GB2088303A

GB2088303A - Vehicle current collector for overhead lines

Info

Publication number: GB2088303A
Application number: GB8129690A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Krauss Maffei AG
Current assignee: Mannesmann Demag Krauss Maffei GmbH
Priority date: 1980-11-28
Filing date: 1981-10-01
Publication date: 1982-06-09
Also published as: JPH0250681B2; JPS57119601A; DE3044935A1; FR2495071B1; DE3044935C2; GB2088303B; FR2495071A1

Abstract

The current collecting member 4 is pivotally carried by a carrier 1 which resiliently urged upward in a bore 6 in a current-collector tube 2 which is telescopically received in an extension tube 3 to an extent which is adjustable by a rack and pinion arrangement 10, 11, 12, 13. The extension tube 3 itself may be extended and retracted by a rack and pinion drive 23-26 to enable the current collector assembly to be withdrawn beneath a sliding roof 18. The construction is suitable for high travelling speeds, high contact- wire levels and considerable contact- wire level differences. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Current collector for overhead lines The invention relates to a current collector of the kind used on electrically driven vehicles which pick up current from an overhead line (see for example U.S. Patent Specification No. 915152).

This configuration has long been abandoned in connection with vehicles travelling at the speeds which are usual these days and has been replaced by the known pantograph construction. However, at speeds which are still higher (as from 250 km/h). the pantograph construction turns out to be disadvantageous for several reasons. At these higher travelling speeds, it causes an aerodynamic drag which is of importance; the contact pressure against the overhead line changes at increasing travelling speeds and at higher contact wire levels.

Larger operating ranges with respect to the contact wire level come about for several reasons.

Vehicles intended for higher travelling speeds will have to be lower in construction in order to ensure that the aerodynamic drag is not excessive and the travel way costs (route construction method, crossing structures) can be lowered. On the other hand, because of the route transitions which are flush with the ground, it is impossible to arrange the contact wire lower than is at present customary, the assumption being that the route will also serve, for example, for goods traffic, for which the usual profile is used. This results in contact-wire level differences of up to 1.70 m.

These differences are no longer economically controlled by the conventional pantograph current collectors. Moreover, the current-collector mass following with the contact-wire level differences rises considerably in this connection which, in conjunction with the high travelling speeds, does not allow a reliable current conduction.

An object of the invention is to avoid these disadvantages and to provide a current-collector construction which is equally suitable for high travelling speeds, high contact wire levels and considerable contact-wire level differences. In this connection, the inventors have returned to a current-collector construction which has long been abandoned. This construction consists of an oblique pole which has two parts, which can be telescopically inserted one into the other against a force, and which is resiliently articulated at its base. While the invention was in progress, it has been realised that this articulated arrangement cannot be used together with the previously usual oblique position of the pole.

According to the invention there is provided a current collector for vehicles which are electrically driven via an overhead line, in the form of a telescope-like pole arrangement comprising a contactor carrier guided in a current-collector tube, means for resiliently pressing the contactor against the contact wire of the overhead line, an extension tube in which said current-collector tube is telescopically arranged, an adjusting device for locking said tube in position at different levels and means for securing said extension tube in a region of the vehicle roof, said tube being arranged so as to be vertical or slightly inclined towards or opposite to the travel direction.

The pole construction choice constitutes from the outset an aerodynamically favourable solution, the cross section of the parts of the pole being circular, square or favourable to flow conditions in only one travel direction or in both travel directions. In addition, the vertical or only slightly inclined, possibly laterally slightly inclined arrangement of the current collector results in a short construction, which also has a favourable effect on the aerodynamic drap during travel. The arrangement of the extension tube as that part which absorbs the considerable contact-wire level changes allows the pivoted-detent carrier to be made relatively small in design and a relatively short travel stroke to be provided therefore, which stroke compensates for the vertical contact-wire displacement tolerances (of approximately + 100 mm) and the travel stroke of the vehicle.By this means, the effective mass which has to follow the contact wire is also substantially reduced so that a good current conduction is ensured, even at high travelling speeds. Another advantage is to be seen in the fact that the forces generated as the current collector slides along the overhead line are dissipated rectilinearly and, furthermore, that the construction becomes simpler as regards the production thereof.

It is true that a current collector which is designed as a pole and is stationarily secured at its base on the roof of the vehicle is known from U.S.

Patent Specification no. 4116312. However, this current collector, which is intended for mine vehicles and has an elastically bendable pole, cannot give a clue to the problem of a fast travelling low vehicle.

The maximum inclination of the extension tube is about 20a The extension tube may be arranged so as to be adjustable in the longitudinal direction.

The possibility of extending the pole is a solution to the problem of the contact wire being suspended at an extreme height above the vehicle roof. But, this measure also allows the respective current collector that is not used to be completely retracted so as to bring about an even better aerodynamic configuration of the vehicle. The opening in the vehicle roof constitutes an important factor in this respect if the pivoted detent secured on the pivoted-detent carrier extends transversely as is the case on the present pantograph current collectors.

The roof opening may be made closable in the zone of the current collector, which is advantageous weatherwise and aerodynamically.

