Tension balancer for overhead lines

Abstract

Provided is a tension balancer for an overhead wire that reduces hysteresis loss in its deflection-load characteristics, thereby increasing the stroke length within a set load range. The tension balancer comprises: a plurality of coaxially arranged cylindrical components, comprising at least an outer cylindrical component 101 and an inner first intermediate cylindrical component 102, coaxially arranged with a gap in the radial direction; an outer coil spring 105 that applies an elastic force to the first intermediate cylindrical component 102 against axial movement relative to the outer cylindrical component 101; an outer spring washer 102a that supports the outer coil spring 105; and a support component 201 that slidably supports the outer cylindrical component 101 and the first intermediate cylindrical component 102 in the axial direction. The support component 201 rotatably supports a ball 201b, with a portion of the ball 201b protruding toward the outer cylindrical component 101 beyond the outer spring washer 102a.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a tension balancer for an overhead wire for applying tension to an overhead wire. Background Art

[0002] Overhead wire tension balancers are known that use coil springs to apply tension to overhead wires of railways, etc. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an overhead wire tension balancer in which coil springs are interposed between a plurality of coaxially arranged cylindrical members.

[0003] Prior art literature

[0004] Patent Literature

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-296795. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0007] However, conventional overhead wire tension balancers have presented the following challenges: Hysteresis loss occurs in the deflection-load characteristics of the overhead wire tension balancer during expansion and contraction, primarily due to frictional resistance between the inner circumference of the tension balancer's cylindrical member and the spring washer supporting the coil spring. This hysteresis loss sometimes prevents conventional overhead wire tension balancers from ensuring a stroke length sufficient to accommodate the increased expansion and contraction of the overhead wire within the specified load range.

[0008] In this context, an object of the present invention is to provide a tension balancer for an overhead wire that can adapt to the need for increasing the stroke length within a set load range by reducing the hysteresis loss of the deflection-load characteristic.

[0009] Solutions to Problems

[0010] The present invention is characterized in that a tension balancer for an overhead line comprises: a plurality of coaxially arranged cylindrical components, which include at least an outer first cylindrical component and an inner second cylindrical component coaxially arranged with a gap therebetween in the radial direction; a coil spring that imparts elastic force to the axial movement of the second cylindrical component relative to the first cylindrical component; a spring washer that supports the coil spring; and a support component that slidably supports the first cylindrical component and the second cylindrical component in the axial direction. In the tension balancer for the overhead line, the support component supports a ball so that it can rotate freely, so that a portion of the ball protrudes further toward the first cylindrical component side or the second cylindrical component side than the spring washer.

[0011] In the overhead wire tension balancer of the present invention, the support member rotatably supports the ball, causing a portion of the ball to protrude further toward the first or second tubular member than the spring washer. Therefore, when the spring washer vibrates toward the first tubular member, the ball contacts the inner circumferential surface of the first or second tubular member, and the ball rotates in response to the relative movement of the second tubular member relative to the first tubular member. The frictional resistance at this time is solely that between the ball and the support member, and thus is relatively low. Consequently, the hysteresis loss of the deflection-load characteristic is reduced, and the stroke length can be increased within a set load range.

[0012] Here, the spring washer and the support member can become one body to support the coil spring. Specifically, by making the support member contact with the spring washer and making the end of the coil spring contact with the support member, the coil spring is supported by the support member and the spring washer. In addition, the spring washer can be formed by the support member. For example, the support member can be formed by a disc spring, and the two support members are made to face each other and support the ball freely rotating at their edges. Furthermore, a plurality of coil springs can be provided in the axial direction, and the support members can be interposed between the coil springs. In addition, if the first tube member is subjected to a surface treatment such as hot-dip aluminum plating to reduce the friction coefficient, the rolling friction resistance of the ball relative to the first tube member is reduced, which can further reduce the hysteresis loss of the deflection-load characteristic.

