Overhead conductor rail, overhead contact line system with overhead conductor rail and method for producing an overhead conductor rail

Abstract

The invention relates to an overhead conductor rail for an overhead line system with a fastening device for guiding a contact wire and at least one contact wire connected to the overhead conductor rail by means of the fastening device, an overhead line system with at least one such overhead conductor rail and a method for producing such an overhead conductor rail, wherein the overhead conductor rail at least partially has a first coating and / or the at least one contact wire at least partially has a second coating, wherein the first and the second coating are each electrically conductive.

Description

[0001] In order to reach inner-city areas with local trains such as subways or light rails, or even with long-distance trains, railway lines are often inevitably laid in tunnels. Electric traction must be ensured even in confined spaces, for example, in small or narrow tunnel cross-sections. For this purpose, low-profile overhead conductor rails are typically used. These can be driven by one or more pantographs. Depending on the design, these can be used not only in tunnels, but also, for example, under bridges, in underpasses, on lifting bridges, in maintenance facilities, or in areas with pivoting overhead lines, particularly in workshops for particularly easy vehicle inspection, etc.

[0002] However, the use of power rails or overhead conductor rails is not limited to rail-bound vehicles. Rather, suitable power rails or overhead conductor rails are also used in appropriate locations to supply power to non-rail-bound vehicles, such as electric trucks, electric buses, etc.

[0003] The overhead conductor rail usually consists of an extruded profile into which a contact wire is clamped. This wire is used to transmit power to the vehicle in question, just like a conventional overhead line in an overhead line system. The clamped connection must be electrically conductive. Depending on the structural conditions or requirements, different materials are used for the overhead conductor rails and the contact wire. These materials usually have different electrode potentials. There is therefore a risk of contact corrosion, which could, for example, damage the overhead conductor rails or, in particular, decompose them. This in turn could or would lead to the contact wire falling out of the conductor rail in question. This is usually prevented by the defined application of a lubricant, for example a lubricant orA contact grease is used to counteract contact corrosion between the different materials when inserting the contact wire into the overhead conductor rail(s). Applying a lubricant, e.g., a contact grease, between the contact wire and the overhead conductor rail is an additional step during installation.

[0004] In certain extreme climatic conditions, e.g. in tunnels with high humidity and / or mineral erosion, near the sea, etc., contact corrosion cannot be prevented despite the use of lubricant at the open, accessible contact points between the overhead conductor rail(s) and the contact wire, which significantly shortens the service life of the overhead conductor rail.

[0005] The invention is based on the object of providing a ceiling conductor rail with improved properties and a method for producing a ceiling conductor rail with improved properties.

[0006] The problem is solved by the features of the independent patent claims. Further developments and refinements of the invention are found in the features of the dependent patent claims.

[0007] For this purpose, an overhead conductor rail for an overhead line system is specified, comprising a fastening device for guiding a contact wire and comprising at least one contact wire, wherein the at least one contact wire is connected to the overhead conductor rail by means of the fastening device, wherein the overhead conductor rail at least partially has a first coating and / or the at least one contact wire at least partially has a second coating, wherein the first and the second coating are each electrically conductive.

