GB1361438A - Railway system including apparatus for supplying power to electric trains - Google Patents

Abstract

1361438 Electric railways BROWN BOVERI & CIE AG 17 Dec 1971 [19 Dec 1970] 58873/71 Heading B7L An electrically-driven train 1 comprises a current-collecting bar 3 which is resiliently mounted along the length of and electrically insulated from the train coaches by supporting elements 4, the collecting bar 3 being disposed to make contact with a number of feeder contact bars, as 7, which are resiliently mounted on and electrically insulated from suspension poles (not shown) erected along the railway line, the collecting bar 3 being formed with an internal duct 5 to which air from a cylinder 13 is fed, the air passing out from the duct 5 through openings 6 in the bar 3 the air forming a cushion which lessens the impact between the bars 3 and 7 as the train moves along the line. The openings 6 are arranged to be closer together at the forward end of the collecting bar 3, and to provide efficient current collection, the air cushion does not extend across the whole width of the bar 3, a direct contact surface 19, Fig. 7, being provided with the apertures 6 disposed at one or both edges of the bar. As an alternative construction the bar may comprise a solid I-section bar to provide the surface 19 with two hollow box sections welded thereto having openings therein corresponding to the openings 5. The feeder bar may be of U-section, if desired openings 6 then being provided in both the upper and side surfaces of the collecting-bar 3. Alternatively the bar 3 may be of U-section. In a further described embodiment, Fig. 9, the air cushion is formed between a lug 20 on the bar 3 and an auxiliary conducting surface 23 on the feeder bar 7. The solid bar 3 in Fig. 9 may be replaced with a hollow section as shown in Fig. 7 if desired or air fed lugs as 20 may be provided at both edges of the bar 3. As a further alternative the openings 6 may be replaced by homopolar magnets co-operating with similar magnets on the feeder bars 7, the magnets may be used in conjunction with the air cushion providing openings 6.