FR2506234A1 - Overhead current collector pole for electric trolley bus - uses single pole carrying transverse beam at its end with current collectors at each end to simplify pole positioning mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

The overhead current collector has two current collectors running on the positive and negative supply overhead cables. The two current collectors are carried on a single pole which is mounted on the roof of the trolley bus. The use of a single pole rather than double pole halves the required mechanism for positioning the collector pole. The single pole (1) is mounted on the trolley bus so that it is free to move both horizontally and vertically. A transverse beam (6) is fitted at the end of the collector pole (1) and each end of the beam (6) carries articulated contact shoes (13), carrying the contacts which run on the overhead cables.

Description

 The present invention relates to a single pole power outlet device for electric vehicles including trolleybuses.

 There are known sockets for trolleybuses, comprising two separate poles mounted respectively in vertical rotation on the roof and in the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and also vertically movable to adapt their wipers mounted at their upper free ends to the variable height of the conducting cables. aerials of different polarities.

 Such poles allow, by their oscillations, the transverse offset of the vehicle relative to the overhead conductor cables.

 These poles are also requested in the known manner by return means to ensure permanent contact of their wipers on the conductive cables; means for lowering and centering the poles in the axis of the vehicle in the event of accidental skinning; means for retrieving from inside the vehicle; means for controlling the orientation of the porters in the axis of the conductive cables whatever the angular positions of the poles, mounting means and articulation of the heads with end wipers poles, with damping means; wiper carriers with means for attaching the wipers in two independent parts mounted in alignment.

 Such provisions have been defined in particular in the French Patent Application no. 79.31190 of December 14, 1979 and in the Request for Certificate of Addition no. 80.26142 of December 4, 1980, the holder of which is also the Applicant hereof.

 According to these known arrangements, it is understandable that the fact of having two separate poles necessarily leads to double accordingly the return, lowering and centering controls acting on each pole.

 According to the invention, we wanted to remedy these drawbacks by producing a single pole, mounted insulated at its base on the roof and in the axis of the vehicle and articulated both vertically and horizontally, while comprising a permanent return means in height by coil spring; said single pole being further solicited or not by any known servo device such as a lowering control cylinder in the event of unraveling acci dental'a means of centraqe; a rotation control device to allow re-drilling of the interior of the vehicle during its ascent.

 According to a characteristic of the invention, this single pole is connected syn-jetricLflent at its upper end to a transverse drawbar mounted perpendicularly and of a length corresponding substantially to the spacing of the conducting cables; said transverse drawbar being able to oscillate about the longitudinal axis of the pole, according to a limited rotation, while authorizing at its ends, the angular pivoting of the heads receiving at their ends articulated friction carriers with or without means of orientation control remotely, and fitted with wipers.

 According to another characteristic, elastic return systems arranged along the articulations of the wiper-bearing heads relative to the ends of the transverse drawbar, allow the elastic return of said heads in a perpendicular position, while allowing their spacing or their bringing together to compensate for the defects of parallelism of the conducting cables.

 According to another characteristic, an elastic return system, arranged along the articulation of the transverse drawbar relative to the end of the pole, allows the elastic return of said drawbar in a horizontal position, while allowing its partial transverse rotation to compensate for variations height of the line conductor cables or their difference in mechanical tension.

 According to another characteristic and as a variant, a system of flexible and opposite stops is mounted in line with the articulation of the drawbar transverse with respect to the end of the pole, so as to limit in both directions its partial rotation in height.

 According to another characteristic, the wiper elements placed in alignment in the wiper holder are held at the end by protective plates fitted into the ends of said wiper holder.

 According to another characteristic, the pole is equipped with a device for controlling its angular position relative to the conducting cables, in particular to maintain said pole, in particular in the event of re-piercing, in a precise angular position independent of any external constraints.

 These characteristics and others will emerge from the following description.

To fix the subject of the invention, without however limiting it, to the figures of the appended drawings:
Figure 1 is a small scale, a perspective view of a trolleybus with a single pole according to the invention cooperating with the conductive cables of an overhead power line.