[0008] The solution according to the invention makes it possible in a simple manner to avoid or at least significantly reduce contact corrosion between the overhead conductor rail(s) and the contact wire, and thus to correspondingly increase the corrosion resistance and thus the service life of the overhead conductor rail by means of a corrosion-resistant coating of the overhead conductor rail(s) and / or a corrosion-resistant coating of the at least one contact wire. To effectively avoid or reduce contact corrosion between the power or overhead conductor rail(s) and the at least one contact wire, one coating is generally sufficient, either the first coating of the overhead conductor rail(s) or the second coating of the at least one contact wire. Furthermore, the simultaneous application or simultaneous use of both the first and the second coating is even more advantageous in terms of long-lasting resistance. In this way, the permanent oruninterrupted electrification, for example of tunnels with corrosive environmental conditions, is significantly improved because corresponding maintenance and repair work, in particular the replacement of damaged overhead conductor rails, only needs to be carried out at much longer intervals. Furthermore, the quality of the electrical conductivity between the overhead conductor rail and the contact wire remains at essentially the same level due to the high electrical conductivity of each of the two coatings, and thus the quality of the current conduction and / or transmission between the power or overhead conductor rail(s) and the contact wire is maintained without restriction. Depending on the structural conditions or requirements, according to the invention either only the overhead conductor rail or only the contact wire or both at the same time, the overhead conductor rail and the contact wire, can be at least partially coated accordingly or completely encased or covered.In the case of a possible partial coating, it is advantageous, in particular, to coat at least the area of ​​the overhead conductor rail(s) and / or the contact wire at the respective direct contact points in order to effectively and permanently prevent contact corrosion between the overhead conductor rail(s) and the contact wire, which would otherwise occur due to the different materials and thus typically different electrode potentials. Furthermore, depending on the requirements or needs, there is of course also the additional option of greasing, i.e., applying a lubricant, for example a lubricant or contact grease, between the overhead conductor rail(s) and the contact wire when pulling a contact wire into an overhead conductor rail.

[0009] Preferably, the first and second coatings comprise different materials. Particularly preferably, the first and second coatings, the overhead conductor rail, and the at least one contact wire comprise different materials. In this way, the material of the respective first and second coatings can be selected to best match the different materials of an overhead conductor rail and a contact wire, for example, with regard to physical and / or chemical properties.

[0010] Particularly preferred is an extruded aluminum alloy profile for the overhead conductor rail. These are particularly lightweight and therefore particularly suitable for installation in space-constrained environments, such as tunnels, underpasses, or under bridges, etc., and their large cross-section also enables high energy transfer. They are also crack-resistant, eliminating the need for grounding in the cracked area of ​​the overhead line. Furthermore, such overhead conductor rails allow only the contact wire to be replaced when the wear limit is reached.

[0011] Preferably, the at least one contact wire is made of copper or a copper alloy. Due to its high electrical conductivity, this is particularly advantageous for current conduction and / or transmission. Due to the preferred use of current collector contact strips made of pure or copper-impregnated carbon material in conjunction with contact wires made of copper or copper alloy, the contact strips in operation are generally equipped with a copper-containing coating, which can lead to contact corrosion when using contact wires made of non-copper-containing materials.

[0012] According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the overhead conductor rail is completely covered by the first coating. According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one contact wire is completely covered by the second coating. This can be achieved particularly cheaply and advantageously from a manufacturing technology perspective, since the entire surface of an overhead conductor rail can be completely, evenly and seamlessly covered or coated with a desired or necessary coating using galvanic processes, as a rule in one work step, for example immediately after the overhead conductor rail has been manufactured using an extrusion process. The entire overhead conductor rail is thus permanently and reliably protected against weather conditions or against weather influences, corrosive media, etc., and consequently against corrosion and in particular contact corrosion, in a simple and cost-effective manner.This applies analogously to a covering or coating of a contact wire with a second coating.

[0013] According to another particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the first coating is embodied as a chromium(III)-containing coating. Furthermore, the chromium(III)-containing coating is particularly preferably a chromium(III)-containing passivation coating having a thickness between 100 and 500 nanometers.

