Rail Vehicle Current Collector Wind Deflector Profiles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current rail vehicle current collectors face challenges in maintaining consistent contact force with overhead lines due to fluctuating aerodynamic forces, leading to increased wear and material costs, particularly at high speeds, and existing wind deflection solutions add weight and air resistance.
Innovation Solution
A current collector design featuring a wind deflection device with a length extending over a large part of the contact strip, incorporating wind deflection profiles that generate lift or downforce, and a control system to regulate contact force, using lightweight, non-metallic materials and modular designs to adapt to different speeds and vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If wind deflectors are attached to the pantograph to control aerodynamic forces, then the contact force can be adjusted, but the weight of the current collector increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wind deflection device is integrated with the sliding element carrier, combining the functions of contact strip mounting and aerodynamic force generation into a single component. This eliminates the need for separate wind deflector attachments, reducing overall weight while maintaining contact force control capability
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding element carrier is designed to serve multiple functions: it holds the contact strips for electrical contact and simultaneously acts as the wind deflection device for aerodynamic force generation. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby reducing weight
2Force
If wind deflectors are attached to the pantograph to control aerodynamic forces, then the contact force can be adjusted, but the air resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wind deflection function is merged into the sliding element carrier structure itself. By using the existing carrier geometry to generate aerodynamic forces rather than adding separate deflectors, the patent minimizes additional air resistance while achieving contact force control
Solution Approach 2:
The aerodynamic properties are adjusted by modifying the geometry parameters of the sliding element carrier (such as angle of attack, surface area) rather than adding separate wind deflector components. This allows optimization of the balance between contact force generation and air resistance
3Force
If wind deflectors are attached to the pantograph to control aerodynamic forces, then the contact force can be adjusted, but the probability of accidental arcing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wind deflection device is integrated into the sliding element carrier, eliminating separate attachment points and structural joints that could create arcing risks. The unified structure reduces the number of potential arcing locations while maintaining aerodynamic functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated sliding element carrier acts as an intermediary structure that provides both electrical contact functionality and aerodynamic force generation without requiring additional external attachments, thereby reducing the number of interfaces where arcing could occur
4Force
If the wind deflection device has a large length extending over the contact strip, then aerodynamic effect is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wind deflection function is combined with the sliding element carrier structure, eliminating the need for separate wind deflector components. This integration maintains aerodynamic effectiveness while reducing overall device complexity by using existing structural elements for dual purposes
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding element carrier is designed to perform multiple functions including contact strip support and aerodynamic force generation. By making the carrier itself the wind deflection device, the patent achieves long effective length for aerodynamics without adding complex separate structures
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 reduces weight and air resistance while maintaining consistent contact force, minimizing wear on the contact strip and overhead line, and allows for easy adaptation to different operational conditions and vehicle directions.
Implementation Method 1
a wind deflection device with at least one wind deflection profile for generating an uplift or downforce in the relative wind of the rail vehicle
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~6
Figure 7~8
AI summary
The invention relates to a current collector (1, 15) for a rail vehicle that can be operated in at least one direction of travel (F), in particular for a high-speed rail vehicle, with at least one contact element carrier (4) with a contact element (3) for electrically contacting a current conductor running along a track, with a pressure device by which the contact element carrier (4) can be pressed against the current conductor, and with a wind deflector (2) with at least one wind deflector profile (7) for generating lift or downforce in the airflow of the rail vehicle, wherein the wind deflector (2) is detachably attached to the contact element carrier (4) and has a length (l) that is a major part of the length of a contact element carrier (L).