Contact Wire Movement Measurement Using Optical Reflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current measurement devices for vertical and transverse movement of contact wires in railway overhead lines are either excessively rigid and costly, invasive, or inaccurate, often leading to contact discontinuities and premature wear due to their mechanical or optical invasive nature.
Innovation Solution
A contactless measurement system using an emitter/receiver and a reflective plate to analyze the movement of a light beam, allowing for the determination of vertical and transverse movement of the contact wire through geometric considerations and time-of-flight analysis, avoiding mechanical contact and weather sensitivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an artificial vision camera with advanced image analysis is used to measure contact wire movement, then measurement capability is provided, but the system becomes excessively rigid, vulnerable to weather effects, and very costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical and electronic vision systems with a simple optical triangulation method using basic geometric relationships. Instead of using cameras and image processing algorithms, the invention uses a laser beam and geometric analysis to determine wire displacement, eliminating the need for complex mechanical mounting structures and expensive vision processing hardware
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a simplified optical model of the measurement system that replicates the essential measurement function without copying the complexity of the vision system. By using basic geometric optics and triangulation principles, the system achieves measurement capability through a fundamentally simpler approach that avoids weather vulnerability and high costs
2Measurement precision
If a linear potentiometer mechanically connected to the contact wire is used, then measurement is provided, but the system becomes very inaccurate and excessively invasive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical potentiometer connection with a non-contact optical measurement system. The laser beam measures wire position without any physical attachment to the contact wire, eliminating mechanical friction, wear, and measurement errors associated with contact-based systems
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a laser beam as an intermediary measurement medium that bridges the gap between the measurement system and the contact wire without requiring direct mechanical contact. This optical intermediary allows measurement while avoiding the harmful effects of mechanical attachment
3Measurement precision
If optical fibres with Bragg gratings are applied to measure contact wire movement, then measurement capability is provided, but the system becomes very invasive and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the invasive optical fiber embedding with a non-contact laser triangulation method. Instead of inserting fibers into or attaching to the contact wire, the system uses external laser beams to measure position, completely eliminating the invasiveness and associated costs of fiber optic installation
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a simplified measurement approach that copies the essential function of optical fiber sensing without using fibers. By applying basic geometric optics and triangulation, the system achieves the same measurement capability through a non-invasive external optical method
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides accurate and reliable measurement of contact wire movement without mechanical contact or high costs, reducing the risk of contact discontinuities and wear, and is less affected by environmental factors.
Implementation Method 1
an analysis of the light beam emitted by the emitter and received by the receiver after being reflected on the reflective plate allows obtaining the vertical and/or transverse movement of the contact wire
Implementation Method 2
a light beam emitted by the emitter is reflected on the reflective plate and returns to the receiver
Data Source
AI summary
A device (1) for measuring the vertical and/or transverse movement of a contact wire (202) of an overhead line (200), having two emitters/receivers (2a, 2b) and a reflective plate (3) that are directed towards each other such that a light beam emitted by each emitter of the emitter/receiver (2a, 2b) is reflected on the reflective plate (3) and returns to the receiver of the emitter/receiver (2a, 2b). The emitters/receivers (2a, 2b) are mechanically fixed either to a fixed support (300) or to the contact wire (202) of the overhead line (200) of which the movement is to be measured, and the reflective plate (3) is mechanically fixed to the other of either the fixed support (300) or the contact wire (202). An analysis of the light beams received by the receivers (2a, 2b) after being reflected on the reflective plate (3) allows the vertical and/or transverse movement to be obtained.