[0014] By coating a ceiling conductor rail, made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, for example, with a chromium (III)-containing coating—essentially an oxide layer several hundred nanometers thick—the mechanical resistance properties of the ceiling conductor rail(s) are significantly improved. This increases, for example, their hardness, their wear resistance, and thus also their weather resistance, especially against aggressive environmental influences, such as moisture, etc., which consequently considerably extends the service life of such ceiling conductor rails.When coated with a thin chromium (III)-containing passivation coating, i.e. a thin oxide layer formed from chromium (III) oxide compounds, with a thickness of between 100 and 500 nanometres, the resistance to corrosion is increased in particular, so that corrosion protection is significantly increased and, in this regard, contact corrosion is prevented extremely effectively and permanently. This means that the service life of the overhead conductor rail is significantly extended. At the same time, the coating does not have any adverse effects, for example in terms of reducing friction, and therefore does not reduce the pull-out force of a contact wire from the overhead conductor rail. The properties with regard to the quality of current conduction and / or transmission between current and / or contact wire are...The overhead conductor rail and contact wire also remain essentially unchanged, so that the quality of the power supply for the corresponding vehicles remains guaranteed without restriction.

[0015] According to another particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the second coating is embodied as a tinning coating. The tinning coating preferably has a thickness of between 1 and 30 micrometers. By coating a contact wire, which consists, for example, of copper or a copper alloy, with a tinning coating consisting essentially of tin with, if appropriate,

[0016] If the coating contains traces of other materials, permanent protection of the at least one contact wire, for example corrosion protection, etc., is also achieved, analogous to the coating of power rails or overhead conductor rails with a first coating, and thus contact corrosion is also permanently prevented. Due to the very high electrical conductivity of tin and thus of the tin layer with which the at least one contact wire is provided or coated, the quality of the current conduction and / or transmission between the power rail or overhead conductor rail and the contact wire, and thus the permanent power supply for the corresponding vehicles, is accordingly guaranteed without restriction. This is particularly advantageous when the tinning layer is between 1 and 30 micrometers thick.

[0017] Particularly preferably, an overhead line system comprises at least one ceiling conductor rail according to one of claims 1 to 11.

[0018] A further aspect of the present invention relates to a method for producing a ceiling conductor rail for an overhead line system, the ceiling conductor rail comprising a fastening device for guiding a contact wire, and at least one contact wire, wherein the ceiling conductor rail and the at least one contact wire consist of different materials, comprising the steps - Providing the ceiling conductor rail at least partially with a first coating and / or - providing the at least one contact wire at least partially with a second coating, wherein the first and the second coating are each electrically conductive and each comprise different materials, and - Connect the contact wire to the overhead conductor rail using the fastening device.

[0019] It is particularly preferred to completely cover the ceiling conductor rail with the first coating.

[0020] Preferably, the at least one contact wire is completely covered with the second coating.

[0021] The first coating is also preferably designed as a chromium (III)-containing coating and particularly preferably as a chromium (III)-containing passivation coating with a thickness between 100 and 500 nanometers.

[0022] The second coating is also preferably designed as a tinning coating and particularly preferably with a thickness between 1 and 30 micrometers.

[0023] The previously described embodiments or characteristics of the ceiling conductor rail(s) according to the invention and in particular their advantages are transferable to the said method and therefore also apply to the said method with or in all its embodiments or characteristics.

[0024] Preferred embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. They show: Fig. 1 a cross-section of a ceiling conductor rail according to the invention with a first coating, Fig. 2 a cross-section of a contact wire with a second coating, Fig. 3 a cross-section of an overhead conductor rail according to the invention with a first coating and clamped contact wire with a second coating and Fig. 4 a sketch of an overhead line system with the transition from a catenary to an overhead conductor rail according to the invention outside a tunnel or underpass.

[0025] In the Fig. In Figures 1 to 4, identical components are designated by the same reference numerals. The size and thickness of the first coating 7 and the second coating 9 shown in the figures are enlarged for clarity and better visibility and are not shown to scale.

[0026] Fig. 1 shows a cross section of a ceiling conductor rail 2 according to the invention with a first coating 7. The Fig. 1 The ceiling conductor rail 2 shown consists of an aluminum alloy extruded profile.

