Device for supporting a contact wire

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (3', 3") for supporting a contact line (4), the contact line (4) extending in a longitudinal direction (5) and being used for supplying electrical energy to a rail vehicle, the device comprising a support body (11) which is arranged above the contact line (4) as viewed in a vertical direction (7) extending at right angles to the longitudinal direction (5), the device (3', 3") comprising a guide rail (23) which guides at least the thermal expansion movement of the contact line (4) and has a first rail body (25) on which the contact line (4) is held in a stationary position, and the device (3', 3") comprising a second rail body (26) which is held in a stationary position on the support body (11), the first rail body (25) and the second rail body (26) being guided relative to one another via rolling elements (32).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for supporting a contact wire.

[0002] From JPH07009896A, a device for supporting a contact wire is known, the contact wire extending in a longitudinal direction and for supplying electrical energy to a rail vehicle, the contact wire being on a support body, the support body being arranged above the contact wire as seen in a vertical direction extending at a right angle with respect to the longitudinal direction, the device comprising a guide rail guiding at least a thermal expansion movement of the contact wire and having a first rail body, the contact wire being held in a stationary position on the first rail body, and the device comprising a second rail body, the second rail body being held in a stationary position on the support body. The first rail body is slidably held in the second rail body.

[0003] It is an object of the invention to improve the known system.

[0004] According to one aspect of the invention, a device for supporting a contact wire, the contact wire extending in a longitudinal direction and for supplying electrical energy to a rail vehicle, the device comprising a support body, the support body being arranged above the contact wire as seen in a vertical direction extending at a right angle with respect to the longitudinal direction, the device comprising a guide rail guiding at least a thermal expansion movement of the contact wire and having a first rail body, the contact wire being held in a stationary position on the first rail body, and the device comprising a second rail body, the second rail body being held in a stationary position on the support body, the first rail body and the second rail body being guided with respect to each other via rolling elements.

[0005] While the use of rolling elements in the specified device at first sight appears to be contradictory, since rolling bearings are known to be more susceptible to contamination, less resistant to impacts of a pantograph and also require more installation space, especially in tunnels, the rolling elements form a gap between the two rail bodies. This gap creates a ventilation space in the contact area between the two rail bodies, which provides better cooling of the two rail bodies, especially in the case of a short circuit. Between slidingly mounted rail bodies, tilting can be observed, which sooner or later leads to one rail body tearing away from the other rail body. By supporting the rail bodies via rolling elements, the risk of such tilting can be significantly reduced, so that the specified device is significantly more durable.

[0006] In an embodiment of the specified device, the rolling elements are rollers aligned transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction and transversely with respect to the vertical direction. In this embodiment, in which the rolling elements in the form of rollers are aligned in the transverse direction, a particularly stable guiding of the two rail bodies in the longitudinal direction can be achieved.

[0007] In a specific embodiment of the specified device, one of the track bodies comprises a U-shaped profile shape in cross-section with a connecting arm and two holding arms, which are spaced apart from one another and protrude from the connecting arm, the roller being held on the two holding arms. In this way, one of the track partners grips around the other track partner and, in this way, an unintentional lateral movement, which can lead to disruptive mechanical stresses on the contact line to be supported, is effectively blocked.

[0008] In a specific embodiment of the specified device, the roller has a roller diameter and, viewed in the longitudinal direction, is spaced apart from one another by at least one, preferably at least two roller diameters. In this way, mechanical stresses, which are introduced by the accumulated dust in the above-mentioned ventilation space, in the track bodies can be reduced or even completely avoided.

[0009] In a further embodiment of the specified device, the rolling elements are arranged axially symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal direction. In this way, a symmetrical load condition is achieved, in which all rollers in the specified device are equally loaded.

[0010] In yet another embodiment of the specified device, the first track body or the second track body is designed to embrace the rolling elements in the form of a U in cross-section viewed in the longitudinal direction. In this way, the contact between the two track bodies is ensured by rolling bearings, even if the two track bodies are twisted around the transverse axis next to one another.

[0011] In a further embodiment of the specified device, the U has a first leg viewed in the height direction and a second leg opposite the first leg, the rolling elements having a diameter of between 90% and 99% of the distance between the two legs. In this way, a comparably small gap is provided for the twisting of the two track bodies around the transverse axis.

