Device for the automatic alignment of the contact shoes parallel to the overhead line when wiring the pantographs on overhead line vehicles

Abstract

Device for a contact shoe (5) within a current collector head on the pole current collector of a vehicle designed for operation on at least one overhead line, comprising, viewed from the contact shoe in its working direction, a catch device (1, 2, 3) attached to the left and right of the contact shoe and pivotable upwards and downwards, which in the pivoted upward position together with the groove of the contact shoe forms an upwardly widening funnel groove, which is so wide that when the current collector head approaches the overhead line (20) the overhead line is encompassed by the funnel groove even if the contact shoe is significantly less parallel to the overhead line with respect to rotation about the vertical axis than would be necessary for contacting without this device;and which, in the downward pivoted state, does not or only protrudes beyond the upper edge of the contact shoe to such an extent that a harmful collision with the transverse bracing of the overhead line or other components of the overhead line guidance is prevented, characterized in that the catch device comprises a rotary mechanism (21, 22 and 23) which is designed such that the upper part of the catch device (1, 2 and 3) also pivots inwards when pivoting downwards.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device consisting of a catch device guided in rotary bearings and thus pivotable, a parallel-slidable drive element guided in pins against the contact shoe of the current collector head, a vertical displacement device of the vertical axis of the contact shoe, and a spring element, which supplement an otherwise conventional current collector head for overhead line vehicles in such a way that the contact shoe of the current collector head is automatically aligned parallel to the overhead line when approaching the overhead line from below in the center by means of the catch device, which in this situation forms a funnel-shaped channel in its pivoted position, aligning itself and thus the entire contact shoe with the overhead line, so that correct contact, i.e., full contact of the contact brush of the contact shoe with the overhead line, is ensured even while the vehicle is in motion.If, at the beginning of the process, the grinding shoe deviates significantly from the parallel alignment, and simultaneously, during the wire-on process, the force applied to the grinding shoe by the overhead line is redirected in the drive element, causing the catching device to pivot downwards and, in a variant of the invention, additionally inwards, thus moving out of the collision area with the overhead line suspension and guide.

[0002] Electrically powered vehicles have many advantages compared to those that primarily derive their energy from combustion engines. Since the largely CO2-free generation of electricity using fuel cells, as well as the storage of sufficient quantities of electrical energy, particularly for supplying public passenger and freight transport, are still not sufficiently efficient, power supply via overhead lines or other conductor rails represents an important alternative.

[0003] For track-bound vehicles such as trains or trams, the methods known for over a hundred years are sufficiently practical and widely used. However, for non-track-bound vehicles, especially electric buses (also known as trolleybuses), the limitations of these known methods are so significant that many cities have even dismantled existing trolleybus systems and replaced them with diesel-powered buses. The most important limitation of known trolleybus methods is their lack of flexibility, meaning the inability, or the inability to achieve it only with disproportionate effort, to operate the trolleybus temporarily without overhead lines.However, this possibility requires, among other things, a previously unavailable function of automatic disconnection and reconnection during travel, which includes the basic automatic positioning of the pantograph and the contact shoe located at its tip, but especially also the alignment of this contact shoe parallel to the overhead line before the actual reconnection.

[0004] Trolleybuses are primarily powered via two-pole overhead lines. These lines are generally routed centrally above the designated lane, but lateral deviations of several meters can occur in specific traffic situations.

[0005] For this reason, pantographs can rotate around a vertical axis at their attachment point on the base and, in addition, pivot vertically via a joint also located near the base, thus allowing variation in lateral position and height relative to the vehicle.

[0006] To ensure that the contact shoes and, consequently, the carbon brushes can conform to the overhead line in every permissible configuration, the contact shoes are mounted in the pantograph head so as to be rotatable about a horizontal transverse axis and a vertical axis. This is described, for example, in DE 93 11 633 U1 or DE 20 2004 002 979 U1.

[0007] When manually connecting the shoe to the overhead line, the alignment of the contact shoe around its vertical axis is usually achieved by the operator first bringing it up to the overhead line from the side, aligning it parallel to the line, before actually connecting it – that is, moving it from bottom to top until full contact is made between the carbon piece of the contact shoe and the overhead line. As a side effect of this latter step, the shoe is also aligned around its horizontal axis into the required position, so no special equipment or device is needed for this.

