System for protecting a catenary of a traffic lane of a rail vehicle
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SNCF RESEAU
- Filing Date
- 2024-06-12
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-22
AI Technical Summary
Existing catenary protection systems fail to maintain the required safety distance from engineering structures like tunnels and bridges, especially in old infrastructure, and are not compatible with high-voltage alternating current electrification, leading to potential electric arcs and the need for costly modifications.
A catenary protection system using dielectric polymer materials for primary and secondary protection devices that wrap and envelop the cable, providing electrical isolation and corrosion protection, with configurations allowing easy installation and adaptation to different electrification types, including 25,000 Volts alternating current.
The system effectively reduces the distance required for electrical isolation, enhances safety and reliability, and prevents corrosion, while being easy to implement and cost-effective, as demonstrated by reduced isolation distances and successful qualification tests.
Smart Images
Figure EP2024066240_26122024_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] DESCRIPTION
[0002] TITLE OF THE INVENTION: SYSTEM FOR PROTECTING A CATENARY OF A TRACK OF A RAIL VEHICLE
[0003] Technical field of the invention
[0004] The invention relates to a system for protecting a cable and in particular a portion of a catenary cable in railway infrastructure. The invention also extends to a railway catenary cable comprising such a protection system.
[0005] Technological background
[0006] Catenaries are used to supply current to an electric motor of a railway vehicle and are mainly made up of structures, contact wires and carrier cables. The structures include the supports, poles and gantries that are used to carry the entire catenary. The catenary generally includes a carrier cable, an auxiliary cable, a conductor cable called a contact wire, a set of vertical cables or pendulums stretched between the carrier cable, the auxiliary cable and the contact wire. The contact wire allows contact with a pantograph installed on the roof of the electric motor of the railway vehicle so as to capture the electric current flowing in the contact wire and thus supply the motor with electrical energy for its movement on the rails.
[0007] Some sections of railway track are subject to laterally and vertically stresses, particularly near or under certain structures such as tunnels (long structures) or bridges (short structures). UIC (International Union of Railways) standard 606-1 sets a minimum distance between the catenary and structures. This minimum safety distance allows for an insulating air gap to be created to prevent the formation of electric arcs. On some older structures, this minimum distance cannot be respected due to the size of the structure. In these cases, costly work must be carried out if exceptional exemptions cannot be obtained.
[0008] In the case of engineering structures such as tunnels and bridges, it is known to replace the catenary wire with an aerial contact profile (also known by the acronym PAC) held by a profile attachment, itself carried by an insulating arm, anchored to a side wall of the engineering structure. FR 3 069 202 describes, for example, a device for suspending such an aerial contact profile above a railway track.
[0009] However, this solution does not necessarily allow for compliance with a predetermined distance necessary to avoid any risk of electric arcing, such as the minimum distance between the catenary and the structures laid down by the UIC (International Union of Railways) standard 606-1. This solution is also not compatible with certain types of catenary electrification such as those operating with an alternating current of around 25,000 Volts.
[0010] KR20160069295 describes a protective sheath with a clamp installed on a tram line.
[0011] KR20200026866 also describes a cable protector for a tram line.
[0012] The inventors sought to propose an easy-to-implement solution, ensuring the safety and reliability of the railway network without requiring major modification work to existing structures.
[0013] Objectives of the invention
[0014] The invention thus aims to provide a catenary protection system which overcomes at least some of the drawbacks of known devices.
[0015] The invention aims in particular to provide, in at least one embodiment of the invention, a system for protecting a catenary which makes it possible to improve the reliability of the railway network.
[0016] The invention also aims to provide, in at least one embodiment of the invention, a catenary protection system which makes it possible to improve the safety and availability of the railway network.
[0017] The invention also aims to provide, in at least one embodiment of the invention, a protection system for protecting a catenary equipped with such a device from corrosion. The invention also aims to provide, in at least one embodiment of the invention, a system for protecting a catenary which is suitable for different types of catenary electrification (in particular catenaries operating with an alternating current of 25,000 Volts).
