System for compensating for the thermal expansion of a line by means of a shape memory alloy

Abstract

Disclosed is a system for compensating for the thermal expansion of at least one portion of an overhead line of a railway track, characterized in that it comprises a junction sleeve (4a) connected to a first end of the overhead line portion, and to a first end of a compensation cable (2) of the compensation system, the compensation cable (2) being connected to an attachment point, the junction sleeve (4a) being configured to clamp the first end of the overhead line portion and the first end of the compensation cable, the overhead line portion and the compensation cable (2) being substantially aligned, the compensation cable (2) being made of a shape memory metal alloy configured to exert a variable pulling force on the junction sleeve (4a) and the attachment point as a function of the temperature of the compensation cable (2).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] TITLE OF THE INVENTION: SYSTEM FOR COMPENSATING FOR THE THERMAL EXPANSION OF A CABLE USING SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY

[0003] Technical field of the invention

[0004] The invention relates to a system for compensating the thermal expansion of a cable, and in particular of a catenary cable in railway infrastructure. The invention also extends to a railway catenary cable comprising such a compensation system.

[0005] Technological background

[0006] Catenary systems are primarily composed of four components: structures, fittings, contact wires, and carrier wires. The structures include supports, poles, and gantries that bear the entire catenary assembly. The catenary itself comprises fittings, generally a carrier wire, an auxiliary wire, a conductor wire called the contact wire which connects to the pantograph for mechanical guidance and current transmission, and a set of vertical cables tensioned between the carrier wire, the auxiliary wire, and the contact wire to ensure the latter's linearity. The catenary fittings typically include a bracket supporting the catenary, a bracket guy wire used primarily for height adjustment, and an anti-sway device connected to the auxiliary carrier wire to prevent catenary tilting. This anti-sway device terminates in a return arm connected to the contact wire.

[0007] For implementation and geometry maintenance reasons, the catenary is divided into "installation sections," each corresponding to a continuous section of conductors. To control the geometry, particularly the contact plane height and the quality of current collection, the effects of thermal expansion of the conductors can be compensated for by a regulation system.

[0008] A known solution to address this thermal expansion problem involves installing devices at the ends of the track sections that pull on the conductors, thus ensuring constant mechanical tension and therefore consistent geometry. These devices can be winches or pulleys to which a counterweight is attached to maintain constant tension, such as the Pfisterer Tensorex® system.

[0009] One of the drawbacks of this solution lies in the installation of these systems at the ends of the sections, which necessitates rotation around the system. The length of cable to be wound is equal to the distance to the fixed point multiplied by the coefficient of thermal expansion of the cable and multiplied by the temperature difference.

[0010] In general, on conventional 1500V catenaries, the contact wires are thermally regulated, meaning that thermal expansion is compensated, while the carrier wires are not. As a result, the geometry varies significantly depending on the temperature.

[0011] Another known solution to overcome this problem involves manually adjusting the tension on the cable supporting the device. This device is placed within the span of a catenary and uses a screw to increase the mechanical tension by applying a three-point bend to the supporting cable.

[0012] The drawback is that the mechanical tension adjustment is manual, occasional, and not temperature-dependent.

[0013] Another drawback of the previous solutions lies in the constraints required to ensure this tension adjustment. In other words, these solutions involve a longitudinal displacement of the main cable along the entire length of the track section. For example, for a half-section of 750 meters, a displacement of approximately 90 centimeters due to cable expansion with temperature changes must be accounted for. Furthermore, the suspension chains for the main cable do not allow for such a displacement. Consequently, regularizing the cables, particularly the main cables, would require significant modifications to the existing installations.

[0014] Another solution proposed by the applicant and described in document FR3127170A1 proposes the use of a bimetallic strip system connecting two cable sections for thermal expansion compensation.

[0015] The inventors sought to propose an alternative solution to ensure the maintenance of a constant or non-constant mechanical tension in a cable and which could be fitted to a catenary type cable in railway infrastructures without difficulty, and without requiring the replacement of these cables.

[0016] Objectives of the invention

[0017] The invention thus aims to provide a thermal expansion compensation system that overcomes at least some of the drawbacks of known devices.

[0018] The invention aims in particular to provide, in at least one embodiment of the invention, a compensation system which can be mounted on a conductive or non-conductive cable.

