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

Abstract

The invention relates to an overhead conductor rail (2) for an overhead line system, comprising a fastening device (4) for guiding a contact wire (3), and at least one contact wire (3) connected to the overhead conductor rail by the fastening device. The invention also relates to an overhead line system comprising at least one such overhead conductor rail, and to a method for producing such an overhead conductor rail, wherein the overhead conductor rail at least partially has a first coating (7) and / or the at least one contact wire at least partially has a second coating (9), wherein the first and the second coatings are each electrically conductive.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Overhead conductor rail, overhead contact line system with overhead conductor rail and method for producing an overhead conductor rail

[0003] In order to be able to reach inner city areas with local trains such as the subway or light rail, or even with long-distance trains, railway lines are often inevitably laid in tunnels. Electric traction must therefore be guaranteed even in confined spaces, for example in small or narrow tunnel cross-sections. For this purpose, low-profile overhead conductor rails are usually used. These can be driven on with one or more pantographs and, depending on the design, can be used not only in tunnels, but also under bridges, in underpasses, on lifting bridges, in maintenance facilities or in areas with pivoting overhead lines, particularly in workshops for particularly easy vehicle inspection, etc.

[0004] However, the use of power rails or overhead conductor rails is not limited to rail-bound vehicles. Rather, suitable power rails or overhead conductor rails are also used in appropriate locations to supply power to non-rail-bound vehicles, such as electric trucks, electric buses, etc.

[0005] The overhead conductor rail usually consists of an extruded profile into which a contact wire is clamped, via which the current is transmitted to the relevant vehicle, just like a conventional overhead line in an overhead line system. The clamped connection must be electrically conductive. Depending on the structural conditions or requirements, different materials are used for the overhead conductor rails and for the contact wire, which usually have different electrode potentials, so that there is a risk of contact corrosion, which can, for example, damage the overhead conductor rails, or in particular decompose them, which in turn could or would lead to the contact wire falling out of the relevant conductor rail. This is usually prevented by the defined application of a lubricant, for example a lubricant orA contact grease is used to counteract contact corrosion between the different materials when the contact wire is pulled into the overhead conductor rail(s). This prevents contact corrosion between the contact wire and the overhead conductor rail. The application of a lubricant, e.g. a contact grease, between the contact wire and the overhead conductor rail is an additional step during installation.

[0006] In certain extreme climatic conditions, e.g. in tunnels with high humidity and / or mineral erosion, near the sea, etc., contact corrosion cannot be prevented despite the use of lubricant at the open, accessible contact points between the overhead conductor rail(s) and the contact wire, which significantly shortens the service life of the overhead conductor rail.

[0007] The invention is based on the object of specifying a ceiling conductor rail with improved properties and a method for producing a ceiling conductor rail with improved properties.

[0008] The problem is solved by the features of the independent patent claims. Further developments and refinements of the invention are found in the features of the dependent patent claims.

[0009] For this purpose, an overhead conductor rail for an overhead line system is specified, comprising a fastening device for guiding a contact wire and comprising at least one contact wire, wherein the at least one contact wire is connected to the overhead conductor rail by means of the fastening device, wherein the overhead conductor rail at least partially has a first coating and / or the at least one contact wire at least partially has a second coating, wherein the first and the second coating are each electrically conductive.

