GB2554369A

GB2554369A - Contact piece

Info

Publication number: GB2554369A
Application number: GB1616139.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sommer Martin; Fleischhauer Guntram; Schneider Peter
Original assignee: Schunk Bahn und Industrietechnik GmbH Austria; Schunk Bahn und Industrietechnik GmbH Germany
Current assignee: Schunk Bahn und Industrietechnik GmbH Austria; Schunk Bahn und Industrietechnik GmbH Germany
Priority date: 2016-09-22
Filing date: 2016-09-22
Publication date: 2018-04-04
Anticipated expiration: 2036-09-22
Also published as: GB201616139D0; GB2554369B

Abstract

A contact piece 12 for a current collector 11 for transmitting energy from a conductor rail to a vehicle comprises: a contact shoe 17 that forms a sliding contact with a conductor rail; and a connecting bar 19 that is connected to a connecting device 13 that holds and electrically connects the contact piece to a current collector. A connecting end 21 of the connecting bar can be inserted into a contact piece receiver 23 of the connecting device. The connecting end comprises a connecting cross section 22 having an insertion contour, which is asymmetric in relation to the connecting cross section, for detachably connecting to the contact piece receiver. The asymmetric insertion contour may be formed by extensions 34, 35 which vary in thickness and prevent a faulty installation of the contact piece at the contact piece receiver. The connecting bar has a material weakening which forms a predetermined breaking point 44 which breaks when an impact acts on the contact piece or when there are large obstacles on the conductor rail which could lead to deformation of the contact piece.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Contact piece

Abstract Title: Contact piece for collecting current from a conductor rail (57) A contact piece 12 for a current collector 11 for transmitting energy from a conductor rail to a vehicle comprises: a contact shoe 17 that forms a sliding contact with a conductor rail; and a connecting bar 19 that is connected to a connecting device 13 that holds and electrically connects the contact piece to a current collector. A connecting end 21 of the connecting bar can be inserted into a contact piece receiver 23 of the connecting device. The connecting end comprises a connecting cross section 22 having an insertion contour, which is asymmetric in relation to the connecting cross section, for detachably connecting to the contact piece receiver. The asymmetric insertion contour may be formed by extensions 34, 35 which vary in thickness and prevent a faulty installation of the contact piece at the contact piece receiver. The connecting bar has a material weakening which forms a predetermined breaking point 44 which breaks when an impact acts on the contact piece or when there are large obstacles on the conductor rail which could lead to deformation of the contact piece.

Fig. 1

At least one drawing originally filed was informal and the print reproduced here is taken from a later filed formal copy.

1/5

09 17

Fig. 2

2/5

09 17

Fig. 4

Fig. 5

Fig. 6

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09 17

Fig. 10

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09 17

XII

Fig. 14

09 17

5/5

Fig. 17

Fig. 18

Contact Piece

The invention relates to a contact piece for a current collector, a contact piece device, a current collector and a vehicle having current collectors for transmitting energy from a conductor rail to the vehicle, wherein the contact piece comprises a contact shoe for forming a sliding contact having a conductor rail and a connecting bar, wherein the connecting bar is connected to a connecting device for holding and connecting the contact piece to a current collector in an electrically conducting manner, wherein the connecting bar forms a connecting end which can be inserted into a contact piece receiver of the connecting device.

Such contact pieces or rather current collectors are well known from the prior art and are regularly used in rail vehicles for transmitting electric energy from a conductor rail to a vehicle. The conductor rail is generally arranged in the area of running rails and is also referred to as a so-called third rail. Using a further, second conductor rail beside the conductor rail, so that a vehicle can be supplied with traction current via two conductor rails, is also known from practice. A first conductor rail can then represent a positive pole and a second conductor rail can represent a negative pole. In known current collectors, a contact piece is fastened to a lever or a swing arm, wherein the swing arm presses the contact piece to a contact piece surface of the conductor rail via a defined pressing force. In a contact piece layer, the contact piece then abuts to the conductor rail while the vehicle is in operation, wherein the contact piece is worn away as a result of abrasive wear in the area of the contact shoe over an extended period of usage. Therefore, the contact piece has to be exchanged in regular intervals.

