Device and method for checking the thickness of contact strips

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and a method for checking the thickness of contact strips. The invention relates to a device for checking the thickness of contact strips of overhead line vehicles and to a method for checking the thickness of contact strips of overhead line vehicles by means of the device according to the invention, comprising a portable pivot (1) with two free ends (11, 12) and a measuring means (2) in the region of a first free end (11) of the pivot (1).

Description

[0001]202303641 Foreign version 1 Description Device and method for checking the thickness of contact strips The invention relates to a device for checking the thickness of contact strips on overhead line vehicles using a measuring device. The invention further relates to a method for checking the thickness of contact strips on overhead line vehicles using the said device. A current collector of an overhead line vehicle, for example a rail vehicle, is equipped with a contact strip. The contact strip wears out while the rail vehicle is in contact with an electrical overhead line provided for this purpose. It is therefore subject to wear, which reduces the thickness or strength of the contact strip. The contact strip of the current collector must be replaced when a predetermined limit value, for example a minimum thickness or strength of the contact strip, is reached.If the required limit is significantly undercut, there is a risk of failures in the energy transmission via the contact strip. These failures can lead to damage, partial functional failure of the vehicle, or in the worst case, unplanned interruptions to travel. The remaining thickness of a used contact strip and the associated remaining range of the rail vehicle are unknown at any given time. For this reason, contact strips are usually checked at regular intervals as part of inspection work on the vehicle. This determines whether the thickness of the contact strip is still within the required tolerances and whether wear is reaching unacceptable levels (normal abrasion, diagonal wear, chipping, etc.).This is done by visual inspection and manual measurements on the contact strip using appropriately designed measuring tools, and more recently, devices equipped with optics, lasers, and sensors. Traditionally, contact strip inspection and measurement are carried out by specially trained personnel directly on the pantograph using a conventional caliper. The service technician accesses the pantograph via a rooftop work platform. The vehicle must be brought to an appropriately equipped maintenance workshop for this purpose. Therefore, the measurement is usually performed in conjunction with other maintenance activities. During the measurement, there must be no live overhead lines near the service technician. Furthermore, optical measuring devices have become known that automatically record the thickness and geometry of the contact strip during operation on the vehicle, for example, when passing through a measuring system.These measuring devices are installed at fixed locations in the rail network and require high financing and operating costs. They only become active when the vehicle passes them. The published patent application WO 2015 / 007718 A2 teaches a measuring system for determining the thickness of a specially designed contact strip on a vehicle using a camera. DE 102009 006 392 A1 shows a stationary monitoring arrangement for monitoring the condition of contact strips. An image acquisition system is mounted on a power pole to automatically capture images of contact strips on passing rail vehicles.202303641 Foreign version 3 DE 102022 202 961 A1, which had not yet been published at the relevant time of this application, discloses a method for determining the wear of a contact strip. In a first step, a measurement campaign is carried out for a specific pantograph in order to determine, over a large number of measurements, the wear of a contact strip of the pantograph as a function of an associated traveled distance. The invention is based on the object of simplifying the measurement of the thickness of contact strips. This object is achieved by the subject matter of independent patent claim 1. Further developments and refinements of the invention can be found in the features of the dependent patent claims.A device according to the invention for checking the thickness of a contact strip of a pantograph of an overhead line vehicle comprises a portable rod with two free ends and a measuring device, in particular a testing device, which is arranged on the rod in the region of a first free end of the rod. In a simple manner, the rod is designed in the shape of a gallows with a support rod and a cantilever arm arranged on the support rod, in particular in an articulated manner. The cantilever arm carries the measuring device, in particular at its free end, which is opposite the end of the cantilever arm, at which it is mounted on the support rod, in particular in an articulated manner. The free end of the cantilever arm thus forms the first free end of the rod. The cantilever arm can be arranged on the support rod by means of at least one joint, via which an angle between the support rod and the cantilever arm can be adjusted, which angle is in particular between 0° and 180°, for example between 90° and 135°.202303641 Foreign version 4 In particular, the joint is designed to be adjustable in order to set and, in particular, also fix the predetermined angle between the support rod and the cantilever arm, which can also be rod-shaped, in the area of ​​the joint. The working range is between 90° and 135°. However, for transporting the device, the cantilever arm can