Pantograph carriage for collecting electric power from a flexible cable

Abstract

The subject of the invention is a pantograph carriage for collecting electrical power from a flexible cable (2), comprising at least two conductors (3) partially molded into a flexible matting, the flexible matting forming flexible lips (2a) in the uncovered parts of the conductors, wherein the carriage is provided with a load-bearing element (11), the load-bearing element being equipped with at least two load-bearing rollers (7, 14, 16), at least one roller rolling on the top surface of the flexible cable (2), characterized in that the pantograph carriage comprises at least two sliding drives (6) attached to the load-bearing element (8, 11), the sliding drives entering, in their operating position, the space between the flexible lips (2a) of the cable (2) and contacting the conductors (3) with their sliding surfaces, wherein at least one opening element (1, 4, 5) is provided to open the flexible lips (2a) of the cable (2) so as to form a space for the sliding drives (6) to enter.

Description

[0001] The subject of the present invention is a pantograph carriage for moving and continuously transferring electrical power from a flexible cable to an electrical receiver, such as a gantry crane, trolleybus or other vehicle, while ensuring a small offset resistance and a firm electrical coupling. The carriage according to the invention ensures safe contact power supply for a moving electrical receiver moving along a specified route, such as a bus (trolleybus), suspended and cable transport carriages, loaders in mines, automatic systems for crop handling and harvesting in agriculture, self-propelled cranes, gantry cranes, transport carriages, etc., as well as for use in field conditions and for temporary use, such as at construction sites or in agricultural fields and orchards.

[0002] Contact-based wired power supply systems for vehicles (such as trams, railway engines, trolleybuses, subways) typically use non-insulated power lines at the top and draw power from them using pantographs, tilting pantographs or, especially in the case of trolleybuses, pantographs with contact shoes. Subway systems typically use the so-called third rail as their power source. Power supplies provided by rigid conductors preceded those using flexible power lines. A metal tube with a diameter of about 20 - 25 cm and a slit at the bottom was one of the early forms of an overhead power supply system. The moving vehicle pulled a core that moved inside the tube, where the vehicle was connected to the tube via a flexible cable. A two-pole power supply system provided by two parallel tubes was commonly used. The tubes were attached to a carrier rope. This system was developed by Siemens and was first presented during the International Electricity Exhibition in Paris in 1881. Rigid conductors were first used in the national railway network on the Baltimore Loop of the downtown line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (USA) and were used for a short time after electrification in 1895. A Z-shaped metal profile was used as the traction cable, and the engine was equipped with a special receiver (subsequently, the so-called "third rail" was introduced). The power supply of overhead lines had to be rather complex initially, such as the system of Charles J. Van Depoele, where electricity was collected using a tram that surrounded the line with side rollers (US Patent Publication US 336453). Although such receivers were quickly replaced by newer and more efficient designs, they are one of the two American names for trams - the origin of the tram.

[0003] After the discovery of the trolley pole (used by Frank J. Sprague on the Franklin Street Railway in Richmond in 1888) and the contact pole (e.g., the Bügelstromabnehmer by Werner von Siemens around 1890), the power supply of overhead lines became simpler. The pole with a contact point didn't have to look like a lyre, it could also be rectangular (e.g., used on the Stockholm - Djursholm line, in the three - phase line - a design with an additional frame, until recently they were used for trams in Rome). The trolley pole and contact pole technologies are linked by a common idea - the contact between the pole and the drive line is achieved through the flexible design of the pole itself. However, as we have already mentioned, both technologies require different types of overhead lines. The invention of the pantograph, dating back to the early 20th century, doesn't seem to have had a significant impact on adapting the shape of the overhead line for contact poles.

[0004] Before being used for trolleybus lines, if the city didn't approve the use of power supply tracks for this purpose, two - pole power supply (two overhead lines) was used in some tram networks, e.g., in Tokyo, Cincinnati, Havana (two - pole power supply system). One of the variants includes power supply without the so - called "zero" line, e.g., used for the Tábor–Bechyně railway line in the Czech Republic One line operates at +700V and the other at –700V.

[0005] Document US446833A provides a suitable structure for a suspended or overhead conductor suitable for an electric railway, resulting in the advantages of strength, durability, simplicity, low resistance, and low structural cost. In this disclosure, one or more support and power supply conductors or cables are suspended, and one or more working conductors are suspended from it or them, which are suspended at a fixed distance from the track, substantially parallel to the track.