 Figure 2 is on a larger scale, an external view of the single pole mounted on the roof of the vehicle and equipped with the height return device, the lowering means and axial centering in case of accidental piercing, as well as the means from inside the vehicle.

 FIG. 3 is a top view corresponding to FIG. 2.

 Figure 4 is a larger scale, a top view of the upper end of the single pole.

 FIG. 5 is a partial front view in longitudinal section along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

 FIG. 6 is a partial view from below, in section along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

 FIG. 7 is a partial view in longitudinal section in line with the articulation of the drawbar with respect to the pole along line 7-7 of FIG. 4.

 FIG. 8 is a side view in cross section along line 8-8 of FIG. 4.

 Figure 9 is a purely schematic side view illustrating the perpendicular positioning of the drawbar relative to the pole in the case where the conductive cables are located transversely in a strictly horizontal plane.

 Figure 10 is a schematic view similar to Figure 9, but in the case where the conductive cables are offset in height relative to each other.

 Figure 11 is a schematic view similar to Figure 9, but in the case where the conductive cables are close to each other or lack parallelism.

 Figure 12 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of a device for controlling the angular position of the pole relative to the line.

 FIG. 13 is a top view corresponding to FIG. 12.

 Figure 14 is a sectional view taken along line 14-14 of Figure 12. Illustrated in broken lines the free movement of the support arm relative to its drive means.

 Figure 15 is a view similar to Figure 14 showing the rotational drive of the support arm.

 your Figures 16, 17, 18 and 19 are schematic views showing the operation of the servo device.

 Figure 20 is a schematic plan view of an alternative embodiment of the servo device.

 In order to make the object of the invention more concrete, it is now described in a nonlimiting manner with reference to the exemplary embodiments of the figures of the drawings.

 According to the present invention and in the nonlimiting examples illustrated in the drawings, this socket outlet device for trolleybus essentially comprises a single pole (1) fixed axially in the known manner, on the roof of the vehicle and able to rotate at its base, d on the one hand around a vertical pivot axis (2) to allow its horizontal displacement, and on the other hand around a horizontal axis (3) to authorize its displacement in height and its bearing on the conductive cables (C and C1) of the overhead power line, by means of coil springs (4).

As indicated in Patent Application No. 79.31190 and its
Certificate of Addition No. 80.26142, also in the name of the Applicant, this pole (1) can be connected to the rod of a pneumatic cylinder (V) forming a mass balancer and intended to allow it to be pulled back down in the event of accidental skinning , while means allow its centering in the axis of the vehicle. In the same way, said single pole (1) may or may not be equipped with the rotation control device, with a view to re-drilling to bring it opposite the cables (C and C1), with or without the use of the control means d 'Orientation by forks of the friction shoes, without excluding any other known device.

 Your upper part of the single pole (1) allows the free rotation engagement of the rod (41) secured to a bracket (4) whose longitudinal fixing is obtained by means of a pin (5) passing through a transverse lumen oblong (44). This bracket (4) authorizes the fitting and the central fixing of a transverse element or drawbar (6) which thus rotates in both directions of rotation according to a limited arc, relative to the axis of the pole (1), as illustrated in FIG. 10. It is emphasized that the pin (6) is mounted in an isolated manner with respect to the bracket (4) by any known and appropriate means.

 To this end, the bracket (4) is extended at its upper part to form or receive a parallelepipedic housing (42) attached in which is housed a block (7) of flexible material provided with a profiled longitudinal recess (71). An appendage or finger (8) fixed on a generator of the end of the single pole (1), as illustrated in FIG. 8 engages by its profile (81) in the profiled recess (71) so as to allow in the two-way partial rotation of the drawbar (6) integral with the bracket (4), with a possibility of return to the middle position. It should be noted that this possibility of rotation must be very flexible without generating significant efforts on the cables (C - C1) of the overhead line in the event of a difference in height and mechanical tension between them, as indicated below.

It is also noted that the amplitude of rotation is ensured by an index (82) extending the front end of the finger (8) to slide in a light (43) in the form of a circular sector established in the thickness of the front side of the case ( 42)
It is also pointed out that the profiled block (7) can be replaced as a variant by flexible stops also arranged in the housing (42) and intended to act only at the end of the partial rotation stroke of said bracket (4).