advantageously be folded down, i.e. at an angle of 0° to the support rod and thus running parallel to it. In a transport state, the rod therefore takes up little space compared to the previously described operating state. Alternatively, it can be fully folded out and thus extends the device flush with the support rod. According to a further development, the rod is designed to be length-adjustable, at least in sections.For example, at least the support rod is designed to be telescopic, for example by means of telescopic tubes that lie one inside the other and can be moved relative to one another. In addition, the cantilever arm can also be designed to be telescopic. In addition, the fishing rod can also be designed to be dismantled. For example, it can be designed to be removable at the joint between the support rod and the cantilever arm. Additionally or alternatively, the fishing rod can consist of several parts that are detachably fastened to one another. The support rod and / or cantilever arm can thus, for example, each be designed from several rod sections that can be detachably fastened to one another. The fishing rod is relatively small when disassembled for transport. According to a further development, the fishing rod has a handle at a second free end. The handle is used for manual handling of the fishing rod. According to a further development, the fishing rod is at least 2 m, in particular at least 3 m long.The maximum length of the hinge is in particular a maximum of 5 m. The length of the hinge is measured in particular between its first free end and the second free end and in its intended 202303641 Foreign version 5 state for checking the thickness of a contact strip of a pantograph of an overhead line vehicle. In a transport state, for example a disassembled or retracted state with a length-adjustable holding rod and / or cantilever arm, the length can also be shorter. The holding rod can be at least 2 m, in particular at least 3 m long, but measures a maximum of 4 m. The maximum length of a length-adjustable holding rod relates to its extended state. In a retracted state, for example for transporting the device, the length of the holding rod is a maximum of 2 m. The cantilever arm measures a minimum of 1 m, but in particular a maximum of 2 m.The fishing rod is a mobile tool that can be held and freely aligned by a person. It is advantageously designed for use in open fields. The device, in particular the fishing rod of the device, can be suitably designed according to further developments, in particular dimensioned so that it can be held and aligned by a person standing on the ground next to the overhead line vehicle in order to check the thickness of the contact strip of the overhead line vehicle's pantograph as intended. The ground next to the overhead line vehicle is free of any artificial elevation, such as a platform, a work platform, or a roof work stand, and is at street or rail level and thus approximately at the same level as the ground on which the overhead line vehicle stands. In one variant, the fishing rod is curved and / or bendable.In the bendable version, it can, for example, be designed as a gooseneck, at least in sections. Even in the curved or bendable embodiment, it can be divisible and thus disassembled. The holding rod and / or cantilever arm are simply designed to be straight, but can also be curved and / or bendable, at least in sections. What the variants have in common is that, in the operating state, a tangent of the hinge in the region of the first end forms an angle to a tangent in the region of the second end of the hinge, which angle is in particular between 0° and 180°, for example between 90° and 135°, and which is advantageously adjustable within this range. Shapes with skew tangents at the first and second ends are also possible.Basically, the angle of two skew tangents is calculated as the intersection angle of two intersecting straight lines that are correspondingly parallel to the given skew tangents. The tang is advantageously electrically insulating, in particular high-voltage insulated. For this purpose, it can be further developed to comprise at least partially an electrically insulating material, in particular at least the support rod, but optionally also the cantilever arm. It is preferably made of an electrically insulating material that provides sufficient insulation against high voltage between the measuring device and the handle. According to a further development, the measuring device is designed as a material thickness gauge. Material thickness gauges, also simply referred to as thickness gauges, are generally well-known testing devices for determining thicknesses or strengths, for example of sheet metal or other objects.Gauges embody at least one comparison scale and / or at least one comparison shape as a reference value or standard for determining the thickness or strength of the workpiece to be tested, here the wear strip. With only one fixed setting to a single predetermined dimension and / or to a predetermined shape, in particular embodying a limit value, it can be checked, for example, whether the contact strip meets a predetermined (minimum) thickness. Advantageously, however, the material thickness gauge is designed to test multiple thicknesses or strengths. Accordingly, it has a suitable shape for testing multiple thicknesses or strengths of the contact strip, as well as at least one scale for determining the value of the thickness or strength of the contact strip at the point under consideration. Shape and scale can be discrete measuring embodiments; the material thickness gauge is preferably designed to cover a continuous range of values.For example, it has a suitable, fixed shape. The scale serves