It is further known to insert a connecting end at a connecting bar of the contact piece into a contact piece receiver and to fasten it using screws. In this manner, a secure fastening of the contact piece at the current collector and a sufficiently large cross section for transmitting current from the contact piece to the current collector or rather the swing arm of the current collector can be ensured. However, if the contact shoe is formed asymmetricly, meaning it comprises a front portion which differs from a rear portion in relation to a direction of travel of the vehicle, there is a risk of a faulty installation of the contact piece to the current collector when replacing one contact piece for the other, for example with the rear portion in direction of travel.

The contact piece is further subjected to impacts during driving operation, said impacts being compensated via the swing arm of the current collector. The contact piece, however, can be damaged by very heavy impacts or by obstacles arranged on a conductor rail, such as a rock. Thus, the connecting bar of the contact piece can be bent, whereby the contact shoe can no longer completely abut to the contact surface of the conductor rail. A contact shoe bent in such a manner can, however, cause further damage to the conductor rail, to the current collector or to the vehicle as well, for example through flying sparks.

Therefore, the object of the invention at hand is to propose a contact piece and a contact piece device for a current collector for transmitting energy from a conductor rail to a vehicle which allows safe operation of the vehicle.

This object is attained by a contact piece having the features of claim 1, by a contact piece device having the features of claim 13, by a current collector having the features of claim 19 and by a vehicle having the features the preamble of claim 20.

The contact piece for a current collector for transmitting energy from a conductor rail to a vehicle according to the invention comprises a contact shoe for forming a sliding contact with a conductor rail and a connecting bar, wherein the connecting bar is connected to a connecting device for holding and for connecting the contact piece to a current collector in an electrically conducting manner, wherein the connecting bar forms a connecting end which can be inserted into a contact piece receiver of the connecting device, wherein the connecting end comprises, at least in sections, a connecting cross section having an insertion contour, which is asymmetric in relation to the connecting cross section, for detachably connecting to the contact piece receiver, wherein the connecting bar comprises a material weakening which forms a predetermined breaking point.

As a result of an asymmetric insertion contour being formed at the connecting end of the connecting bar, it becomes possible to prevent a faulty installation of the contact piece at the current collector. Thus, a reception contour can be formed at the contact piece receiver, said reception contour being formed in an installation position of the contact piece in the contact piece receiver in accordance with the insertion contour. The contact piece can then no longer be inserted back to front, in relative relation to a direction of travel, in the contact piece receiver or rather can no longer be fastened at the contact piece receiver in an alternative installation position. The asymmetric insertion contour therefore prevents a faulty installation of the contact piece at the contact piece receiver. It is generally of no importance which geometric form the asymmetric insertion contour has. In relation to the connecting cross section which is within the contact piece receiver in an installation position, the insertion contour can be asymmetric in relation to an axis of the connecting cross section. For the purpose of this invention, the term asymmetry refers to an axial symmetry of the connecting cross section, in particular to an axis of symmetry which is arranged relative to a direction of travel of the vehicle in the direction of travel or orthogonal thereto.

Moreover, it is provided that a material weakening is formed at the connecting bar, said material weakening forming the predetermined breaking point. Thus, it is continually ensured that the connecting bar breaks at the predetermined breaking point when impacts act on the contact piece or when there are larger obstacles on the conductor rail which could lead to a deformation of the contact piece. Thus, a further forming of a defective contact between the contact piece and the conductor rail, which could lead to further damage, can be prevented. In particular, it can also be provided that the material weakening is formed in such a manner that the contact piece breaks at a defined transverse force acting on the contact piece, which would otherwise cause a bending of the contact piece.

The connecting end can comprise, at least in sections, a further connecting cross section having a further insertion contour in relation to the further connecting cross section for detachable connecting to the contact piece receiver. Advantageously, the contact piece receiver can then also form a further reception contour which is adapted to the further insertion contour or rather essentially corresponds thereto. The further connecting cross section can be formed downstream from the connecting cross section relative to the connecting cross section in an insertion direction of the connecting end in the contact piece receiver. The further insertion contour does not only ensure a correct installation position of the contact piece but also a predetermined usage of the contact piece together with the corresponding current collector. Should, for example, contact pieces each have a different design or form, respectively, for a negative pole and a positive pole or for different conductor rails, respectively, it can be ensured via the further insertion contour that the contact piece intended for the negative pole is installed at the matching current collector. An installation of this contact piece at the current collector intended for the positive pole can be prevented by means of a different geometric design of the further insertion contour.