[0012] In a further embodiment, the specified device comprises a pivot bearing, which is arranged on the first and / or second track body and serves for torque decoupling between the contact line and the support body. In this way, a decoupling of the two track bodies with respect to a torque around the vertical axis can be achieved, so that, for example, a twisting in the curve around the vertical axis of one track body caused by a thermal movement is not transmitted to the second track body.

[0013] In a specific embodiment of the specified device, the pivot bearing comprises two grooves, which are arranged point-symmetrically with respect to one another and are guided in the height direction through the first or second track body, a stop pin with a thickened end being guided in the height direction through each of the grooves, which is held stationary with respect to the support body. In this way, the one track body is stabilized against a rocking around the longitudinal axis with respect to the other track body.

[0014] In yet another embodiment, the specified device includes a reset element disposed on the first and / or second track body and pre-tensioned against the height direction to dampen forces entering the contact line in the height direction. In this way, the aforementioned poor impact resistance can be offset.

[0015] The properties, features, and advantages of the present invention described above, and the ways in which they are implemented, will become clearer with reference to the following description of embodiments, which are explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0016] Figure 1 It is a perspective view of a rail segment with a device for supporting the contact wire.

[0017] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Perspective view of optional devices for supporting the contact wire.

[0018] Figure 3 It comes from Figure 2 Side view of the device,

[0019] Figure 4 It comes from Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the device.

[0020] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of the first part of an optional device for supporting the contact wire.

[0021] Figure 6 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of the second part of an optional device for supporting the contact wire.

[0022] Figure 7a yes Figure 5 and 6 A first-person view of the support structure in the device.

[0023] Figure 7b yes Figure 5 and 6 A second-person view of the support structure in the device.

[0024] Figure 8a yes Figure 5 and 6 The view of another support in the device from a first-person perspective, and

[0025] Figure 8b yes Figure 5 and 6 A second-person view of another support structure in the device.

[0026] In the drawings, identical technical features are provided with identical reference numerals and are described only once. The drawings are purely schematic and in particular do not reflect actual geometric proportions.

[0027] Reference Figure 1 , Figure 1 A schematic view from one perspective shows a rail section 2 covered by a roof 1 with a device 3 for supporting a current-carrying contact line 4 as a support structure and electrically insulating the contact line 4 from the roof 1. The covered rail section 2, as indicated in Figure 1 , can be located for example in a tunnel, an underground passage or a covered station.

[0028] In the rail section 2, rails 6 extend in a travel direction 5 on which rails 6 electrically track-bound vehicles, not shown in more detail, can move in a guided manner. In this case, the contact line 4 is arranged above the rails 6, as seen in a height direction 7, so that the track-bound vehicles can draw current in a manner known per se. Together with a transverse direction 8 extending transversely with respect to the travel direction 5 and transversely with respect to the height direction 7, the travel direction 5 and the height direction 7 span the space of the rail section 2 in which the track-bound vehicles can move on the rails 6.

[0029] The contact line 4 is held in an overhead conductor rail 9, which is part of the device 3. Before the construction of the overhead conductor rail 3 on the roof 1 above the rails 6 is described with the aid of an enlarged outline drawing 10, the mounting of the overhead conductor rail 3 on the roof 1 is first explained in brief.

[0030] A first support plate 11 is held to the roof 1 by anchoring means 12, for example bolts or heavy anchors. A long rod insulator 13 is held against the first support plate 11, which is inclined to the roof 1 at an angle not further described. A second support plate 14 is attached to the end of the long rod insulator 13 opposite the first support plate 11, against which the overhead conductor rail 9 is in turn held.

[0031] Due to environmental influences, for example temperature changes, the length of the contact line 4 can change in the travel direction 5. In order to avoid mechanical stresses caused thereby, the first support plate 11 is guided in the travel direction 5 relative to the roof 1 or the overhead conductor rail 9 is supported in the travel direction 5 relative to the second support plate 14.

[0032] In order to protect the guide fitting from contamination, in order to achieve a high load capacity of the guide fitting against impact loads when passing through a current collector and in order to minimize the possible installation space, especially in tunnels, the guide rail should be designed as a sliding guide rail. Thus, in Figure 1In particular, the first support plate 11 can be slidably held relative to the top plate 1 or the overhead conductor rail can be slidably held relative to the second support plate 14.

