Electric energy intake assembly for tilting trains

Abstract: Electrical energy intake assembly for swivel trains, which comprises a pantograph (4) assembled on a platform (1), said platform being capable of movement in transversal direction in relation to the vehicle (3) and is connected to the bogie (15-16) of said vehicle thru one or more flexible controls (12), comprised of a fixed sheath and a mobile web, which is connected to the platform (1) thru a reducing/amplifying mechanism (13) and to the bogie thru tie down devices (14) which transmit to the control web (12) only the swivel motions of the bogie.

Description: This invention refers to the installation of a current collection device on tilting trains. The assembly comprises a pantograph which can move relative to the carbody of the rail vehicle on which it is assembled. The arrangement is such that the pantograph remains unaffected by tilting movements applied to the carbody, and stays practically immobile with respect to the vehicle bogie frame. The tendency to shorten ride times in rail transportation has aroused interest in the design of rail vehicles which achieve this aim with no need to build fresh lines for high speed train traffic. This type of train includes the so called tilting trains. A tilting train is a train which uses a built-in device to create an additional superelevation in addition to the cant of the track in curve negotiation. The additional superelevation depends on the running speed and on the characteristics of the curve. This device enables the vehicle to negotiate curves at higher speeds, and also prevents time being lost on deceleration and subsequent acceleration. Known tilting methods apply a relative rotation between the bogie and the carbody. Electric tilting trains have the additional problem of how to provide for current collection through the pantograph on a vehicle undergoing considerable roll rotations caused by the tilting system. A device must be installed to prevent the pantograph from becoming detached from the overhead catenary by tilting movements. In recent years a number of types of tilting train have been designed which have solved the problem of electrical current collection connection in a number of ways. The following provides a brief look at the solutions adopted. a) Pantograph on a non-tilting locomotive. Using this solution, the tilting train consists of a number of tilting passenger cars hauled by a non-tilting locomotive. This locomotive is equipped with the conventional pantograph or pantographs on the roof of the vehicle. The drawbacks to this solution are, firstly, that the drivers of the locomotive undergo extremely high levels of lateral acceleration in comparison to the levels experienced by the passengers, and secondly, the need for a locomotive means that the train consist has quite a number of cars (more than three), or it becomes necessary to haul a non-useful weight if the composition is shorter. b) Pantograph connected to the bogie structure. This solution is used for electric multiple-unit trainsets, i.e. passenger train units carrying a motor in one or more cars. The pantograph is fitted to the upper section of the vehicle, secured to a structure which is connected to the non-tilting bogie section. This means that the pantograph follows the bogie movements at all times, and remains unaffected by the tilting rotation applied to the carbody of the vehicle. There are a number of drawbacks to this solution. Firstly, the need to set up a structure from the bogie to the roof of the car means reducing useful space in the car, thus reducing passenger space and room for the auxiliary equipments of the train. Secondly, there is a considerable weight increase due to the extra structure which must be fitted for the pantograph. With regard to its advantages, it must be said that fitting a purely mechanical system to secure the pantograph provides the system with a high level of reliability. c) Pantograph connected to the bogie by means of wire cables. This system keeps the pantograph on approximately the same vertical axis as the bogie, whilst the carbody can tilt below it without exerting an influence on its position. A pantograph using this system is described in the European Patents Application published as n° 485.273.According to the description of the aforementioned patent, the pantograph is placed on a rolling platform on the roof of the car. The platform is connected to the bogie frame by a number of wire cables moving alogn pulleys in the carbody. The wire cables are tensioned by drums on the moving platform. This system has two advantages: a substantial weight reduction and increased useful space for the carbody. In this case the entire metal structure for the previous solution is replaced by wire cables fitted around the carbody. Drawbacks of this arrangement include the fact that the wire cable configuration not only transmits the tilting movement to the pantograph, but also all movements of the secondary suspension under normal operation. Such movements, in comparison to tilting movements which are quasi-static, come about when the vehicle is in motion and their frequency content is higher. The entire pantograph system is thus subjected to dynamic and quasi-static demands, thereby reducing the lifespan of the entire system. Furthermore, PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 17, no. 479 (M-1471) [31], 31 August 1993 (1993-08-31) & JP 05 115104 A (RAILWAY TECHINCAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE), 7 May 1993 (1993-05-07) discloses flexible transmission cables comprising an outer casing or sheath and an inner movable core, and anchoring means therefor mounted between the bogie frame and the car body. This particular arrangement of the anchoring means causes the mechanism to transmit not only the tilting motion but the