[0010] The solution according to the invention makes it possible in a simple manner to avoid or at least significantly reduce contact corrosion between the overhead conductor rail(s) and the contact wire, and thus to correspondingly increase the corrosion resistance and thus the service life of the overhead conductor rail by means of a corrosion-resistant coating on the overhead conductor rail(s) and / or a corrosion-resistant coating on the at least one contact wire. To effectively avoid or reduce contact corrosion between the power rail(s) or the overhead conductor rail(s) and the at least one contact wire, one coating is generally sufficient, either the first coating on the overhead conductor rail(s) or the second coating on the at least one contact wire. In addition, the simultaneous application or use of both the first and the second coating is even more advantageous in terms of long-lasting resistance.This significantly improves the permanent and uninterrupted electrification of tunnels, for example, with corrosive environmental conditions, as corresponding maintenance and repair work, in particular the replacement of damaged overhead conductor rails, only needs to be carried out at much longer intervals. Furthermore, the quality of the electrical conductivity between the overhead conductor rail and the contact wire remains at essentially the same level thanks to the high electrical conductivity of each of the two coatings, and thus the quality of the current conduction and / or transmission between the power rail(s) or overhead conductor rail(s) and the contact wire is maintained without restriction. Depending on the structural conditions and / orAccording to the invention, either only the overhead conductor rail or only the contact wire, or both at the same time (overhead conductor rail and contact wire), can be at least partially coated or completely encased or covered. In the case of a possible partial coating, it is advantageous in particular to coat at least the area of ​​the overhead conductor rail(s) and / or the contact wire at the respective direct contact points in order to effectively and permanently prevent contact corrosion between the overhead conductor rail(s) and the contact wire, which would arise due to the different materials and therefore usually different electrode potentials. In addition to this, depending on the requirement or need, there is of course also the option of additional coating in addition to the orThe coatings according to the invention also have the additional possibility of greasing, i.e. the application of a lubricant, for example a lubricant or a contact grease, between the overhead conductor rail(s) and the contact wire when pulling a contact wire into an overhead conductor rail.

[0011] Preferably, the first and second coatings comprise different materials. Particularly preferably, the first and second coatings, the overhead conductor rail, and the at least one contact wire comprise different materials. In this way, the material of the respective first and second coatings can be selected to best match the different materials of an overhead conductor rail and a contact wire, for example, with regard to physical and / or chemical properties.

[0012] Particularly preferred is an extruded aluminum alloy profile. These are particularly lightweight and therefore particularly suitable for installation in space-constrained environments, such as tunnels, underpasses, or under bridges, etc., and their large cross-section also enables high energy transfer. Furthermore, they are crack-resistant, eliminating the need for grounding in the cracked area of ​​the overhead line. Furthermore, such overhead conductor rails allow only the contact wire to be replaced when the wear limit is reached.

[0013] Preferably, the at least one contact wire is made of copper or a copper alloy. Due to the high electrical conductivity, this is particularly advantageous for current conduction and / or transmission. Due to the preferred use of current collector contact strips made of pure or copper-impregnated carbon material in conjunction with contact wires made of copper or a copper alloy, the contact strips in operation are generally equipped with a copper-containing coating, which can lead to contact corrosion when contact wires made of non-copper-containing materials are used.

[0014] According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the overhead conductor rail is completely covered by the first coating. According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one contact wire is completely covered by the second coating. This can be implemented in a particularly favorable and advantageous manner from a manufacturing technology perspective, since the entire surface of an overhead conductor rail can be completely, evenly and seamlessly covered or coated with a desired or necessary coating using galvanic processes, as a rule in one work step, for example immediately after the overhead conductor rail has been manufactured using an extrusion process, and the entire overhead conductor rail is thus permanently and reliably protected against weather conditions or against weather influences, corrosive media, etc., and consequently against corrosion and in particular contact corrosion, in a simple and cost-effective manner.This applies analogously to a covering or coating of a contact wire with a second coating accordingly.