[0006] Document GB398602A provides a protective device for a live rail. It consists of two steel bars. Usually, they are in a contact state, suitable for being separated by a sliding current collector and closing behind the latter. The steel bars are carried by spring brackets, which can be covered with a layer of flexible insulating material that extends along all brackets, forming a lateral protective device for the rail.

[0007] Document DE102006027906A1 discloses a current collector having two pairs of current collector rollers arranged in series and together in a flat angle, where the edges of the rollers have a positive semi - circular cross - section.

[0008] Document CH712610A2 discloses a drive line for a trackless electric vehicle, wherein the drive line, as a conductor pair, is realized by the installation of a pair of spaced horizontal lines opposite to the drive, an inner tap for a suitable contact gap of the voltage, wherein the current collector for the contact gap of the catenary is upwardly tapered and consists of an insulator, two dissipation cables, and a carbon or graphite shoe in contact with the drive line, wherein the tip of the pantograph is the drive line.

[0009] Document US 2013 / 192944A1 discloses a vehicle connected to an overhead power structure for powering and guiding the vehicle. The overhead power structure includes a tram, a track along which the tram runs, a power source connected to the track, and a cable connected to the tram and configured to be attached to a vehicle moving on a surface.

[0010] Document EP3498519A1 discloses a current collection device for a train, including a current collection arm and a current return arm connected to a bogie.

[0011] There is still a need in the field, as well as in field conditions and temporary use scenarios, for a new pantograph carriage for the smooth transfer of power from a flexible cable to an electrical receiver, wherein such an electrical receiver can be used in contact power supply systems of vehicles such as trams, railway engines, trolleybuses, subway vehicles, suspended and line transport carriages, etc.

[0012] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to develop a design of a pantograph carriage for the mobile and continuous transfer of power from a flexible cable to an electrical receiver.

[0013] Therefore, the object of the present invention is a pantograph carriage for collecting power from a flexible cable, including at least two wires partially molded into a flexible pad net, the flexible pad net forming a flexible lip in the uncovered part of the wire, wherein the carriage is provided with a bearing element, the bearing element being equipped with at least two bearing rollers, at least one roller rolling on the top surface of the flexible cable, characterized in that the pantograph carriage includes at least two sliding drivers, the sliding drivers entering the space between the flexible lips of the cable in their working positions and contacting the wires with their sliding surfaces, wherein at least one opening element is provided to open the flexible lips of the cable so as to form a space for the sliding drivers to enter.

[0014] The opening element is preferably shaped as a plate with blades, the edges of the blades being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cable, and by means of the blades inserted between the flexible lips of the flexible cable, the blades rotate about an axis perpendicular to the blade edges of the plate, thereby forming a space for the sliding drivers to enter.

[0015] The opening element is preferably a wedge, which is inserted between the flexible cable lips to form a space into which the sliding drive can be inserted.

[0016] The opening element is preferably a turntable that rotates about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the longitudinal axis passing through the wire, such that the blades of the turntable enter between the flexible cable lips, thereby forming a space for the sliding drive located on the turntable on the side opposite to the axis of rotation of the turntable, and the sliding drive contacts the wire.

[0017] Preferably, there are at least two opening elements for the wire, and the opening elements are separated from each other at a certain distance along the flexible cable.

[0018] The scissor arm with a carrying roller is preferably attached to the carrying element.

[0019] The carrying element preferably includes a straight rod, the longitudinal axis of which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the flexible cable and parallel to the plane of the longitudinal axis passing through the wire. Two symmetrically movable carrying roller brackets move along its longitudinal axis and are placed such that the carrying rollers are placed at the ends of the brackets, so that once the brackets are fully moved in, the roller surface contacts the top surface of the flexible cable, and when moved out, the entire carriage can move downward.

[0020] The carrying element preferably includes a rigid frame, the cross-section of which is U-shaped towards the longitudinal axis of the flexible cable. A rod including the axis of the carrying roller is attached as a rotating element to the end of the rigid frame arm, so as to rotate about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the flexible cable. In the vertical position of the rod with the carrying element, the entire carriage can move downward, and after the rod rotates towards the flexible cable together with the carrying roller, the roller surface contacts the top surface of the flexible cable.