[0027] The ceiling conductor rail 2 has a conventional fastening device 4 consisting of two clamping arms 5 and 6, which are provided, in Fig. 1 only sketched contact wire 3, whereby the contact wire 3 is connected to the overhead conductor rail 2. The overhead conductor rail 2 is completely and also over its entire length, which runs into the plane of the drawing (not visible here), and its two end faces, continuously covered or coated with a first coating 7, here a thin chromium (III)-containing passivation coating, i.e. a thin oxide layer with a thickness between 100 and 500 nanometers, which is formed from chromium (III) oxide compounds. The chromium (III)-containing passivation coating is corrosion-resistant and has high electrical conductivity. Due to the coating 7, which completely and thus seamlessly surrounds the power or overhead conductor rail 2, the overhead conductor rail 2 is or will be reliably and permanently protected against aggressive environmental conditions, in particular weather conditions, and against weather influences, corrosive media, etc., and consequently protected against corrosion and in particular contact corrosion between the contact wire 3 and the overhead conductor rail 2. The chromium (III)-containing passivation coating 7 in the stated thickness is particularly well suited and effective for this purpose. This significantly extends the service life of the overhead conductor rail 2, as a result of which cost-intensive maintenance with interruptions in operation may only be necessary after significantly longer intervals. Furthermore, this also enables the electrification of areas with extreme climatic conditions, e.g. in tunnels with high humidity and / or mineral erosion, near the sea, etc. The complete, uniform and gap-free coating of the entire surface of the power or overhead conductor rail 2 with orIn particular, the desired thickness of the chromium (III)-containing passivation coating 7 can be realized particularly cheaply and advantageously by means of galvanic processes, for example by means of a corresponding immersion bath.

[0028] Fig. 2 shows a cross-section of a contact wire 3 with a second coating 9.

[0029] The Fig. The contact wire 3 shown in Figure 2 is made of copper or a copper alloy and has the usual engagements 11 and 12 for the two clamping arms 5 and 6 of the fastening device 4 of the ceiling conductor rail profile 2 from the Fig. 1 (which are not shown here for clarity), by means of which the contact wire 3 is clamped in the overhead conductor rail profile 2. By clamping the contact wire 3 by the clamping arms 5, 6, the contact points 13 and 14 are automatically created, at which the contact wire 3 and the overhead conductor rail 2 would be in direct contact without the coating 9. The contact wire 3 is completely and continuously covered or coated with the second coating 9 at least over the entire contact length, i.e. over the entire length of the overhead conductor rail(s) 2 along the contact points 13 and 14 that the contact wire 3 has with the overhead conductor rail(s) 2 and which runs into the plane of the drawing (not visible here). The second coating 9 is advantageously a tinning coating with a thickness of between 1 and 30 micrometers, which essentially consists of tin with possibly traces of other materials.The tinning coating 9 is corrosion-resistant and has a high electrical conductivity. Due to the coating 9 completely and thus seamlessly surrounding the contact wire 3, the contact wire 3 is and will be reliably and permanently protected against aggressive environmental conditions, in particular weather conditions, or against weather influences, corrosive media, etc., and consequently against corrosion, which in particular also permanently prevents contact corrosion between the contact wire 3 and the overhead conductor rail 2. The tinning coating 9 in the stated thickness is particularly well suited and effective for this purpose. Thus, in this way, a significant extension of the service life of the overhead conductor rail 2 is also achieved. The complete, uniform and seamless coating of the entire surface of the contact wire 3 with orIn particular, the desired thickness of the tinning coating 9 can also be realized particularly cheaply and advantageously by means of galvanic processes.

