DE10054766A1 - Engagement device for current pick-ups on electric buses has drive unit on each pick-up rod beneath pick-up shoe for opening two solid vanes/open wire loops, which enclose shoe when open - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a body with a drive unit on each pick-up rod beneath the pick-up shoe for opening up two solid vanes or open wire loops, which enclose the pick-up shoe in the opened state so their upper edges form a horizontal line. The upper edge of the vane is a contact strip, is isolated from the body and pick-up shoe and produces a contact signal for stopping the lifting motion and starting the pivoting motion in the required direction.

Description

It is known to supply electric buses with energy via two-pole line systems. The Due to the type of suspension, lines run parallel to a limited extent only. H. the The distance between the lines can be quite in the range of ten centimeters or more vary.

The pantographs are usually designed as U-shaped contact shoes, at the top the boom rods are pivotable about a vertical axis and are one of vertically upward force effect pressed on the lines, so that the electrical contact is maintained while driving.

Such systems have been in use for decades. Corresponding property rights exist Don't know.

The known systems are designed so that the pantograph over the entire Route remains created. Because the cable networks for integrated energy supply are not only complex to construct and maintain, but also considerable Impairment of the cityscape, it seems desirable to the vehicles to operate wirelessly on short sections.

On the one hand, this requires an additional autonomous energy supply in the vehicle, e.g. B. Batteries, generator, fuel cell, flywheel, on the other hand a pantograph system that automated, quick and safe to put on the lines. They are different Known developments that relate to the question of energy supply in the vehicle, so z. B. the so-called DUO bus, a two-system vehicle that has a diesel generator on board carries, or the flywheel memory of Daimler-Benz described in Patent No. 30 15 754 AG, Stuttgart.

Proposed solutions to the problem of the automated feeding of the pantographs to the cables have also been published: Dornier Systems, Friedrichshafen, in their patent no. 24 60 843, proposes to install a vertical tracking aid, "flag", on the side of the customer shoes , which should facilitate the engagement and is folded down when contact is made. The disadvantages of this system are that

• a) the automated creation with this device can only be done in the state because the When open, the flag protrudes into the area of the contact wire suspension and
• b) both customer rods each separately in a measurement and control relative elaborate procedures have to be introduced to the contact wire.

Etab's proposal. André Bardet SA, St. Etienne, France, patent no. 81 10831 is pending the attempt to reduce this measurement and control effort by both Pantograph shoes can be mounted on a common carrier. The implementation fails, however, because, as stated at the beginning, the contact wires are practically never in can be found at a precisely predictable distance from one another.

Consequently, none of these systems has been put to practical use, such as B. in "city traffic" 5/96 and 6/96 (Hondius: overview of the technical development of the trolleybuses and duo buses in the western world): Either the entire line length of a continuous overhead line, or the vehicles drive on certain Sections purely electrically, e.g. B. in tunnels, and otherwise with diesel, the Pantograph shoes are either manually or at best semi-automatically in stationary Devices engaged. Conceptions that apply to the overhead line and from the outset electrify continuous sections of road just a few hundred meters long, intersections, Consistently avoid underpasses, left turns, downhill runs etc. and therefore on one safe and, above all, fast automatic re-attachment of the pantographs are instructed while driving do not exist.

The formulated claim describes a pantograph system that this Task.

The advantages achieved with the invention are that

• - The device remains completely below the lower edge of the contact wire and thus in the Principle can be engaged anywhere and while driving; Restrictive only very tight curves or large deflection angles of the contact wire on individual Suspension points in relation to the reaction speed of the swivel mechanism the customer rod as well as extreme installation positions of individual components of the Contact wire hanger.
• - the necessary accuracy of the lifting and swiveling mechanism is reduced, that not directly from the first approach of the pick-up rod to the contact wire must be engaged. Instead, the contact of the contact wire with one of the  ended the lifting movement with two opened wings with one and the same signal at the same time the direction of the swivel movement is defined and initiated.
• - The width of the detection area of a customer (the span of the opened Wing) can easily correspond to at least the nominal distance of the contact wires and consequently, the accuracy of the lifting and swiveling mechanism can be met.
• - With the wings folded down, the pantograph shoe is not only freely movable, but also no additional modules need to be mounted on it. Since the Mass of the shoe is not increased, but the entire device remains on the pick-up bar, it is avoided that the increased inertia according to the mass of the device adversely affects when driving through direction-changing points (switches, curves, Lateral braces).
• - The use of two-system vehicles (mains / battery operation) on sections of the route can be operated with conventional customer systems, basically without Retrofitting of the pipeline network is possible. The system can also take the form of a Attachment can be retrofitted to existing customers.