[0021] The carrying element preferably includes a split and separable frame having a fixed part and a movable rod, wherein the axis of the carrying roller is provided at the free ends of the arms of the two parts, so that once the rod is removed from the frame, the entire carriage can move downward, and when pressed together, the surface of the carrying roller contacts the top surface of the flexible cable.

[0022] The carrying roller can preferably be a driven roller or an idle roller.

[0023] The carriage is preferably suspended on four sets of symmetrically arranged driven and idle carrying rollers located on both sides of the flexible cable, with two rollers opposite to each other, and the distance between the terminals and the adjacent groups is at least twice that between the internal groups.

[0024] The carriage is preferably suspended on a top bearing roller that presses against the flexible cable via a bottom pressing roller, where the bottom pressing roller can be a driven roller or an idle roller.

[0025] The bearing roller is preferably a gear for transferring power from the carriage to the flexible cable using a track tensioned between the gears, where the track moves symmetrically along the longitudinal axis of the flexible cable and along the surface of the flexible cable.

[0026] The driving of the pantograph carriage is preferably achieved using a gear that meshes with a rack integrated into the ad hoc flexible cable and placed on its surface.

[0027] The pantograph carriage for collecting power from the flexible cable is presented in the embodiment in the figure, where:

[0028] Figure 1 A functional diagram of the opening element in the form of plate 1;

[0029] Figure 2 A functional diagram of the opening element in the form of a wedge 4 with blades;

[0030] Figure 3 A functional diagram of the opening element in the form of a disk 5 with blades;

[0031] Figure 4 A functional diagram of the scissor arm 8 of the carriage according to the present invention, where the bearing roller of the carriage 7 is installed in the bearing at the arm end;

[0032] Figure 5 Shows how the carriage is attached if the carriage is provided with a straight rod 9 whose axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the flexible cable 2 and parallel to the plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the conductor 3.

[0033] Figure 6 Shows how the carriage is attached, where the carriage is provided with a rigid carriage frame 11 whose cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the flexible cable 2 is U-shaped;

[0034] Figure 7 Shows how the carriage is attached, where the carriage is provided with a split movable carriage frame that has a fixed part - a fixed carriage frame 12 and a movable rod 13;

[0035] Figure 8 Shows how the carriage is suspended on four sets of symmetrically arranged driven rollers 7 and idle rollers 14;

[0036] Figure 9 Shows a carriage suspension system with a top bearing driven roller 7 and a bottom pressing roller 15;

[0037] Figure 10Shows the power and force transmission from the carriage to the flexible cable 2 through two tracks 17 tensioned between gears 16;

[0038] Figure 11 Shows the carriage power transmission through gear 16, which meshes with a rack 18 integrated into the flexible cable 2 and placed on its bottom surface.

[0039] Figure 12 Shows a complete pantograph carriage according to the present invention.

[0040] List of reference numerals:

[0041] 1 Plate

[0042] 2 Flexible cable

[0043] 2a Flexible lip

[0044] 3 Conductive wire

[0045] 4 Wedge

[0046] 5 Disc

[0047] 6 Sliding drive

[0048] 7 Driven roller

[0049] 8 Scissor arm

[0050] 9 Straight rod

[0051] 10 Roller bracket

[0052] 11 Load-bearing element

[0053] 12 Fixed part of the movable frame

[0054] 13 Movable rod

[0055] 14 Idler roller

[0056] 15 Bottom pressing roller

[0057] 16 Gear

[0058] 17 Rail

[0059] 18 Rack.

[0060] Example

[0061] Figure 12 Shows a complete pantograph carriage according to the present invention, showing the flexible cable 2, the conductive wire 3, the wedge 4, the sliding drive 6, the driven roller 7 and the load-bearing element 11.

[0062] Figure 1A functional diagram of an opening element in the form of a plate 1 is shown. The plate is separated by a distance L between the flexible lips 2a of the flexible cable 2 in its horizontal position and slides in pairs, and then rotates in the vertical direction about an axis perpendicular to the blade edge, thereby forming a window in which a sliding drive can be placed.

[0063] Figure 2 A functional diagram of an opening element in the form of a wedge 4 with blades is shown. The wedge 4 is separated by a distance L along the flexible cable 2 and rotates about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the longitudinal axis passing through the wire 3, such that the wedge blades 4 enter the space between the flexible lips 2a of the flexible cable 2, thereby forming a space for the sliding drive 6.