The further insertion contour can be formed by a recess in the connecting end, wherein a fuse element of the connecting device can be inserted into the recess. In a simple embodiment, the fuse element can be a pin or a screw which prevents the contact piece from falling out of the contact piece receiver. A transverse bore can be formed in the contact piece receiver, for example, said transverse bore aligning flush with a transverse bore in the connecting end of the contact piece when the contact piece is situated at the current collector intended for use by the contact piece. Accordingly, the transverse bore influences the design of the further insertion contour. Generally, the transverse bore need not necessarily be a transverse bore but can also be a material protrusion, a milling or the like at the connecting end which can form the further insertion contour. An interlocking hold of the contact piece at the contact piece receiver is realized by engaging the fuse element in the recess.

The material weakening can be formed adjacent to the connecting end by machining, wherein a cross-sectional surface of the predetermined breaking point can be comparatively smaller than a cross-sectional surface of the connecting end. The cross-sectional surface can thus be formed smaller than all remaining cross-sectional surfaces of the connecting end, so that it is ensured that the connecting bar only breaks at the predetermined breaking point. Since contact pieces are regularly formed by casting, a high dimensional accuracy of the predetermined breaking point can be realized by the machining of the material weakening or rather the predetermined breaking point, said high dimensional accuracy ensuring a breaking of the contact piece at an exactly defined force. It is also possible to form the predetermined breaking point in one work step and to simultaneously machine the connecting end.

For transmitting a traction current, the cross-sectional surface of the predetermined breaking point can be formed between the contact shoe and the connecting device. Then it is not necessary to connect the contact shoe itself to a live cable, which also is not common practice. The cross-sectional view of the predetermined breaking point can then be formed so large that the traction current flowing along the corresponding cross section does not lead to a detrimental temperature increase of the predetermined breaking point or a weakening of the same, respectively. Simultaneously, the cross-sectional surface can be chosen to be so small that the predetermined breaking point breaks at the slightest application of force.

At the predetermined breaking point, a section modulus of the connecting bar can be formed comparatively smaller in the direction of travel of the vehicle and/or the transverse direction than at the remaining connecting bar. It can thus be ensured in any case that the predetermined breaking point breaks when applying a detrimental force. The predetermined breaking point can thereby be formed directly abutting to the connecting end, so that the contact piece always breaks at the connecting end. Thus, it can be prevented that the connecting bar does not protrude from the contact piece receiver and potentially establishes an electric contact to the conductor rail. Furthermore, it can be provided that the section modulus is formed in the area of the predetermined breaking point or rather a breaking plane in such a manner that in each case different forces cause a breaking of the predetermined breaking point in direction of travel or transverse direction.

The material weakening can be formed by transverse recesses and/or longitudinal recesses in the connecting bar in relation to a crosssectional surface of the predetermined breaking point. The material weakening can be formed, for example, by millings in a surface of the connecting bar. Furthermore, through bores or oblong holes can be formed independently or supplementary in the connecting bar. These bores or oblong holes can extend transversely and/or longitudinally in the connecting bar in relation to the cross-sectional surface. Individual or also a plurality of recesses can be formed.

Advantageously, the contact piece can be formed integrally. The contact piece can then be produced cost-efficiently by casting and subsequent machining. The contact piece can be grey cast iron, in particular GGG60.

In an alternative embodiment, the contact piece can be formed in several parts, wherein the contact shoe can then be detachably connected to the connecting bar. Hence, it is possible to replace only the contact shoe and to continue using the connecting bar when the contact shoe is abrasively worn. Due to the necessary machining of the connecting bar in the area of the connecting end for forming the connecting cross section and the material weakening, the connecting end or rather the connecting bar is more expensive to produce in comparison to the contact shoe. As a result of the detachable connection of the contact shoe to the connecting bar, the contact bar then no longer needs to be discarded and can be reused instead when replacing the contact shoe due to a wear of the contact shoe. Forming such a contact piece is more expensive at first; however, it is less expensive after replacing the contact shoe than replacing two integrally formed contact pieces.

