Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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ELECTRONIC CURRENT COLLECTOR FOR VEHICLES
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to current collectors in transport
systems, particularly to
a current-collector system that collects electric current from overhead power
supply lines in
vehicles such as but not limited to electrically-propelled vehicles, hybrid
vehicles, fuel based
vehicles, on and off-track vehicles.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0002] Industrialization and urbanization have created great demand of
transportation
particularly in cities. Non-availability of proper public transportation have
increased the use
of fuel based vehicles. Emissions from fuel based vehicles are major
contributors in air
pollution.
[0003] Electricity based transport system is a well-known setup to zero
emissions on spot,
reduced air/noise pollution, fuel crisis, greenhouse gases/global warming with
efficient/cost
effective means, in which transport vehicles are operated by electric motor
energized by many
techniques like trolley poles or pantographs that receive power from single
overhead line in
railways/trams/metro trains/LRT/street cars etc.
[0004] Conventionally, the rubber tyre wheeled modern electric trolley buses
(ETBs) are
powered by pair of overhead 750 V DC supply line via two conducting pole
adaptors mounted
on top of ETBs. The two ropes are attached to both conducting poles at back
side of ETBs to
pull down or guide pole adaptors to connect overhead lines. The connectivity
to overhead
lines by pole adaptors are carried out manually in rest position of ETBs while
semi-automatic
/manual disconnection by drop down/ pulling back the pole adaptors using ropes
is managed
in moving positions without power supply. Once pole adaptors are disconnected,
ETBs must
.. be stopped to reconnect to overhead lines using ropes attached in manual
mode blocking the
lane for traffic till proper connectivity.
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[0005] Further de-wirement of conducting poles causes short circuit of
overhead supply line
and damages supply resources or ETBs setup. Such a supply system creates
constraints in
overtaking, bypassing, lane changing, left-right-circular turnings,
maneuvering, side lane
stoppage, sticking to overhead supply line, de-wirement problem, specified
laying of
overhead supply line etc. Primitive look of hanging ropes, its manual
operation and
operational restrictions have sidelined public interest for expansion.
[0006] Most of track-based transportation are electrified using pantograph
that collects
electric current from overhead lines in railways/trams/metro trains/
LRT/street cars etc. Few
road transport setups use electricity from different sources like on-board
storage
batteries/ultra-capacitors/fuel cell/ hybrid/ overhead power supply lines
using a pantograph
with two isolated conductors for DC/ single phase AC, 3 to 4 isolated
conductors for 3 phase
AC, guided pantographs are used to provide operational flexibility.
[0007] Pantographs may either have a single or a double arm. Double arm
pantographs are
usually heavier and require more power.
[0008] EP 0042690 B1 discloses current collection apparatus 10 for a vehicle
with a
pantograph, e.g. a trolley bus, is energised by a supply system having over-
head current
conductors (21-22 or 21-23) carrying current of different energising
characteristics (P1, P2
or 0, 02, 03) plus an auxiliary conductor (23 or 24) routed along a vehicle
route and is
provided with a current collection bar (30) having a number of current
collection segments
(31 to 33 or 34) electrically insulated from each other and engageable with
the overhead
conductors without any one segment bridging or short circuiting the overhead
conductors.
.. The number of segments is at least equal to the number of overhead
conductors including the
auxiliary conductor. Bus bars (41, 42) carried on the vehicle are connected to
the segments
through unidirectional current conducting devices (D1, D2) so as always to
receive current of
a given polarity (P1, P2) regardless of the energising characteristics of the
current (e.g. direct
current P 1 , P2, single phase alternating current 0, 02 or three phase, delta
alternating current
0, 02, 03) supplied to the overhead conductors. The arrangement affords at all
times a current
path between each bus bar and a current conductor so that the vehicle can
change paths
without lateral displacement of the current collection bar relative to the
vehicle.
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[0009] The drawbacks of the prior art are that the width of collector seems to
be less as
compared to overhead wires. Thin contact for heavy current may cause arc
damaging
overhead wires as well as collector element. Thus, damaged collector element
may create
problem in lateral movement of the vehicle.
[0010] Auxiliary conductor is used in addition to pair of overhead line or
three lines for 3
phase AC covering 3/4 part of two lanes but proper overtaking is not possible
till drop of
pantograph as vehicle (ETB) is using pair of lines ahead. This is only to
expand net over road.