[0064] Figure 3 A functional diagram of an opening element in the form of a disk 5 with blades is shown, where the disk 5 rotates about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the longitudinal axis passing through the wire 3, such that the blades of the disk 5 enter between the flexible lips 2a of the flexible cable 2, thereby forming a space for the sliding drive 6 existing on the side of the blade opposite to the axis of rotation of the disk, and the sliding drive 6 contacts the wire 3.

[0065] Figure 4 A functional diagram of the scissor arm 8 of the carriage according to the present invention is shown, where the load-bearing rollers 7 of the carriage are mounted in bearings at the ends of the arms. In the unconnected position of the carriage, the scissor arm 8 is rotatably connected to a rotation axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the flexible cable 2 and symmetric to the wire 3, while the driven rollers 7 of the carriage 7 are mounted in bearings at the ends of the scissor arm 8 opposite to the rotation axis, transferring at least the weight load of the carriage to the elastic cable 2, where the axes of these driven rollers 7 of the carriage are positioned such that after the scissor arm 8 rotates about the rotation axis, the surface of the driven roller 7 contacts the top surface of the flexible cable 2.

[0066] Figure 5 The attachment of the carriage according to the present invention is shown. If the carriage is provided with a straight rod 9, the axis of the straight rod is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the flexible cable 2 and parallel to the plane of the longitudinal axis passing through the wire 3, where two symmetric movable brackets 10 of the load-bearing rollers move along their longitudinal axes, and the driven rollers 7 are mounted in bearings at the ends of the brackets, arranged such that after the brackets 10 are fully inserted, the surface of the driven roller 7 contacts the top surface of the flexible cable 2, and after the brackets are withdrawn, the entire system can move downward.

[0067] Figure 6 The attachment of the carriage is shown. The carriage is provided with a rigid load-bearing element 11 of the carriage, which is U-shaped in cross-section towards the longitudinal axis of the flexible cable 2. Two rods including the axes of the driven rollers 10 are attached as rotating elements at the ends of the arms of the load-bearing element 11. In the vertical position of these rods with the driven rollers 7, the entire system can move downward, and after the rods rotate together with the driven rollers 7 (where the roller 7 faces the flexible cable 2), the surface of the roller 7 contacts the top surface of the flexible cable 2.

[0068] Figure 7 Shows the attachment of the carriage according to the present invention, the carriage being provided with a separate movable carriage frame with a fixed frame 12 - a fixed carriage frame and a movable rod 13, and the two parts together having a U-shaped cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the flexible cable 2, where the shaft with the driven roller 7 is placed at the ends of the free edges of the two frames such that once moved against the fixed frame 12 outside the movable rod 13, the whole system can move downwards, and once moved inside, the surface of the driven roller 7 contacts the top surface of the flexible cable 2.

[0069] Figure 8 Shows the attachment of the carriage according to the present invention on four sets of symmetrically arranged driven rollers 7 and idler rollers 14 located on both sides of the flexible cable 2, two rollers being opposite each other, where the distance between the terminals and between adjacent sets is at least twice the distance between the inner sets.

[0070] Figure 9 Shows a carriage suspension system having a top - bearing driven roller 7 and a bottom - pressing roller 15;

[0071] Figure 10 Shows the power and force transmission from the carriage to the flexible cable 2 through two tracks 17 tensioned between gears 16, where the tracks 17 move along the flexible cable 2 symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the flexible cable 2 and on its top surface.

[0072] Figure 11 Shows the power transmission of the carriage according to the present invention, which is achieved by the gears 16 meshing with a rack 18 integrated into the flexible cable 2 and placed on its bottom surface.

Claims

1. A pantograph carriage for collecting electric power from a flexible cable (2), said flexible cable comprising at least two conductors (3) partially moulded into a flexible cushion net, said flexible cushion net forming a flexible lip (2a) in the uncovered part of the conductors, wherein said carriage is provided with a load-bearing element (11), characterized in that, The load-carrying element (11) is equipped with at least two load-carrying rollers (7, 14, 16), at least one of which rolls on the top surface of the flexible cable (2), and the carriage further includes at least two sliding drives (6) attached to the load-carrying element (8, 11), which enter the space between the flexible lips (2a) of the flexible cable (2) in their working positions and contact the conductor (3) with their sliding surfaces, wherein at least one opening element (1, 4, 5) is provided to open the flexible lips (2a) of the flexible cable (2) so as to form a space for the sliding drives (6) to enter.

