SYSTEM FOR PROTECTING AN OVERHEAD LINE ON A RAILWAY TRACK

Abstract

SYSTEM FOR PROTECTING A CATENARY OF A RAILWAY TRACK The invention relates to a system for protecting a catenary of a rail track comprising at least one portion of overhead contact profile extending mainly in a longitudinal direction, characterized in that it comprises: - at least one protective cover for said portion of overhead contact profile, said protective cover being configured to be able to rest on and in contact with said portion of overhead contact profile and to cover it at least in part; - at least one covering device configured to be able to cover said protective cover at least in part and at least one fixing point connecting said portion of overhead contact profile to an insulating arm of said overhead contact profile, said insulating arm being configured to be able to be fixed to an engineering structure;and in that each protective cover and each covering device is formed of at least one material selected from the group formed of dielectric polymers. Figure for the abstract: figure 2;

Description

Title of the invention: SYSTEM FOR PROTECTING AN OVERHEAD LINE ON A RAILWAY TRACK Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a system for protecting a catenary, and in particular an overhead contact profile, in railway infrastructure. The invention also extends to a railway catenary equipped with such a protection system. Technological background

[0002] Catenaries supply current to an electric locomotive of a railway vehicle and are mainly composed of structures, contact wires, and support cables. The contact wire makes contact with a pantograph installed on the roof of the electric locomotive of the railway vehicle in order to collect the electric current flowing in the contact wire and thus supply the locomotive with electrical energy for its movement on the rails.

[0003] Certain sections of railway track are subject to lateral and vertical constraints, particularly near or under certain engineering 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 engineering structures. This minimum safety distance provides an insulating air gap to prevent the formation of electrical arcs. On some older structures, this minimum distance cannot be maintained due to space constraints. In these cases, costly work must be carried out if exceptional exemptions cannot be obtained.

[0004] In the case of engineering structures such as tunnels and bridges, it is known to replace the catenary wire with an overhead contact profile (also known by the acronym PAC) held by a profile bracket, itself carried by an insulating arm, anchored to a lateral wall of the engineering structure. FR 3 069 202 describes, for example, a device for suspending such an overhead contact profile above a railway track.

[0005] However, this solution does not necessarily allow compliance with a predetermined distance necessary to avoid any risk of electric arc, such as the minimum distance between the catenary and the engineering structures stipulated by UIC (International Union of Railways) standard 606-1.

[0006] The inventors sought to propose an easy-to-implement solution that would ensure the safety and reliability of the railway network without requiring significant work to modify existing engineering structures. Objectives of the invention

[0007] The invention thus aims to provide a catenary protection system which makes it possible to protect rigid catenaries installed near an engineering structure from any electrical risk between them.

[0008] The invention aims in particular to provide a catenary protection system which improves the reliability of the railway network.

[0009] The invention also aims to provide a catenary protection system that improves the safety and availability of the railway network.

[0010] The invention also aims to provide, in at least one embodiment of the invention, a protection system enabling the protection of a catenary equipped with such a device from corrosion.

[0011] The invention also aims to provide, in at least one embodiment of the invention, a catenary protection system that is adapted to different types of electrification of catenaries on the French railway network (in particular catenaries operating with a direct current of the order of 1500 Volts). Description of the invention

[0012] To this end, the invention relates to a protection system for a catenary of a railway track, said catenary comprising at least one portion of overhead contact profile extending mainly in a longitudinal direction, said protection system being characterized in that it comprises:

[0013] - at least one protective cover for said portion of the aerial contact profile, said protective cover being configured to be able to rest on and in contact with said portion of aerial contact profile and cover it at least in part;

[0014] - at least one covering device configured to be able to cover at least partially said protective cover and at least one fixing point connecting said portion of aerial contact profile to an insulating arm of said aerial contact profile, said insulating arm being configured to be able to be fixed to an engineering structure;

[0015] and in that each protective cover and each covering device are formed of at least one material chosen from the group formed of dielectric polymers.

[0016] Thus, such a system according to the invention makes it possible to electrically isolate the overhead contact profiles (or so-called "rigid" catenaries, as opposed to conventional catenaries in the form of cables), particularly when certain predetermined safety distances from the structure formed by an engineering work such as a bridge or a tunnel are not respected. The invention therefore provides a practical solution, easy to implement quickly, reliably, and inexpensively, making it possible to limit the isolation distances while avoiding any risk of electric arcing between the profiles. aerial contact lines and engineering structures.

[0017] A catenary protection system according to the invention is therefore suitable for protecting various elements of a rigid catenary, that is to say not only each overhead contact profile but also each junction zone connecting a portion of an overhead contact profile with an insulating arm fixed to an engineering structure.

[0018] Advantageously and according to the invention, each protective cover is configured so that it can be fixed on said portion of aerial contact profile.

[0019] Each protective cover can, for example, be in the form of a curved strip (or blade). Advantageously, according to the invention, each protective cover extends primarily in the form of a strip such that a cross-section of said strip has a non-zero curvature. Advantageously, according to the invention, the concavity of said strip of the protective cover is oriented towards the side in contact with said portion of the contact air profile.