 The ends of the tilting drawbar (6) respectively allow the fixing of a flat head (9) crossed vertically but angularly by an axis (10) whose projecting parts allow the coupling of the branches of a yoke (11) forming a housing. The upper part of this yoke is made integral with the lower end of the tubular head (12) wiper (13) disposed parallel to the single pole (1).

 The axis (10) is also made integral with a profiled finger (14) which engages in the corresponding axial recess (151) of a block (15) of flexible material housed inside the housing (111 ). This arrangement allows the heads (12) to be returned to the position parallel to the pole (1), while allowing them to be brought together or apart so as to compensate for the parallelism of cables (C - C1) of the overhead line without however cause excessive lateral forces. This possibility is combined, as indicated above with the tilting of the drawbar (6) relative to the pole (1) to compensate for the differences in height or tension of said cables (C and C1), as illustrated in Figure 10. head (12) is made integral with the wiper (13) mounted in the known manner with free rotation about a vertical (A) and horizontal (D) axis, while the wiper (F) can be single or even formed by two spaced elements mounted in flexible alignment in the wiper (13), according to the characteristics defined in the aforementioned Patent nO 79.31190 and the Certificate of Addition nO 80.26142.

 It is emphasized according to the present invention, that it is intended to provide protection against horizontal impacts of the wiper (F) by means of two plates (17) interposed between its ends and the recess of the wiper (F). These plates (17) are made of any material capable of withstanding impacts and whose wear resistance is lower than that of the wipers, so as to always ensure good contact of said wipers on the cables (C and C1). These plates (17) further include at their upper part, a groove (171) for the passage of the cable (C or Cl).

 It will be recalled, as indicated at the beginning of the description, that the base of the pole (1) rotates around a vertical pivot axis (2) being notably mounted in a support yoke (S) secured to a drive plate (18) centered and free to rotate on said axis (2).

 The plate (18) is capable of being driven in rotation by any known and appropriate means, for the purpose of controlling the rotation in a horizontal plane, of the pole, to ensure the reperchage with respect to the overhead cables (C and Cl) . For this purpose, reference may also be made to Patent No. 79.31190 and its Certificate of Addition No. 80.26142, in the name of the Applicant.

 For example, it is recalled for a better understanding of the rest of the description and by way of non-limiting indication, that the plate (18) may have a conical crown (18a) cooperating with a conical wheel (19) whose periphery is arranged , in combination with the crown (18a), for driving in rotation of said plate (18). Your wheel (19) is driven by a shaft (20) supported by bearings and capable of being controlled in translation by the core, for example, of a fork (21) engaged in a groove (19a) of the bevel wheel (19 ) and mounted at the end of the rod of a jack (22). A motor (M), fixed on the platform, is coupled at the end of the shaft (20), with a view to its driving, and therefore, when the wheel (19) is clutched relative to the crown ( 18a) by means of the jack (22), ensures the rotation control of the plate (18) and consequently of the pole (1) (FIG. 2).

 According to the present invention and as shown in particular in Figures 12 to 20, the pole (1) is equipped with a device for controlling its angular position relative to the overhead cables (C and C1).

 For this purpose, in a first embodiment, the plate (18) for driving in rotation of the pole (1), presents on substantially a half-circumference, a cam (23) with constant circular profile, with at each end a slope (23a).

 A support arm (24) is centered and mounted to rotate freely on the same axis (2) on which the plate (18) rotates. At least one position sensor (25) is mounted on the support arm (24), being capable of cooperating with any of the positive or negative parts of the cam (23) and the end slopes (23a). The position sensor (25) is inserted into the electrical circuit for controlling the motor (M) for driving the plate (18) and is shaped to ensure, as a function of its position relative to the profiles of the cam (23), the rotation in one direction or the other, of the motor (M) with a self-oscillation or beat position of said motor (M).

