Pantograph Leaf Spring Vibration Against Conductive Deposits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pantographs for electrically or hybrid-electrically powered vehicles experience critical drops in insulation resistance due to electrically conductive deposits on leaf springs in salty, humid environments, leading to undesired disconnections and interruptions in power supply during winter road conditions.
Innovation Solution
The pantograph incorporates leaf springs made of flexible, high-resistance fiber-reinforced plastic composite with elastically deformable insulating bodies that induce flexural vibrations, preventing the adhesion of conductive deposits by oscillating the contact strips relative to the rocker joints, thereby maintaining insulation strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional insulating leaf springs are used in salty, humid environments, then the pantograph structure remains simple, but insulation resistance drops critically due to conductive deposits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanical vibration to the insulating bodies (leaf springs) to prevent adhesion of conductive deposits. The insulating bodies are designed to vibrate in use, creating oscillating motion that prevents salt-containing deposits from adhering to the insulating surfaces, thereby maintaining insulation resistance in harsh environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and properties of the insulating bodies by incorporating vibratory motion and elastic deformation. The leaf springs are designed with specific elastic properties and vibration frequencies that prevent deposit formation, transforming the static insulating surface into a dynamic one that actively resists contamination.
2Reliability
If the pantograph disconnects due to low insulation resistance, then electrical safety is maintained, but power supply is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
By continuously vibrating the insulating bodies, the system prevents the formation of conductive paths that would trigger safety disconnections. This ensures uninterrupted power supply while maintaining electrical safety through active prevention of insulation failure.
3Reliability
If insulating bodies are made rigid, then manufacturing is easier, but they cannot induce flexural vibrations to prevent deposit adhesion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials for the insulating bodies that combine electrical insulation properties with controlled elastic characteristics. These composite materials enable flexural vibrations while maintaining manufacturing feasibility, bridging the gap between functional requirements and manufacturing ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the mechanical parameters of the insulating bodies, specifically their elasticity and damping characteristics, to achieve the desired vibration behavior. By carefully selecting material parameters, the system achieves both vibratory functionality and manufacturability.
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 ensures high availability of the pantograph under various road conditions by preventing the formation of low-resistance creepage distances, ensuring consistent electrical contact and power supply.
Implementation Method 1
at least one of the leaf springs (23) has one or more vibrating insulating bodies (32) with an elastically deformable body wall (33)
Implementation Method 2
a spring movement F of the leaf spring 23 forces a flexural vibration movement S of the body wall 33
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a pantograph (2) for a road vehicle (1) for supplying traction energy from contact wires (5) of an overhead line system (3). It comprises an articulated support linkage (8) which can be rotatably supported on the road vehicle (1) via a base joint (15) and which carries two contact rockers (12, 13) rotatably mounted via rocker joints (22). Each of the contact rockers (12, 13) has two contact strips (14) which are resiliently supported on the respective rocker joint (22) by leaf springs (23). A lifting device (17) serves to raise the support rod (8) from a rest position in which the contact rockers (12, 13) are lowered close to the vehicle, into an operating position in which the contact rockers (12, 13) are raised to establish electrical contact between the slip rings (14) and the contact wires (5).The leaf springs (23) are electrically insulating to isolate the potential between the overhead line potential, on which the contact strips (14) are located when the contact wires (5) are electrically connected, and the vehicle potential, on which the support linkage (8) is located. According to the invention, a leaf spring (23) has a vibrating insulating body (32) with an elastically deformable body wall (33) which is upright on the leaf spring (23) and transverse to a longitudinal direction (L) of the leaf spring (23). The body wall (33) is coupled to the at least one leaf spring (23) via at least two fixing points (34) such that a spring movement (F) of the leaf spring (23) forces a flexural oscillation (S) of the body wall (33). This increases the availability of the pantograph (2) for supplying traction energy, even under winter road conditions.