[0033] However, in the device 3 in which the current-carrying contact wire 4 is suspended via the plain bearing, an increased failure rate can be observed in such a way that the plain rail partners become tilted and destroy each other. In the worst case, the entire device 3 can fail and the contact wire 4 can fall from the top plate 1, which can have devastating consequences, especially when used for high-speed traffic.

[0034] Before the proposed technical solution for reducing or avoiding the failure is presented, the structure of the overhead conductor rail 9 will first be briefly discussed using the enlarged profile view 10.

[0035] Seen in the height direction 7, the overhead conductor rail 9 has a cross arm 15 on the upper side, from which two spaced-apart clamping arms 16 protrude at right angles and against the height direction 7. The overhead conductor rail 9 has a multipart design, as seen in the travel direction 5, whereby the individual parts are mechanically and electrically connected to each other via fishplates 17, which are held on the overhead conductor rail 9 by fishplate screws. Tongue-and-groove connections 19 can be provided for secure mounting. On the side opposite the cross arm 15, each clamping arm 16 has a rail 20 for the assembly vehicle, which is not shown in more detail, each of which is directed away from a center line 21 of the overhead conductor rail 3. From the lower side of each rail 20 seen in the height direction 7, a clamping arm 22 extends toward the center line 21. The contact wire 4 is clamped between the two clamping arms 22. The structure of the overhead conductor rail 9 is known per se, for example from DE 20 2004 009 420 U1, and will not be explained in more detail here.

[0036] In order to reduce or avoid the previously explained failure of the device 3, the plain rail is replaced by a rolling rail. This concept is explained below with reference to Figures 2 to 4 which is explained, Figures 2 to 4 An alternative device 3' for supporting the current-carrying contact wire 4 as a support structure and electrically insulating the contact wire 4 relative to the top plate 1 is shown from one perspective. In the alternative device 3', the conductor rail 9 is held via two long-rod insulators 13, which are attached to the first support plate 11 via rails 23. Opposite the first support plate 11, the conductor rail 9 is fastened to the long-rod insulators 13 via the second support plate 14. For this purpose, a clamping bracket 24 is screwed to the lower side of each second support plate 14 as seen in the height direction 7, between which the cross arm 15 of the conductor rail 9 is held between the respective second support plate 14 and the clamping bracket 24.

[0037] The rail 23 comprises a first rail body 25 and a second rail body 26, the contact wire 4 being held stationary on the first rail body 25 and the second rail body 26 being held stationary on the first support plate 11 as support body.

[0038] The second rail body 26 has a U-shaped profile in a cross section seen in the travel direction 5, the U-shaped profile having a connecting arm 27 extending in the lateral direction 8, two spaced-apart holding arms 28 extending from the connecting arm 27 opposite the height direction 7. Opposite the connecting arm 27, at the other end of the connecting arm 27, one support arm 29 each extends on top of the other in the lateral direction 8 and turns the U-shaped profile into a C-shaped profile. The connecting arm 27 is held on the first support plate 11 via a clamping element 30, the clamping element 30 being screwed to the first support plate 11 via a counter plate 31.

[0039] Rolling elements 32 in the form of rollers are aligned transversely with respect to the height direction 7, resting on the support arms 29. Since the second rail body 26 has a C-shaped profile, it embraces the rolling elements 32 in the form of a U in a cross section seen in the travel direction 5. The rolling elements 32 are arranged axially symmetrically with respect to a line of symmetry 33 extending in the height direction 7 and are held on positioning walls 34 of the first rail body 25 extending in the height direction 7. The positioning walls 34 are connected to one another via connecting walls 35 extending in the lateral direction 8, the long rod insulator 13 being supported on the connecting walls 35 in a manner to be described.

[0040] The rolling elements 32 are here in the form of rollers, have a common roller diameter 36 and, seen in the travel direction 5, should be arranged to have a roller spacing 37 of at least one, preferably at least two, roller diameters 36. In the present embodiment, the roller spacing 37 is chosen to be 2.8 times greater than the roller diameter 36. Furthermore, the roller diameter 36 should be chosen to be between 90% and 99% of the distance 38 between the connecting arm 27 and the connecting walls 35 of the first rail body 25. In the present embodiment, the roller diameter 36 has 95% of the distance 38. If the first rail body 25 is rotated about the lateral axis 8, the rolling elements 32 will contact the connecting arm 27, so that the function of the rail 23 is still ensured.