primarily as a comparison scale and less for shape determination. Due to its fixed shape, it has no moving parts, unlike measuring instruments for thickness measurement with at least one mechanically movable part, such as calipers, which, when the movable measuring leg is locked, also serve as a gauge for testing a test piece to a preset dimension. This makes it simple and cost-effective to manufacture, use, and maintain the reference dimension. A further development of the material thickness gauge is a V-shaped flat gauge with scaling on at least one side, and in particular with scaling on both sides. The V-shaped flat gauge can be slid onto the contact strip at any point and has an easily readable scale.As an alternative to the thickness gauge, the measuring device is further developed as a material thickness measuring device, in particular with a display for the measurement result. The material thickness measuring device can have an indicator for the measurement result, such as a display. It can have at least one movable part and can, for example, be designed in the shape of a pair of pliers or as a caliper with a movable measuring leg. The movable part can then be actuated, in particular, by remote control, so that a measurement can be initiated from the handle of the tang. The device can for this purpose have a remote control in the area of ​​the handle of the tang. Additionally or alternatively, the material thickness measuring device can also be operated using a mobile device. It then has a 202303641 foreign version 8 correspondingly suitable control unit for processing control signals with a receiving unit.The display can also be arranged away from the material thickness gauge, for example in the area of ​​the handle of the rod. The display can be part of the device for checking the thickness of contact strips or it can be part of any mobile device. In the latter case, the material thickness gauge is designed to transmit, in particular wirelessly, for example via mobile communications, the at least one recorded measurement result to a central device, such as a cloud or a local database, in which measurement results can be stored and retrieved again, in particular using the mobile device. The control unit of the material thickness gauge comprises a transmitter unit for this purpose. In a simple manner, the display of the material thickness gauge is also arranged in the area of ​​the first free end of the rod.According to a further development, the device comprises an image capture unit which is aligned with the measuring device for capturing a measurement result from the measuring device, and in particular also with the contact strip. The measurement result can be read in particular on the measuring device. The measurement result can be read on the scale of the material thickness gauge or it is output via the display of the material thickness measuring device and can be read on the display. The scale and display are correspondingly coordinated with the image capture unit and the image capture unit is aligned with the scale or display so that the image capture unit can capture a clear measurement result visually. The image is transmitted to an image display, for example a display, and output there. The image display can in turn be arranged away from the image capture unit, for example in the area of ​​the handle of the fishing rod.202303641 Foreign version 9 The image display can also be designed as a separate functional unit or integrated into a multifunctional evaluation and display device and thus not necessarily connected to the fishing rod. It is also possible for the image capture unit to transmit the at least one captured image to a mobile device, in particular wirelessly. It is then output on the mobile device. Additionally or alternatively, the image capture unit is further developed and suitably designed for the transmission, in particular wirelessly, for example via mobile radio, of the at least one captured image to a central facility, such as a cloud or a local database, in which images can be stored and retrieved again, in particular by means of the mobile device.The material thickness gauge and / or the image acquisition unit are further developed and suitably designed for the transmission, in particular wirelessly, of the recorded data, i.e., corresponding to the recorded measured values ​​or image data, to a central facility. The image acquisition unit is advantageously arranged on the hinge, for example on the cantilever arm of the hinge, and is aligned to capture both the measuring device and the contact strip. A camera, with or without a light source, serves as the image acquisition unit in a simple manner. According to one embodiment, the image acquisition unit and / or the material thickness gauge are connected to an image display and a remote control via a wireless connection, so that an operator can position the hinge using the image display and inspect the contact strip and its geometry from all sides.The image capture unit and image display are designed accordingly to capture and output a live video. The operator can measure the thickness of the contact strip and use the remote control (wirelessly) to generate the images or videos for documentation and evaluation. In a further development, the image capture unit is aligned essentially perpendicular to the measuring device, in particular to the scale or the display of the measuring device. A tangent to the hinge at the point of attachment of the measuring device is in particular perpendicular to the measuring device, in particular to the scale of the material thickness gauge or the display of the material thickness measuring device. The image capture unit, in turn, is also arranged on the hinge so as to be