary supply cable (3), said secondary cable always remaining taut by the sole effect of the tensile force exerted by the motor carriage, thus freeing the primary supply cable (3) from any tensile force.  2. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the motor carriage (4) comprises a chassis (14) supporting a geared motor group (19, 21) sliding beyond a predetermined torque for a constant tensile force.  3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the chassis of the motor carriage (4) is articulated, the articulation axis being essentially vertical and situated at the level of the coupling link (17) between motor and reducer .  4. Device whose carriage is movable on a double rolling track, according to one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that it comprises, for each rolling track, drive rollers 115) mounted on one side and the other of the reducer (21).  5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that it further comprises carrier rollers (25), the drive rollers (15) being in contact with the associated raceway, below the latter .  6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that it further comprises lateral guide rollers (26).  7. Device according to claims 4 and 5, characterized in that at least some of the support rollers (25) and guide (26) are mounted on a common frame (27), whose vertical position relative to the frame (14 ) is adjustable.  8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the means for adjusting the common frame (27) comprise elastically deformable members (29).  9. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that adjustment means (28) specific to the side rollers (26) are provided on the common frame.  10. Device according to one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that the attachment point of the secondary cable (6) on the chassis of the motor carriage is substantially located in a vertical plane passing through the axis of the organs d drive, in particular drive rollers.  11. Device according to one of claims 4 to 9, characterized in that the attachment point of the secondary cable (6) on the chassis of the motor carriage is substantially located on the intersection between the transverse vertical plane passing through l 'axis of the drive rollers, and the vertical longitudinal median plane of the two raceways.  12. Device according to one of claims 2 to 11, characterized in that the chassis of the motor carriage carries sensing elements (18) projecting laterally from said chassis, so as to produce a stabilizing effect, the track or tracks bearing being in this case disposed between the two sub-sets of conductors forming the overhead power line  13. Device according to one of claims 4 to 11, characterized in that the chassis of the motor carriage carries sensing elements (18) arranged between the drive rollers (15), the overhead line then provided between the gods raceways which can be protected by an element connecting said raceways.