Pantograph with Parallel Swivel Joints for Lateral Offset Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing non-rail-bound motor vehicles with pantographs face challenges in maintaining reliable electrical contact with overhead contact lines, especially when the vehicle deviates from the fixed catenary, leading to intermittent power supply and reduced operational time.
Innovation Solution
The motor vehicle is equipped with a pantograph featuring a support linkage with an upper arm and forearm, coupled by swivel joints aligned parallel to the vehicle's longitudinal axis, and a tensioning system with switchable drive devices to ensure consistent contact and compensate for lateral offsets, along with a support structure and guide elements to manage torsional loads and wind forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the vehicle deviates from the fixed catenary, then the vehicle can operate in different lanes or positions, but the electrical contact with the overhead line becomes intermittent or lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic pantograph system with swivel joints aligned parallel to the vehicle's longitudinal axis, allowing the support linkage to actively adjust its position and orientation in response to lateral offsets from the catenary. This dynamic adaptation maintains continuous electrical contact despite lane deviations, resolving the contradiction between versatility and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs tensioning means with switchable drive devices that can change the position of the upper arm relative to the forearm, thereby adjusting contact parameters. This enables the system to compensate for lateral offsets and maintain reliable electrical contact across different operating conditions, balancing adaptability and contact reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the contact strip is allowed to tilt freely to accommodate lateral offsets, then the vehicle can maintain contact during lane changes, but the contact strip becomes unstable and contact reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs blocked and driven rotary joints in the support linkage that dynamically control the contact strip's orientation. The joints can be blocked to prevent tilting and maintain stability, or driven to adjust position for lateral offset compensation, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The switchable drive devices can change the position of the upper arm relative to the forearm, adjusting contact parameters while maintaining stability. This controlled parameter change enables lateral offset compensation without excessive tilting, balancing adaptability and contact strip stability.
3Reliability
If the pantograph structure is made more complex to accommodate lateral offsets and maintain contact, then electrical connection reliability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the pantograph into modular components: support linkage with swivel joints, tensioning means with drive devices, and blocked/driven rotary joints. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific function, achieving reliable electrical connection through coordinated operation of simpler individual parts rather than a single complex structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The support linkage with swivel joints serves multiple functions: it accommodates lateral offsets, maintains contact pressure, and stabilizes the contact strip. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, achieving reliable electrical connection without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
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 configuration allows for reliable and extended electrical operation by ensuring continuous contact with the overhead contact line, even during lane deviations, by providing adjustable tension and stabilizing the contact strip against tilting and torsional loads, thus enhancing the vehicle's operational duration and stability.
Implementation Method 1
the forearm being coupled to the vehicle structure by means of a first swivel joint rotatably about a first axis of rotation, the upper arm being rotatably coupled to the forearm by means of a second swivel joint
Implementation Method 2
a second tensioning means being coupled to the upper arm and to the forearm, the second tensioning means providing a second force, the second force tensioning the upper arm relative to the forearm
Implementation Method 3
the second drive device being designed to change a position of the upper arm relative to the forearm
Implementation Method 4
The support structure is coupled to the vehicle structure and, at least in sections, is formed in an arc shape around the first axis of rotation... forces can be derived from the forearm via the support structure
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a motor vehicle (15) comprising a current collector (80) for transmitting electrical energy between a traction drive (75) of the motor vehicle (15) and a stationary electrical overhead line (40, 45), a vehicle structure (85) and a vehicle longitudinal axis (90), wherein the current collector (80) has a supporting rod system (120), wherein the supporting rod system (120) has at least one upper arm (145) and a lower arm (140), wherein the lower arm (140) is coupled to the vehicle structure (85) such that it can rotate about a first rotational axis (165) my means of a first rotary joint (125), wherein the upper arm (145) is coupled to the lower arm (140) such that it can rotate about a second rotational axis (190) by means of a second rotary joint (130), wherein the first rotational axis (165) and/or the second rotational axis (190) are oriented in parallel to the vehicle longitudinal axis (90) of the motor vehicle (15).