ENERGY SUPPLY SYSTEM WITH CONSUMER CLUBS

Description

[0001] The invention is based on an energy supply system according to the preamble of independent claim 1.

[0002] Such power supply systems are required, for example, to supply electrical energy to rail-based passenger transport vehicles, i.e., railway carriages for passenger transport. Such power supply systems are particularly preferred in so-called "fixed train sets," i.e., a set of railway carriages that is rarely or never changed. The loads to be supplied can vary within the set. Alternatively, such a power supply system can be used to supply production lines. State of the art

[0003] For example, the current state of the art, UIC 552 "Train Busbar" proposes providing rail vehicles with a so-called fixed wiring system underfloor for the power supply of railway wagons. For this purpose, both ends of a wagon are equipped with two electrical connection units. The connection units are interconnected with permanently installed, usually rigid conductors underneath the wagon. The connection units are designed to allow for many plug-in cycles. UIC 552 mentions several thousand plug-in cycles (5,000 plug-in cycles). Furthermore, the connection units are designed such that, for example, a first connection unit is connected to a second connection unit. In this case, connecting the first connection unit to a first connection unit of the same design is not provided for or not possible.The various connection units are used, on the one hand, to transfer energy from one unit to the next, i.e. from a locomotive to a wagon, as well as between wagons, and, on the other hand, they serve to provide redundant energy to a consumer that is located on the respective unit.

[0004] Although this concept has proven itself over a long period of time, current designs of electric transport systems are increasingly plagued by disadvantages. Particularly disadvantageous to the current state of the art are the lack of ease of maintenance, the rigid design of the system, and, as a rule, the high weight and considerable space requirements. These disadvantages result, among other things, from the at least three differently designed connection units per car stipulated in UIC 552.

[0005] The disadvantages described are particularly evident in fixed train sets, as the connecting devices never achieve the number of mating cycles specified in the state of the art. A "fixed train set" refers to a set of railcars, wagons, locomotives, or similar units that remain in a previously planned configuration. Due to the high power requirements in modern, passenger rail transport, the current state-of-the-art solution is outdated and inefficient. However, especially for contact elements subject to high levels of wear, such as those in rail-based transport, there is an increasing need for repair and maintenance due to ever-increasing demands, for example, due to increased electrical erosion or electrical corrosion caused by the high currents of over 500A up to several thousand amperes and voltages of over 500V up to several kilovolts.

[0006] The German Patent and Trademark Office has searched the following prior art in the priority application for the present application: DE 10 2017 222 101 B3, EP 2 665 147 A1, EP 3 470 296 A1 and standard UIC 552 1997-01-00.

[0007] In particular, EP 3 470 296 A1 represents relevant prior art in the field of energy supply systems. Task

[0008] The object of the invention is to provide an energy supply system with electrical consumer connections, in particular transport systems consisting of several units, which enables a lower overall weight, a reduced size and increased ease of maintenance and / or repair with at least the same or improved energy supply capacity, in particular at least the same current carrying capacity.

[0009] The problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims.

[0010] The energy supply system according to the invention is provided for electrical consumer networks, wherein a consumer network consists of at least two consumer network segments, in particular transport means consisting of at least two transport means segments, each having a first end region and a second end region, as well as at least one electrical consumer, which are fed by the energy supply system. According to the invention, a consumer network segment with the number n is electrically connected, on the one hand, to at least one first connection region of the consumer network segment n-1 and / or, on the other hand, to a second connection region of the consumer network segment n+1.This means that the energy supply system is designed as a mesh network, the meshes of which are each assigned to a consumer network segment, wherein each mesh has at least two connection devices and wherein at least one first connection device is arranged along the first end region and at least one second connection device at the second end region. Each connection device has at least two connections for receiving one electrical connector each, wherein the electrical connectors are in turn connected to an electrical conductor. The invention is characterized in that the connection devices have essentially identical connections and the connectors are designed to be compatible with the connections of the connection devices. The connection devices are designed to transmit particularly high electrical current intensities and / or high electrical voltage."High electrical current" refers to a current of over 100 amperes. In particular, it means a current of over 500 amperes. A current of over 800 amperes is especially important. A current of greater than or equal to 1,000 amperes is also conceivable. The term "high electrical voltage" refers to a voltage of over 1 kilovolt. In particular, it means a voltage of over 10 kilovolts. A voltage of over 15 kilovolts is especially important. A current of greater than or equal to 25 kilovolts is also conceivable.