2. The carriage according to claim 1, characterized in that, The opening element (1, 4, 5) is a plate (1) with blades, the edges of the blades being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the flexible cable (2), and the blades inserted between the flexible lips (2a) of the flexible cable (2) rotate about an axis perpendicular to the blade edges of the plate (1), thereby forming a space for the sliding drives (6) to enter.

3. The carriage according to claim 1, characterized in that, The opening element (1, 4, 5) is a wedge (4), which is inserted between the flexible lips (2a) of the flexible cable (2), thereby forming a space into which the sliding drives (6) can be inserted.

4. The carriage according to claim 1, wherein The opening element (1, 4, 5) is a turntable (5), which rotates about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the longitudinal axis passing through the conductor (3), such that the blades of the turntable (5) enter between the flexible lips (2a) of the flexible cable (2), thereby forming a space for the sliding drives (6) located on the turntable (5) on the side opposite to the axis of rotation of the turntable (5), and the sliding drives (6) contact the conductor (3).

5. The carriage according to claim 1, characterized in that, There are at least two opening elements (1, 4, 5) for the conductor (3), and the opening elements are separated from each other at a certain distance along the flexible cable (2).

6. The carriage according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, A scissor arm (8) having load-carrying rollers (7, 14, 16) is attached to the load-carrying element (11).

7. The carriage according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The load-carrying element (11) includes a straight rod (9), the longitudinal axis of which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the flexible cable (2) and parallel to the plane of the longitudinal axis passing through the conductor (3), wherein two symmetrical movable brackets (10) of the load-carrying rollers (7, 14, 16) move along their longitudinal axes, and the load-carrying rollers (7, 14, 16) are placed at the ends of the brackets such that once the brackets are fully moved in, the surfaces of the load-carrying rollers (7, 14, 16) contact the top surface of the flexible cable (2), and when moved out, the entire carriage can move downward.

8. The carriage according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The load-carrying element (11) includes a rigid frame, the cross-section of which is U-shaped towards the longitudinal axis of the flexible cable (2), wherein rods including the axes of the load-carrying rollers (7, 14, 16) are attached as rotating elements to the ends of the rigid-frame arms so as to rotate about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the flexible cable (2), wherein in the vertical position of the rods with the load-carrying rollers (7, 14, 16), the entire carriage can move downwards, and after the rods together with the load-carrying rollers (7, 14, 16) rotate towards the flexible cable (2), the surfaces of the load-carrying rollers (7, 14, 16) contact the top surface of the flexible cable (2).

9. The carriage according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The load-carrying element (11) includes a split and separable frame having a fixed part (12) and a movable rod (13), wherein the axes of the load-carrying rollers (7, 14, 16) are provided at the free ends of the arms of the fixed part (12) and the movable rod (13) of the frame of the load-carrying element (11), such that once the movable rod (13) is moved away from the fixed part (12) of the frame, the entire carriage can move downwards, and when pressed together, the surfaces of the load-carrying rollers (7, 14, 16) contact the top surface of the flexible cable (2).

10. The carriage according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The load-carrying rollers (7, 14, 16) are driven load-carrying rollers (7) or idler load-carrying rollers (14).

11. The carriage according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The carriage is suspended on four sets of symmetrically arranged driven load-carrying rollers (7) and idler load-carrying rollers (14) located on both sides of the flexible cable (2), wherein two rollers face each other, and the distance between the terminals and adjacent groups is at least twice that between the inner groups.

12. The carriage according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The carriage is suspended on the load-carrying rollers (7, 14, 16) at the top that are pressed against the flexible cable (2) by the pressing roller (15) at the bottom, wherein the pressing roller (15) at the bottom is a driven roller or an idler roller.

13. The carriage according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The load-carrying rollers (7, 14, 16) are gears (16) for transferring power from the carriage to the flexible cable (2) using a track (17) tensioned between the gears (16), wherein the track (17) moves symmetrically along the longitudinal axis of the flexible cable (2) and along the surface of the flexible cable (2).

14. The carriage according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The flexible cable (2) includes a rack (18), and the carriage includes a drive, the drive including a gear (16) that meshes with the rack (18) integrated into the ad hoc flexible cable and placed on its surface.

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