[0011] Further, maintaining auxiliary conductor with spacing from remote
opposite conductor
at not less than 86.66% of conductor bar i.e. for 10' conductor bar, auxiliary
conductor must
be placed more than 8.66' to 10' at same height which is very costly to
install and maintain,
particularly in two road lanes for single conductor bar.
[0012] Additionally, single rectangular shape gap is considered in one case
less than wire
width and modified case more than width of overhead wire with complicated
setup. Different
size of insulation limits its operation to specified route only.
[0013] In EP 0042690 Bl, turning is still limited using auxiliary wire. At few
degrees of cross
wiring, pantograph may rise up causing damage to system as no security
measures are
considered thus restricting its operation.
[0014] Maximum angle of moving vehicle relative to overhead lines is not more
than 70
degrees for lateral shifting while transverse crossing is not possible due to
non-availability of
control and monitoring system of pantograph conductor bar.
[0015] Here pantograph is considered for rigidly defined vehicles and overhead
lines
positions and auxiliary connector is proposed for lateral movement.
[0016] Recharge of batteries on ETB is possible in EP 0042690 B1 but charging
while driving
for light vehicles/Electric cars etc. with cash card facility is not
available. EP 0042690 B1 is
only limited to contract based vehicles like railways.
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[0017] Installation and maintenance of exactly parallel minimum three overhead
lines on
curved road, turns, and crossing etc. need supporting system which are high
expensive setup.
[0018] Aesthetic view is affected by minimum 6 wires on road (to and fro).
[0019] No disclosure about laying of overhead lines particularly auxiliary
line and their
supporting measures.
[0020] Overhead line voltage is not disclosed for operation of ETB. Width of
overhead wire
and collecting bar is not specified.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0021] The primary object of the invention is to provide an Electronic Current
Collector
(ECC) for ETB/EV based on non-conductive single arm pantograph managing both
overhead
wires (three wires in case of three phase) on single arm to receive Electric
power from pair
of overhead power supply line DC or single phase AC) or three overhead lines
for 3 phase
AC supply, lying parallel to road with flexibility and maneuverability and
power distribution
setup.
[0022] Another object of the present invention is to facilitate ETB/EV as an
alternative to
fossil fuel based vehicles by removing the constraints like rest mode
connectivity, overtaking,
lane changing, left-right-circular turnings, bypassing, side lane stoppage,
maneuverability,
sticking to overhead supply line, de-wirement, laying of overhead supply line
etc. of existing
ETB/EV e.g. electric trams, electric trolley trucks etc.
[0023] Another object of the invention is to reduce air and noise pollution
generated by fossil
fuel based vehicles at the point of operation and thus protecting living and
non-living beings
from harmful effects of various gases generated by these vehicles to zero
emissions electric
vehicles.
[0024] Yet another object of the invention is to save conventional non-
renewable fossil fuel
(e.g. petrol, diesel, CNG etc.) by replacing internal combustion/ignition type
road vehicles
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with ECC based electric traction motor based vehicles operating with overhead
power supply
lines.
[0025] A further object of the invention is to reduce the generation of
greenhouse gases that
make passage to ultraviolet rays from sun by destroying ozone layer of
stratosphere, causing
many diseases like skin cancer etc. and also to control global warming caused
by emissions
of greenhouse gases from transport vehicles.
[0026] Another object of the invention is to increase the efficiency of road
vehicles by
replacing internal combustion/ignition type engine with high efficiency
electric traction
motor.
[0027] Another object of the invention is to provide charging while driving
facility to electric
vehicles for electrification of road transportation with small and light
weight on-board backup
for better efficiency, little or no charging time for long driving range.
[0028] Another object of the invention is to provide information of contacts
of overhead lines
relative to pantograph for monitoring and safety of vehicle and overhead
supply system.
[0029] Another object of the invention is to remove costly switches at
turnings/crossings or
lane changing, problem at railway track overhead line or special accessories
at crossings etc.
and additional auxiliary line.
[0029] Yet another object is to reduce installation/maintenance cost of
overhead supply
system including removal of auxiliary line, concern power distribution station
by providing
freedom in laying of overhead supply wires considering scenery and the
aesthetic point of
view accordingly for electric vehicles.