[0011] In one embodiment, the electrical conductors of the mesh network are terminated at both ends with essentially identical connectors. This means that the conductors preferably have identical connectors at their respective ends. This embodiment allows for a wide variety of conductors to be pre-assembled, preferably as cables with a cross-section sufficient to meet the definition of high current or high voltage. Pre-assembled cables allow the time required to be reduced to a minimum in the event of a necessary replacement.

[0012] A clever design provides for the connection devices to be designed as electrical distributors with at least three connections. Designing the connection devices as distributors is particularly advantageous for rail-bound means of transport, such as electrically operated railways, since redundancy must be created for safety reasons, which cannot be reasonably achieved with connection devices designed as simple connecting units. Designs that provide the connection device as a T-distributor, Y-distributor, H-distributor, or X-distributor are particularly advantageous here. Such connection devices are known from high-performance connector systems, as described in DE 10 2020 108 458 A1.

[0013] In a further embodiment, the connectors are designed as plug-in connectors that can be connected to the terminals of the connection device. The plug-in design allows for a particularly advantageous connection of the electrical conductors to the connection device. The connectors are cleverly designed as plug-in connectors with a locking element. Embodiments with so-called push-pull locking, locking brackets, bayonet locks, or a combination of known locking elements are particularly advantageous. Such connectors are known from high-performance connector systems, as described in DE 10 2020 108 458 A1.

[0014] In a simple embodiment, the connectors are designed as single-pin connectors. This enables high-performance transmission, so that the required loads of more than 100 A, occasionally more than 250 A, frequently more than 500 A, especially loads in the range of 650 A to 1000 A, can be safely achieved by the power supply system. Ideally, the connector designed as a single-pin connector is secured to the connection device with at least one locking element. Screws can easily be used for fixation here. The previously mentioned locking elements, such as bayonet locking systems, are also conceivable.

[0015] In a practical embodiment, at least one mesh of the power supply system, designed as a mesh network, is expanded by at least one tapping unit. This means that, in addition to the electrical conductors and the at least two connection devices used to form a mesh, a separate unit is used to enable a connection to the consumer of the transport segment.

[0016] One clever embodiment provides that the tap unit has at least two connections, which are structurally identical to the connections of the connection devices and have at least one tap, wherein the tap is provided for the electrical connection of the power supply system to the consumer. This also allows the use of pre-assembled cables, which allow for easy replacement in the event of damage. The embodiment is improved by a tap that is designed to be essentially identical or at least compatible with the connections of the connection devices.

[0017] A particularly advantageous embodiment provides for the tap unit to be essentially identical in construction to a connection device. This increases ease of maintenance in a simple and cost-effective manner, as each connection device and the tap unit can be replaced with identical components. In particular, spare parts storage is reduced, making it more cost-effective and space-saving.

[0018] One embodiment discloses the electrical consumer assembly as a rail-bound means of transport. Rail-bound means of transport are understood to mean, in particular, freight train assembly and / or passenger train assembly. A train assembly is understood to be a assembly consisting of at least one traction unit and at least one railcar. Alternatively, a assembly consisting of several railcars is also possible. Combinations of the aforementioned means of transport are also conceivable.

[0019] In another embodiment, the power supply system is located below the floor of the transport vehicle. "Below the floor" refers to the area of ​​the transport vehicle located between the transport route and the transport vehicle itself. In other words, this refers, for example, to the underside of a railcar.

[0020] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims and the following description. Example

[0021] An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and explained in more detail below. They show: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a consumer network segment of an energy supply system according to the invention;

[0022] The figures contain partially simplified, schematic representations. In some cases, identical reference symbols are used for identical, but possibly not identical, elements. Different views of identical elements may be scaled differently.

