Current Collector Stroke Limiting for Uneven Overhead Wire Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pantograph systems face challenges in maintaining simultaneous contact with overhead contact wires, especially in vehicles with higher lateral driving tolerance and uneven road conditions, due to varying heights and dynamic movements, which affects energy transmission efficiency and safety.
Innovation Solution
A current collector system with a holding element and compensation device that adjusts the vertical position of contact elements, featuring a limiting element to dynamically control the maximum vertical distance between contact elements based on driving situations, using mechanisms like pneumatic muscles and displacement elements to optimize stroke difference for clearance and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a coupling kinematics with two separate upper arms is used to compensate for lift difference, then operational availability is improved, but the structure gauge compliance becomes more difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic limiting element that can adjust the maximum vertical distance between contact elements based on driving conditions. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt to different operational scenarios (curving, bridge passage, straight driving) while maintaining structure gauge compliance and ensuring simultaneous contact wire contact through the compensating device.
2Reliability
If a larger stroke difference between rockers is used to ensure contact on uneven roads, then reliability is improved, but the risk of collision with bridges increases
Solution Approach 1:
The limiting element dynamically adjusts the stroke difference between rockers based on detected driving conditions. During bridge passage, it reduces the stroke difference to prevent collision, while on uneven roads it allows larger stroke difference to maintain contact reliability, thus resolving the contradiction between these opposing requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sensors to detect driving conditions (curving, bridge passage, straight driving) and provides feedback to the control unit, which then adjusts the limiting element accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables the system to adaptively resolve the contradiction between contact reliability and collision risk.
3Reliability
If the contact element is moved out sideways to compensate for lift difference, then operational availability is improved, but the contact element is raised higher than the still connected contact element
Solution Approach 1:
The limiting element dynamically controls the vertical distance between contact elements during lateral movement. When one contact element moves sideways to compensate for lift difference, the limiting element ensures the vertical distance remains within acceptable limits, preventing excessive raising and maintaining proper geometric relationship between contact elements.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a current collector for a vehicle, comprising a retaining element, a first contact element, and a second contact element. The retaining element is designed to be connected to the vehicle and to hold the contact elements. At least two vertically different positions of the contact elements can be set by means of the retaining element. Furthermore, the current collector has a compensating device. A maximum vertical distance between the first and second contact elements can be set by means of the compensating device. The maximum vertical distance between the first and second contact elements can also be reduced by means of a limiting element.