[0018] Statement of the invention
[0019] To this end, the invention relates to a system for protecting a catenary of a track of a railway vehicle, said catenary comprising at least one portion of cable extending in a direction, called the longitudinal direction, said protection system being characterized in that it comprises: at least one primary device for protecting said portion of cable configured to be able to envelop said portion of cable; at least one secondary protection device configured to be able to envelop at least in part said primary protection device and at least one point connecting said portion of cable to a pendulum of said catenary, said pendulum extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to said longitudinal direction of said portion of cable;and in that each primary protection device and each secondary protection device are formed from at least one material chosen from the group consisting of dielectric polymers.;
[0020] Thus, such a system according to the invention makes it possible to electrically isolate the catenaries, in particular when certain predetermined safety distances with the structure formed by a work of art such as a bridge or a tunnel are not respected. The invention therefore provides a practical solution, easy to install quickly, reliably and inexpensively.
[0021] Advantageously and according to the invention, said portion of cable is a portion of at least one cable carrying said catenary.
[0022] The primary protection device makes it possible to protect said portion of cable in the manner of a sheath, by completely surrounding it along a cross-section thereof (along a predefined cable length). Advantageously and according to the invention, each primary protection device completely envelops said portion of cable of said catenary. Throughout the text, the term "pendulum" refers to any cable, in particular a vertical cable, connecting the carrier cable to at least one contact wire, and possibly to a cable called an "auxiliary carrier", the contact wire being suspended from the carrier cable via such pendulums.
[0023] Advantageously and according to the invention, each primary protection device is configured to be able to rest on and in contact with said portion of cable.
[0024] Advantageously and according to the invention, each primary protection device is configured to be able to present:
[0025] - at least a first configuration, called a planar configuration, in which said primary protection device extends mainly longitudinally in the form of a strip having a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge, said first longitudinal edge and said second longitudinal edge being parallel to each other,
[0026] - at least one second configuration, called folded configuration, in which said first longitudinal edge and said second longitudinal edge of the strip are in contact with each other.
[0027] This provides a protection system that is easy to use and install on catenaries already in place on the railway network. The first longitudinal edge and the second longitudinal edge of said primary protection device can be fixed to each other once the strip is folded back on itself around the portion of cable to be protected. Advantageously and according to the invention, said first longitudinal edge and said second longitudinal edge of said primary protection device are configured to be able to be fixed to each other in a non-reversible manner.
[0028] Advantageously and according to the invention, said first longitudinal edge of said primary protection device has at least one receptacle and said second longitudinal edge has at least one projecting portion configured to be able to be forcefully introduced into said receptacle of said first longitudinal edge. In this way, the projecting portion, for example in the form of an arrow, is retained within the receptacle of the first longitudinal edge and keeps said primary protection device in the folded position around said portion of cable to be protected.
[0029] Advantageously and according to the invention, each secondary protection device comprises two shells symmetrical with respect to an axis of symmetry connecting them together, said shells being configured to be able to be moved between at least a first position, called the open position, in which said shells are spaced apart from each other, and at least a second position, called the closed position, in which said shells are in contact with each other so as to be able to envelop said fixing point connecting said portion of cable or profile to said secondary element.
[0030] Advantageously and according to the invention, each primary protection device and each secondary protection device are formed from at least one material chosen from the group consisting of polyethylenes (PE), ethylene and vinyl acetate copolymers (EVA) and their copolymers. In particular, each primary protection device and each secondary protection device are formed from at least one material chosen from the group consisting of halogen-free polyethylenes.
[0031] The invention also relates to a catenary equipped with a protection system according to the invention.
[0032] The invention advantageously relates to a catenary conductor cable equipped with a protection system according to the invention.
[0033] The invention also relates to a protection system and a catenary equipped with a protection system according to the invention, characterized in combination by all or part of the characteristics mentioned above or below.
[0034] List of figures
[0035] Other aims, characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description given solely for non-limiting purposes and which refers to the appended figures in which:
[0036] [Fig. 1] is a schematic perspective view of a primary protection device of a protection system according to the invention, [Fig. 2] is a schematic cross-sectional view of a primary protection device of a protection system according to the invention,
[0037] [Fig. 3] is a schematic perspective view of a secondary device of a protection system according to the invention, in an open position,
[0038] [Fig. 4] is a schematic side view of a catenary equipped with a protection system according to the invention, when the secondary protection device is in a closed position.
[0039] Detailed description of embodiments of the invention
[0040] In the figures, scales and proportions are not strictly observed for the purposes of illustration and clarity. Throughout the detailed description which follows with reference to the figures, identical, similar or analogous elements are designated by the same references in all the figures.