[0008] However, this approach of initially approaching from the side is not suitable for wiring while driving, because firstly it could not react quickly enough to changes in the overhead line relative to the vehicle, and secondly because, during the lateral approach, the head could get caught in the transverse bracing of the overhead line, with the risk of tearing the overhead line down.

[0009] Patent DE 26 04 535 B1 discloses a current collector located on the roof of a trackless, electrically powered vehicle with a contact shoe which is pressed against the contact wire by means of spring-loaded rods attached to the roof of the vehicle and is rotatably guided about a vertical axis from the contact wire.

[0010] Patent specification US 937 761 A, publication FR 2 495 551 A2 and patent specification US 870 950 A each disclose a device according to the preamble of the independent patent claim.

[0011] The object of the invention is therefore to describe a device with which an automatic overhead line-parallel alignment of the sliding shoe on a pole current collector of an overhead line vehicle takes place in such a way that this process can be carried out simply when the current collector head approaches from below and also while the vehicle is moving.

[0012] With regard to a single contact shoe, the task is solved by a design consisting of several mechanical components that complement the current collector head. These components include a pivoting catch, a parallel-sliding drive element guided against the contact shoe by pins, and a spring element. Furthermore, the design incorporates an extended axle around which the contact shoe can rotate vertically within the current collector head. This axle is vertically displaceable within its pivot bearing. The aforementioned, appropriately dimensioned spring ensures that this axle is extended when unloaded (i.e., disconnected) and retracted when connected. In this position, the drive element is pressed against the base of the current collector head by the spring, thus changing the distance between the contact shoe and the drive element.This movement translates into a pivoting motion of the safety catch, whereby, in the disconnected state, the catch is positioned upwards, while in the connected state, it is folded downwards and backwards, thus preventing it from colliding with the overhead line's transverse bracing. In one variant, the safety catch is supplemented by a rotating mechanism located in its upper part. This mechanism comprises a bevel gear for each wire, i.e., two on each side of the contact shoe, which, when the safety catch pivots, rolls in a rack-like structure integrated into the sides of the contact shoe. This causes the upper part of the upward-positioned safety catch to undergo an additional rotational movement around its vertical axis (relative to this initial position) during the pivoting motion, thus pivoting the entire safety catch not only downwards but also inwards, i.e., close to the contact shoe.

[0013] When swung upwards, the catch device, which in this state forms an upwardly open funnel-shaped channel, ensures that the grinding shoe, together with the catch device, automatically aligns itself parallel to an overhead line by snuggling against it, even if it deviated considerably from this parallel alignment at the beginning of the process.

[0014] The invention is described in more detail using an exemplary embodiment.

[0015] In the following explanations, the terms front, rear, top, bottom and side refer to the basic position of the pantograph head as viewed in the direction of travel of the vehicle.

[0016] The illustrations show the use of the invention in the context of a pantograph head of an overhead trolleybus. Fig. The diagram shows the mechanical components in their disconnected state from the side. Fig. shows the same situation, but in the wired state. Fig. shows the construction from the rear in its unwired state. Fig. This is a top view of the drive element alone. Fig. This shows it from the rear view. Fig. Shows only the grinding shoe with the swiveling catching device in the variant with the additional rotating mechanism from the side in the unwired state. Fig. shows the section of Fig. from above. Fig. shows the same section as Fig. , however, in the wired state.

[0017] The basic form of the catching device consists of a front (1) and a rear (2) structure made of wire or wire-like plastic, and two lateral connecting pieces (3), which are also made of metal or plastic. The wire structures are generally bent at right angles into a U-shape, bending upwards from a point determined by the height of the upper edge of the grinding shoe, and further bent backwards and outwards at the wire end (8). The base of the U-shaped part is guided for pivoting in two swivel bearings (4) located below the grinding shoe (5). The rear wire structure (2) additionally consists on each side of a downward, forward-bent extension (6) of the lateral wire piece, which is bent inwards at a right angle at its end, forming a drive pin (7).

[0018] The two wire structures (1 and 2) are connected on both sides to the aforementioned connecting pieces 3 for synchronizing their movements with each other, the ends of which are rotatably mounted on the aforementioned upper cranks 8.