[0020] Advantageously, and according to the invention, each protective cover has two recesses configured to receive lateral fins of said portion of the contact air profile. Such recesses allow, for example, the protective cover to be clipped onto the portion of the contact air profile or to be put in place on the profile by sliding the protective cover along the profile with the fins of the contact air profile in grooves formed by said recesses.

[0021] Advantageously, and according to the invention, each covering device is configured to be able to partially cover two protective covers (distinct from one another) of said aerial contact profile. Thus, each covering device can partially cover protective covers arranged on either side of said fixing point connecting said portion of aerial contact profile to an insulating arm of said aerial contact profile.

[0022] Advantageously, and according to the invention, each covering device has a main flat portion extended laterally by two lateral flaps. Each lateral flap protects the insulating arm connected to the aerial contact profile.

[0023] Advantageously and according to the invention, said insulating arm extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to said longitudinal direction of said portion of aerial contact profile.

[0024] Advantageously and according to the invention, each protective cover and each covering device are manufactured by injection molding.

[0025] Advantageously and according to the invention, each protective cover and each covering device are formed of at least one material selected from the group consisting of polyethylenes (PE), ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymers, and their copolymers. In particular, each protective cover and each covering device coverings are made of at least one material chosen from the group formed of halogen-free polyethylenes.

[0026] The invention also relates to a rigid catenary (or a portion of an overhead contact profile) equipped with a protection system according to the invention.

[0027] The invention advantageously relates to an overhead contact profile of a catenary equipped with a protection system according to the invention.

[0028] 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. List of figures

[0029] Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, given by way of non-limiting example only, and which refers to the accompanying figures in which:

[0030] [Fig. 1] is a schematic cross-sectional and side view of an overhead contact profile fixed to a structure,

[0031] [Fig.2] is a cross-sectional and side view of an aerial contact profile fixed to a a work of art and equipped with a protection system according to the invention,

[0032] [Fig.3] is a schematic perspective view of a catenary equipped with hoods of protection of a protection system according to the invention,

[0033] [Fig.4] is a schematic cross-sectional view of a protective cover for a system of protection according to the first embodiment of the invention,

[0034] [Fig. 5] is a schematic perspective view of a catenary equipped with a system protection according to the invention,

[0035] [Fig.6] is a schematic top view of a protective cover for a system of protection according to the invention.

[0036] Detailed description of embodiments of the invention

[0037] In the figures, scales and proportions are not strictly observed for illustrative and clarity purposes. Throughout the detailed description that follows with reference to the figures, identical, similar, or analogous elements are designated by the same reference numerals in all figures.

[0038] Figure 1 illustrates an overhead contact profile 10 and a device for suspending it from a structure 50. The suspension device for this overhead contact profile 10 comprises an anchoring device 4 for the suspension device to the structure 50, an insulating arm 6, an adjusting arm 7, and an attachment base 8, the adjusting arm 7 being interposed between the insulating arm 6 and the attachment base 8 of the overhead contact profile 10. Various types of anchoring devices can, of course, be used to secure the suspension device to a wall of a structure.

[0039] The air contact profile 10 comprises, in its upper part, lateral fins 13,14 configured to fit into grooves formed by the attachment base 8, and, in the lower part, an electrical contact wire 12 intended to supply a motor of a railway vehicle via a pantograph installed on the roof of the railway vehicle when it passes over the track above which such an overhead contact profile extends.

[0040] Figures 2 to 6 illustrate a catenary protection system according to the invention. Figure 2 shows an overhead contact profile 10 fixed to a structure 50 and equipped with a protection system according to the invention.

[0041] A protection system according to the invention comprises at least one protective hood 20 and at least one covering device 40 configured to be able to cover at least part of the protective hood 20 and at least one fixing point connecting the portion of the aerial contact profile 10 to an insulating arm 6 of the aerial contact profile 10.

[0042] Fig. 3 represents several portions of an aerial contact profile 10 equipped only with protective covers 20, i.e. before the installation of the covering devices 40.

[0043] Figure 4 illustrates such a protective cover 20 in cross-section. The protective cover 20 extends primarily longitudinally in the form of a curved strip 22 having an upper face 21 and a lower face 25 intended to be oriented towards the contact air profile 10. The curved strip 22 of the protective cover 20 extends transversely between two longitudinal tabs 23, 24. In the embodiment shown, the protective cover 20 further includes, under its lower face 25, recesses 26, 27 configured to receive the lateral fins 13, 14 of the contact air profile 10. The protective cover 20 also includes, under its lower face 25, a central rib 28 configured to be inserted into a central groove (not visible in the figures) of the contact air profile 10.

[0044] Fig. 5 schematically represents several portions of an overhead contact profile 10 equipped with protective covers 20 according to the invention, over which a covering device 40 is partially superimposed. Each protective cover 20 is configured to be able to rest on and in contact with at least one portion of the overhead contact profile 10 of the catenary and to cover it at least partially.