In connection with the latter point it should be emphasized that this device from the proposal also submitted by the applicant under number 100 12 039.3 significantly differentiates that technical concept from a completely new configuration the contact wire suspension. The deviations from the previous standard are like this serious that that system in consequence only for new networks appears economical. The device described here, however, is just on the Elimination of technical deficits of the systems in operation.  

It is known the rotary movement by means of which the pantograph rods for the purpose of automated application can be swiveled horizontally around their footrest To generate drives that are anchored to the vehicle body. Find appropriate suggestions z. B. in Etab Patent No. 81,10831. André Bardet SA, St. Etienne, France, the one proposes electromechanical drive on the vehicle roof, or in the secondary claim of Applicant's Patent No. (...), Here is a hydraulic linear drive in the vehicle floor proposed.

What these drive systems have in common is that it is assumed that the position of the Pick-up bar to both the vehicle and the catenary detected and in Motion control can be implemented. In particular, the metrological effort is considerably.

It seems desirable to close the swivel drive of one of the pantograph rods configure that it becomes possible to move this rod relative to the second one, in the course of the whole Moving ahead of the feed rod.

The advantage of such a construction is that the above-mentioned. relatively high measuring and drive technology only arises when a rod is engaged. Because the contact wires run essentially parallel, gives the position of the already engaged rod independently the target corridor of the rod still to be tracked from the vehicle within narrow limits. in the Interaction with the single-track device according to the main claim becomes essential Simplification of this part of the entire creation process achieved.

The possibility of a controlled relative movement of the customer bars to each other should can be achieved in that between them a linear drive, preferably a double acting pneumatic cylinder is mounted. Its installation position should be chosen so that at parallel pick-up rods the piston rod is not in one end position, so in both Working directions a sufficient amount of angle is available as a swivel range. The In addition to the corresponding work functions, control valves must also have the options have to either lock both pressure chambers, so that the cylinder as a rigid connection can serve between the pick-up rods when swiveling, or both pressure chambers for  Unlock atmosphere, so that the rods in the pantograph shoes in the can move freely during normal driving. The corresponding functions ( or extend, stop function, release function) can also be used with other drive types can be realized (e.g. with electrical spindle or rack and pinion drives by appropriate Brake and clutch elements).

If a swivel brake is additionally installed on the foot of at least one rod, the result is the technical possibility of an independent one for both customer bars To omit rotary actuator of the type mentioned.

If a conventional brake is used instead of a swivel brake on one of the customer bars Swivel drive mounted, so the swivel range, at least in theory, expands of which the entire customer device can be moved. Such an area of action will not needed, the swivel device consisting of a compressed air cylinder and foot brake also Aspect of their simple integration into the on-board pneumatic and hydraulic system the most cost-effective and weight-saving version of the rotary actuator, which is also the offers simple retrofitting.

In cooperation with the single-track device according to the main claim, a Overall configuration possible, in which the majority of the creation process without electronic control elements can be handled with clear, analog control signals, z. B. using a commercially available PLC.

The result is a system that is characterized by high operational reliability at low costs distinguished.  

representations

The components are numbered as follows:
I pantograph shoe
II wing
III contact strip
IV body
V drive, here: pneumatic cylinder
VI Push rods (folding mechanism)
VII Pick-up bar
VIII contact wire
IX swivel device, here pneumatic cylinder

The drawings 1 to 3 show the construction and operation of the single-track aid according to Main claim.

Drawing 1 shows the device from vom, partly in section (weight loss shoe). The wings are opened in anticipation of contact with the contact wire, the cylinder is retracted.