Vertical adjustment of the current-collector tube enables the position of the pivoted-detent carrier to be adjusted in such a way that whenever the pivoted-detent carrier, which is guided in the current collector tube, comes close to the upper or lower end position, an account of contact-wire level changes, there is initiated a correspondiny vertical adjustment of the current-collector tube.

In these cases, the current-collector tube is automatically moved upwards or downwards.

Between the pivoted-detent carrier and the current-collector tube there are provided two contacts which are operatively connected to the adjusting device along the lines of clockwise and anti-clockwise rotation. The speed of response for the change in length of the current collector can be increased or the adjustment thereof be effected in steps, a specific longitudinal movement being associated with each of the contacts.

The invention will be explained with reference to a constructional form shown in the drawings, in which FIGURE 1 shows a pole construction current collector in a longitudinal section, and FIGURE 2 diagrammatically shows an inclined current collector.

The current collector comprises, at the top, a pivoted-detent carrier 1, to which there is hinged a pivoted detent 4 which touches a contact wire 5.

The pivoted-detent carrier 1 is mounted, so as to be capable of longitudinal motion, in a bore 6 in a current-collector tube 2 which, for its part, is guided in an extension tube 3. This tube is accommodated in a stationary bearing 1 9 and is displaceable in the upward and downward directions by means of a rack 23 and a pinion 24 which engages therein and is driven through a shaft 25 from an adjusting motor 26.

The pivoted-detent carrier 1 is pressed in the upward direction in the bore 6 by a helical spring 7 until the pivoted detent 4 comes into abutting contact with the contact wire 5. The carrier is secured against rotation by a pin 9 in the currentcollector tube 2, which pin engages in a groove 8 in the pivoted-detent carrier 1. The current collector tube 2 has, on one side, a toothing 10 in the manner of a rack. A pinion 1 which is drivable from a geared motor 13 through a connection 12 and can be locked, engages in the toothing 1 0. The geared motor 1 3 allows the current-collector tube 2 to be vertically adjusted.

The motor is steered to clockwise or anticlockwise rotation by a switch 14 through a connection 21, depending on whether the control element 27 of the switch 14 senses a cam 1 5 or a depression 16. The cam 1 5 and the depression 1 6 are provided on the pivoted-detent carrier 1 and thus control the vertical position of the currentcollector tube 2 so that only the usual tolerances of the contact wire 5 are absorbed by the helical spring 7.

The current collector extends through an opening 22 in the roof 17 of the vehicle. The current-collector tube 2 and the extension tube 3 can be moved downwards to such an extent that the pivoted detent 4 is located beneath the roof line. In this connection, it is possible to operate a sliding roof 18 and to close the opening 22 completely. The sliding roof 1 8 has, at its righthand longitudinal side, a recess 1 8b corresponding to half the cross section of the current-collector tube 2 and, with the current collector extended, can be moved against this latter for covering the opening 22. In a corresponding manner, another sliding roof 1 8a has such a recess, so that it can be moved against the sliding roof 1 8. The current collector shown in Fig. 1 is arranged so as to be vertical to the direction of travel 20. It can thus advantageously also be used in the opposite direction of travel.

Claims

1. A current collector for vehicles which are electrically driven via an overhead line, in the form of a telescope-like pole arrangement comprising a contactor guided in a current-collector tube, means for resiliently pressing the contactor against the contact wire of the overhead line, an extension tube in which said current-collector tube is telescopically arranged, an adjusting device for locking said tube in position at different levels and means for securing said extension tube in a region of the vehicle roof, said tube being arranged so as to be vertical or slightly inclined towards or opposite to the travel direction.

2. A current collector as claimed in claim 1.

wherein the maximum inclination of the extension tube is about 200.

3. A current collector as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the extension tube is arranged so as to be adjustable in the longitudinal direction.

4. A current collector as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein such an arrangement or locability of the extension tube, in the lowest position of the current-collector tube (2), the current collecting part (pivoted detent 4) is located within the profile of the roof (1 7) of the vehicle.

5. A current collector as claimed in claim 4, characterised by a sliding roof (18), which closes the opening (22) in the roof (17) of the vehicle, in the zone of the current collector.

6. A current collector as claimed in one of claims 1 to 5, characterised by a two-part sliding roof (18/1 8a) in the zone of the current collector, which roof can be slid over in opposite directions and which, in the closed state leaves clear an opening ( 1 8b) for the current-collector tube (2) and the extension tube respectively.

7. A current collector as claimed in one of claims 1 to 6, characterised by a device (switch 14) for indicating the position of the pivoteddetent carrier (1) in the current-collector tube (2) in accordance with the respective height of the contact wire (5) and by an adjusting device (1 3) for the current-collector tube, which device is coupled with the position device.

8. A current collector as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that between the pivoted-detent carrier (1) and the current-collector tube (2) there are provided two contacts which are operatively connected to the adjusting device (13) along the lines of clockwise and anti-clockwise rotation.

9. A current collector as claimed in claim 8, characterised by further contacts between the pivoted-detent carrier and the current-collector tube, which contacts are located above and/or beneath the two contacts and which are operatively connected to the adjusting device along the lines of increasing the adjusting speed of the current-collector tube or adjusting the same in steps.

10. A current collector for vehicles which are electrically driven via an overhead line substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.