[0015] According to a further particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the first coating is designed as a chromium(III)-containing coating. Furthermore, the chromium(III)-containing coating is particularly preferably a chromium(III)-containing passivation coating which has a thickness of between 100 and 500 nanometers. By coating a ceiling conductor rail which is made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, for example, with a chromium(III)-containing coating, i.e. essentially an oxide layer several hundred nanometers thick, the mechanical resistance properties of the ceiling conductor rail(s) are significantly improved. This increases, for example, their hardness, their wear resistance and thus also their weather resistance, in particular with regard to aggressive environmental influences, for example moisture, etc., which consequently increases the service life of such overhead conductor rails considerably. When coated with a thin chromium (III)-containing passivation coating, i.e. a thin oxide layer formed from chromium (III) oxide compounds, with a thickness of between 100 and 500 nanometres, the resistance to corrosion is increased in particular, so that corrosion protection is significantly increased and in this regard contact corrosion in particular is prevented extremely effectively and permanently. This means that the service life of the overhead conductor rail is significantly extended. At the same time, the coating does not have any disadvantageous effects, for example with regard to reducing friction, and therefore does not reduce the pull-out force of a contact wire from the overhead conductor rail. The properties with regard to the quality of the current conduction and / or transmission between current or...The overhead conductor rail and contact wire also remain essentially unchanged, so that the quality of the power supply for the corresponding vehicles remains guaranteed without restriction.

[0016] According to another particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the second coating is embodied as a tinning coating. The tinning coating preferably has a thickness of between 1 and 30 micrometers.

[0017] By coating a contact wire, which is made of copper or a copper alloy, for example, with a tinning coating which essentially consists of tin with possible traces of other materials, permanent protection of the at least one contact wire, for example corrosion protection, etc., is achieved, analogous to the coating of power rails or overhead conductor rails with a first coating, and in particular contact corrosion is thus permanently prevented. Due to the very high electrical conductivity of tin and thus of the tin layer with which the at least one contact wire is provided or coated, the quality of the current conduction and / or transmission between the power rail or overhead conductor rail and the contact wire and thus the permanent power supply for the corresponding vehicles is accordingly guaranteed without restriction. This is particularly advantageous when the tinning layer is between 1 and 30 micrometers thick.

[0018] Particularly preferably, an overhead line system has at least one ceiling conductor rail according to one of claims 1 to 11.

[0019] A further aspect of the present invention relates to a method for producing a ceiling conductor rail for an overhead line system, the ceiling conductor rail comprising a fastening device for guiding a contact wire, and at least one contact wire, wherein the ceiling conductor rail and the at least one contact wire consist of different materials, comprising the steps

[0020] Providing the ceiling conductor rail at least partially with a first coating and / or

[0021] Providing the at least one contact wire at least partially with a second coating, wherein the first and second coatings are each electrically conductive and each comprise different materials, and connecting the contact wire to the overhead conductor rail by means of the fastening device. Particularly preferably, the overhead conductor rail is completely covered with the first coating.

[0022] Preferably, the at least one contact wire is completely covered with the second coating.

[0023] Likewise preferably, the first coating is implemented as a chromium (III)-containing coating and particularly preferably as a chromium (III)-containing passivation coating with a thickness of between 100 and 500 nanometers.

[0024] The second coating is also preferably designed as a tinning coating and particularly preferably with a thickness between 1 and 30 micrometers.

[0025] The previously described embodiments or characteristics of the ceiling conductor rail(s) according to the invention and in particular their advantages are transferable to the said method and therefore also apply to the said method with or in all its embodiments or characteristics.

[0026] Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. They show:

[0027] Fig. 1 shows a cross section of a ceiling conductor rail according to the invention with a first coating,

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

[0029] Fig. 3 shows a cross section of an overhead conductor rail according to the invention with a first coating and clamped contact wire with a second coating and Fig. 4 shows a sketch of an overhead line system with the transition from a catenary to an overhead conductor rail according to the invention outside a tunnel or an underpass.

[0030] In Figures 1 to 4, identical components are designated by the same reference numerals. The size and thickness of the first coating 7 and the second coating 9 shown in the figures are enlarged for clarity and better visibility and are not shown to scale.

[0031] Figure 1 shows a cross-section of a ceiling conductor rail 2 according to the invention with a first coating 7. The ceiling conductor rail 2 shown in Figure 1 consists of an aluminum alloy extruded profile.