[0041] A guide pin 39 extending in the height direction 7 is attached to the connection wall 35. A first guide bushing 40 is placed around the guide pin 39, such that a radial space 41 is formed between the guide pin 39 and the first guide bushing 40. A reset element 42, here in the form of a spring, is accommodated in this radial space 41, which is placed on the connection wall 35 and is aligned in the height direction 7. A cover element 43 is placed on the end of the reset element 42 opposite the connection wall 35, from which a second guide bushing 44 extends radially out of the first guide bushing 40 against the height direction 7. A positioning plate 45 is attached to the end of the second guide bushing 44 opposite the cover element 43, and a holder 46 for the long rod insulator 13 is screwed to the underside of the positioning plate 45 as seen in the height direction 7.

[0042] When the rail vehicle travels along the rail segment 2 under the alternative device 3', its current collector will lift the positioning plate 45 in the height direction 7 when it takes current from the contact wire 4. After passing the alternative device 3', the positioning plate 45 then suddenly falls back against the height direction 7, where the reset element 42 cushions the fall and prevents it from falling hard against the connection wall 35.

[0043] Reference is now made in the following to Figures 5 to 7b A second alternative device 3" for supporting the contact wire 4 is described.

[0044] The second alternative device 3" is held on the roof 1 via the first support plate 11, which is held on the roof 1 in the Figure 5 The positioning column 47 is held on the roof 1 via the anchoring means 12, whereby four hinge plates 48 are held on the underside of the positioning column 47 as seen in the height direction 7 and are arranged axially symmetrically with respect to the travel direction 5. The long rod insulator 13 is held on each hinge plate 48. On the end of the long rod insulator 13 opposite the hinge plate 48, a transverse rod 49 is held, which extends in the transverse direction 8 and is held on the Figure 6 The second alternative device 3" shown in

[0045] Before describing the second alternative device 3" in more detail, the electrical overload protection 50 will first be explained, which is intended to protect the second alternative device 3" from overpressure damage in the event of a short circuit in one of the long bar insulators 13. The electrical overload protection 50 electrically bypasses the second alternative device 3" and leads a current path 51 with high electrical conductivity, which here is in the form of a cable 51 from the conductor rail 9 to the cross beam 49. The cable 51 is connected to the cross arm 15 of the conductor rail 9 via a cable terminal 52. The cable terminal 52 lifts the cable 51 to a bridge distance 53 above the conductor rail 9, as seen in the height direction 7, and leads it into a traction chain 54. The traction chain 54, also referred to as energy guide chain, then leads the cable 51 from the second alternative device 3", seen in the height direction 7, over the cross beam 49 to the side opposite the cable terminal 52, seen in the travel direction 5, where it is then connected to the second alternative device 3".

[0046] The rail 23 of the second alternative device 3" comprises the cross arm 15 of the conductor rail 9 as first track body 25, on which the contact line 4 is held stationary. The second track body 26 is held stationary here on the first support plate 11 as support body via the cross beam 49 and the long bar insulator 13. In the present embodiment, a rolling element 32, still in the form of a roller, is held on the positioning arm 28 of the second track body 26, instead of the support arm 29. The first track body 25 in the form of the cross arm 15 of the conductor rail 9 is thus held between the rolling element 32 and the connecting arm 27, as seen in the height direction 7, so that the conductor rail 9, as seen in the longitudinal direction 5, can moveably expand and contract in its length depending on the temperature.

[0047] To fasten the second track body 26 of the second alternative device 3" to the cross beam 49, a clamp 55 is provided, which comprises a first clamping part 56 and a second clamping part 57, which are screwed together. The first clamping part 56 is arranged above the cross beam 49, as seen in the height direction 7, while the second clamping part 57 is arranged below the cross beam 49, so that both clamping parts 56, 57 embrace the cross beam 49 in the screwed-together state and thus hold the second track body 26 on the cross beam 49.

[0048] On the underside of the second clamping part 57, seen in the height direction 7, there are two stop pins 58 arranged axially symmetrically with respect to the direction of travel 5, each of which is guided through a circular recess 59 in the connecting arm 27 of the second rail body 26. The two circular recesses 59 are arranged point-symmetrically with respect to one another. The end 60 of the stop pin 58 which is guided through the circular recess 59 is designed to have a thickness which allows the connecting arm 27 of the second rail body 26 to be held positively against the stop pin 58 in the height direction 7. A corresponding insertion opening 61 is formed for inserting the stop pin 58 into the circular recess 59. In this way, a pivot bearing which decouples the second selectable device 3" from the cross member 49 with respect to the torque is formed.