It can then be provided that the contact shoe is made of a material different from the material of the connecting bar. Materials can then be chosen for the connecting bar and the contact shoe which are more suitable regarding the physical conditions, to which the corresponding components are subjected, and are more cost-efficient, where possible.

A flange can be formed at the connecting bar, wherein a contact surface for the flange can be formed at the contact shoe. The flange formed at a lower end of the connecting bar can then be formed in such a manner that the contact shoe can extensively abut to the flange with its contact surface and can ensure a transmission of a traction current.

In a simple embodiment, the flange can be detachably connected to the contact shoe by means of a screw connection. The contact shoe can then be simply screwed to the flange or rather the connecting bar, whereby the contact shoe can be replaced particularly easily.

The contact shoe device for a current collector for transmitting energy from a conductor rail to a vehicle according to the invention comprises a contact piece according to one of the preceding claims and a connecting device for holding and connecting the contact piece to a current collector in an electrically conducting manner, wherein the connecting device comprises a contact piece receiver in which the connecting end of the connecting bar can be inserted, wherein the asymmetric insertion contour and a reception contour of the contact piece receiver are formed in such a manner that the contact piece can be detachably fastened solely at the connecting device in a predetermined position of use relative to a direction of travel of the vehicle. Concerning the advantages of the contact piece device according to the invention, reference is made to the description of advantageous embodiments of the contact piece according to the invention.

Thus, the asymmetric insertion contour of the connecting cross section can be formed advantageously in accordance with the reception contour of the contact piece receiver. The insertion contour and the reception contour are situated in a shared plane in an installation position of the contact piece and the contact piece receiver.

The connecting device can be formed from two receiving shells, wherein inner surfaces of the receiving shells form the contact piece receiver, and wherein the connecting end is arranged between the receiving shells and a clamping force is exerted on the connecting end by means of a screw connection. The connecting device is thereby formed particularly easily due to the two receiving shells, wherein it can be provided that the receiving shells are screwed together using screws and can thus exert the clamping force on the connecting end which is inserted into the connecting device between the receiving shells. Simultaneously, the screws can also serve to fasten the contact piece receiver at a swing arm of a current collector. Furthermore, a cable for discharging the traction current can be fastened at the connecting device or rather the receiving shells; for this purpose, it is necessary for only an inner thread, for example for installing a cable lug, to be formed in a receiving shell.

The connecting device can comprise an insertion element in which the connecting end can be inserted at least partially, wherein the insertion element can form the reception contour at least partially. The connecting device, for example, can be continually formed the same, with exception of the insertion element, wherein the connecting device can then be produced in a particularly cost-efficient manner. The insertion element can then form the reception contour in such a manner that in each case only the corresponding contact piece can be inserted into the contact piece receiver, depending on the type or position of the insertion element. The insertion element can be simply fastened to the connecting device by means of a pin connection or screw connection. The connecting device can also comprise a multifunctional insertion element, for example usable for different contact pieces depending on the position of the insertion element at the connecting device. In particular, the insertion element can form an asymmetric portion of the reception contour.

The connecting device can comprise a fuse element which can fixate the connecting end at the connecting device in an interlocking manner. The fuse element can be a pin or a screw which can be inserted into a recess in the connecting end which can form a further insertion contour.

The fuse element can thereby, at least partially, form a further reception contour which can be formed having a further insertion contour of a further connecting cross section for detachably connecting to the contact piece receiver.

Further advantageous embodiments of a contact piece device result from the dependent claims relating back to device claim 1.

The current collector, according to the invention, for transmitting energy from a conductor rail to a vehicle comprises a contact piece device according to the invention. Further advantageous embodiments of the current collector result from the dependent claims relating to device claim 13.