entire motion of the secondary suspension to the pantograph, with the resulting worsening of the operation conditions. The present invention concerns a device for the current collection of electric tilting trains, and comprises a pantograph as in the previous description, connected to the bogie by an arrangement of transmission cables the basic aim of which is to remove the system disadvantages mentioned above, so that the pantograph receives only tilting movements and not movements related to the secondary suspension. Other objectives of this system are simplification of the system and ensuring proper operation of the same. The device of the invention comprises a pantograph fitted to a platform on the roof of a rail vehicle. This platform can move relative to the roof perpendicularly to the axis of the vehicle. It is connected to its bogie by means of at least one flexible transmission cable which transmits tilting movements of the carbody to the platform. The tilting mechanism consists of a kinematic configuration composed of several swing arms which are installed between the bogie frame and the bogie tilting bolster. In this case, the secondary suspension is located above the bolster. The basic features of this installation, in accordance with the invention, are that the flexible transmission cable or cables are connected to the bogie at points below the suspension elements, and in this way only tilting movements are passed on to the platform, and those due to secondary suspension are not transmitted. These are provided for in the same way as a non-tilting vehicle, by means of the excess width of the pantograph runner shoe. According to other characteristics of the invention, flexible transmission cable or cables of the system comprise a fixed sleeve or sheath and a inner core which moves relative to the sheath. The transmission cable or cables are connected to the platform on which the pantograph is fitted by means of a mechanism to reduce or increase the movement of the core inside the flexible transmission cable or cables whilst they are attached to the bogie by anchoring devices assembled between the bogie bolster and the bogie frame, transmitting only tilting movements between the bogie frame and bolster to the core of the transmission cable or cables. The core inside the flexible transmission cable can shift in linear movements with respect to its sheath, and work by traction only or by traction and compression. In the case of the former, at least two transmission cables shall be required, whilst in the latter case one shall be sufficient. The core inside the transmission cable or cables may also rotate with respect to the sheath and respond to torque demands in one direction or in both. In the former case, at least two transmission shafts shall be required, whilst in the latter case one shall be sufficient. In accordance with the invention, the platform shall be assembled on four articulated moving bearings on two straight, coplanar guides, arranged transversally on the vehicle roof, in a symmetric position with respect to the central longitudinal section of the roof, with ascending inclination inwards. The characteristics set out, in addition to others included in the invention, are provided below in more detail using the sketches attached, showing in diagram format and as non-limitative examples, a way in which they could be constructed. In the sketches: Figure 1 is a cross section diagram of a rail vehicle in the normal position, fitted with the invention for the current supply connection. Figure 2 is a cross section similar to figure 1, with the vehicle in the tilted position. Figure 3 shows a front view of the pantograph belonging to the invention. Figure 4 shows detail A of figure 3, on a larger scale and in partial cross section. Figure 5 shows a reducer/multiplier mechanism for connecting the flexible transmission cables and the pantograph platform illustrating the status of the device as shown by the position of the vehicle in figure 1. Figure 6 is a similar view to figure 5, showing the mechanism in the status of the same when the vehicle is in the position shown in figure 2. Figure 7 shows a tautening device for connecting the core inside the flexible transmission cables to the pantograph platform. Figure 8 shows a diametral section of a device for securing the flexible transmission cable or cables to the bogie. As shown in figures 1 and 2, the invention includes a platform 1 located on the roof 2 of rail vehicle 3. The platform may rotate and move over the roof with respect to the carbody of the rail vehicle 3 using a guiding system, which shall be explained below with reference to figures 3 and 4. Pantograph 4 is fitted to platform 1 with all its components. As better illustrated in figure 3, platform 1 has lower arms 6 which are hinged to their respective movable bearings 7 on straight guides 8 fitted to the vehicle roof 2. The bearings 7, as shown in figure 4, may include upper rollers 9 and lower rollers 10 resting on and rolling over the guides 8. The lower roller 10 may be assembled on a shifting rod perpendicular to guide 8 the position of which may be adjusted using a preload screw 11. As shown in figures I and 2, the invention also includes one or more flexible transmission cables 12 connected to the pantograph platform 1 via a reducer/multiplier linkage 13. Connection of the transmission cables to the vehicle bogie is made by anchoring devices 14 fixed between the bogie frame 15 and the bogie bolster 16 - the latter contains a number of components belonging to the suspension 17. This arrangement makes the movement of the platform 1, crossways to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, proportional to the relative rotation between the bogie bolster 16 and the bogie frame 15. In this way, only tilting movements and not movements associated