[0030] Fig. 3 shows a cross section of an overhead conductor rail 2 according to the invention with clamped contact wire 3 in the embodiments according to the Fig. 1 or 2. In the Fig. 3, the contact wire 3 is clamped by means of the clamping arms 5 and 6 of the fastening device 4 of the overhead conductor rail 2 and thus connected to the overhead conductor rail 2. Due to the different electrode potentials exhibited by the two metals, aluminum (overhead conductor rail 2) and copper (overhead conductor wire 3), there is normally a risk of contact corrosion when the two materials come into direct contact under corrosion-promoting external conditions, which in this case would lead to decomposition of the overhead conductor rail 2. This is prevented by the two coatings 7 and 9, which completely enclose the overhead conductor rail 2 and the contact wire 3, respectively, and which are therefore present over their entire length, particularly at the contact points 13 and 14 between the overhead conductor rail 2 and the overhead wire 3, thus effectively and permanently preventing direct contact and consequently contact corrosion between the overhead conductor rail 2 and the overhead wire 3.

[0031] To effectively prevent or reduce contact corrosion between the conductor rail or overhead conductor rail 2 and the contact wire 3, one coating is generally sufficient, either the first coating 7 of the overhead conductor rail(s) 2, or the second coating 9 of the contact wire 3. Furthermore, the simultaneous application or use of both coatings 7 and 9 is even more advantageous in terms of long-term durability. This significantly improves the permanent or uninterrupted electrification of tunnels with corrosive environmental conditions, for example, since corresponding maintenance and repair work, particularly for replacing damaged overhead conductor rails, only needs to be performed at significantly longer intervals.Furthermore, the quality of the electrical conductivity between the overhead conductor rail(s) 2 and the contact wire 3 remains essentially unchanged due to the high electrical conductivity of each of the two coatings 7 and 9, thus ensuring the quality of the current conduction and / or transmission between the power or overhead conductor rail(s) 2 and the contact wire 3 and thus the permanent power supply for the corresponding vehicles without restriction.

[0032] For the production of a ceiling conductor rail 2 according to the invention for an overhead line system 1 in the embodiment according to Fig. 3, the overhead conductor rail 2 is first completely coated with the first coating 7, a chromium (III)-containing passivation coating with a thickness of between 100 and 500 nanometers, using a suitable galvanic process, and then the contact wire 3 is completely coated with the second coating 9, a tinning layer, with a thickness of between 1 and 30 micrometers, also using a suitable galvanic process. These two steps can also be carried out in reverse order. The coated contact wire 3 is then clamped to the grips 11 and 12 of the contact wire 3 by means of the clamping arms 5 and 6 of the fastening device 4 of the overhead conductor rail 2 and thus connected to the likewise coated overhead conductor rail 2. The overhead conductor rail 2 produced in this way according to the invention is suitable for use in an overhead line system 1 and can be used there.

[0033] Fig. 4 shows a sketch of an overhead line system 1 with the transition 20 of a catenary 17 to an overhead conductor rail 2 according to the invention in the area of ​​an underpass or a tunnel 15.

[0034] Outside of Tunnel 15, the Fig. 4 shows an exemplary overhead line system 1 in a conventional design with a chain system 17 and supporting cable(s) 16, which is / are guided at a height h above the contact wire 3 and wherein the supporting cable 16 is connected to the contact wire 3 by means of a hanger or hanger cable 18. The transition area 20 for operating the overhead line system 1 by means of the inventive overhead conductor rail(s) 2 within an underpass or the tunnel 15 begins, for example, as in Fig. 4, already at the beginning of an underpass or the tunnel 15, or even before, i.e. at or even before the point at which a corresponding vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, enters the underpass or the tunnel 15. Analogously, the transition area 20 ends, for example, at the end of the underpass or the tunnel 15, or even after, i.e. at or even after the point at which a corresponding vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, exits the underpass or the tunnel 15. Furthermore, the extraction force F Zug which acts in the axial direction of the contact wire 3 and tries to pull the contact wire 3 out of the overhead conductor rail 2.

[0035] The Fig. 4 shown or according to Fig. 4 with one or more overhead contact rail(s) 2 according to the invention or the use of one or more overhead contact rail(s) 2 according to the invention in underpasses or tunnels is merely exemplary and in no way limited to this embodiment, but also includes, without limitation, all possible other useful embodiments, applications or fields of use.

