GB1240690A - Controlled arc moving electrical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

1,240,690. Current collection systems. UNITED AIRCRAFT CORP. 25 Sept., 1968 [1 Nov., 1967], No. 45463/68. Heading B7L. [Also in Division H2] An electrical connection between two relatively movable members is made through an electrically conducting plasma established between the members, where one of the members is provided with an additional motion. In a dynamo electric machine a pair of rotary electrodes 20, 22 are mounted on axes 26, 28 parallel with or perpendicular to the machine axis, and a plasma 24 provided between these electrodes and the commutator or slip rings 18. The electrodes are subjected to a magnetic field 27 so that they rotate about their axes and the discharge may be started by initially placing the electrodes in contact with the commutator or slipring and then moving them away when the machine is in operation. Alternatively a highly ionized gas may be injected to surround the contact arrangement on starting so that the plasma can be established and then a coolant gas is substituted during normal running. An electronegative gas may be injected to switch off the motor. In acurrent collection system of a rail vehicle the connection between a pantograph roller 58 and the contact wire 60 of the catenary 62 is made through a conductive plasma 64. The pantograph height is controlled by system 54 from signals received from height sensor 57 and control 56. The contact roller includes a rotating shaft which is mounted in a housing by ballbearings which are filled with mercury and the contact surface of the roller has material of low ionization potential embedded in it, Fig. 5 (not shown). Rotation of the roller is produced by air vanes or an auxiliary electric motor. The roller 58 is normally in contact with wire 60 at low speeds, e.g. below 60 m.p.h., and is moved out of contact at high speed.