[0023] The Figure 1shows a schematic representation of a consumer interconnection segment 2 of a claimed energy supply system 1. A redundantly supplied consumer interconnection segment 2 is shown. A consumer interconnection segment 2 designed in this way can be found particularly in the energy supply of rail-guided means of transport, for example, passenger carriages. Two connection devices 3 are arranged at a first end region 20 and at a second end region 21. The connection devices 3 are each designed with three connections 30. The connections 30 each accommodate a compatible connector 31.The connectors are designed to establish both an electrical and a mechanical connection between the respective connection device 3, or the connections 30 located thereon, and an associated conductor 4. The two connection devices 3 in the first end region 20 are directly connected to a conductor 4 and to connectors 31 located thereon, which engage with the corresponding connections 30. The two connection devices 3 in the second end region 21 are connected to one another in the same way. Furthermore, the first end region 20 and the second end region 21 are connected to one another once directly and once indirectly by conductors 4 provided with connectors 31. In the case of the indirect connection, a tapping unit 5 is inserted between the connection device 3 of the first end region 20 and the connection device 3 of the second end region 21. The tapping unit 5 supplies a consumer 22 via a tapping 50.It is advisable for the tapping unit 5 to have at least two connections 30 that are identical to the connections 30 of the connection devices 3. Ideally, a tapping unit 5 is designed to be at least fundamentally identical to the connection devices 3. This allows costs to be saved by having fewer different components.

[0024] Accordingly, the tap 50 is shown identical to the terminals 30 and connectors 31 of the connection units 3. The connection between the load 22 can be made by direct connection, as in the example shown. Alternatively, the load 22 can also be provided with a connection that is identical to the terminals 30 of the tap unit 5 and / or the connection devices 3.

[0025] Due to the essentially axisymmetric design of the first end region 20 and the second end region 21, any theoretical number of consumer network segments 2 can be arranged in series and connected to one another. By designing the connection devices 3 with three at least essentially identical connections 30, the connectors 31 can also be designed identically. This simplifies assembly and maintenance, while at the same time significantly reducing the need to stock spare parts. Even if various aspects or features of the invention are shown in combination in the figures, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art - unless otherwise stated - that combinations other than those illustrated and discussed are possible, as long as they fall within the scope of the appended claims.In particular, corresponding units or feature complexes from different embodiments can be exchanged with one another. List of reference symbols

[0026] 1Energy supply system 2Consumption network segment 20First end area 21Second end area 22Consumer 3Connection device 30Connection 31Connector 4-wire 5Tap unit 50Tap

Claims

1. A power supply system (1) with groups of loads, wherein the group of loads is formed from at least two segments of the group of loads (2) which each have a first end region (20) and a second end region (21), as well as in each case at least one electrical energy-consuming device (22), wherein the electrical energy-consuming device (22) is fed with electrical energy by the power supply system (1), wherein a connection device (3) is provided with at least three terminals (30) for removably holding in each case one electrical connector (31) and wherein the terminals (30) are designed with essentially the same structure such that connectors (31) with the same structure can be used both to connect the connection devices (3) within a segment of the group of loads (20) and to connect at least two segments of the group of loads (2), characterized in that wherein each segment of the group of loads (2) features at least two connection devices (3) which are arranged along the first end region (20) and the second end region (21), and wherein the connectors (31) are connected to an electrical conductor (4).

2. The power supply system (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connection devices (3) are designed as electrical distributors with at least three terminals (30).

3. The power supply system (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connectors (31) are formed as single-pole plug connectors.

4. The power supply system (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one segment of the group of loads (2) of the group of loads is expanded by at least one tapping unit (5).

5. The power supply system (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tapping unit (5) has at least two terminals (30') which are formed with the same structure as the terminals (30) of the connection devices (3) and have at least one tap (50), wherein the tap (50) is provided for electrically connecting the power supply system (1) to the energy-consuming device (23).

6. The power supply system (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tapping unit (5) is designed with essentially the same structure as a connection device (3).

7. The power supply system (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the group of loads is designed as transportation means consisting of segments of the group of loads (2), wherein the transportation means has at least two transportation means segments.

8. The power supply system (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transportation means is designed as a rail-bound transportation means, in particular as a rail passenger transportation means.

9. The power supply system (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the power supply system (1) is arranged below the floor of the transportation means.

10. A transportation means consisting of at least two transportation means segments, wherein at least one transportation means segment is fed from a power supply system (1) as claimed in claim 1.

11. The transportation means as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that a transportation means segment with at least one connection device (3) is connected to a conductor (4) at a first end region (20) or second end region (21), wherein the conductor (4) of a first end has a connector (31) which is compatible with the connection device (3) of the power supply system (1) as claimed in claim 1, and one of a second end has a connector which differs from the connector (31) of the first end and is compatible with a different type of power supply system.