Interlocking Expansion Joints for Overhead Line Power Rails
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing expansion connection arrangements for conductor rails in overhead line systems face challenges in accommodating thermal expansion and contraction, leading to limited joinable sections without expansion compensation, which affects the stability and efficiency of power transmission.
Innovation Solution
A generic expansion connection arrangement featuring interlocking connecting and counter-profiles that allow relative displacement in the direction of the contact wire, with half-rails carrying the contact wires and maintaining a defined spacing, enabling large expansion length compensation while ensuring high connection stability and low weight, using self-lubricating sliding elements and contact strips for secure power transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If busbars are joined together without expansion compensation, then the connection is simple and stable, but the number of joinable busbars is limited due to thermal expansion and contraction
Solution Approach 1:
The connection arrangement is divided into a first connection element attached to the first busbar and a second connection element attached to the second busbar. These segmented elements can move independently relative to each other, allowing each busbar to expand and contract freely while maintaining electrical connection. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling expansion compensation without compromising connection stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The distance between the first and second connection elements is designed to be adjustable within a range, allowing the connection arrangement to adapt to different expansion states. This parameter change capability enables the system to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction while maintaining reliable electrical connection, thus resolving the contradiction between connection stability and expansion adaptability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If conductor rails are connected rigidly, then connection stability is high, but the ability to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The connection arrangement incorporates movable elements that allow relative displacement between the first and second connection elements. This dynamic capability enables the system to accommodate changes in the length of conductor rails due to thermal expansion and contraction, while the electrical connection remains stable. The dynamic design resolves the contradiction by allowing length variation without compromising connection stability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If expansion joints are introduced to accommodate thermal expansion, then expansion compensation is improved, but the complexity of the connection arrangement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection arrangement merges the functions of electrical connection and expansion compensation into a single integrated structure. The first and second connection elements serve both to conduct electricity and to accommodate relative movement due to thermal expansion. This merging reduces the need for separate expansion joint components, thereby reducing overall complexity while maintaining expansion compensation capability.
4Power
If multiple busbars are joined together, then power transmission capacity increases, but the weight of the connection arrangement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The design extracts only the essential functions needed for connection and expansion compensation, eliminating unnecessary heavy components. The connection elements are designed to be lightweight while maintaining sufficient mechanical strength and electrical conductivity. This extraction of essential functions allows multiple busbars to be joined together to increase power transmission capacity without proportionally increasing the weight of the connection arrangement.
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 solution effectively compensates for large expansion lengths, providing stable and efficient power transmission with minimal vibration and arcing, eliminating the need for complex cable connections and maintaining optimal weight and stability ratios.
Implementation Method 1
Due to changing ambient temperatures and the changing current heat, the change in temperature of the conductor rails in the overhead line system is accompanied by a change in length.
Implementation Method 2
using self-lubricating sliding elements and contact strips for secure power transmission
Implementation Method 3
the connecting profile and the counter-profile interlocking in such a way that they can be displaced relative to one another in the direction of the contact wire and are locked transversely thereto
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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AI summary
The invention relates to an expansion connection arrangement for adjoining power rails (20, 20') of an overhead line system for electric locomotives. The power rails (20, 20') to be connected are arranged spaced apart from one another here at a joint distance (s) and each have a contact wire (10, 10') along which a current collector of a locomotive vehicle can slide for the purpose of transmitting energy. According to the invention, a connection profile (50) is connected to the one power rail (20), and a corresponding profile (50') is connected to the other power rail (20'). The connecting profile (50) and the corresponding profile (50') engage one in the other in a positively locking fashion such that they can slide one into the other in the direction of the contact wire (10 and 10', respectively) and are locked transversally with respect thereto. Each of the power rails (20, 20') is respectively connected to a half rail (60, 60') assigned thereto, which half rails (60, 60') support the contact wires (10, 10') between the power rails (20, 20') with the connection profile (50) and the corresponding profile (50'), respectively, and secure them parallel to one another at a defined contact wire distance (d) over an overlapping length (1). As a result, an expansion connection arrangement is made available which is low in weight, compensates large expansion lengths and has good override properties.