Articulated Current Collector for Double-Pole Contact Wires
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicles powered by contact wires require significant manual effort and infrastructure for detours or operation without contact wires, as they are designed with two rods and lack the flexibility to adapt to varying wire distances or heights.
Innovation Solution
A current collector arrangement with articulated pantograph poles, a spacer element, and a controller that allows the spacer to be attached and released from one pole during wiring, enabling independent movement of the rods and automatic wiring without manual intervention, suitable for retrofitting existing vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If vehicles are equipped with two rigid rods for contact wire connection, then stable electrical connection is achieved, but the vehicles cannot adapt to varying wire distances or heights and require manual intervention for routing changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by replacing rigid rods with articulated pantograph arms that can dynamically adjust their position and angle. The pantograph arms are hinged to the vehicle and designed to be flexible, enabling automatic adaptation to varying contact wire distances and heights without manual intervention. This dynamic structure allows the current collector head to maintain stable electrical connection while accommodating route variations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual connection or disconnection of pantographs is performed at transition points, then vehicles can operate on sections without overhead wires, but the process is time-consuming and requires driver intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements the self-service principle through the automatic pantograph system. The articulated pantograph arms automatically connect to and disconnect from contact wires at transition points without requiring driver intervention. The system self-adjusts during motion, eliminating the time-consuming manual wiring process while maintaining the ability to operate on sections without overhead wires.
3Manufacturing precision
If fixed spacer elements are used for single-wire operation, then wiring alignment is improved, but the system cannot accommodate vehicles with different configurations or retrofitted existing vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the universality principle by designing a pantograph arrangement that can serve multiple vehicle configurations. The articulated pantograph arms with adjustable spacing can accommodate different vehicle widths and configurations, making the system universally applicable to both new and existing vehicles. The flexible design allows the same basic structure to be adapted to various vehicle types without requiring vehicle-specific custom components.
Data Source
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AI summary
A current collector arrangement for double-pole contact wires (12, 14) of contact wire-fed vehicles (10) which can also operate independently of the contact wire system, comprising a V-shaped, rigid spacer element (34) which has sliding surfaces on the inside of the two legs which lead to an upwardly open guide groove provided in the apex, into which a guide (40) can be threaded during operation, is characterized by two current collector rods (16, 18) which can be articulated to a vehicle (10); a locking device (36, 38) for attaching the spacer element (34) to the current collector rods (16, 18), and a control device for controlling the locking device (36, 38), such that the spacer element (34) is attached to both current collector rods (16, 18) for single-wire connection and is released from at least one current collector rod after single-wire connection.