[0019] The vertical pivot joint 9 of the contact shoe in the current collector head is designed to be vertically displaceable, with a spring 10 being attached around the displaceable axis 11 so that the contact shoe (5) with its horizontal pivot joint 12 and the other attachments is in the extended and thus the upper position in the unloaded, i.e. not wired, state.

[0020] The aforementioned vertical axis 11 passes through another molded part 13, the lower contour of which forms a circular segment. The molded part is guided in two pins 14 attached to the grinding shoe and can thus move parallel to the grinding shoe when the latter moves about the aforementioned movable vertical axis 11.

[0021] The recess for the vertical axis and the horizontal joint in the center of the molded part 13 is dimensioned such that even during the pitching movements of the grinding shoe made possible by the horizontal pivot joint 12, the vertical axis, including the joint and spring, has sufficient space. The spring is supported upwards against a disc 15, which is rigidly connected to the vertical axis 11 below the horizontal joint. However, downwards, this function is performed by another disc 16, which is slidable on the axis and moves within the recess of the molded part above a slot that is only large enough for the axis to pass through. The underside of the disc 16 is curved to match the curvature of the molded part 13.

[0022] The shaped part 13 also has angled grooves 17 on both sides, into which the lower bends 7 of the rear wire shaped part 2 engage. These grooves are designed such that, when the shaped part 13 moves upwards against the contact shoe 5, i.e., when it is connected to the overhead line 21, the wire shaped part is pivoted downwards and backwards. The overhead line is suspended from the transverse bracing by means of a clamp 22 several centimeters away from the bracing, which is therefore not located in the area of ​​the downward-pivoting safety device.

[0023] In the Fig. , Fig. until Fig.In the depicted variant, the front 1 and rear 2 parts of the catching device each consist of sleeves 21 that can rotate around a mandrel-like wire segment. Additional bevel gears 22 are mounted on the sleeves 21 and roll in a correspondingly curved tooth profile 23, similar to a rack but molded into the flanks of the grinding shoe 5. They do this during the pivoting movement of the catching device, thereby rotating the aforementioned sleeves 21 and the upper parts of the catching device connected to them. Thus, the upper parts of the catching device, which are pivoted upwards and outwards in their resting position, are simultaneously rotated inwards when pivoting downwards.

[0024] This variant of the invention is advantageously used in cases where there is only a laterally limited clearance profile for the sliding shoes in the network of overhead line vehicles.

Claims

[1] Device for a contact shoe (5) within a current collector head on the pole current collector of a vehicle designed for operation on at least one overhead line, comprising, viewed from the contact shoe in its working direction, a catch device (1, 2, 3) attached to the left and right of the contact shoe and pivotable upwards and downwards, which in the pivoted upward position together with the groove of the contact shoe forms an upwardly widening funnel groove, which is so wide that when the current collector head approaches the overhead line (20) the overhead line is encompassed by the funnel groove even when the contact shoe is significantly less parallel to the overhead line with respect to rotation about the vertical axis than would be necessary for contacting without this device;and which, in the downward-swinged state, does not protrude beyond the upper edge of the grinding shoe, or only to such an extent that a harmful collision with the transverse bracing of the overhead line or other components of the overhead line guidance is prevented; characterized by , that the catch device includes a rotary mechanism (21, 22 and 23) which is designed such that the upper part of the catch device (1, 2 and 3) is also forcibly pivoted inwards when pivoting downwards. [2] Device according to claim 1 characterized by, that in addition to the catch device, it comprises a spring element (10), a vertical displacement device, and a shaped piece (13) guided by guide elements fixedly connected to the contact shoe (5), which are arranged such that the catch device is pivoted upwards by the force of the spring in the unloaded, i.e., disconnected state, and is pivoted downwards by the force with which the contact shoe is pressed against the overhead line (20) or with which it is pressed by the overhead line against the current collector rod (18) in the loaded, i.e., connected state, wherein the shaped piece is designed such that both the vertical displacement of the contact shoe relative to the base of the current collector head and the rotation of the contact shoe about the horizontal axis are possible, and that the shaped piece has at least one guide groove (17) in which the at least single existing,The drive element (7), which attaches to the catch device and forces the pivoting, is moved depending on the position of the molded part relative to the grinding shoe.

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