with the secondary suspension 17 are transmitted - as in the case of a non-fining vehicle,these latter movements shall be aceommodated by the excess width of the pantograph runner shoe 18, figure 3. The flexible transmission cable or cables 12 shall comprise a sheath or sleeve, and a core which is free to move around with respect to the sheath. The transmission cable or cables shall be flexible so that they may be run through the structure of the train and adapt to the space available and to relative movements between the vehicle's carbody 3 and the bogie bolster 16 which occur due to the flexibility of the suspension 17. Their function shall be to convert,the tilt roll movement between the bogie frame 15 and the bogie bolster 16 into a relative movement between the pantograph platform 1 and the vehicle roof 2. This movement may be transmitted in two different ways by means of the flexible transmission cable depending on the nature or construction of the same. For example, a shifting flexible transmission cable could be used. For this kind of arrangement the inner core moves longitudinally with respect to the external sheath from end to end. On the other hand, a rotating flexibletransmission shaft could also be used, where the core of the transmission shaft would rotate with regard to the external sheath. In the case of a shifting flexible transmission cable, the core can work with pull effort demands only, or pulling and pushing. In the first case at least two transmission cables would have to be fitted, as shown in figures 1 and 2, so that each one only accommodates pulling demands in one single direction, and in the second case only one flexible transmission cable would be required. In the same way, in the case of rotating flexible transmission shafts, the core can work with demands for torque in one or two directions of rotation. In the first case, two flexible transmission shafts would have to be fitted, whilst in the second case a single flexible transmission shaft would be required. In order to improve reliability of the system, duplicate flexible transmission cables or shafts could be advisable. Since the movements of the pantograph 4 must be in proportion to bogie movements, there must be a reductor/multiplier linkage 13 for shifting movemeat or rotation, in order to achieve suitable ratios of shift/rotation reduction or amplification. This mechanism may comprise as shown in figures 5 and 6, of a lever 19 hinged to the vehicle roof 2 at one end, and to a rod 20 at the other. The free end of the rod is also fastened to a central bracket 21 fixed on the platform 1 on which the pantograph rests. An intermediate point 22 on lever 19 is the connection point for the core 23 moving inside the flexible transmission cable or cables 12, whilst the sheath 24 of the transmission cables is fastened to the roof of the vehicle 2 by a supporting bracdcet 25. When the core 23 lengthens or shortens by L M , the lever 19 rotates and causes the rod 20 to move along a length L P with respect to the roof of the vehicle 2. Suitable selection of articulation point 22 for the core 23 on the lever 19 determines the amplification factor applied to L M : L P = (L 2 /L 1 ) * L M The amplification factor applied to each vehicle shall depend on the geometric relationship between the relative bogie/carbody/pantograph movements. When there are two or more flexible transmission cables 12, as in figure 1, connection of rod 20, in figure 5, to the central bracket 21 of the platform 1, may be carried out using a tautening device as shown in figure 7. This consists of an elastic tensing device 26 and a conventional centring device 27, which are arranged in series. Using this arrangement in the case of shifting (not rotating) flexible transmission cables the core of the transmission cables shall always work pulling or by traction, and in the case of rotating flexible transmission shafts, the core shall always work with torque in the same direction. Moreover, this tensing device would absorb the differences in movement between the cables during travelling of the platform 1. Figure 8 shows a possible arrangement of the anchoring device 14 to the bogie for the flexible transmission shafts 12. This device comprises a casing 28 and a rod 29, both of which are coupled and can move telescopically relative to each other. The casing 28 and the rod 29 feature articulations 30 and 31 for connection to the bogie frame 15 and bogie bolster 16. The sheath of the flexible transmission cable 24 is anchored by nuts 32 to casing 28, whilst the core 23 inside the flexible transmission cable is attached to rod 29. This device may be used to transmit the tilting movement between the bogie frame 15 and the bogie bolster 16 to the core 23 of the flexible transmission cable. Using this system, when a tilting movement causes the bogie bolster 16 to incline itself with respect to the bogie frame 15, for example, moving from the position shown in figure 1 to the position shown in figure 2, the anchoring device 14 lengthens (or shortens depending on the direction of roll), and the core 23 belonging to the flexible transmission cable 12 moves along a length L M with respect to the sheath 24 of the flexible transmission cable. On the upper section of the system (roof), the flexible transmission cable, using the reducer/multiplier linkage 13, transforms the relative movement L M of the flexible cable into a relative equivalent travelling of the pantograph platform 1/vehicle roof 2, shown as L P on figures 5 and 6, so that the pantograph platform 1 remains approximately in its centred position with respect to the bogie, rotating and moving on the straight guides 8, as in figure 3, by means of the articulated bearings 7. When the vehicle returns to the position shown in figure 1, the movements described shall be in the opposite direction.