[0032] The overhead conductor rail 2 has a conventional fastening device 4 consisting of two clamping arms 5 and 6, which are provided for guiding or clamping a contact wire 3, only sketched in Figure 1, whereby the contact wire 3 is connected to the overhead conductor rail 2. The overhead conductor rail 2 is completely and also over its entire length, which runs into the plane of the drawing (not visible here), and its two end faces, continuously covered or coated with a first coating 7, here a thin chromium(III)-containing passivation coating, i.e. a thin oxide layer with a thickness of between 100 and 500 nanometers, which is formed from chromium(III) oxide compounds. The chromium(III)-containing passivation coating is corrosion-resistant and has a high electrical conductivity. As a result of the coating 7, which completely and therefore seamlessly surrounds the power or overhead conductor rail 2, the overhead conductor rail 2 is orthe overhead conductor rail 2 is reliably and permanently protected against aggressive environmental conditions, in particular weather conditions or against weather influences, corrosive media, etc., and consequently against corrosion and in particular contact corrosion between the contact wire 3 and the overhead conductor rail 2. The chromium (III)-containing passivation coating 7 in the stated thickness is particularly well suited and effective for this purpose. This significantly extends the service life of the overhead conductor rail 2, as a result of which cost-intensive maintenance with interruptions in operation is possibly only necessary after significantly longer intervals. Furthermore, this also enables the electrification of areas with extreme climatic conditions, e.g. in tunnels with high air humidity and / or mineral erosion, near the sea, etc.The complete, uniform and gap-free coating of the entire surface of the power or ceiling power rail 2 with or in particular in the desired thickness of the chrome.

[0033] ( 111 ) -containing passivation coating 7 is particularly favorable and advantageous in terms of production technology by means of galvanic processes, for example by means of a corresponding immersion bath.

[0034] Figure 2 shows a cross-section of a contact wire 3 with a second coating 9 .

[0035] The contact wire 3 shown in Figure 2 is made of copper or a copper alloy and has the usual indentations 11 and 12 for the two clamping arms 5 and 6 of the fastening device 4 of the overhead conductor rail profile 2 from Figure 1 (which are not shown here for the sake of clarity), by means of which the contact wire 3 is clamped in the overhead conductor rail profile 2. By clamping the contact wire 3 by the clamping arms 5, 6, the contact points 13 and 14 are automatically created, at which the contact wire 3 and the overhead conductor rail 2 would be in direct contact without the coating 9. The contact wire 3 is at least over the entire contact length, i.e. over the entire length of the overhead conductor rail(s) 2 along the contact points 13 and 14 which the contact wire 3 has with the or the ceiling conductor rail(s) 2 and which runs into the plane of the drawing (not visible here), completely and continuously covered or covered with the second coating 9.coated. The second coating 9 here is advantageously a tinning coating with a thickness of between 1 and 30 micrometers, which essentially consists of tin with possibly traces of other materials. The tinning coating 9 is corrosion-resistant and has a high electrical conductivity. By means of the coating 9, which completely and thus seamlessly surrounds the contact wire 3, the contact wire 3 is and will be reliably and permanently protected against aggressive environmental conditions, in particular weather conditions, or against weather influences, corrosive media, etc., and consequently against corrosion, whereby in particular contact corrosion between the contact wire 3 and the overhead conductor rail 2 is permanently prevented. The tinning coating 9 in the stated thickness is particularly well suited and effective for this purpose. In this way, too, a significant extension of the service life of the overhead conductor rail 2 is achieved.The complete, uniform and gap-free coating of the entire surface of the contact wire 3 with, or in particular also in the desired thickness of, the tinning coating 9 can also be realized in a particularly favorable and advantageous manner by means of galvanic processes.

[0036] Figure 3 shows a cross section of an overhead conductor rail 2 according to the invention with clamped contact wire 3 in the embodiments according to Figures 1 and 2.