[0030] Yet another object of invention is to use DC or single phase AC or
three phase AC
supply ranging from 600V to 1000V and provide flexibility to use multi-lines
even from
different power stations.
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[0031] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide better
aesthetic appearance to
ETB by replacing two pole adaptors attached with ropes at back of ETB to
single-arm
pantograph and providing flexible operation without affecting traffic on road.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0032] In contrast to the prior art, the present invention uses Electronic
Current Collector
(ECC) for ETB/Electric Vehicles (EV) based on non-conductive single pantograph
managing
both overhead wires on single arm. The pantograph comprises saw tooth shape
segmentation
of carbon shoes placed with 2 mm gap with each other called insulation gap.
Three insulation
gaps are always maintained at any angle of conducting arm of pantograph.
[0033] The present invention further uses control and monitoring system, power
supply
management system with on-board rechargeable backup system, operate using pair
of
overhead supply line of 600 V-1kV AC or DC supply or three wires for 600 V to
lkV of 3
phase supply. Therefore, the collector can handle multiple opposite polarity
supply wires 201
and 202 simultaneously without short circuiting.
BRIEF DESCRITON OF DRAWINGS
[0034] The present invention may be better understood and its methodology,
objects, features
and advantages are made apparent to those skilled in the art by referring to
the accompanying
drawings.
[0035] Fig. 1 depicts a general setup of Electronic Current Collector (ECC)
along with ETB
and overhead power supply line.
[0036] Fig. 1(a) depicts Carbon shoe with Saw Tooth design. Diameter of
contact wires 107;
[0037] Fig. 2 depicts dimensions of single arm Pantograph based ECC of Fig. 1;
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[0038] Fig. 3 depicts specific Electronic Circuit for Current collector and
collecting shoes
activated by pair of overhead supply line in two steps of ETB/EV relative to
overhead line
and monitoring setup of Fig.1;
[0039] Fig. 4 depicts design of connectivity of overhead lines at crossing and
different
positions of ECC underneath overhead supply lines at crossing of Fig. 1;
[0040] Fig. 5 depicts block diagram of control system, smart cash card
insertion slot,
monitoring, ADD, switching at DC bus bar by control system as per smart card
activation and
supply from overhead to traction motor on ETB/EV of Fig. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0041] The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is
not intended
to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. The
detailed description is
construed as a description of the currently preferred embodiment of the
present invention and
does not represent the only form in which the present invention may be
practiced. This is to
be understood that the same or equivalent functions may be accomplished, in
any order unless
expressly and necessarily limited to a particular order, by different
embodiments that are
intended to be encompassed within the scope of the present invention.
[0042] The embodiment is chosen and described to provide the best illustration
of the
principles of the invention and its practical application, and to enable one
of ordinary skill in
the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various
modifications as are
suited to the particular use contemplated.
[0043] Furthermore there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or
implied theory
presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the
following
detailed description. It is further understood that the relational terms such
as first, second etc.,
if any, are used solely to distinguish one from another entity, item or action
without
necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order
between such entities,
items or actions.
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[0044] With reference to the drawings for purpose of illustration, Fig. 1
depicts setup of ECC
100 for ETB 300 along with pair of overhead 600V-1kV DC or AC supply lines 200
in
accordance with the present invention. A single arm pantograph 305 with
insulated structure
unlike Rail engine pantograph, is mounted on top of ETB 300 above front wheel.
The
pantograph is of height 1.5M to 2.5 M and pneumatically-controlled via
Automatic Drop
down system (ADD), supporting two core power cables 204 and 205 and control
cable 112x
from top end to on-board connecting points. The other on-board systems are
almost similar
to existing ETBs except slight modification of control and monitoring system.
The traction
motor is used as per capacity of electric vehicle or all wheeled drive motors
or single motor.
The overhead power supply lines 200 is 600V-1000V DC or AC instead of existing
750V
DC. The overhead power supply lines 200 hang either in catenaries form or
directly with
hanging weight, with current rating as per site load like existing technology
but do not need
any switch for turning or changing lane, additional auxiliary line etc., and
power rectifiers at
power distribution station. Spacing between pair of overhead line is
maintained as per specific
design of ECC for proper connectivity. Flexibility in laying of overhead lines
is provided as
per ECC length. The pair of overhead lines 200, either AC or DC or both on
same route in
the range 600V-1000V are supported by insulators mounted on poles. The poles
are either on
divider or side line of road as per site requirement similar to existing
system. The cash card
slot is included in control setup in pantograph top end to activate power
output at DC terminal
204/205 and continue as per power consumption is sensed and monitored by
control system.
