Current Collector Breakage Sensor for Train Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current collectors on vehicles, particularly high-speed trains and underground trains, are prone to damage due to external loads and stresses, posing risks of further damage and personal injury from detached parts, and existing monitoring systems are inadequate for immediate detection and reporting of defects.
Innovation Solution
A device with a connecting element having a predetermined breaking point, equipped with a breakage sensor that detects and reports any damage or disconnection, allowing for immediate notification to drivers or maintenance personnel, and can be used with various current collector designs, including those attached to the vehicle's chassis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current collectors are designed to protrude beyond the vehicle outer shell to ensure contact with overhead lines or conductor rails, then continuous electrical contact is maintained, but the risk of damage from external loads and stresses increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a monitoring system that detects damage to current collectors before they cause serious accidents. The breakage sensor and evaluation unit continuously monitor the condition of connecting elements and provide early warning signals to the driver or maintenance personnel, enabling preventive action before detached parts can cause injury or infrastructure damage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a feedback loop where the breakage sensor detects damage conditions and transmits signals to the evaluation unit, which then generates warning signals to the driver information system. This closed-loop monitoring system continuously assesses the condition of current collectors and provides real-time feedback to operators, enabling timely response to potential failures
2Reliability
If monitoring systems are implemented to detect current collector damage, then safety risks are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the monitoring function into a separate, dedicated breakage sensor and evaluation unit that specifically monitors connecting elements. Rather than implementing a complex general-purpose monitoring system, the invention focuses on detecting breakage of specific critical components (connecting elements with predetermined breaking points), simplifying the overall system while maintaining effective damage detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a signal transmission intermediary that connects the breakage sensor to the driver information system. The evaluation unit acts as a mediator that receives sensor signals, processes them, and generates appropriate warning outputs, thereby decoupling the detection mechanism from the warning system and allowing each component to be optimized independently
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
Enables timely notification of potentially unsafe conditions, reducing the risk of injury and infrastructure damage, and preventing accidents by promptly alerting operators to broken current collector components, such as shoes, which can cause fires.
Implementation Method 1
a breakage sensor (5) which is arranged to detect breaking of the connecting element (13) at the predetermined breaking point (9)
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a monitoring device for current collectors, wherein the current collector is fastened to a vehicle and comprises contact means (1) for making electrical contact with a contact line, wherein the mechanical connection between the contact means and the vehicle is established by means of connecting elements (2, 6, 7), wherein at least one fracture sensor (5), which is connected to a detector unit (3), runs along the connecting elements (2, 6, 7) in such a way that, when one of the connecting elements (2, 6, 7) is damaged, the state of the fracture sensor (5) is changed in such a way that the damage can be established by means of detector unit (3) and can be transmitted to a driver information system (4) which is connected to the detector unit (3). Reliable monitoring of current collectors is possible with the invention.