[0036] Furthermore, the invention is in no way limited to the Fig. 1 to 4 previously described and shown embodiments, but also all possible further, useful embodiments of the invention, for example ceiling conductor rails that comprise or hold two or more contact wires, are included.

[0037] Regardless of the grammatical gender of a particular term, persons with male, female or other gender identities are included.

Claims

[1] Ceiling conductor rail (2) for an overhead line system (1) with a fastening device (4) for guiding a contact wire (3) and with at least one contact wire (3), wherein the at least one contact wire (3) is connected to the ceiling conductor rail (2) by means of the fastening device (4), wherein the ceiling conductor rail (2) and the at least one contact wire (3) are made of different materials, characterized by that the ceiling conductor rail (2) at least partially has a first coating (7) and / or the at least one contact wire (3) at least partially has a second coating (9), wherein the first and the second coating (7, 9) are each electrically conductive. [2] Ceiling conductor rail (2) according to claim 1, characterized by that the first and second coatings (7, 9) comprise different materials. [3] Ceiling conductor rail (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized bythat the first and second coatings (7, 9) and the ceiling conductor rail (2) and the at least one contact wire (3) have different materials. [4] Ceiling conductor rail (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the ceiling conductor rail (2) is designed as an aluminum alloy extruded profile. [5] Ceiling conductor rail (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the at least one contact wire (3) consists of copper or a copper alloy. [6] Ceiling conductor rail (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the ceiling conductor rail (2) is completely covered by the first coating (7). [7] Ceiling conductor rail (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the at least one contact wire (3) is completely covered by the second coating (9). [8] Ceiling conductor rail (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the first coating (7) is designed as a chromium (III)-containing coating. [9] Ceiling conductor rail (2) according to claim 8, characterized by that the chromium (III)-containing coating is a chromium (III)-containing passivation coating having a thickness between 100 and 500 nanometers. [10] Ceiling conductor rail (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the second coating (9) is designed as a tinning coating. [11] Ceiling conductor rail (2) according to claim 10, characterized by that the tinning coating has a thickness between 1 and 30 micrometers. [12] Overhead line system (1) with at least one overhead conductor rail (2) according to one of claims 1 to 11. [13] Method for producing a ceiling conductor rail (2) for an overhead line system (1), the ceiling conductor rail (2) having a fastening device (4) for guiding a contact wire (3), and at least one contact wire (3), wherein the ceiling conductor rail (2) and the at least one contact wire (3) consist of different materials, comprising the steps - providing the ceiling conductor rail (2) at least partially with a first coating (7) and / or - providing the at least one contact wire (3) at least partially with a second coating (9), wherein the first and the second coating (7, 9) are each electrically conductive and each comprise different materials, and - Connecting the contact wire (3) to the ceiling conductor rail (2) using the fastening device (4). [14] Ceiling conductor rail (2) according to claim 13, characterized bythat the ceiling conductor rail (2) is completely covered with the first coating (7). [15] Ceiling conductor rail (2) according to claim 13 or 14, characterized by that the at least one contact wire (3) is completely covered with the second coating (9). [16] Method for producing a ceiling conductor rail (2) for an overhead line system (1) according to one of claims 13 to 15, characterized by that the first coating (7) is designed as a chromium (III)-containing coating. [17] Method for producing a ceiling conductor rail (2) for an overhead line system (1) according to claim 16, characterized by that the chromium (III)-containing coating is designed as a chromium (III)-containing passivation coating with a thickness between 100 and 500 nanometers. [18] Method for producing a ceiling conductor rail (2) for an overhead line system (1) according to one of claims 13 to 17, characterized bythat the second coating (9) is designed as a tinning coating. [19] Method for producing a ceiling conductor rail (2) for an overhead line system (1) according to claim 18, characterized by that the tinning coating is carried out with a thickness between 1 and 30 micrometers.

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