[0045] Fig. 2 illustrates ECC 100 which is designed to receive power from pair
of overhead
600 V-1kV DC or AC supply lines 200 for rubber tyre wheeled ETB/EV 300 for
electrification of road transportation As shown in Fig. 2, pantograph 305 used
in ECC 100 is
single arm non-conductive with insulating base on top end. The height of
pantograph is in the
range 1.5M to 2.5M. The pantograph 305 is mounted on top at center of front
wheels of
ETB/EV 300 having pneumatic pressure control is used for raising pantograph
and Automatic
Drop Down (ADD) system to push up and pull down.
[0046] The total length of top arm of pantograph is L, wherein D is the length
of conducting
area. The top arm of pantograph consists of insulated base in three layers and
safety horns as
a part of insulating base like arc of 9" downward extending insulator base
around 1.5" both
side of pantograph but within length L. Both sides of pantograph are slightly
(around 6 inches)
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less than outer width of ETB/EV 300 and total width is slightly (3") more than
width of
conducting area.
[0047] On top insulating base, conductive segmented carbon shoes 104 are
mounted with
spacing of I [standard: 2mm] called Insulation gap 103 and on middle of
insulating base 2n
numbers of power diodes of rating as per ETB/EV rating are mounted and two
power diodes
are connected to opposite direction to each segmented carbon shoes 104 and
cathode of all n
power diodes are connected to +ye [positive] DC Bus Bar mounted on bottom
insulating layer
while anode of each n numbers power diodes are connected to ¨ye [Negative] DC
Bus Bar.
[0048] By virtue of single arm pantograph, the problem of de-wirement,
connection or
disconnection to or from pair of overhead lines 300, push up or drop down in
driving
condition or any other condition and rest mode manual connectivity can be
overcome.
[0049] As shown in Fig. 1 (a), the top end of pantograph has total conducting
length D (6"
less than insulating base arm L) of carbon shoes 104 for receiving power from
line 201/202.
The full conductive length L is made of conductive carbon shoe similar to rail
pantograph
but segmented in Saw Tooth shape [X, Y and Z] as shown in Fig 1 (b) in n
numbers
depending on outer width of ETB/EV 300 as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 with
standard length
B of each carbon shoe as half of separation between pair of overhead line
(A/2) or 6"
whichever is less and width C of Carbon Shoe including one saw tooth is 1/3rd
of A or 3.45"
whichever is less as segmented carbon shoe 104.
[0050] All Carbon Shoes 104 are fixed with insulation gap I [standard: 2mm]103
to each
other in metallic base slightly higher than supporting insulator boundary with
smooth curve
joined to maintain proper contact in any type of movement of ETB/EV 300 while
in contact
in different positions. The insulation gap [I] 103 provides more than 100 MO
at 2.5kV works
like open circuit.
[0051] Below each Carbon shoe 104, two power diodes [DF and DR] are mounted at
second
layer of base and DC bus bar 204/205 on third layer (as per current rating of
ETB) is mounted.
As shown in Fig. 3 each conducting holder of 104, are connected with two power
diodes DFn
and DRn opposite to each other. The forward diode DF anode is connected to
shoe 104 and
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cathode to DC bus bar 204 (+ve) and cathode of reverse diode DR is connected
to shoe 104
and anode is connected to 205 ¨ve of DC supply bus bar 205. Similarly all n
numbers 104
needed as per length of conducting arm are connected to n numbers of DF and n
numbers of
DR and 204 and 205 respectively.
[0052] The Saw Tooth design parameters X,Y, Z and others as shown in Fig. 1(a)
are based
on full width contact and three isolation gaps are always maintained at any
angle of
conducting arm relative to overhead lines spaced to minimum distance S or
more.
[0053] Whenever pantograph rises up and touches both supply lines P201 and
N202, the
minimum three insulation gaps 103 each having insulation more than 1001\40 at
2.5 kV tested
for 2mm air gap at normal temperature and condition with 2.5 kV meager, work
like open
circuit for any position and direction of pantograph and both supply lines
resulting no short
circuit.