essentially aligned with the measuring device, in particular to the scale or the display of the measuring device. For example, it is aligned parallel to the cantilever arm on which it is arranged.The device according to the invention can be freely moved manually and held by a single person. The measuring instrument can thus be positioned at the first free end of the hinge relative to the contact strip, with the precise alignment being freely adjustable. Due to the electrical insulation of the hinge, the device can also be used with live overhead lines. Furthermore, no additional roof workstation is required, meaning that measurements can be carried out in the open at any point along the line using the device according to the invention on a stationary vehicle, for example in the vicinity of train stations or stabling facilities. The invention enables the thickness and condition of contact strips to be determined at any time, anywhere at any location of the vehicle, without the need for an additional roof stand, even under live overhead lines, and with low investment and operating costs. This significantly simplifies the measurement of the thickness of contact strips.The thickness of contact strips on overhead line vehicles is checked using the device according to the invention described below using the method described below with the following method steps: - Aligning the measuring device (2) using the pivot (1) to a contact strip of an overhead line vehicle; - Measuring a thickness of the contact strip using the measuring device (2). The alignment of the measuring device to a contact strip of an overhead line vehicle using the pivot is done manually by a person standing next to the overhead line vehicle and holding the pivot. For example, an upper leg of the V-shaped material thickness gauge can be placed horizontally at any point on the contact strip. The material thickness gauge is pushed over the contact strip until a lower leg of the material thickness gauge rests against the contact strip.This process can be monitored and controlled, for example, via a video of the contact strip and measuring device captured by the image acquisition unit, which is displayed on an image display. The corresponding thickness value can then be read off the scale, allowing the thickness of the contact strip to be measured using the measuring device. The reading is made primarily on the image display, which displays an image of the contact strip and measuring device captured by the image acquisition unit. If necessary, this image is also automatically evaluated, and the measured value is thus automatically recorded.If a material thickness gauge is used instead of the material thickness gauge, the alignment of the material thickness gauge to the contact strip and the operation of the material thickness gauge can also be monitored and controlled via a video of the contact strip and measuring device captured by the image acquisition unit, which is displayed on an image display. A remote control can be provided for operating the material thickness gauge. The method can be preceded by setting up a disassembled rod and / or unfolding a cantilever arm folded onto the support rod to a desired angle to the support rod. The cantilever arm can be locked in the unfolded position relative to the support rod and thus secured against folding in. After the measurement is complete, the rod can be disassembled again and / or the cantilever arm folded onto the support rod.Examples of overhead line vehicles include rail vehicles, trolleybuses, or trucks with pantographs. The invention can be used wherever power is transmitted via overhead lines with contact strips and where, to monitor wear on the contact strips, the high voltage previously had to be switched off and / or ladders or scaffolding were used to reach the contact strips. The invention permits numerous embodiments. It is explained in more detail with reference to the following figures, each of which shows an exemplary embodiment. Identical elements in the figures are provided with the same reference numerals. Fig. 1 schematically shows an embodiment of a device according to the invention. Fig. 2 schematically shows a measuring device of the device according to Fig. 1 in detail. Fig. 3 schematically shows the device according to Fig. 1 in use on a rail vehicle. Fig. 4 shows a detailed section from Fig. 3.202303641 Foreign version 13 Fig. 1 shows a schematic three-dimensional view of a device according to the invention for checking the thickness of contact strips on overhead line vehicles. The device comprises a portable fishing rod 1 with a first free end 11 and a second free end 12, as well as a measuring device 2 which is arranged in the region of the first free end 11 of the fishing rod 1. In this exemplary embodiment, the fishing rod 1 is gallows-shaped with a holding rod 3 and a cantilever arm 4 which is articulated on one side to the holding rod 3 via a joint 6. An angle between the holding rod 3 and the cantilever arm 4 can be set via the joint 6. For intended use, the angle can be set between 90° and 135°. An angle of approximately 100° is illustrated. For transport, the cantilever arm 4 can be folded onto the holding rod 3.In addition, the support rod 3 is divided into two parts, which are detachably connected to one another via a thread 10. This means that the support rod 3 can be disassembled for transport. In addition to the thread 10, other detachable connections, such as a bayonet lock, are also possible in order to make the rod 1 disassemblable. The rod 1 furthermore has a handle 6 in the area of ​​its second free end 12. The handle 6 serves to handle the rod 1 by a person. Furthermore, the rod 1, here in particular the support rod 3 and the