[0019] The invention also aims to provide, in at least one embodiment of the invention, a compensation system that can be mounted on a catenary cable without requiring replacement of the existing catenary structure.

[0020] The invention also aims to provide, in at least one embodiment of the invention, a compensation system allowing for the regularization of the cable equipped with such a device.

[0021] The invention also aims to provide, in at least one embodiment of the invention, a compensation system that is compact and lightweight.

[0022] The invention also aims to provide, in at least one embodiment of the invention, a main carrier cable of a catenary equipped with such a compensation system to further allow regularization of the carrier cable.

[0023] Description of the invention

[0024] To this end, the invention relates to a system for compensating the thermal expansion of at least a portion of a catenary cable of a railway track, characterized in that it comprises a first connecting sleeve connected on the one hand to a first end of the portion of catenary cable, on the other hand to a first end of a first compensation cable of the compensation system, said compensation cable being connected to an attachment point, said first connecting sleeve being configured to enclose on the one hand the first end of the portion of catenary cable and on the other hand the first end of the compensation cable to form a mechanical connection of the portion of catenary cable and the compensation cable, the portion of catenary cable and the compensation cable being substantially aligned,said compensation cable being formed at least in part from a shape-memory metallic alloy configured to exert a variable tensile force on the first junction sleeve and the attachment point depending on the temperature of the compensation cable.

[0025] A compensation system according to the invention thus makes it possible to compensate for the thermal expansion of a catenary cable. Throughout the text, the term "catenary cable" refers to a cable that may be load-bearing, such as a main or auxiliary load-bearing cable of a catenary, or non-load-bearing; a conductive cable, such as a contact wire of a catenary, or non-conductive.

[0026] The compensation system according to the invention is mechanically linked to at least one section of catenary cable and does not require replacement of the existing cable; it is installed directly onto the existing cable. The use of a sleeve ensures mechanical continuity, as the compensation cable and the section of catenary cable to be compensated are substantially aligned, or in other words, substantially collinear.

[0027] A compensation system according to the invention allows the mechanical tension of the main cable to be adjusted when it undergoes thermal expansion due to temperature variations. Thus, the compensation system can be added to a cable in an existing infrastructure to regulate the mechanical tension of the catenary cable according to temperature variations.

[0028] The shape-memory metal alloy compensating cable allows for automatic adjustment of the tensile force according to temperature. Specifically, the compensating cable is preferably pre-stressed and ideally designed to have at least two pre-memorized shapes between which it alternates as its temperature varies around a critical temperature. For example, the compensating cable is configured to have a rest position at the reference temperature and a load position when a temperature deviation occurs above the critical temperature.

[0029] In practice, the compensating cable, to offset the thermal expansion of the catenary cable section, exerts a greater tensile force at a temperature above the critical temperature in order to reduce the displacement of the catenary cable section due to thermal expansion caused by a temperature increase. The tensile force is transmitted to the catenary cable section via the sleeve.

[0030] The compensation system according to the invention aims to compensate for the thermal expansion of the main cable. Thermal expansion causes a displacement "d" to be compensated for, proportional to the length "a" of the span, within a temperature range "R" targeted by the invention, depending on the coefficient of expansion ">" of the material from which the main cable is made, generally copper. The formula is as follows:

[0031] [Math. 1] d = a * R * a

[0032] In practice, in a typical railway installation context, for example on the French rail network, the span length "a" is generally on the order of twenty to fifty-four meters, the temperature amplitude "R" is on the order of a few tens of degrees Celsius, and the coefficient of copper expansion "□" is equal to 17*10 6 K'. The displacement to be compensated is therefore on the order of one to ten centimeters, generally one to five centimeters. The objective is therefore that the force of the compensation cable allows for the compensation of this displacement.

[0033] The compensation cable allows for tension adjustment of the main cable without requiring operator intervention when the adjustment is manual and without necessitating a complete replacement of the cable system. This compensation system therefore saves time while offering a compact solution adaptable to all types of cables and infrastructures.

[0034] Preferably, this compensation system is particularly well-suited for the carrier cables of a catenary system. Furthermore, the thermal expansion compensation system for a cable according to the invention allows for adjustment of the mechanical tension of the main cable without the need for operator intervention.

[0035] The invention also makes it possible to compensate for the thermal expansion of a cable without requiring heavy modifications and adaptations of existing infrastructures.