[0037] In Figure 3, the contact wire 3 is clamped by means of the clamping arms 5 and 6 of the fastening device 4 of the overhead conductor rail 2 and thus connected to the overhead conductor rail 2. Due to the different electrode potentials that the two metals, aluminum (overhead conductor rail 2) and copper (overhead conductor wire 3), have, there is normally a risk of contact corrosion when the two materials come into direct contact under corrosion-promoting external conditions, which in the present case would lead to decomposition of the overhead conductor rail 2. This is avoided by the two coatings 7 and 9, which completely enclose the overhead conductor rail 2 and the contact wire 3 respectively and which are therefore present over their entire length, in particular at the contact points 13 and 14 between the overhead conductor rail 2 and the overhead wire 3, and thus effectively and permanently prevent direct contact and consequently contact corrosion between the overhead conductor rail 2 and the overhead wire 3.

[0038] To effectively prevent or reduce contact corrosion between the conductor rail or overhead conductor rail 2 and the contact wire 3, one coating is generally sufficient, either the first coating 7 of the overhead conductor rail(s) 2, or the second coating 9 of the contact wire 3. Furthermore, the simultaneous application or simultaneous use of both coatings 7 and 9 is even more advantageous in terms of long-term durability. This significantly improves the permanent or uninterrupted electrification of, for example, tunnels with corrosive environmental conditions, since corresponding maintenance and repair work, in particular the replacement of damaged overhead conductor rails, only needs to be carried out at significantly longer intervals.

[0039] Furthermore, the quality of the electrical conductivity between the overhead conductor rail(s) 2 and the contact wire 3 remains essentially unchanged due to the high electrical conductivity of each of the two coatings 7 and 9, thus ensuring the quality of the current conduction and / or transmission between the current or overhead conductor rail(s) 2 and the contact wire 3 and thus the permanent power supply for the corresponding vehicles without restriction.

[0040] To produce an overhead conductor rail 2 according to the invention for an overhead line system 1 in the embodiment according to Figure 3, the overhead conductor rail 2 is first completely provided with the first coating 7, a chromium (III)-containing passivation coating with a thickness of between 100 and 500 nanometers, using a suitable galvanic process, and then the contact wire 3 is completely provided with the second coating 9, a tinning layer, with a thickness of between 1 and 30 micrometers, likewise using a suitable galvanic process. These two steps can also be carried out in reverse order. The coated contact wire 3 is then clamped to the grips 11 and 12 of the overhead conductor rail 3 by means of the clamping arms 5 and 6 of the fastening device 4 of the overhead conductor rail 2 and thus connected to the likewise coated overhead conductor rail 2.The ceiling conductor rail 2 produced according to the invention is suitable for use in an overhead line system 1 and can be used there.

[0041] Figure 4 shows a sketch of an overhead line system 1 with the transition 20 of a catenary 17 to an overhead conductor rail 2 according to the invention in the area of ​​an underpass or a tunnel 15.

[0042] Outside the tunnel 15, the overhead line system 1 shown by way of example in Figure 4 is designed in a conventional manner with a catenary 17 and supporting cable(s) 16 which is / are guided at a height h above the contact wire 3 and wherein the supporting cable 16 is connected to the contact wire 3 by means of a hanger or hanger cable 18. The transition area 20 for operating the overhead line system 1 by means of the inventive overhead conductor rail(s) 2 within an underpass or the tunnel 15 begins, for example, as shown in Figure 4, at the beginning of an underpass or of the tunnel 15, or even before that, i.e. at or before the point at which a corresponding vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, enters the underpass or into the tunnel 15. Analogously, the transition area 20 ends, for example, at the end of the underpass orof the tunnel 15, or even thereafter, i.e. at or after the point at which a corresponding vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, exits the underpass or the tunnel 15. Furthermore, the extraction force F. Zug which acts in the axial direction of the contact wire 3 and attempts to pull the contact wire 3 out of the overhead conductor rail 2. The overhead line system 1 shown in Figure 4 or designed according to Figure 4 with one or more overhead conductor rails 2 according to the invention or the use of one or more overhead conductor rails 2 according to the invention in underpasses or tunnels is merely an example and in no way restricted to this embodiment, but also includes, without limitation, all possible other useful embodiments, applications or fields of use.