The vehicle according to the invention comprises at least two current collectors for transmitting energy from a conductor rail to a vehicle, wherein the current collectors each comprise a contact piece device according to the invention, wherein a first contact piece device compris5 es a first reception contour which is different from a second reception contour of a second contact piece device. Hence, it can at least be ensured that different contact pieces each intended for conductor rails are not confused and unintentionally installed at a current collector not intended for it. Further advantageous embodiments of a vehicle result from the dependent claims relating to device claim 13.

In the following, different embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the enclosed drawings.

In the figures

Fig. 1 shows: 15

Fig. 2 shows:

Fig. 3 shows:

Fig. 4 shows:

Fig. 5 shows:

Fig. 6 shows:

Fig. 7 shows:

Fig. 8 shows:

Fig. 9 shows:

a longitudinal sectional view of a contact piece device at a current collector along a line I-I according to

Fig. 2;

a cross-sectional view of the contact piece device along a line II-II according to Fig. 1;

a perspective view of a contact piece receiver;

a right side view of the contact piece receiver;

a frontal view of the contact piece receiver;

a left side view of the contact piece receiver;

a sectional view of a connecting bar along a line VII-VII according to Fig. 8;

a side view of a contact piece;

a top view of the contact piece;

Fig. 10 shows

Fig. 11 shows

Fig. 12 shows 5

Fig. 13 shows

Fig. 14 shows

Fig. 15 shows

Fig. 16 shows

Fig. 17 sh ows

Fig. 18 shows a detailed view of a connecting end according to

Fig· 8;

a third embodiment of a contact piece in a side view;

a side view of the contact piece along a line XII-XII according to Fig. 11;

a fourth embodiment of a contact piece in a side view;

a sectional view of the contact piece along a line XIV-XIV according to Fig. 13;

a top view of the contact piece;

a sectional view of the contact piece along a line XVI-XVI according to Fig. 15;

a frontal view of the contact piece;

a fifth embodiment of a contact piece in a front view.

A combined view of the Figs. 1 to 6 shows a contact piece device 10 at a current collector 11 only partially shown here. The contact piece device 10 comprises a contact piece 12 and a connecting device 13 which is fastened at a rocker 14 having arms 15 and 16 of the current collector 11. The contact piece 12 comprises a contact shoe 17 for forming a sliding contact having a conductor rail, not shown here, wherein in particular a lower side 18 of the contact shoe 17 abuts to the conductor rail. Furthermore, the contact piece 12 comprises a connecting bar 19 which is formed at the contact shoe 17 and which extends in a vertical direction. At an upper end 20 of the connecting bar 19, a connecting end 21 is formed by machining of the connecting bar 19. The connecting end

21 thereby comprises a connecting cross section 22 which forms an insertion contour not shown in more detail here. The insertion contour is formed in accordance with a reception contour of a contact piece receiv12 er 23 of the contact piece device 10, said reception contour also not shown in more detail here. The connecting cross section 22 or the insertion contour and the reception contour, respectively, are placed at the connecting device 13 in a shared plane 24 in the installation position of the contact piece 12 shown here. The connecting device 13 is formed by two receiving shells 25 and 26 and an insertion element 27. The insertion element 27 is fastened at the receiving shell 26 by means of a pin connection 28. Furthermore, thread bores 29 are formed at each receiving shell 25 and 26 for fastening a cable lug 30 which serves to transmit the traction current. Threaded bolts 31 and 32 are inserted in each of the receiving shells 25 and 26 in such a manner that the threaded bolt 31 connects the receiving shells 25 and 26 to the arm 15 and the threaded bolt 32 connects the receiving shells 25 and 26 to the arm 16. The threaded bolt 32 in particular serves to exert a clamping force on the receiving shells 25 and 26 via sleeves 33 and thus on the connecting end 21. Thus, an extensive electrically conducting contact and simultaneously a secure fastening of the connecting end 21 at the receiving shells 25 and 26 can be ensured.

The connecting end 21 comprises two extensions 34 and 35, varying in thickness and which engage around the threaded bolt 32 and each engage in correspondingly formed recesses 36 and 37, respectively, in the insertion element 27. Consequently, the extensions 34 and 35 form an asymmetric insertion contour in the shared plane 24. It is therefore not possible to completely insert the contact piece 12 turned around a longitudinal axis 38 by 180°, whereby a faulty installation of the contact piece 12 at the connecting device 13 can be prevented.