[0036] Advantageously and according to the invention, the shape memory metal alloy is selected from one of the following shape memory alloys: shape memory alloy comprising nickel and titanium, shape memory alloy comprising copper and zinc, shape memory alloy comprising copper and aluminum, shape memory alloy comprising copper and tin, shape memory alloy comprising gold and cadmium, shape memory alloy comprising indium and titanium, shape memory alloy comprising gold and copper, shape memory alloy comprising iron and palladium, shape memory alloy comprising iron and platinum.

[0037] According to this aspect of the invention, the shape memory alloy comprising nickel and titanium, frequently called Nitinol or nickel-titanium, is an alloy particularly recognized for its shape memory capabilities. Other metallic alloys may also be suitable when they exhibit these shape memory characteristics.

[0038] Nitinol, short for Nickel Titanium Naval Ordnance Laboratory, is an alloy of nickel and titanium in varying proportions. These proportions determine the temperature at which the "shape memory" effect occurs. Depending on the proportions, Nitinol can regain its shape as early as 40°C, or at 80°C depending on other proportions, for example. The proportions of nickel and titanium are therefore adjusted according to the temperatures to which the catenary cable is subjected. In particular, one alloy that can be used is composed of 60% titanium and 40% nickel, given the temperatures to which railway cables are subjected.

[0039] Nitinol also exhibits other properties, such as superelasticity. Furthermore, Nitinol is resistant to moisture, corrosion, temperature variations, and weather conditions in its intended railway application.

[0040] Metal alloys can consist of only two metals, or three or more. In particular, copper alloys can be copper-zinc-aluminum, copper-aluminum-nickel, copper-aluminum-beryllium, or copper-aluminum-manganese alloys.

[0041] Nickel-titanium alloys may include copper, iron, palladium, or hafnium.

[0042] Advantageously and according to the invention, the compensation cable is a strand of wires composed of: a metallic core, for example copper, surrounded by wires of shape memory metallic alloy, or a shape memory metallic alloy core surrounded by metallic wires, for example copper.

[0043] According to this aspect of the invention, the use of a stranded compensation cable makes it possible to reduce the amount of shape-memory metal alloy and to retain the advantages of the metal used. Preferably, the metal can be copper, a material already commonly used in railway cables, or Nilo® 42. Nilo® 42 (also called Invar® 42) exhibits, in particular, high thermal resistivity and is a nickel-iron alloy containing 42% nickel and possessing excellent controlled expansion properties.

[0044] Reducing the amount of shape memory metal alloy generally results in cost reductions.

[0045] Advantageously and according to the invention, the compensation cable is pre-stressed.

[0046] According to this aspect of the invention, the compensation cable is configured to regain its shape in the presence of a temperature higher than its critical temperature.

[0047] Advantageously and according to the invention, the compensation of the thermal expansion of two portions of catenary cable, characterized in that the attachment point comprises a second sleeve configured to enclose on one side an end of a second portion of catenary cable and on the other side a second end of the compensation cable.

[0048] According to this aspect of the invention, the compensation system can be inserted between two portions of catenary cable and allow the thermal expansion of these two cable portions to be compensated.

[0049] Advantageously and according to the invention, the compensation system includes a suspension device, comprising at least two suspension arms, a first suspension arm being connected on one side to the first sleeve and on the other side configured to be connected to a fixed support of the railway track, and a second suspension arm being connected on one side to the second sleeve and on the other side configured to be connected to the fixed support of the railway track.

[0050] According to this aspect of the invention, the suspension device is advantageously fixed directly or indirectly to a fixed support of the railway track, such as a post or an engineering structure near the railway track forming the fixed support, such as a wall, an inner wall of a tunnel, a bridge, etc. An indirect fixing may, for example, include a beam fixed to the support.

[0051] Advantageously, and according to the invention, the suspension device comprises a connecting element including at least two connecting rings, and in that the two suspension arms are substantially coplanar and each connected to the connecting element by a connecting ring, the connecting rings being configured to allow rotational movement of the suspension arm relative to the connecting element. According to this aspect of the invention, the device forms a substantially stirrup-shaped piece allowing, on the one hand, the suspension of the two sleeves and the compensating cable, and on the other hand, connection to the fixed support of the railway track.

