Contact Device Parallel Linkage for Uniform Force

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing contact devices for power transmission systems require elaborate and costly infeed devices to maintain uniform contact force between contact strips and conductors, especially when conductors are at different levels, leading to increased design and manufacturing efforts.

Innovation Solution

A contact device with a parallel linkage connecting contact strip carriers via parallel connecting rods, forming a gear parallelogram, ensures uniform contact force across varying distances and levels using a single infeed device connected to a base support, with optional spring devices for increased force and multiple contact capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If elaborate infeed devices are used to maintain uniform contact force between contact strips and conductors at different levels, then contact force uniformity is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontact force uniformityVSAvoidinfeed device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The infeed device is segmented into multiple independent infeed units, each responsible for feeding a specific contact strip. Each infeed unit includes its own infeed arm and positioning mechanism, allowing independent adjustment and operation. This segmentation enables precise control of contact force for each contact strip-conductor pair, maintaining uniformity even when conductors are at different levels or positions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If contact strips are positioned to contact conductors at different vertical distances, then adaptability to different conductor levels is improved, but maintaining uniform contact force becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different conductor levelsVSAvoidcontact force uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The infeed arms are designed as dynamic, movable components that can independently adjust their position and angle. Each infeed arm is connected to its contact strip through a movable linkage mechanism, allowing real-time adjustment of contact force and position. This dynamic capability enables the system to adapt to conductors at different vertical distances while maintaining uniform contact force through active control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple contact strip carriers are used to contact multiple conductors, then contact capability with multiple conductors is improved, but coordination of contact force across carriers becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontact capability with multiple conductorsVSAvoidcoordination complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses multiple independent contact strip carriers, each with its own infeed unit and positioning mechanism. This segmentation allows each carrier to operate independently while maintaining coordination through the overall system control architecture. The parallel structure of multiple carriers simplifies the coordination problem compared to a single complex carrier, as each carrier can be optimized and controlled separately.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2958768B1Contact device for contacting a contact conductor arrangement
Publication Date: 2019.12.11 SCHUNK TRANSIT SYST GMBH
  • EP2958768B1 patent drawingFigure 1~6
  • EP2958768B1 patent drawingFigure 7~10

AI summary

The invention relates to a contact device (20) for contacting a contact conductor arrangement (27) with at least two contact conductors (25, 26). The contact device has at least two contact strip arrangements, each comprising at least one contact strip (21, 22) arranged on a contact strip support (23, 24), and the contact strip supports are connected to each other via a parallel rod assembly, which has two mutually parallel connecting rods (35, 36), such that each contact strip support is connected to the connecting rods at mutually spaced hinge points (33, 34) about mutually parallel rotational axes on one of two parallel hinge planes (64, 65) and form a parallelogram together with the contact strips, which are aligned parallel to each other. At least one connecting rod central axis which runs parallel to the rotational axes is connected to a base support (42) at a hinge point (40) in a pivotal manner such that an advancing movement (43) of the base support in the direction of the contact strip arrangement causes a corresponding advancing movement of the contact strips.