Drawing 2 shows the device in the same view, the cylinder is extended here, the wings folded down accordingly.

Drawing 3 shows the single-track aid in side view with the wings open. The drawing represents the device as a retrofittable version (with two clips on the Boom bar attached).

Drawing 4 shows a vehicle with the complete body, consisting of the two Boom bars, the two attachments with the wings open and the Swivel cylinder between the customer bars. In this illustration, two are added Push rods shown on the inside of the boom. They connect via appropriate Joints the swivel cylinder with the linkage of the single-track devices (the angular error, the is caused by the deviation from the parallel starting position of the customer bars negligible).

The situation shown represents the end of the first approximation, which is Technically known methods (e.g. optoelectronic measurement) must be implemented. The The leading rod (here: on the right in the direction of travel) is almost at the end of its  Stroke, the (here: inner) wing is just before the contact with the Contact wire. The second pick-up bar is still well below its target.

The drawings 5 to 9 show the individual steps in a highly schematic manner Course of the entire application process, the arrows indicate the next movement of the Wing or the customer rod.

Drawing 5: Initial situation, boom rods rest on the vehicle roof, sash folded. If the application process is initiated, the wings are first opened, then the leading rod is raised.

Drawing 6 (from here the complete representation of the vehicle will be omitted): both Pick-up bars are in the lifting movement, the left (in the direction of travel: right) bar hurries ahead, is guided over suitable devices. The right (in the direction of travel: left) Bar follows at the same lifting speed, and is carried through at the foot bearing Locking a brake held against turning, the swiveling movement of the leading Cylinder is generated by appropriate control of the swivel cylinder IX.

Drawing 7: The first customer has reached the contact wire, the shoe is swiveled brought into single-track position. Meanwhile, the second customer continues its lifting movement.

Drawing 8: The first takeaway shoe is engaged, the wings can be folded down to to release its movement in the contact wire. By retracting the push cylinder, the second one Customer shoe put in single-track position. The foot bearing brake is already there released, the pantographs swivel freely on the vehicle, are engaged over the Customer shoe aligned to the ferry wire.

Drawing 9: The application process is finished, both weight loss shoes are engaged. The The wings of the second device can now be folded down, the push cylinder becomes unlocked to the movement of the pick-up rods relative to each other (with fluctuating Distance of the contact wires to each other) should not be impeded.

Claims (2)

1. Single-track device for pantographs on electric buses, characterized in that a body with a drive unit, for. B. is a pneumatic cylinder, through which two (closed) wings or (open) wire loops are opened and in the folded-up state include the pantograph shoe such that its upper edges form a horizontal line and end with the upper edges of the pantograph shoe. The upper edge of the wing is designed as a contact strip and insulated against the body and the pick-up shoe. When the contact wire comes into contact with this bar, an electrical signal is generated which can be used by means of conventional measurement and control devices to interrupt the lifting movement and to initiate the pivoting movement in the required direction.
Along the horizontal end edge, the pantograph shoe is steered to the contact wire by means of this pivoting movement of the pickup rod and engaged by the vertically acting pressing force.
The body is pivotally mounted about a vertical axis and the pivot point of this joint is arranged so that it lies in the extension of the axis of the swivel joint of the pantograph shoe. When the wings or loops are opened, the entire unit consisting of the tracking device and the shoe can be pivoted via a linkage and in this way aligned with the vehicle or the contact wire. 2. Device for pivoting the pick-up rods, characterized in that there is a drive (also suitable for locking the pick-up rod) on the foot of at least one pick-up rod or only a brake for locking the rotary movement and a linear drive (e.g. a Pneumatic cylinder) is arranged, which can be moved in both directions when the pick-up rods are in parallel, i.e. is approximately in the middle between its two end positions.
By fixing the one pickup rod by means of the brake mentioned, the other pickup rod can be moved by moving the cylinder in order to engage the pantograph shoe on the contact wire. If one of the customer shoes is engaged, the second customer rod can be moved in an analogous manner, the brake being no longer used on the vehicle as the counter bearing, but rather the lateral guidance of the shoe already put on.