[0013] Effects of the Invention

[0014] According to the present invention, there is provided a tension balancer for an overhead wire, which increases the stroke length within a set load range and can adapt to an increase in the expansion and contraction amount of the overhead wire. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 This is a side sectional view of the overhead wire tension balancer according to the embodiment.

[0016] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Cross-sectional view along line II-II.

[0017] Figure 3 is Figure 2 The arrow III shows an enlarged view of the portion.

[0018] Figure 4 It shows Figure 3 FIG. 1 is a diagram of an example of a change. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] (constitute)

[0020] Hereinafter, an example of the basic structure of the overhead wire tension balancer to which the present invention is applied will be described. Figure 1In FIG. 1 , a tension balancer 100 for an overhead line is shown. Figure 2 The overhead wire tension balancer 100 includes four coaxially arranged cylindrical members: an outer cylindrical member (first cylindrical member) 101, a first intermediate cylindrical member (second cylindrical member) 102, a second intermediate cylindrical member 103, and an inner cylindrical member 104.

[0021] A compressed outer coil spring 105 is housed in the gap between the outer tubular member 101 and the first intermediate tubular member 102. The left end of the outer coil spring 105 contacts an outer auxiliary washer 201, which in turn contacts an outer spring washer 102a welded to the outer circumference of the first intermediate tubular member 102. The outer auxiliary washer 201 rotatably supports a ball 201b between two annular support members 201a. A portion of the ball 201b protrudes from the support members 201a toward the outer tubular member 101, and the radial tip of the ball 201b protrudes further toward the outer tubular member 101 than the outer spring washer 102a.

[0022] Furthermore, an outer spring washer 102a is welded to the inner surface of the outer cylindrical member 101 at the right end of the outer coil spring 105, and an outer auxiliary washer 201 is in contact with the outer spring washer 102a. The outer auxiliary washer 201 rotatably supports a ball 201b between two annular support members 201a. A portion of the ball 201b protrudes from the support members 201a toward the first intermediate cylindrical member 102, and the radial tip of the ball 201b protrudes further toward the first intermediate cylindrical member 102 than the outer spring washer 102a.

[0023] In the gap between the first intermediate cylinder member 102 and the second intermediate cylinder member 103, an intermediate coil spring 106 is accommodated in a compressed state. Figure 1 In the state shown in FIG, the left end of the intermediate coil spring 106 contacts the intermediate auxiliary washer 202, which in turn contacts the intermediate spring washer 103a welded to the outer circumference of the second intermediate cylindrical member 103. The intermediate auxiliary washer 202 rotatably supports the ball 202b between two annular support members 202a. A portion of the ball 202b protrudes from the support member 202a toward the first intermediate cylindrical member 102, and the radial tip of the ball 202b protrudes further toward the first intermediate cylindrical member 102 than the intermediate spring washer 103a.

[0024] Furthermore, an intermediate spring washer 103a is welded to the inner surface of the first intermediate cylindrical member 102 at the right end of the intermediate coil spring 106, and an intermediate auxiliary washer 202 contacts the intermediate spring washer 103a. The outer auxiliary washer 202 rotatably supports a ball 202b between two annular support members 202a. A portion of the ball 202b protrudes from the support members 202a toward the second intermediate cylindrical member 103, and the radial tip of the ball 202b protrudes further toward the second intermediate cylindrical member 103 than the outer spring washer 103a.

[0025] In the gap between the second intermediate cylinder member 103 and the inner cylinder member 104, the inner coil spring 107 is housed in a compressed state. Figure 1 In the state shown in FIG, the left end of the inner coil spring 107 contacts the inner auxiliary washer 203, which in turn contacts the inner spring washer 104a welded to the outer circumference of the inner tubular member 104. The inner auxiliary washer 203 rotatably supports the ball 203b between two annular support members 203a. A portion of the ball 203b protrudes from the support member 203a toward the second intermediate tubular member 103, and the radial tip of the ball 203b protrudes further toward the second intermediate tubular member 103 than the intermediate spring washer 104a.