 For example, the position sensor (25) is a rocker switch with two positions with or without a neutral intermediate position. When the contactor control member (a roller (g) for example) is in contact with the positive part of the cam (23), the motor (M) rotates in one direction; when it is opposite the negative part of the cam (23), that is to say without contact, the motor turns in opposite direction, and when it is in contact with one of the sloping ends (23a) of the cam, there is a flutter around the position of the contactor. The motor (M) is controlled simultaneously in one direction and then in the other, which results in a substantially fixed angular position of the plate (18).

 Preferably, the motor (M) for driving the plate (18) is a direct current electric motor with two directions of rotation and the winding of which is suitably established and determined to overcome any risk of overheating and destruction of the motor caused by the position of the contactor according to which the rotor of the motor is balanced simultaneously with two opposite couplings.

 The support arm (24) of the sensor (25) is rotated by any known and appropriate means, by means of a two-way motor (Ml) (FIG. 13) and whose speed of rotation is greater than or equal to that of the motor () of the plate (18). There is therefore independence of the plate and the rotating arm.

 The support arm (24) is made to rotate, to a certain position. If the cam (25) presses on the control member (roller (g)) of the contactor, the stud concerned causes the rotation of the motor (Isl) for driving the plate (18) in the chosen direction, so that said plate rotates in the direction which brings the united of the sloping ends (23a) of the cam (23), opposite the control member of the contactor. The sense is therefore chosen so that the roller descends the slope (23a) for example. Going down this slope, the roller escapes the feed pad previously concerned and will therefore cut the initial rotation of the motor (hui) until the other feed pad is connected by the roller, which corresponds to the 'other direction of rotation of the motor (M). Between these two positions, when the roller (g) is located substantially halfway up the sloping end concerned, the flapping occurs around the position of the contactor.

 If lXon moves the support arm, on the side without cam (negative or neutral part of the cam), the rotation of the motor (M) is reversed compared to the previous one, so that the roller (g) "climbs" the slope (23a). As before, at the midpoint of the slope (23a), the contacts are reversed and the beat will occur.

 In the normal position of the pole (1) on the overhead cables (C and C1), the control device is neutralized, the motors (M and M1) are de-energized. Preferably, the support arm (24) is positioned so that the sensor control means (25) is very substantially in the middle of the negative part (23b) of the cam (23), where said means of control is not in contact with the cam (figure 13). However, this position corresponds to a direction of rotation of the motor (M) of the plate, when said motor is energized, as indicated above.

 In the event of piercing, in a known manner, the pole (1) is centered in the lower position, along the axis XX 'of the vehicle (FIG. 16).

 The driver engages the motor (S1) of the plate (18) and starts the motor (M1) of the support arm (24) in the direction you want to bring the pole (1) as close as possible to the line (C - C1) and until the sensor (25) is in the beat position, that is to say in contact with one of the sloping ends (23a) of the cam (23).

 We can then maneuver the ascent of the pole (1) that 'we bring substantially a few centimeters below the level of the conductive cables (C and C1).

 Generally two cases can occur.

 There is no wind. The free end of the pole (1) therefore undergoes no effort. It is easy to ensure that the wiper head (13) comes into contact with the cables (C - Cl). The control device can even be turned off, since it is not necessary to ensure and maintain the angular positioning of the pole.

 Conversely, if there is wind, the pole will be difficult to maneuver. The gusts will tend to move angularly, in one direction or the other, the pole (1) and consequently, the support plate (18). The latter being in the self-oscillation indexing position, the sensor (25) will tend to compensate for the circular movement of the plate (18) by applying to it a torque opposite to that created by the wind, and to the consequently stabilize in the flapping position. It then suffices to ensure that the wipers (F) are brought into contact with the cables (C and Cul), the servo device being always in the working position to stabilize the pole.

 An indexing system of the support arm (24) is also provided to disengage the position sensor (s) (25) from all contacts, during the work of the pole (1) on the cables, ie to maintain the sensor (s) in the negative or neutral part of the cam (23).

 For example, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the support arm (24) is rotated by means of a disc (26) mounted freely in rotation and centered on the same axis of rotation (2) of the plate (18) and the arm (24). This disc (26) is driven by the motor (ide) of the arm (24), for example by means of a belt (27), FIG. 13.