Claims: Device for current collection for tilting trains, comprising pantograph (4) mounted on a platform (1) locating on the roof (2) of a rail vehicle (3), the platform (1) being movable crosswise to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and being mechanically connected to the vehicle's bogie (15, 16) by at least one flexible transmission cable (12), which transmits the tilting movement of the car body of the vehicle (3) to the platform, the flexible transmission cable or cables (12) comprising a fixed sheath or sleeve (24) and a core (23) which is movable with respect to the sheath, characterised in that the cable or cables (12) are connected to the platform (1) by a mechanism (13) which reduces or increases the movement of the core (23) and connected to the bogie (15, 16) by means of an anchoring device (14) which is mounted between the bogie frame (15) and the tilting bogie bolster (16), whose relative movement is affected only by tilt roll, whereby the anchoring device (14) transmits only bogie tilt movements to the movable core (23) of the transmission cable or cables (12). Device according to claim 1, whereby the core (23) inside the flexible transmission cable or cables (12) may move in linear manner with respect to the sheath (24) of the transmission cables. Device according to claim 1, whereby the core or shaft (23) inside the flexible transmission cable or cables (12) rotates with respect to the sheath (24) of the same. Device according to claim 1, whereby the platform (1) is assembled on four articulated bearings (7), movable on straight guides (8) arranged transversally on the roof (2) of the vehicle (3), with ascending inclination inwards. Device according to claim 1, whereby the reducer/multiplier mechanism (13) comprises a lever (19) articulated at one end to the vehicle' s roof (2), and at the other to a rod (20) the free end of which is connected to the platform (1), the sheath (24) of the flexible transmission cable (12) being connected to a support bracket (25) which is fixed to the vehicle's roof (2), and the core (23) being connected to an intermediate point on the lever (19). Device according to claim 5, whereby between the rod (20) and the platform (1) a tensioning device is inserted, comprising an elastic tensor (26) and a centring device (27), which are connected in series. Device according to claim 1, whereby the anchoring device (14) comprises a casing (28) and a rod (29) which are coupled and can move relative to each other telescopically, points (30, 31) of the said casing (28) and rod (29) being connected in an articulated manner between the bogie frame (15) and the bogie bolster (16), the sheath (24) and the core (23) of the flexible transmission cable (12) being respectively fastened to the casing (28) and the rod (29) of the anchoring device (14).

Inventors: ARANZABAL CORTA RAFAEL, GARCIA AMIGOT JUAN FELIX, JAUREGI BENITO ASIER, MOLINER LORIENTE NICOLAS, ARANZABAL CORTA, RAFAEL, GARCIA AMIGOT, JUAN FELIX, JAUREGI BENITO, ASIER, MOLINER LORIENTE, NICOLAS, Garcia Amigot, Juan Félix, Moliner Loriente, Nicolás
Applicants: CONSTRUCCIONES Y AUX DE FERROC, CONSTRUCCIONES Y AUXILIAR DE FERROCARRILES S.A. CAF.
Application year: 1997
Main classification: B60L5
IPC codes: B60L5