cantilever arm 4, is designed to be high-voltage insulated. This means that the device for checking the thickness of contact strips on overhead line vehicles can be used safely on vehicles under a live overhead line. The rod 1 or the support rod 3 and cantilever arm 4 and, if necessary, other parts such as the joint 5 and / or handle 6 are made of appropriately insulating materials.202303641 Foreign version 14 In addition to being designed as a support rod 3 with a cantilever arm 4 that is adjustable and movably mounted on one side, the hinge 1 could also have a gooseneck. Support rod 3 and cantilever arm 4 are straight here. Curved designs are also conceivable. Not shown is that both the support rod 3 and the cantilever arm 4 are telescopic here. Additionally arranged on the cantilever arm 4 is a camera as an image capture unit 9. The image capture unit 9 is aligned with a view of the contact strip towards the measuring device 2, in particular towards a scale or a measured value display of the measuring device 2, so that it is suitable for capturing at least one image of the measuring device 2, which is then output via an image display 13, here a display of a tablet as a mobile device.The image capture unit 9 is also designed and aligned to clearly display a contact strip to be tested as well as a scale or a measured value display of the measuring device 2. Thus, a person, for example a suitably trained service technician, can use the image display 13 to position the hinge 1 and in particular the measuring device 2 relative to the contact strip and inspect the contact strip and its geometry, as well as align the measuring device 2 with the contact strip and measure the thickness of the contact strip. The image capture unit 9 and, if necessary, the measuring device 2 can be controlled via a remote control (not shown), for example arranged in the area of ​​the handle 6 or integrated into the mobile device. Videos and photos from the image capture unit 9 can, in particular, be transmitted wirelessly to a central facility for documentation and evaluation.The image data from the image acquisition unit 9 are advantageously also transmitted wirelessly to the image display 13. The image display 13 for displaying at least one image of the contact strip captured by the image acquisition unit 9 and the foreign version 15 of the measuring device 2 can also be arranged directly on the tang 1 and fastened to it, for example near the handle 6, in particular on a side of the handle 6 facing away from the second free end 12 of the tang 1. The tang 1 would then serve as a support for the measuring device 2 as well as for the image acquisition unit 9 and for the image display 13. The device for checking the thickness of contact strips of overhead line vehicles is in any case to be regarded as a mobile, portable and manually alignable measuring tool frame. Fig. 2 illustrates the measuring device 2 of the device from Fig. 1 in a detailed view.The measuring instrument 2 shown is a so-called material thickness gauge, or thickness gauge for short, designed here as a V-shaped flat gauge 7. The V-shaped flat gauge 7 is used to determine the thickness of an object, in this case a contact strip of a pantograph of an overhead line vehicle. It has two legs 14 and 15 and a distance between the legs 14 and 15 that decreases from an opening in the two legs 14 and 15 to a base. This can be used to determine the thickness of a contact strip located between the legs 14 and 15. A continuous course of the legs enables the testing of any thickness of contact strips. To determine the thickness value of the contact strip in question, the V-shaped flat gauge 7 has a scale 8. The scale 8 is easy to read and can be captured using the image capture unit.To measure the thickness, the upper leg 14 of the V-shaped flat gauge 7 is placed horizontally on the contact strip at any point and then pushed over the contact strip 202303641 foreign socket 16 until the lower leg 15 rests. The corresponding thickness value can be read off the scale or evaluated via an image (automatically if necessary). Fig. 3 now outlines the use of the previously described device for checking the thickness of contact strips of pantographs on a rail vehicle. The rod 1 is held and aligned manually by a person, here at least partially by the handle 6. The telescopic rod 1, here in particular the holding rod 3 and possibly also the cantilever arm 4, which acts as a boom, is extended to a length tailored to the specific case. A specified angle is set in the joint 5 and the joint 5 is secured.The image display 13 is attached here to the support rod 3. Fig. 4 schematically illustrates an image captured by the image capture unit 9 and output on the image display 13. It shows a contact strip 16 of a pantograph of a rail vehicle, a cantilever arm 4 of a pivot 1, and a measuring device 2 arranged at the first end 11 of the pivot. The measuring device 2 is once again a thickness gauge as described above. This is attached to the cantilever arm 4 at an angle of approximately 90° to the latter. The image capture unit is, in turn, attached to the cantilever arm at a predetermined distance from the thickness gauge and aligned essentially perpendicular to the scale of the thickness gauge. In addition to a camera, another optical sensor can also be used to image the contact strip and the scale of the measuring device. The measurement result can be imaged using the image capture unit.The transmission of the captured image is primarily digital and wireless. The output of the captured image should also be easily readable. 202303641 Foreign Version 17 Regardless of the grammatical gender of a particular term, this includes persons with male, female, or other gender identities.