A further connecting cross section 39 is formed at the connecting end 21 in a further shared plane 40. The further connecting cross section 39 is formed by a milling at the connecting end 21, wherein a safety pin 42 is inserted through the receiving shells 25 and 26 into the milling 41. The receiving shells 25 and 26 comprise a through bore 43 for receiving the safety pin 42. The milling 41 thereby forms a further insertion contour, not shown in more detail here, of the further connecting cross section 39, wherein the safety pin 42 forms a further reception contour, not shown in more detail here, of the contact piece receiver 23. In particular the safety pin 42 can effectively prevent the contact piece 12 from falling out of the contact piece receiver 23.

A predetermined breaking point 44 is formed at the connecting bar 19 by machining of the connecting bar 19. In particular a transverse recess 45 is formed in the shape of an oblong hole 46 and a longitudinal recess 47 in the shape of bores 48 directly abutting to the connecting end 21 in the connecting bar 19.

The Figs. 7 and 10 show a second embodiment of a contact piece 49 which can generally be inserted into the afore-described contact piece receiver. The contact piece 49 also comprises a contact shoe 50 and a connecting bar 51 having a connecting end 52. An extension 53 of the connecting end 52 is formed wider than an extension 54, so that an asymmetric insertion contour, not shown in more detail here, is realized. A predetermined breaking point 55 is formed directly abutting to the connecting end 52 by machining, whereby a cross-sectional surface 56 of the predetermined breaking point 55 is formed in a breaking plane 57.

An oblong hole 58 and bores 59 are formed here as well. Furthermore, lateral millings 60 are provided.

The Figs. 11 and 12 show a third embodiment of a contact piece 61, wherein it can be seen here that lateral surfaces 62 of a connecting end 63 are also machined.

A fourth embodiment of a contact piece 64 is shown in the Figs. 13 to 17, wherein here, in contrast to the afore-described contact pieces, the contact piece 64 is formed in several pieces and a contact shoe 65 having a connecting bar 66 is connected via a flange 67 formed at the connecting bar 66. A contacting surface 68 is formed at the contact shoe 65, the flange 67 resting flat on said contacting surface 68. The contact shoe 65 is screwed together with the flange 67 using screws 69. The contact shoe 65 can thus be simply exchanged when necessary, without having to exchange the entire contact piece 64. Thus, the connecting bar 66 can still be used. As can be seen in Fig. 15, the contact piece 64 and in particular the contact shoe 65 comprise a front side 71 in relation to a direction of travel, marked here by an arrow 70, of a vehicle, not shown in more detail here, said front side 71 differing from a backside 72 regarding its shaping. In order to avoid a faulty installation of the contact shoe 65 at the flange 67, a variation in or an uneven forming of, respectively, the distances A and B of the screws 69 can be provided here. Further lateral flanks 73 of the contact shoe 65 of the contact piece 64 are formed comparatively flat.

Fig. 18 shows a contact piece 74 in a fifth embodiment, wherein the difference between the contact piece 74 and the afore-described contact piece essentially is that the contact piece 74 comprises comparatively steeper flanks 75.

Claims

Claims

1. A contact piece (12, 49, 61, 64, 74) for a current collector (11) for transmitting energy from a conductor rail to a vehicle, wherein the contact piece comprises a contact shoe (17, 50, 65) for forming a sliding contact with a conductor rail and a connecting bar (19, 51, 66), wherein the connecting bar is connected to a connecting device (13) for holding and connecting the contact piece to a current collector in an electrically conducting manner, wherein the connecting bar forms a connecting end (21, 52, 63) which can be inserted into a contact piece receiver (23) of the connecting device, characterized in that the connecting end comprises, at least in sections, a connecting cross section (22) having an insertion contour, which is asymmetric in relation to the connecting cross section, for detachably connecting to the contact piece receiver, wherein the connecting bar comprises a material weakening which forms a predetermined breaking (44, 45) point.
2. The contact piece according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting piece (21, 52, 63) comprises, at least in sections, a further connecting cross section (39) having a further insertion contour in relation to the further connecting cross section for detachably connecting to the contact piece receiver (23).
3. The contact piece according to claim 2, characterized in that the further insertion contour is formed by a recess (41) in the connecting end, wherein a fuse element (42) of the connecting device (13) can be inserted into the recess.
4. The contact piece according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the material weakening is formed adjacent to the connecting end (21, 52, 63) by machining, wherein a cross-sectional surface (56)
5 of the predetermined breaking point is comparatively smaller than a cross-sectional surface of the connecting end.