[0026] Furthermore, an inner spring washer 104a is welded to the inner surface of the second intermediate cylindrical member 103 at the right end of the inner coil spring 107, and an inner auxiliary washer 203 contacts the inner spring washer 104a. The inner auxiliary washer 203 rotatably supports a ball 203b between two annular support members 203a. A portion of the ball 203b protrudes from the support members 203a toward the inner cylindrical member 104, and the radial tip of the ball 201b protrudes further toward the inner cylindrical member 104 than the inner spring washer 104a.

[0027] Furthermore, grease is applied or filled as a lubricant to the portions of the outer coil spring 105, the middle coil spring 106, and the inner coil spring 107 that contact the tubular member so as not to hinder relative sliding movement therebetween. The lubricant is not limited to grease as long as it has a lubricating function.

[0028] exist Figure 1 An overhead wire mounting member 108 is fixed to the right end surface of the inner cylindrical member 104. The overhead wire mounting member 108 includes bolts 108a, and an overhead wire (not shown) is mounted to the overhead wire mounting member 108 using these bolts 108a. While railway overhead wires are exemplified as examples of overhead wires, other applications such as power lines, signal transmission lines, and support lines may also be employed.

[0029] The overhead wire tension balancer 100 is supported on a support column (not shown) by a support column mounting member 109. Specifically, a cover 111 is secured to the left end opening of the outer cylinder member 101. This cover 111 closes the opening, preventing the first intermediate cylinder member 102, the second intermediate cylinder member 103, and the inner cylinder member 104 from falling out of the outer cylinder member 101. The support column mounting member 109 is secured to the cover 111 by welding. The cover 111 is securely supported by a U-shaped rod 110 inserted from above into a mounting hole formed in the outer cylinder member 101, preventing it from falling out of the outer cylinder member 101. Bolts 109a are attached to the support column mounting member 109, securing the overhead wire tension balancer 100 to the support column. Reference numeral 112 in the figure denotes a reinforcement member welded to the outer cylinder member 101.

[0030] (Function of overhead line tension balancer)

[0031] exist Figure 1 The overhead wire mounting member 108 of the overhead wire tension balancer 100 shown in FIG is mounted with an overhead wire. In this state, the overhead wire mounting member 108 is relatively pulled to the right in the figure due to the weight of the overhead wire and the force pulling the overhead wire to the right in the figure.

[0032] On the other hand, the outer coil spring 105, the middle coil spring 106, and the inner coil spring 107 are in a compressed state. Therefore, in order to pull the inner tube member 104, the second middle tube member 103, and the first middle tube member 102 to the right in the figure, a force is required to overcome the elastic force of the outer coil spring 105, the middle coil spring 106, and the inner coil spring 107. The reaction force of this force becomes the tension acting on the overhead wire mounted on the overhead wire mounting member 108, that is, the tension that pulls the overhead wire to the left in the figure. Figure 1 The tension of the overhead wire (not shown) stretched to the right of the figure acts on the wire. For example, if the overhead wire expands or contracts or moves up and down, the overhead wire mounting member 108 moves left or right in the figure, but this is absorbed by the expansion and contraction of the outer coil spring 105, the middle coil spring 106, and the inner coil spring 107.

[0033] If the overhead wire mounting member 108 moves left or right in the diagram, the inner cylindrical member 104, the second intermediate cylindrical member 103, and the first intermediate cylindrical member 102 also move left or right in the diagram. At this point, the inner cylindrical member 104, the second intermediate cylindrical member 103, and the first intermediate cylindrical member 102 are not fixed to each other but supported by coil springs. Therefore, they tilt slightly due to their own weight, causing them to vibrate in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction. Conventionally, this caused the spring washer to contact the inner circumference of the cylindrical member, resulting in significant hysteresis loss in the deflection-load characteristic.