[0054] As shown in Fig.3, STEP-I the supply lines 201 connected to 1048 and
202 to 1044
activates DF8 for +ve cycle and DRS for return and vice-versa, maintaining 204
as a
continuous +ve supply point and 205 as -ye line, works as a full wave
rectifier for AC supply
as well as for DC supply line and generates DC supply at bus bar 204P and 205
N of 600V-
lkV DC output for ETB/EV.
[0055] In Step-II in Fig. 3 the pantograph is touching overhead line P 201 at
Saw Tooth
shape insulation gap 103 and N 202 to single carbon shoe 1044. In this case
two forward
diodes DF7 & DF8 and single reverse diode DRS are shown in active condition as
1044 with
202 and 1047 and 1048 connected with 201. Here three 103 gaps are available
between
connected active shoes 104 for complete insulation. Due to Saw Tooth shape,
the wire just
above it remains connected through both carbon shoes 104 and other (n-2) Nos.
diodes
remain reverse biased or inactive including shoe 104 (n-3) Nos. remain
inactive maintaining
proper insulation between both P and N supply lines. The DC bus bar +ve line
204 is
connected with P 201 through active forward diodes for uninterrupted supply
even being on
isolation gap while DC bus bar ¨ye line 205 returns with reverse diodes
activated by line N
202 or by three phase AC supply line. Similar case for any other step or
directions, many nos.
of 104 activated even three isolation gaps will be maintained for isolation
between overhead
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supply lines 201/202. In transverse movement for 80 deg or more ADD takes care
and if
needs, it will drop the pantograph for safety of overhead lines.
[0056] The design dimensions are taken for providing maximum flexibility in
connectivity,
simplified lines and due care of safety measures so that no condition of short
circuiting even
ECC100 is beneath of numbers of pair of lines in any permutations and
combinations i.e.
parallel or two pairs diverted, two pairs parallel, any type of crossing,
lines from two different
distribution station etc. arise for providing full flexibility to ETB to ply
like fuel bus.
[0057] The Electronic Current Collector (ECC) 100 generates only DC output of
600V-
1000V for AC or DC supply line which is connected to on-board power panel of
ETB 300 by
two core power cable 204/205 of suitable rating and further extended to on-
board power
supply management (PSM) system which converts supplies according to traction
motor
requirement for driving ETB/EV 300. It also charges on-board back up system
and uses in
case of power failure, diversion of route no supply line etc. as back up
maintaining normal
driving. The power supply lines 200 is supported by pole on divider/side line
parallel to road
and its opposite polarity or phase/neutral lines 201 and 202 are separated to
minimum
specified distance and height. The conducting arm of ECC100 receives power by
touching
overhead lines at any two places of ECC100 and provides freedom in
installation of lines not
restricting exactly above the bus lane but within contact range of ECC100. The
carbon shoe
104 on 100 are as used in electric trains, eliminating the problem of lateral
sliding to either
line 200 or ECC 100 and can connect or disconnect in moving condition also
thus facilitating
the driver to drive like fuel bus with all benefits of electricity. The
present invention also
provides charging while driving facilities to other types of vehicle on road
without waiting
for charging. This is solution of zero emissions in road transportation. The
ETB 300is rubber
tyre wheeled road vehicle powered by pair of overhead supply lines 200 of 600V
to 1000V
AC or DC which is received by current collector on one side and retuned from
other side.
This implies that there is no need of any third connector or track on road
like used by Trams.
[0058] According to the present invention, the collector can handle multiple
opposite polarity
supply wires 201 and 202 simultaneously without short circuiting laying. The
special design
and placement of carbon shoes 104 on insulating base and generating output
using Electronic
setup are most valuable techniques of the present invention. With this
arrangement of
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conducting Carbon shoes 104 ETB/EV 300 moves laterally on both sides of
overhead wires
201 and 202 up to red zone 153 while maintaining contacts with overhead wires
201 and 202.
The lateral movement up to active length of collector (00 on both sides of
overhead wires 200
is possible without disconnection and relative movement of ECC setup with
ETB/EV. By
virtue of design of collecting elements 104, ETB/EV 300 moves in any direction
relative to
overhead wires/multiple wires at multi-way junction's maintaining collectors
parallel to wires
without short circuiting. It is also compatible to receive power from three
phase AC supply
via three or four overhead wires directly. With design features of ECC 100,
overhead wires
201 and 202 do not stick in the middle of lane but move anywhere above lane as
per
convenient/economical site requirement, preserving the aesthetic view and
provides great
flexibility in overhead lines laying reducing its installation and maintenance
cost.
