GB2242177A

GB2242177A - A current collector

Info

Publication number: GB2242177A
Application number: GB9104071A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Heinz Pfannkuche; Klaus Auert
Original assignee: Mannesmann AG
Current assignee: Vodafone GmbH
Priority date: 1990-02-28
Filing date: 1991-02-27
Publication date: 1991-09-25
Anticipated expiration: 2011-02-27
Also published as: ITMI910511A1; FR2658764A1; GB2242177B; ATA27191A; ITMI910511A0; DE4006700C2; IT1247259B; GB9104071D0; FR2658764B1; DE4006700A1; AT398553B

Abstract

A current collector comprises a contact (1) mounted on a support member (2) for sliding engagement with a contact line under the action of a spring (5) located between a bearing bracket (4) for the support member and a connection bracket (6) borne by a current collector trolley. The sliding contact (1) has a recess (1b) between contact surfaces (1a) present at its ends. The support member (2) is pivotally connected via a pin (3) arranged transversely to the contact surfaces (1a) to the bearing bracket (4). The bearing bracket is borne by a connection bracket (6) of the current collector trolley. <IMAGE>

Description

2 2,, --:;:, 1 _ 777 1 Current collector k

The invention relates to a current collector in which a contact element is held on a support member for sliding engagement with a contact line. In such collectors, the support member is itself mounted on a bearing bracket coupled to a connecti,on bracket on a current collector trolley, normally by means of a flexible assembly which provides a resilient force for urging the contact against the line. A collector of this type is disclosed in German Patent Specification No. 33 16 067.

The contact surface of a current collector as referred to above is approximately 50 Tam long and requires a considerable pressure in order to ensure that the surface pressure is sufficiently great to ensure good contact and high transmission of current. The application of the pressure is not an awkward problem for large crane systems, but may lead to difficulties where small trolleys run on light rails because of the relatively large displacement forces involved.

The present invention is directed at a design of current collector in which satisfactory transmission of current or information with low displacement forces is substantially ensured for all cases of use. According to the invention, the sliding contact provides two contact surfaces separated by a recess. The support member is mounted on the bearing by means comprising a pivotal connection having a pivot axis transverse to the contact surfaces. The support member may be connected to the bearing bracket via a pin perpendicular to the contact surfaces in. the region of the recess.

The support member with the contact thereon is preferably mounted in pendulum-like manner on the 2 is bearing bracket in the manner of a link via the pin. The bearing bracket is constantly acted on towards the contact line by a spring and presses the two contact surfaces against it. The contact surfaces themselves are small and have great surface pressure on the contact line, even with low spring force and the low sliding resistance associated therewith, so that the transmission of information and current is ensured even if the surface of the contact line has a disruption in contact at one point. The bearing bracket is preferably articulated to the connection bracket by parallelogram links acted upon by a spring, with the support member being mounted in a bore of the bearing bracket by means of a bearing pin perpendicular to the contact surfaces, so that the sliding contact can adapt thereto even with inaccurately laid contact lines.

The two contact surfaces may be rounded off or bevelled at the ends and are preferably longer than any interruptions that may be present in the contact lines. The recess is typically approximately as long as the contact surfaces with their approach surfaces. The contact element may be formed with a connection element projecting through its support member for connection to an electric power supply or the control centre. It may also include a holding lug press-fitted in a socket of the support member.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 shows a current collector according to the invention in a side view, partially in section; and 2 h 3 is Figure 2 is a top view of the collector shown in Figure 1.

The sliding contact element 1 has at both ends contact surfaces la adjoining approach surfaces lc and a recess ib therebetween. The lower section of the contact element 1, which is made of graphite, is laterally embedded in a support member 2 made of plastic, and projects through the support member 2 with a contact connection id, to which a line, not shown, can be connected. The contact element 1 is fastened in a recess 2b of the support member 2 by means of a holding lug le provided with projections if, in the manner of a snap-in connection. Said support member is connected via a pin 3 arranged transversely to the contact surfaces la to the bearing bracket 4, and is mounted by means of a bearing pin 2a in a bore 4a of a bearing bracket 4, which is connected via a parallelogram link 7 to a connection bracket 6 of a current collector trolley (not shown). Between the arms of the parallelogram link 7 there is located a spring 5 in the form of a pressure spring, which is guided on two overlapping semicircular bars 9. The semicircular bars 9 are articulated to the attack pin 8 for the spring 5 and guide it due to their overlap, which changes in length upon movements of the parallelogram link 7.

4

Claims

Claims is 1. A current collector having a sliding contact element held on

a support member for resiliently engaging a contact line, which contact element provides two contact surfaces separated by a recess, the support member being mounted on a bearing bracket by means comprising a pivotal connection having a pivot axis transverse to the contact surfaces.
2. A current collector having a sliding contact element held on a support member for resiliently engaging a contact line, which contact element provides two contact surfaces separated by a recess, the support member being mounted on a bearing bracket via a pin arranged transversely to the contact surfaces.
3. A current collector according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the mounting means has a bearing pin received in a bore of the bearing bracket.
4. A current collector according to any preceding Claim wherein the bearing bracket is coupled to a connection bracket by a flexible assembly.
5. A current collector according to Claim 4 wherein the flexible assembly comprises parallelogram links which are acted upon by a spring.
6. A current collector according to any preceding Claim wherein the ends of the contact surfaces are bevelled.
7. A current collector according to any preceding Claim wherein each contact surface is longer than any interruption in the contact line which may be present.
8. A current collector according to any preceding Claim wherein the length of the base of the recess is substantially equal to one third of the length of the contact element.

W
9. A current collector according to any preceding Claim wherein the contact element has a connection element projecting through the support member.
10. A current collector according to any preceding Claim wherein the contact element has a holding lug press-fitted into a socket in the suppor member.
11. A current collector substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 1 i Published 1991 at The Pal ent Oflke. Concept House. Cardiff Road. Newport. Gwent NP9 I RH. Further copies may be obtained frorn Sales Branch. Unii 6. Nine Mile Point. C%xrnfelinfach. Cross Keys. Newport. NPI 7HZ. Printed by Multiplex techrijques"ltd. St Mary Cray. Kent.