5. The contact piece according to claim 4, characterized in that the cross-sectional surface (56) of the predetermined breaking

10 point (44, 55) is formed between the contact shoe (17, 50, 65) and the connecting device (13) for transmitting a traction current.
6. The contact piece according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a section modulus of the connecting bar is formed comparatively

15 smaller at the predetermined breaking point (44, 55) in the direction of travel of the vehicle and/or the transverse direction than at the remaining connecting bars (19, 51, 66).
7. The contact piece according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

20 the material weakening is formed by transverse recesses (45) and/or longitudinal recesses (47) in the connecting bar (19, 51,

66) in relation to a cross-sectional surface (56) of the predetermined breaking point (44,55).
8. The contact piece according to any one of the preceding claims,

25 characterized in that the contact piece (12, 49, 61) is formed integrally.
9. The contact piece according to any one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the contact piece (64, 74) is formed in several parts, wherein the contact shoe (65) is detachably connected to the connecting bar (66).
10. The contact piece according to claim 9, characterized in that

5 the contact shoe (65) is made of a material different to the material used for the connecting bar (66).
11. The contact piece according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that a flange (67) is formed at the connecting bar (66), wherein a con10 tacting surface (68) is formed at the contact shoe (65) for the flange.
12. The contact piece according to claim 11 characterized in that the flange (67) is detachably connected to the contact shoe (65)

15 by means of a screw connection (69).
13. A contact piece device (10) for a current collector (11) for transmitting energy from a conductor rail to a vehicle, wherein the contact piece device comprises a contact piece (12, 49, 61, 64,

74) according to any one of the preceding claims and a connect20 ing device (13) for holding and connecting the contact piece to the current collector in an electrically conducting manner, wherein the connecting device comprises a contact piece receiver (23) in which the connecting end (21, 52, 63) of the connecting bar (19, 51, 66) is inserted, wherein the asymmetric insertion contour

25 and a reception contour of the contact piece receiver are formed in such a manner that the contact piece can be detachably fastened solely at the connecting device in a predetermined position of use relative to a direction of travel (70) of the vehicle.
14. The contact piece device according to claim 13, characterized in that the insertion contour is formed in accordance with the reception contour.

5 15. The contact piece device according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the connecting device (13) is formed by two receiving shells (25, 26), wherein inner surfaces of the receiving shells form the contact piece receiver (23), and wherein the connecting end (21, 52,

10 63) is arranged between the receiving shells and a clamping force can be exerted on the connecting end by means of a screw connection (3 1, 32).

16. The contact piece device according to one of the claims 13 to 15, characterized in that
15 the connecting device (13) comprises an insertion element (27) in which the connecting end (21, 52, 63) is at least partially inserted, wherein the insertion element at least partially forms the reception contour.
17. The contact piece device according to one of the claims 13 to 16,

20 characterized in that the connecting device (13) comprises a fuse element (42) which can fixate the connecting end at the connecting device in an interlocking manner.
18. The contact piece device according to claim 17,

25 characterized in that the fuse element (42) at least partially forms a further reception contour which is formed having a further insertion contour of a further connecting cross section (39) for detachably connecting to the contact piece receiver (23).
19. A current collector (11) for transmitting energy from a conductor rail to a vehicle, characterized in that the current collector comprises a contact piece device (10) ac5 cording to any one of the claims 13 to 18.
20. A vehicle having at least two current collectors (11) for transmitting energy from a conductor rail to a vehicle, characterized in that the current collectors each comprise a contact piece device (10)

10 according to any one of the claims 13 to 18, wherein a first contact piece device comprises a first reception contour which differs from a second reception contour of a second contact piece device.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB1616139.0 Examiner: Mr Gareth John