Claims

202303641 Foreign version 18 patent claims 1. Device for checking the thickness of contact strips of overhead line vehicles, comprising a portable fishing rod (1) with two free ends (11, 12) and a measuring means (2) in the region of a first free end (11) of the fishing rod (1).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the fishing rod (1) is gallows-shaped with a holding rod (3) and a cantilever arm (4) arranged on the holding rod (3), wherein the measuring means (2) is arranged on the cantilever arm (4).

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the cantilever arm (4) is arranged on the holding rod (3) by means of at least one joint (5) which is adjustable in order to set a predetermined angle between the holding rod (3) and the cantilever arm (4) in the region of the joint (5).

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the fishing rod (1) has a handle (6) in the region of a second free end (12).

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the rod (1) at least partially comprises an electrically insulating material.

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the rod (1) is designed to be adjustable in length, at least in sections. 202303641 Foreign version 19 7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the rod (1) has a length of at least 2 m in the intended state.

8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the measuring means (2) is designed as a material thickness gauge.

9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the material thickness gauge is designed as a V-shaped flat gauge (7) with scaling (8) on at least one side.

10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the measuring means (2) is designed as a material thickness measuring device.

11. Device according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that it has an image capture unit (9) which is aligned with the measuring means (2) for capturing a measurement result of the measuring means (2). 12.Device according to claim 11, characterized in that the image acquisition unit (9) is aligned perpendicularly to the measuring device (2).

13. Device according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the material thickness measuring device and / or the image acquisition unit (9) are designed to transmit the acquired data to a central facility. 202303641 Foreign version 20 14.A method for checking the thickness of contact strips of overhead line vehicles using a device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized by the following method steps: - aligning the measuring means (2) by means of the pivot (1) to a contact strip of an overhead line vehicle; - measuring the thickness of the contact strip using the measuring means (2).

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