[0045] In the illustrated embodiment, each covering device 40 has a main flat portion 41 extended laterally on either side by two lateral flaps 43, 44. At one of its longitudinal ends, intended to be positioned towards the insulating arm and its attachment to the structure, the main portion 41 has a flared portion 42. At the other longitudinal end of the main flat portion 41 of the covering device 40, each lateral flap 43, 44 has an opening forming a sleeve 52, 54 intended to be positioned and cover part of a protective hood 20.

[0046] As can be seen in [Fig.5], a plurality of openings 47, 48 can be provided through the thickness of the material forming the covering device 40, in particular in the surfaces of each side flap 43, 44 and of the front 45 in order to then be able to put in place fixing means such as pins 49 or rubber latches in order to fix the covering device 40 to each protective cover 20.

[0047] Each protective cover 20 illustrated in Figures 2 to 6 has, for example, a total width (cross-section) of approximately 90 mm to 20 mm and a length that can, for example, be between 25 mm and 1000 mm. Each wall of a protective cover has, for example, a thickness of approximately 2 mm.

[0048] The protective cover 20 and the covering device 40 shown in Figures 2 to 6 are made of a material selected from the group of halogen-free polyethylenes. These materials exhibit flame-retardant properties. Indeed, polyethylene (PE) is a crystalline thermoplastic that possesses discrete mechanical characteristics even at low temperatures. It is characterized by high elongation at break and has good frictional resistance, as well as anti-wear and anti-aging properties. It also has low water absorption and vapor permeability.

[0049] Although polyethylene naturally has low fire resistance, this can be considerably improved by halogen-free filling materials, such as here halogen-free and flame-retardant ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA). The reinforcements used can, for example, be inorganic or organic in the form of particles, yarns, chopped or ground yarns, or fibers, and can be selected from examples such as glass fibers, carbon fibers, aramid fibers, or mineral particles (talc, etc.).

[0050] Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) elastomers are manufactured as low-density polyethylene, which are soft, flexible, and robust. EVA has good barrier properties. Its impact resistance and flexibility are maintained even at low temperatures, and it offers good resistance to stress cracking, as well as water-resistant and hot-melt adhesive properties, and resistance to UV radiation.

[0051] These two materials have excellent dielectric properties: high dielectric strength, low dielectric constant, and low dissipation factor at all frequencies. This makes them ideal insulating materials for various types of overhead contact profiles or rigid catenaries in railway infrastructure.

[0052] These performance characteristics were demonstrated and verified by qualification tests. These tests showed that the use of a protection system according to the invention makes it possible to reduce the distance between the overhead contact profile and the structure forming an electrically insulating air layer to a distance of 30 mm instead of at least 50 mm without a protection system in the case of a voltage of 73 kV, or even a distance of 60 mm instead of a distance of 120 mm in the case of a voltage of 93 kV.

[0053] The catenary protection covers also possess good mechanical characteristics of hardness and impact resistance.

[0054] Wind tunnel tests were carried out to demonstrate the suitability of each element with respect to environmental conditions, whether natural weather conditions or air disturbances caused by a moving vehicle.

[0055] The protective hoods and covering devices placed on the rigid catenary also make it possible to protect the profiles against corrosion and against possible water flows from an arch of a bridge or tunnel.

Claims

Claims

1. System for protecting a catenary of a track of a railway vehicle, said catenary comprising at least one portion of aerial contact profile (10) extending mainly in a longitudinal direction, said protection system being characterized in that it comprises: • at least one protective cover (20) of said portion of aerial contact profile (10), said protective cover being configured to be able to rest on and in contact with said portion of aerial contact profile (10) and to cover it at least in part; • at least one covering device (40) configured to be able to cover at least in part said protective cover (20) and at least one fixing point connecting said portion of aerial contact profile (10) to an insulating arm (6) of said aerial contact profile, said insulating arm being configured to be able to be fixed to a structure;and in that each protective cover (20) and each covering device (40) are formed from at least one material selected from the group formed of dielectric polymers.;

2. Protection system according to claim 1, characterized in that each protective cover (20) is configured to be able to be fixed on said portion of aerial contact profile.

3. Protection system according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that each protective cover (20) extends mainly in the form of a strip such that a cross-section of said strip has a non-zero curvature (22).

4. Protection system according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each protective cover (20) has two recesses (26, 27) configured to be able to receive lateral fins of said portion of aerial contact profile (10).

5. Protection system according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each covering device (40) is configured to be able to partially cover two protective covers of said aerial contact profile (10).

6. Protection system according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each covering device (40) has a main flat portion (41) extended laterally by two lateral flaps (43, 44).

7. Protection system according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said insulating arm (6) extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to said longitudinal direction of said portion of aerial contact profile (10).

8. Protection system according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that each protective cover (20) and each covering device (40) are formed from at least one material chosen from the group formed by polyethylenes (PE), ethylene and vinyl acetate copolymers (EVA) and their copolymers.

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