 To effectively drive the support arm (24) by means of the disc (26), a connection between these two members is necessary. For this purpose, the arm (24) and the disc (26) respectively have a finger (24a and 26a) connected for example, by means of a flexible sheath (28) (Figures 12 and 14) or other connecting means.

 The length of this sheath is such that it varies substantially 90 degrees in one direction or the other, a point coinciding with the base of the plate (18) and the arm-su) port (24). The support arm (24) is therefore entirely free to rotate around the ale (2), on a half-circumference, since it is independent of the drive disc (26) by being simply coupled by the flexible sheath (28 ) of determined length. There is therefore no need to overcome the inertia of the drive notor (mol) of the arm (24) over the free length of the sheath (28).

 When the disc (26) is rotated by the motor (Ml), in one direction or the other, the support arm (24) is not driven on sensiblerent 90 degrees until the flexible sheath is tense (Figures 14 and 15). Once the servo-control device is switched off, the sheath ensures the return to the position of the arm relative to the plate (2), which is sensiblenent in the axis of the vehicle (FIG. 16).

 It is obvious that other means of indexing can be provided.

 We have seen that the drive of the plate (18) by the main motor (X) can take place in different ways. For example, advantageously, the motor (M) drives the plate (18) with a reduction in its speed of rotation, by means of a toothed belt (29) in one or more stages.

 The servo device can be identical to that described above. However in this case, the cam (30) "ut be rectilinear and mounted on a stretched strand of the belt (29) (FIG. 20). The sensor (25) is mounted on a support with rectilinear displacement limited and parallel to the carrying strand of the cam (30) The operating principle in this case is the same, the cam 3Q} always has sloping ends (30a) corresponding to the flapping position.

 Finally, it is emphasized that, depending on the application cases and the shape of the wiper head, the rocker switch can advantageously be replaced by two separate switches, so as to stabilize without flapping.

 It is obvious that the angular position control device of the pole can also be applied to vé hrculea wrapped in a conventional manner with two poles.

 The advantages are apparent from the description.

 the invention is in no way limited to that of these modes of application, nor to those of the embodiments of these various parts having been more especially indicated; on the contrary, it embraces all its variants.

Claims (1)