[0052] Advantageously and according to the invention, the suspension device includes an insulator configured to prevent the flow of electric current between the portion of catenary cable and the fixed support when the suspension device is connected to the fixed support of the railway track.

[0053] The invention also relates to a catenary cable equipped with at least one thermal expansion compensation system according to the invention, configured to compensate for the thermal expansion of said catenary cable, each compensation system comprising at least one compensation cable connected to one end of the catenary cable.

[0054] The invention advantageously relates to a catenary carrier cable equipped with a thermal expansion compensation system according to the invention, configured to compensate for the thermal expansion of said carrier cable arranged between two separate attachment points.

[0055] The advantages and technical effects of the compensation system according to the invention apply mutatis mutandis to a catenary cable equipped with a compensation system according to the invention and to a catenary carrier cable equipped with a compensation system according to the invention.

[0056] The invention also relates to an assembly comprising two catenary cable sections and a thermal expansion compensation system according to the invention, configured to compensate for the thermal expansion of said catenary cable sections, a first catenary cable section being connected to a first end of a compensation cable of the compensation system and a second catenary cable section being connected to a second end of the compensation cable of the compensation system.

[0057] The invention also relates to an assembly comprising a portion of catenary cable and two compensation systems according to the invention, a first compensation system being configured to clamp the first end of the portion of catenary cable and a second compensation system being configured to clamp the second end of the portion of catenary cable.

[0058] The invention also relates to a compensation system, a catenary cable equipped with a compensation system according to the invention, an assembly of two cable portions and a compensation system, and an assembly of one cable portion and two compensation systems, characterized in combination by all or part of the characteristics mentioned above or below.

[0059] List of figures

[0060] 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:

[0061] [Fig. 1a] is a schematic view of a railway catenary cable equipped with two compensation systems in position on the catenary cable, according to a first embodiment of the invention,

[0062] [Fig. 1b] is a schematic view of a railway catenary cable equipped with two compensation systems in position on the catenary cable, according to the first embodiment of the invention, after compensation by the compensation systems,

[0063] [Fig. 2] is a schematic view of a railway catenary cable equipped with a position compensation system on the catenary cable, according to a second embodiment of the invention,

[0064] [Fig. 3a] is a schematic front view of a compensation system according to a third embodiment of the invention,

[0065] [Fig. 3b] is a schematic side view of a compensation system according to the third embodiment of the invention,

[0066] [Fig. 3c] is a schematic perspective view of a compensation system according to the third embodiment of the invention,

[0067] [Fig. 4] is a schematic perspective view of a position compensation system according to the third embodiment of the invention, for the compensation of two catenary cable sections and as connected to a fixed support of the railway track.

[0068] Detailed description of embodiments of the invention

[0069] In the figures, scale and proportion are not strictly to scale for illustrative and clarity purposes. In all the detailed descriptions that follow, with reference to the figures, unless otherwise indicated, each element of the compensation system is described as it is arranged when attached near a main catenary cable connected between two poles forming the attachment points; the attachment points thus define a span. Furthermore, identical, similar, or analogous elements are designated by the same reference numerals in all figures.

[0070] Figure 1a and Figure 1b schematically represent a railway catenary cable 110 equipped with two compensation systems 100a, 100b in position on the catenary cable 110, according to a first embodiment of the invention, respectively before and after compensation by the compensation system.

[0071] Only one portion of the catenary cable 110 is shown, which may in particular be a portion of catenary carrier cable, configured to support a conductor cable not visible on this schematic representation.

[0072] The first 100a compensation system includes a 104a junction sleeve connected on one side to a first end of the catenary cable 110, and on the other side to a first end of a first compensation cable 102a, the first compensation cable 102a being connected to an attachment point via its second end, here to a first pole 120a.

[0073] The second 100b compensation system includes a 104b junction sleeve connected on one side to a second end of the catenary cable 110, and on the other side to a first end of a second 102b compensation cable, the second 102b compensation cable being connected to an attachment point via its second end, here to a second 120b pole.

[0074] Each 104a, 104b junction sleeve is configured to enclose on one side one end of the catenary cable portion and on the other side the first end of one of the two compensation cables to form a mechanical junction of the catenary cable portion and the compensation cable, the catenary cable portion and each compensation cable being thus substantially aligned, in other words substantially collinear.