[0043] Furthermore, the invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described and shown so far in Figures 1 to 4, but rather also includes all possible further useful embodiments of the invention, for example overhead conductor rails that comprise or hold two or more contact wires.

[0044] Regardless of the grammatical gender of a particular term, persons with male, female or other gender identities are included.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Ceiling conductor rail (2) for an overhead line system (1) with a fastening device (4) for guiding a contact wire (3) and with at least one contact wire (3), wherein the at least one contact wire (3) is fixed by means of the fastening device (4) is connected to the overhead conductor rail (2), wherein the overhead conductor rail (2) and the at least one contact wire (3) are made of different materials, characterized in that the overhead conductor rail (2) at least partially has a first coating (7) and / or the at least one contact wire (3) at least partially has a second coating (9), wherein the first and the second coating (7, 9) are each electrically conductive.

2. Ceiling conductor rail (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and the second coating (7, 9) comprise different materials.

3. Overhead conductor rail (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first and second coatings (7, 9) and the overhead conductor rail (2) and the at least one contact wire (3) comprise different materials.

4. Ceiling conductor rail (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ceiling conductor rail (2) is designed as an aluminum alloy extruded profile.

5. Ceiling conductor rail (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one contact wire (3) is made of copper or a copper alloy.

6. Ceiling conductor rail (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ceiling conductor rail (2) is completely covered by the first coating (7).

7. Overhead conductor rail (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one contact wire (3) is completely covered by the second coating (9).

8. Ceiling conductor rail (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first coating (7) is designed as a chromium (III)-containing coating.

9. Ceiling conductor rail (2) according to claim 8, characterized in that the chromium (III)-containing coating is a chromium (III)-containing passivation coating which has a thickness between 100 and 500 nanometers.

10. Ceiling conductor rail (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second coating (9) is designed as a tin-plating coating.

11. Ceiling conductor rail (2) according to claim 10, characterized in that the tinning coating has a thickness between 1 and 30 micrometers.

12. Overhead line system (1) with at least one overhead conductor rail (2) according to one of claims 1 to 11.

13. Method for producing a ceiling conductor rail (2) for an overhead line system (1), the ceiling conductor rail (2) having a fastening device (4) for guiding a contact wire (3), and at least one contact wire (3), wherein the ceiling conductor rail (2) and the at least one contact wire (3) consist of different materials, comprising the steps Providing the ceiling conductor rail (2) at least partially with a first coating (7) and / or Providing the at least one contact wire (3) at least partially with a second coating (9), wherein the first and the second coating (7, 9) are each electrically conductive and each comprise different materials, and Connecting the contact wire (3) to the ceiling conductor rail (2) using the fastening device (4).

14. Ceiling conductor rail (2) according to claim 13, characterized in that the ceiling conductor rail (2) is completely covered with the first coating (7).

15. Overhead conductor rail (2) according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the at least one contact wire (3) is completely covered with the second coating (9).

16. Method for producing a ceiling conductor rail (2) for an overhead line system (1) according to one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the first coating (7) is designed as a chromium (III)-containing coating.

17. A method for producing a ceiling conductor rail (2) for an overhead line system (1) according to claim 16, characterized in that the chromium (III)-containing coating is designed as a chromium (III)-containing passivation coating with a thickness of between 100 and 500 nanometers.

18. Method for producing a ceiling conductor rail (2) for an overhead line system (1) according to one of claims 13 to 17, characterized in that the second coating (9) is designed as a tinning coating.

19. Method for producing a ceiling conductor rail (2) for an overhead line system (1) according to claim 18, characterized in that the tinning coating is carried out with a thickness between 1 and 30 micrometers.

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