 -l- Power outlet device -for trolleybus with single pole mounted insulated at its base on the roof and in the axis of the vehicle and articulated both vertically and horizontally while comprising a permanent return means in height by coil spring in particular, said single pole being further requested, in a preferred but nonlimiting manner, by any known servo device such as a lowering control jack in the event of accidental piercing, a centering means, a control device in rotation to allow the ascent of the interior of the vehicle during its ascent, characterized in that the single pole (l) is symmetrically connected to its upper end to a transverse drawbar (6) mounted perpendicularly and of a corresponding length substantially at the spacing of the conducting cables (C and Cl); the said transverse drawbar (6) being able to oscillate around the longitudinal axis of the pole (1) according to a limited rotation, while allowing at its ends the angular pivoting of the heads (12) receiving at their ends articulated friction carriers ( 13) with or without remote orientation control means, and fitted with wipers (F). -2- Device according to claim l, characterized in that elastic return systems (14 - 15) arranged along the articulations of the wiper heads (12) relative to the ends of the transverse drawbar (6) allow the elastic return of said heads in perpendicular position, while allowing their spacing or their approximation to compensate for the defects of parallelism of the conducting cables.  -3- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that an elastic return system disposed along the articulation of the transverse drawbar (6) relative to the end of the pole (1) self raise the elastic return of said drawbar (6) in a horizontal position while allowing its partial transverse rotation to compensate for the variations in height of the line conductor cables or their difference in mechanical tension. -4- Device according to claim 2, characterized in that out the ends of the tilting drawbar (6) allows respectively the fixing of a flat head (9) crossed vertically but angularly moving by an axis (îo) whose projecting parts allow l 'coupling of the branches of a yoke (11) forming a housing (111), the upper part of this yoke being made integral with the lower end of the tubular head (12) friction shoe (13) disposed parallel to the single pole (1), the axis (10) being further secured to a profiled finger (14) which engages in the corresponding axial recess (151) of a block (15) of flexible material, housed at inside the housing (111). -5- Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the upper part of the single pole (1) allows free rotation engagement of a rod (41) integral with a bracket (4), whose longitudinal attachment is obtained by means of a pin (5) passing through an oblong transverse lumen (44), this bracket (4) authorizing the fitting and the central fixing in an isolated manner, of the drawbar (6) which extends in its part upper to form or receive a rectangular parallelepiped housing (42), in which is housed a block (7) of flexible material, provided with a profiled longitudinal recess (71); an appendage or finger (8) fixed on a generator of the end of the single pole (1) engages by its profile (81) in the profiled recess (71) to allow in both directions, the partial rotation of the drawbar (6) whose amplitude of rotation is ensured by an index (82) extending the front end of the finger (8) to slide in a sector-shaped slot (43), established in the thickness of the front side of the housing (42). -6- Device according to any one of claims 3-and 5, characterized in that in a variant, a system of flexible and opposite stops, is mounted in line with the articulation of the transverse drawbar relative to the end of the pole, so as to limit in both directions, its partial rotation in height. -7- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the friction elements (F) placed in alignment in the friction shoe holder (13), are fitted at the end with protective plates (17) fitted in the ends of said door -slider, said pads of any material suitable for withstanding impact and for wearing out at least as quickly as the wipers, having at their upper part a groove (171) for the passage of the cable (C or C1). -8- Device according to claim 1 wherein the pole base rotates around a vertical pivot axis (2) being in particular mounted in a support yoke (S) integral with a drive plate (1 & centered and free in rotation on said axis (2) said plate (18) being driven circularly by a motor (0T) with any known coupling and clutch means, characterized in that the plate (18) for driving in rotation of the pole present on substantially a half-circumference, a cam (23) with constant circular profile with at each end a slope (23a); a support arm (24) being centered and mounted free in rotation on the same axis (2) on which said plate (18) rotates; at least one position sensor (25) is mounted on the arm (24) being capable of cooperating with any of the positive and negative parts of the cam (23) and of the slopes end (23a). -9- Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the position sensor (25) is inserted in the electric control circuit of the motor (M) driving the plate (18) and is shaped to ensure, depending on its position relative to the profiles of the cam (23), the rotation in one direction or the other, of said plate (18) with, in addition, a neutral or beat position when said sensor (25) is located substantially at mid-height of any of the end slopes (23a). -10- Device according to any one of claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the drive motor (M) of the plate (18) is an electric motor with two directions of rotation, and whose winding is suitably established and determined to overcome any risk of overheating and destruction caused by the position of the sensor (25) according to which the rotor is subjected simultaneously to two pairs of opposite directions. -11- Device according to any one of claims 8, 9 and 10, characterized in that the support arm (24) is rotated by a motor (M1) two-way and whose speed of rotation is greater than or equal to that of the motor (i) of the plate (18). -12- ipositir according to claims ^ 8 and 11 together, characterized in that the support arm (24) is equipped with an indexing system to release the sensor (s) (25) e position of all contacts, during the- Uravnil of the pole on the conducting cables, it is to wax to maintain the sensor (s) in the negative or neutral part of the cam (23). -13- Device according to claims 11 and 12 together, characterized in that the support arm is rotated by means of a disc (26) mounted free in rotation and centered on the same axis (2) as that of the plate ( 18) and said arm (24), the disc (26) being driven by the motor (î) - and has at least one finger (26a) connected to another finger (24a) of the arm (24), via - diary of a flexible sheath (28), to ensure the coupling of the disc and the arm. -14- Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the length of the sheath (28) is such that it varies substantially 90 degrees, in one direction or the other and in a completely free manner, the support arm (24) at a point coinciding with the base of the platter and the disc. -15- Device according to any one of claims 8, 9, 10 and 11, characterized in that the motor (M) drives the plate (18) with a reduction in its speed of rotation, by means of a toothed belt (29) on one or more floors. -16- Device according to claim 15 and any one of claims 8, 9, 10 and 11, characterized in that, alternatively, the cam (30) is straight and mounted on a stretched strand of the belt (29) , the sensor (25) being mounted on a support with rectilinear displacement limited and parallel to the carrying strand of the cam (30).