Overhead Current Collector Sensing for Stable Wire Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Non-track-bound, electrically driven vehicles face challenges in maintaining consistent contact with overhead contact wires due to inaccuracies in position determination systems, especially under weather conditions, leading to reduced availability of electrical energy feeding and potential safety issues.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle employs an articulated current collector with spring-supported contact rockers and contactless path sensors to measure compression paths, enabling precise determination of the contact point's lateral position and automatic steering interventions to maintain contact, while a control unit regulates the contact force and lift drive to ensure safe and efficient energy transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If indirect position recording using position determination system and database is used, then the system can determine relative position, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inaccuracies in stored contact wire positions and weather-dependent optical measurement problems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces optical measurement systems with a mechanical measurement system using spring elements and path sensors. The spring elements mechanically convert lateral contact point position into measurable compression paths, providing weather-independent and accurate position determination without relying on optical sensors or pre-stored database information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces spring elements as intermediary components between the contact strip and the measurement system. These springs translate the lateral position of the contact point into vertical compression paths that can be precisely measured by path sensors, creating a reliable mechanical transmission of position information.
2Measurement precision
If direct position recording using laser scanners is used, then contact wire position can be determined, but device complexity increases requiring powerful computers and elaborate software
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex optical laser scanning systems with a simple mechanical measurement system. Instead of using laser radiation and powerful computers for evaluation, the system uses spring elements and path sensors that directly provide mechanical measurement of contact point position, dramatically simplifying the evaluation requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs simple, inexpensive path sensors and spring elements instead of expensive laser scanners and powerful computing systems. The mechanical measurement components are far less costly and require minimal processing power, making the system more economically viable and easier to implement.
3Measurement precision
If direct position recording using laser scanners is used, then contact wire position can be determined, but reliability deteriorates due to weather-dependent interference during mist, snow and heavy rain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces weather-vulnerable optical laser scanners with a mechanical measurement system using spring elements and path sensors. This mechanical approach is completely immune to adverse weather conditions such as mist, snow, and heavy rain, ensuring continuous reliable operation in all weather conditions.
4Reliability
If contact collector is lowered for safety due to missing contact point information, then safety is ensured, but productivity decreases as energy feeding becomes unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous feedback measurement of the contact point lateral position using spring elements and path sensors. This real-time information is fed to the driver assistance system, which can make proactive steering adjustments to maintain contact within the operating region, preventing safety issues before they occur and avoiding unnecessary current collector lowering.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables preliminary steering interventions by continuously monitoring contact point position. The driver assistance system can proactively adjust steering to prevent the contact point from leaving the operating region, rather than waiting for contact loss to occur. This preliminary action maintains both safety and continuous energy feeding availability.
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
This solution enhances the vehicle's availability for feeding electrical energy by maintaining contact with the overhead line system, reducing wear on contact strips, avoiding slipping, and ensuring safe operation even in adverse weather conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The contact strip is braced against the contact rocker via at least two spring elements, wherein the recording facility has two path sensors for measuring compression paths of the spring elements
Data Source
AI summary
An electrically driven vehicle contains a current collector for supplying electrical energy from a bipolar overhead line system. The collector has an articulated support rod, which bears, on the contact wire side, a contact collector having a contact strip, and which is coupled, on the vehicle side, to a lift drive for positioning the support rod and for pressing the contact collector to a contact wire of the overhead wire system, a detection device for detecting a lateral position of a contact point of the contact wire on the contact strip and a driver assistance system for executing an automatic steering intervention as a function of the detected lateral position of the contact point. The vehicle has increased availability for a feed of electrical energy from the overhead line system in that the contact strip is supported on the contact collector via at least two spring elements.