[0075] Compensation systems are configured to compensate for the thermal expansion of at least a portion of a railway overhead contact line (OCL) cable. Thermal expansion causes the OCL cable to bend, forming a deflection f representing the difference between the cable's lowest position and its nominal position, particularly in the horizontal position, shown as a dashed line. The cable bend shown is for illustrative purposes only and is not necessarily representative of the bend of an actual cable.

[0076] For this compensation, the compensation cables are formed at least in part from a shape-memory metal alloy configured to exert a variable tensile force on each junction sleeve and the attachment point depending on the temperature of the compensation cable.

[0077] As shown in Figure 1b, the compensation provided by the first compensation cable 102a results in the application of a force Fa on the catenary cable 110, and the second compensation cable 102b results in the application of a force Fb on the catenary cable 110. The application of these two forces reduces the curvature of the catenary cable 110, and the catenary cable 110 thus has a position close to its nominal position, here approximately horizontal.

[0078] Figure 2 schematically represents a railway catenary cable equipped with a compensation system 100 in position on the catenary cable, according to a second embodiment of the invention. The catenary cable is divided into two sections, a first section 110a and a second section 110b. The compensation system compensates for the expansion of the two cable sections by means of a central arrangement around a fixed support on the railway track, here a central pole 120c. The first portion 110a of catenary cable is connected on one side to this central pole 120c and to a pole 120d via a sleeve 204a and a means 203a of suspension, and the second portion 110b of catenary cable is connected on one side to this central pole 120c and to a pole 120e via a sleeve 204b and a means 203b of suspension.The suspension means 203a and 203b are not compensation cables in this embodiment, but could be as in the first embodiment of figures 1a and 1b.

[0079] The compensation system comprises a first connecting sleeve 104 linking, on the one hand, the first section 110a of the catenary cable and, on the other hand, a compensation cable 102, and a second connecting sleeve 104' linking, on the one hand, the second section 110b of the catenary cable and, on the other hand, the compensation cable 102. The first connecting sleeve 104 is connected to the central pole 120c by a first suspension means 103, and the second connecting sleeve 104' is connected to the central pole 120c by a second suspension means 103'.

[0080] The compensation cable 102 is formed from a shape-memory metal alloy and is configured to exert a variable tensile force on the two junction sleeves 104, 104' as a function of the temperature of the compensation cable, for an operation analogous to the first embodiment of figures 1a and 1b but operating directly for two portions of catenary cables.

[0081] Figures 3a, 3b, and 3c schematically represent a compensation system 1 according to a third embodiment of the invention, respectively from the front, side, and perspective. Like the second embodiment, the compensation system 1 compensates for the expansion of two cable segments, each cable segment being enclosed in a connecting sleeve, namely a first connecting sleeve 4a and a second connecting sleeve 4b. Both connecting sleeves 4a and 4b are connected to the same compensation cable 2.The junction sleeves 4a, 4b are also held by a suspension device comprising at least two suspension arms, a first suspension arm 3a being connected on one side to the first sleeve 4a and on the other side configured to be connected to a fixed support of the railway track, and a second suspension arm 3b being connected on one side to the second sleeve 4b and on the other side configured to be connected to the fixed support of the railway track.

[0082] The fixed support for the railway track is, for example, a post, such as the central post in the embodiment shown in Figure 2.

[0083] The suspension device also includes a linking element comprising: a suspension shaft 8; a first double clevis 6a connected on one side to the first suspension arm 3a via a first linking ring 10a, preferably a self-lubricating ring, and on the other side to the suspension shaft 8 via a second linking ring 9a, preferably a self-lubricating ring; a second double clevis 6b connected on one side to the second suspension arm 3b via a third linking ring 10b, preferably a self-lubricating ring, and on the other side to the suspension shaft 8 via a fourth linking ring 9b, preferably a self-lubricating ring; a hooking element 5, for attaching the compensation device to the fixed support of the railway track.

[0084] The connecting rings 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b allow rotational movement of the suspension arm relative to the connecting element.

[0085] Figure 4 schematically represents, in perspective, a position compensation system 1 according to the third embodiment of the invention, for compensating two catenary cable sections 12a, 12b, connected to a fixed support. In particular, the attachment element (not visible in this figure) is connected via an insulator 11 to a beam 13, and via a fixing 14 to a fixed support of the railway track, such as a pole or an engineering structure near the railway track forming the fixed support, such as a wall, an inner wall of a tunnel, a bridge, etc.