[0041] Figures 1 to 4 illustrate a catenary protection system according to one embodiment of the invention. The catenary is a carrier cable from which a pendulum 70 is suspended connecting the carrier cable, an auxiliary cable and a contact wire of a catenary.
[0042] Figures 1 and 2 schematically represent a primary protection device 2 of a protection system according to the invention. Each primary protection device 2 is configured to be able to wrap the cable portion 90 and rest on and in contact with the cable portion 90 of the cable carrying the catenary. Figure 1 shows such a primary protection device 2 before it is put in place around a cable portion 90 carrying a catenary whose folded or closed configuration is illustrated in Figure 2. Thus, in a first configuration, called the flat configuration, the primary protection device 2 extends mainly longitudinally in the form of a strip 6 having a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge parallel to each other. And, in a second configuration, called the folded configuration, the first longitudinal edge and the second longitudinal edge of the strip 6 are in contact with each other.In this embodiment, each primary protection device 2 comprises a strip 6 (planar in FIG. 1 and capable of being curved on itself as shown in FIG. 2) and extending mainly longitudinally. The lateral ends of the strip 6 are extended, on the one hand, by a receptacle 3 and, on the other hand, by an arrow 4 (or other element capable of being inserted in a non-removable manner into the receptacle 3). Each primary protection device 2 may also comprise a tab 5 extending longitudinally over the entire length of the strip 6 of the protective cover. The tab 5 extends substantially orthogonally to the strip 6 of the primary protection device 2. The tab 5 has a length configured to avoid being in contact with the strip 6 (by its free end) when the primary protection device 2 is in the folded configuration around a portion of cable.The tab 5 serves as a leakage extender for any possible leakage electric current from the cable portion 90. In a so-called closed position, the primary protection device 2 provides a space 8 in which a portion of catenary cable is intended to be present. For each portion of cable to be protected, the primary protection device 2 can be easily cut to size in order to have the desired length for a predetermined cable portion. Once placed around a cable portion 90 (figure 4), the primary protection device 2 therefore protects the cable in the manner of a sheath, that is to say by completely surrounding the cable section (over its entire perimeter, along a predefined cable length).
[0043] Figures 3 and 4 schematically represent a secondary protection device 50 of a protection system according to the invention in which the catenary is a portion of carrier cable. Each secondary protection device 50 is configured to be able to cover at least in part at least one primary protection device 2. Each secondary protection device 50 is also configured to be able to cover at least one fixing point connecting each portion of carrier cable 90 to a pendulum 70 extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of each portion of cable 90. Each secondary protection device 50 therefore makes it possible to protect and envelop parts thus forming a T (here formed by the junction of the portions of carrier cable 90 and a pendulum 70 of a catenary).
[0044] Each secondary protection device 50 comprises two symmetrical shells 51, 52 with respect to an axis of symmetry 60 (figure 3) connecting them together. The shells 51, 52 can be moved between at least a first position, called the open position (figure 3), in which they are spaced apart as much as possible from each other, and at least a second position, called the closed position (figure 4), in which they are in contact with each other so as to be able to envelop the fixing point connecting the cable portions 90 to the pendulum 70. Nothing also prevents the two shells 51, 52 from being two different parts not connected to each other (before being placed on a catenary).
[0045] As can be seen in Figure 3, each shell 51, 52 of a secondary protection device 50 has a periphery forming a flat base 59, 64 around a central T in relief 57, 58. Each shell 51, 52 therefore also comprises a step 62, 63 forming the base of the T corresponding to the portion intended to extend around the pendulum 70.
[0046] Each longitudinal end of the shells 51, 52 has a shoulder 53, 54 intended to form a space for receiving the portion of catenary cable 90, the central T in relief 57, 58 being intended to allow the junction between several portions of catenary cables to be surrounded and wrapped, i.e. the junction connecting two separate portions of cable 90 of a carrier cable to a pendulum 70. Similarly, each step 62, 63 forming the base of the T of the shells 51, 52 comprises a shoulder 67.
[0047] As can be seen in Figure 4, a plurality of orifices 75 may be provided in particular in the surfaces of each base 59, 64 of the shells 51, 52 in order to then be able to put in place fixing means such as rubber latches in order to fix the two shells 51, 52 against each other around portions of catenary cable 90 to be protected.