[0049] The traction chain 54 is guided on the underside of the connecting arm 27, seen in the height direction 7, through a circular recess 66 in the connecting arm 27 of the first rail body 25. Figure 7b The screw 62 shown in

[0050] Figure 8a A selectable second rail body 26 is shown.

[0051] The second rail body 26 is equipped with only two rolling elements 32, which are arranged opposite one another, seen in the lateral direction 8. The positioning arms 28 which hold the rolling elements 32 are each held on the connecting arm 27, resulting in an angular profile which is not further described, which are connected to one another by means of screws 63. Also screwed by means of screws 63 are the plates 64 below the two connecting arms 27, seen in the height direction 7, on which the clamps 55 are held, as in Figure 7a and 7b A detailed illustration is therefore omitted in the following.

[0052] Figure 8b A further selectable second rail body 26 is shown.

[0053] In the further selectable rail body, the upper clamping part 56 is designed as a bracket and the lower clamping part 57 is designed as a plate to which the bracket is screwed. Below the plate to which the barrier 65 is screwed, seen in the lateral direction 8, the connecting arms 27 are held on the left and right side by means of holding arms 28. The rolling elements 32 are held on each holding arm 28.

[0054] Figure 8a and 8b Both of the selectable rail bodies 26 described in

[0055] The devices 3', 3" described in Figures 2 to 8b can be installed in Figure 1The first selectable device 3' is able to be extended by the second selectable device 3" and the second selectable device 3" is able to be extended by the reset element 41.

Claims

1. A device (3', 3") for supporting a contact line (4), which contact line (4) extends in a longitudinal direction (5) and serves for supplying electrical energy to a rail vehicle, the device comprising a support body (11), which support body (11) is arranged above the contact line (4) as viewed in a vertical direction (7) extending at right angles relative to the longitudinal direction (5), the device (3', 3") comprising a guide rail (23), which guide rail (23) guides at least a thermal expansion movement of the contact line (4) and has a first rail body (25), on which the contact line (4) is held in a stationary position, and a second rail body (26), which is held in a stationary position on the support body (11), the first rail body (25) and the second rail body (26) being guided relative to one another by means of rolling elements (32); wherein the rolling elements (32) are rollers (32) aligned transversely relative to the longitudinal direction (5) and transversely relative to the vertical direction (7); one of the rail bodies (25, 26) comprises a U-shaped cross-section with a connecting arm (27) and two holding arms (28), which are spaced apart from one another and project from the connecting arm (27), on which the rollers (32) are held.

2. The device (3', 3") according to claim 1, wherein the rollers (32) have a roller diameter (36) and, as viewed in the longitudinal direction (5), are arranged at a distance of at least one roller diameter (36) from one another.

3. The device (3', 3") according to claim 1, wherein the rollers (32) have a roller diameter (36) and, as viewed in the longitudinal direction (5), are arranged at a distance of at least two roller diameters (36) from one another.

4. The device (3', 3") according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rolling elements (32) are arranged axially symmetrically relative to the longitudinal direction (5).

5. The device (3', 3") according to claim 4 of the preceding claims, wherein the first rail body (25) or the second rail body (26) is designed in the form of a U in cross-section as viewed in the longitudinal direction (5) to embrace the rolling elements (32).

6. The device (3', 3") according to claim 5, wherein the U has a first leg (27) as viewed in a height direction and a second leg (29) opposite the first leg (27), and wherein the rolling elements (32) have a diameter of between 90% and 99% of the distance (38) of the two legs (27, 29).

7. The device (3', 3") according to claim 5 of the preceding claims, comprising a pivot bearing (58, 59) arranged on the first and / or second track body (25, 26) and for torque decoupling between the contact wire (4) and the support body (11).

8. The device (3', 3") according to claim 7, wherein the pivot bearing (58, 59) comprises two grooves (59) arranged point-symmetrically relative to one another and guided in the height direction (7) past the first or second track body (25, 26), a stop pin (58) having thickened end portions (60) held stationary relative to the support body (11) being guided in the height direction (7) past each of the grooves (59).

9. The device (3', 3") according to claim 8 of the preceding claims, comprising a reset element (42) arranged on the first and / or second track body (25, 26) and pretensioned against the height direction (7) to dampen forces into the contact wire (4) in the height direction (7).

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