Claims

DEMANDS 1. A thermal expansion compensation system for at least one portion (110a, 110b, 110, 12a, 12b) of a railway catenary cable, characterized in that it comprises a first connecting sleeve (104a, 104b, 104, 4a) connected on one side to a first end of the catenary cable portion and on the other side to a first end of a first compensation cable (102a, 102b, 102, 2) of the compensation system, said compensation cable (102a, 102b, 102, 2) being connected to an attachment point, said first connecting sleeve (104a, 104b, 104, 4a) being configured to enclose on one side the first end of the catenary cable portion and on the other side the first end of the compensation cable to form a mechanical connection of the portion (110a, 110b, 110, 12a, 12b) of catenary cable and the compensation cable (102a, 102, 2), the portion (110a, 110b, 110, 12a, 12b) of catenary cable and the cable (102a, 102b, 102,2) of compensation being substantially aligned, said compensation cable (102a, 102b, 102, 2) being formed at least in part of a shape-memory metallic alloy configured to exert a variable tensile force on the first junction sleeve (104a, 104b, 104, 4a) and the attachment point as a function of the temperature of the compensation cable (102a, 102b, 102, 2).

2. Compensation system according to claim 1, characterized in that the shape memory metal alloy is selected from one of the following shape memory alloys: shape memory alloy comprising nickel and titanium, shape memory alloy comprising copper and zinc, shape memory alloy comprising copper and aluminum, shape memory alloy comprising copper and tin, shape memory alloy comprising gold and cadmium, shape memory alloy comprising indium and titanium, shape memory alloy comprising gold and copper, shape memory alloy comprising iron and palladium, shape memory alloy comprising iron and platinum.

3. Compensation system according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the compensation cable (102a, 102b 102, 2) is a strand of wires composed of: a metallic core surrounded by shape memory metallic alloy wires, or a shape memory metallic alloy core surrounded by metallic wires.

4. Compensation system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the compensation cable (102a, 102b 102, 2) is prestressed.

5. Compensation system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, for compensating the thermal expansion of two catenary cable portions, characterized in that the attachment point comprises a second sleeve (104', 4b) configured to enclose on one side an end of a second catenary cable portion (110b, 12b) and on the other side a second end of the compensation cable (102, 2).

6. Compensation system according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a suspension device, comprising at least two suspension arms (103, 103', 3a, 3b), a first suspension arm (103, 3a) being connected on one side to the first sleeve (104, 4) and on the other side configured to be connected to a fixed support (120c) of the railway track, and a second suspension arm (103', 3b) being connected on one side to the second sleeve (104', 4b) and on the other side configured to be connected to the fixed support (120c) of the railway track.

7. Compensation system according to claim 6, characterized in that the suspension device includes a connecting element comprising at least two connecting rings (10a, 10b), and in that the two suspension arms (103, 103', 3a, 3b) are substantially coplanar and each connected to the connecting element by a connecting ring (10a, 10b), the connecting rings (10a, 10b) being configured to permit rotational movement of the suspension arm relative to the connecting element.

8. Compensation system according to any one of claims 6 to 7, characterized in that the suspension device includes an insulator (11) configured to prevent the flow of electric current between the portion of catenary cable and the fixed support when the suspension device is connected to the fixed support of the railway track.

9. Catenary cable equipped with at least one (100a, 100b, 100, 1) thermal expansion compensation system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, configured to compensate for the thermal expansion of said (110a, 110b, 110, 12a, 12b) catenary cable, each compensation system comprising at least one (102a, 102b, 102, 2) compensation cable connected to one end of the catenary cable.

10. Assembly comprising two portions (110a, 110b, 12a, 12b) of catenary cable and a thermal expansion compensation system (100, 1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, configured to compensate for the thermal expansion of said portions of catenary cable, a first portion (110a, 12a) of catenary cable being connected to a first end of a compensation cable (102, 2) of the compensation system and a second portion (110b, 12b) of catenary cable being connected to a second end of the compensation cable (102, 2) of the compensation system.

11. An assembly comprising a portion (110) of catenary cable and two compensation systems (100a, 100b) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, a first compensation system (100a) being configured to enclose the first end of portion (110) of catenary cable and a second compensation system (100b) being configured to enclose the second end of portion (110) of catenary cable.

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