[0048] The primary protection device 2 and the secondary protection device 50 shown in Figures 1 to 4 are formed from a material selected from the group of halogen-free polyethylenes. These materials have flame retardant properties. Indeed, polyethylene (PE) is a crystalline thermoplastic which has discrete mechanical characteristics even at low temperatures. It is characterized by a high elongation at break and has good friction behavior and anti-wear and aging resistance properties. It also has low water absorption and vapor permeability.
[0049] Although polyethylene naturally has low fire resistance, it can be significantly improved by halogen-free fillers (or reinforcements or fillers) such as here an ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) also halogen-free and flame retardant. The reinforcements used can for example be inorganic or organic reinforcements in the form of particles, threads, chopped or ground threads or even fibers and can for example be chosen from glass fibers, carbon fibers, aramid fibers or even mineral particles (talc, etc.).
[0050] Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) elastomers are manufactured like low-density polyethylene, which are soft, flexible, and strong. EVA has good barrier properties. Its impact strength and flexibility are retained even at low temperatures, and it offers good resistance to stress cracking, as well as waterproof and hot-melt adhesive properties and resistance to UV radiation.
[0051] Both materials have excellent dielectric properties: high dielectric strength, low dielectric constant, and low dissipation factor at all frequencies. This makes them ideal insulation materials for various ranges of catenary cables, including overhead lines in railway infrastructure.
[0052] These performances have been highlighted and verified by qualification tests. These tests have shown that the use of a protection system according to the invention makes it possible to reduce the distance between the catenary and the structure forming an electrically insulating air layer to a distance of 180 mm instead of at least 230 mm without a protection system in the case of a voltage of 93 kV, or a distance of 170 mm instead of a distance of 330 mm in the case of a voltage of 175 kV.
[0053] The primary protection device and the secondary protection device of the catenary also have good mechanical characteristics of hardness and impact resistance.
[0054] Wind tunnel tests were carried out to demonstrate the suitability of each element to environmental conditions, whether natural weather conditions or air disturbances caused by a moving vehicle.
[0055] The primary protection device and the secondary device placed on the catenary also protect the catenaries against corrosion and against possible water flows from a bridge or tunnel vault.
Claims
CLAIMS 1. System for protecting a catenary of a track of a railway vehicle, said catenary comprising at least one portion of cable (90) extending in one direction, called the longitudinal direction, said protection system being characterized in that it comprises: - at least one primary protection device (2) for said portion of cable configured to be able to wrap said portion of cable (90); - at least one secondary protection device (50), configured to be able to at least partially envelop said primary protection device (2) and at least one point connecting said portion of cable to a pendulum (70) of said catenary, said pendulum (70) extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to said longitudinal direction of said portion of cable (90); and in that each primary protection device (2) and each secondary protection device (50) are formed from at least one material chosen from the group formed by dielectric polymers.
2. Protection system according to claim 1, characterized in that said portion of cable (90) of the catenary is a portion of at least one carrying cable of said catenary.
3. Protection system according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that each primary protection device (2) is configured to be able to rest on and in contact with said portion of cable.
4. Protection system according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each primary protection device (2) is configured to be able to have: at least one first configuration, called flat configuration, in which said primary protection device (2) extends mainly longitudinally in the form of a strip (6) having a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge, said first longitudinal edge and said second longitudinal edge being parallel to each other, at least one second configuration, called folded configuration, in which said first longitudinal edge and said second longitudinal edge of the strip (6) are in contact with each other.
5. Protection system according to claim 4, characterized in that said first longitudinal edge and said second longitudinal edge of said primary protection device are configured to be able to be fixed to each other in a non-reversible manner.
6. Protection system according to claim 5, characterized in that said first longitudinal edge of said primary protection device has at least one receptacle (3) and said second longitudinal edge has at least one projecting portion (4) configured to be able to be forcibly introduced into said receptacle (3) of said first longitudinal edge.
7. Protection system according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that each secondary protection device comprises two symmetrical shells (51, 52) with respect to an axis of symmetry (60) connecting them together, said shells being configured to be able to be moved between at least a first position, called the open position, in which said shells are spaced apart from each other, and at least a second position, called the closed position, in which said shells are in contact with each other so as to be able to envelop said point connecting said portion of cable (90) to said pendulum (70).
8. Protection system according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that each primary protection device (2) and each secondary protection device (50) are formed from at least one material chosen from the group formed by polyethylenes (PE), copolymers of ethylene and acetate of vinyl (EVA) and their copolymers.