[0034] In the overhead wire tension balancer 100 configured as described above, when the inner cylindrical member 104, the second intermediate cylindrical member 103, and the first intermediate cylindrical member 102 vibrate in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, the balls 203b of the inner auxiliary washer 203 contact the inner circumferential surface of the second intermediate cylindrical member 103, the balls 202b of the intermediate auxiliary washer 202 contact the inner circumferential surface of the first intermediate cylindrical member 102, and the balls 201b of the outer auxiliary washer 201 contact the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylindrical member 101. In this case, the frictional resistance during these contacts is lower than the frictional resistance when the spring washers 102a, etc., contact the outer cylindrical member 101, etc. Consequently, the hysteresis loss of the deflection-load characteristic is reduced, allowing the stroke length to be increased within the set load range.

[0035] (Change Example)

[0036] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made.

[0037] For example, in the above embodiment, the outer spring washer 102a is provided, but it can be omitted and the left end support member 201a of the outer auxiliary washer 201 can be welded to the first intermediate cylinder member 102. The same applies to the intermediate spring washer 103a and the inner spring washer 104a.

[0038] The outer spring washer 102a can be formed by the support member 201a. Figure 4 As shown in FIG, support member 201a is formed of a disc spring. Two support members 201a face each other, and their edges rotatably support ball 201b. The left support member 201a is then welded to the first intermediate cylindrical member 102. The same applies to the intermediate spring washer 103a and the inner spring washer 104a. With this configuration, the outer spring washers 102a, etc., of the above-described embodiment can be omitted, reducing the number of parts.

[0039] By subjecting the outer tubular member 101 to a surface treatment that reduces the coefficient of friction, such as hot-dip aluminum plating, the rolling frictional resistance of the ball 201a relative to the outer tubular member 101 is reduced, further reducing the hysteresis loss of the deflection-load characteristic. Furthermore, multiple outer coil springs 105 can be provided in the axial direction, and outer auxiliary washers 201 can be positioned between the outer coil springs 105.

[0040] Industrial applicability

[0041] The present invention can be used in a tension balancer for an overhead line.

[0042] Explanation of symbols

[0043] 100...Tension balancer for overhead wire, 101...Outer cylinder member (first cylinder member), 102...First intermediate cylinder member (second cylinder member), 102a...Outer spring washer, 103...Second intermediate cylinder member, 103a...Intermediate spring washer, 104...Inner cylinder member, 104a...Inner spring washer, 105...Outer coil spring, 106...Intermediate coil spring, 107...Inner coil spring, 108...Overhead wire Wire mounting component, 108a...bolt, pillar side mounting component...109, bolt...109a, 110...U-shaped rod, 111...cover body, 112...reinforcement component, 201...outer auxiliary washer, 201a...support component, 201b...ball, 202...middle auxiliary washer, 202a...support component, 202b...ball, 203...inner auxiliary washer, 203a...support component, 203b...ball.

Claims

1. A tension balancer for an overhead line, comprising: a plurality of coaxially arranged cylindrical members, comprising at least an outer first cylindrical member and an inner second cylindrical member coaxially arranged with a gap therebetween in the radial direction; a coil spring for applying elastic force to the axial movement of the second tubular member relative to the first tubular member; a spring washer that compresses and supports the coil spring in an axial direction; and a supporting member that slidably supports the first tubular member and the second tubular member in the axial direction, The above-mentioned tension balancer for overhead wires is characterized in that: The support component is composed of a first support component and a second support component that are separated from each other and arranged side by side in the axial direction. The first support component is supported by the spring washer or fixed to the first tube component or the second tube component. The second support component is urged toward the first support component by the coil spring, thereby supporting the ball to rotate freely together with the first support component, so that a part of the ball protrudes further toward the first tube component side or the second tube component side than the spring washer.

2. The overhead line tension balancer according to claim 1, wherein: The spring washer and the supporting member are integrated to support the coil spring.

3. The overhead line tension balancer according to claim 1, wherein A plurality of coil springs are provided in the axial direction, with auxiliary washers interposed between the coil springs.

4. The overhead wire tension balancer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The first cylindrical member is subjected to hot-dip aluminum plating.

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