Damped Current Collector for Wear During Rail Exit and Curves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current collectors in conductor line systems for movable electrical loads experience dynamic loading issues during changes in their operating state, such as entry and exit from conductor line sections, and during curved travel, leading to increased wear and tear.
Innovation Solution
A current collector design featuring a damping device that reduces movement caused by the spring arrangement within a predetermined section of its range of movement, combined with a spring arrangement that adjusts stiffness in different sections to manage pressing force effectively during changes in distance between the load and the conductor line.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spring arrangement exerts force to press the contact element against the power rail, then the current collector maintains reliable contact during operation, but the holder is thrown forcefully against the mechanical stop when exiting the conductor line, causing increased wear and tear
Solution Approach 1:
A damping device is introduced that becomes active before the holder reaches the mechanical stop during exit from the conductor line. The damping device absorbs and dissipates the kinetic energy generated by the spring arrangement, cushioning the holder's movement and preventing forceful impact against the stop. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining the spring's pressing force for reliable contact while preventing the harmful dynamic loading and wear during state transitions.
2Reliability
If a normal spring generates pressing force against the power rails, then the current collector is engaged during operation, but the pressing force is unnecessarily increased during curves when distance between load and conductor line reduces
Solution Approach 1:
The spring arrangement is designed with variable stiffness characteristics that adapt to different operational conditions. During normal operation, the spring maintains sufficient pressing force for reliable contact engagement. During curves when the distance between load and conductor line naturally reduces, the spring's stiffness is modulated to prevent excessive pressing force increase. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliable contact while avoiding unnecessary force increases during curved travel.
3Speed
If the holder is allowed to move freely under spring force during exit from conductor line, then the spring arrangement can quickly reposition the contact element, but the abrupt movement causes mechanical loading and wear on the current collector mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The damping device is positioned and configured to activate before the holder reaches the mechanical stop during exit movements. It provides progressive resistance that controls the holder's deceleration, preventing abrupt stops and reducing mechanical loading on the current collector mechanism. This resolves the contradiction by allowing relatively quick repositioning while cushioning the final approach to prevent harmful mechanical loading and wear.
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 damping device significantly reduces mechanical loading and wear on the current collector mechanism by mitigating abrupt movements and adjusting the spring stiffness to prevent excessive pressing force, thereby extending the mechanism's lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
a damping device is provided, which dampens movement of the holder caused by the spring arrangement
Implementation Method 2
a spring arrangement exerting a force in the direction of a first end of its range of movement so as so as to force the contact element against a power rail
Data Source
AI summary
A current collector supplies power to an electrical load movable along a conductor line and includes a movable holder for a contact element whose range of movement is restricted by two mechanical stops, and which is acted upon by a spring arrangement exerting a force in the direction of a first end of its range of movement to force the contact element against a power rail. A damping device is provided, which dampens movement of the holder caused by the spring arrangement in the direction of the first end of its range of movement, when the holder is situated within a predetermined first section of its range of movement, which is restricted on one side by the first end and does not include the entire range of movement. The damping device can be designed as a flow damper or a friction damper or as at least one spring element.