[0059] As shown in Fig. 3, the power received by Carbon Shoes 104 are
rectified to DC
supply according to input voltage in pair of overhead lines 200 and available
at 0/P Terminal
of ECC 204(+ve) and 205(-ve) via DC bus bar unlike Rail or existing ETBs that
use
conductive arm. The DC supply of 600V-1KV carried by two core power cables
203/204 to
power panel of ETB/EV and extended to power supply Management (PSM) system.
PSM
system converts DC supply to AC or DC supply suitable for traction motor(s) of
ETB/EV
300, operation of on-board equipments, Air Conditioners, charging of on-board
back-up
system (normally 48 V DC) etc. and managing on-board back-up supply for
operation of
ETBs/EVs 300, during non-availability of pair of overhead supply line/supply
failure, route
diversion, disconnection/ lane changing etc. without any problem in driving by
activating
traction motor/s.
[0060] Control system receives commands from driver for any action and
controls the system
accordingly as well as automatic function are activated by control system
directly and
executed as per requirement.
[0061] As shown in Fig. 3, the numbers and position of active carbon shoes 104
are sensed
by voltage sensors and information is sent via control cable 112x connected to
input of on-
board control system which are displayed for driver as shown GREEN 151 for
normal,
YELLOW 152 for watch and RED 153 indicator giving message to be ready to drop
manual
and activating Automatic Drop Down (ADD) to drive ETB safely.
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[0062] Referring to FIG. 4, the ADD works in three steps. In the first step,
if last red marked
carbon shoe touched by outer line of 200, the pushing upward pressure taken
under control
and step-2 on further pantograph leaving overhead lines and inner line 200
touches RED mark
104 no other line in contact at any position, the ADD will drop 3" within 0.5
sec and 5 seconds
to complete drop. The pantograph 104 can be raised by the driver if he feels
ETB/EV 300 is
beneath pair of overhead lines 200 in driving condition to reconnect using
control system of
pushing up the pantograph for receiving power without any problem.
[0063] Pair of overhead supply lines 200 for ECC 100 based ETB/EV 300 are
similar to
existing pair of overhead lines 200 of ETBs or pair of overhead lines 200 with
catenaries
supported or hanging like electric track based rail engines but in pair. The
new design of ECC
100 is compatible to receive electric supply from pair of overhead supply
lines 200 carrying
600V-1000V DC or AC or both supplies on route without any switching in setup.
The DC
supply based ETB/EVs receive power from power distribution stations using
heavy current
rating power rectifiers setup, if any, but has no need of rectification at
power distribution
station. The supply line 201 and 202, are separated by insulator 221 of
dimension as
mentioned in Fig. 2 to maintain minimum separation of one feet or more. The
pair of overhead
lines 200 placed parallel more than 1' does not require an insulator if safety
condition is
maintained i.e. no short circuiting due to wind pressure or operation of
ETB/EV 300 with
pantograph 305 connected or any other means. The separation between two lines
up to length
of conducting arm of pantograph is continued to maintain current collection by
ECC 100 not
restricting exactly above the bus lane but as per site requirement [standard
11. There is no
need of any costly change-over switch or any special accessories in line for
any turn or
crossing as shown in Fig. 4 for ECC. The jumpers at crossing are three times
of width of
conducting pantograph or 20" whichever is higher. The use of AC supply in
local urban areas
under 600 km route and DC above 600 km route are found economical in existing
operational
system but use of AC supply in ECC may be more cost effective due to low loss
in HT
converted to LT at power station and feed multiple routes.
[0064] Three phase AC supply with single phase voltage of 600V-1000V may be
utilized
directly from HT to LT transformer with balanced load using laying of three
phase line in
distributed to road routes according to load on routes and switching of phase
load as per time
and traffic.
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[0065] Overhead lines 200on road for ETB/EV at crossings of Electric Rail
lines (overhead
and track) are made underground through tunnel of safe length and use on-board
back-up
ETB/EV to pass the railway track and again join overhead supply lines 200.
[0066] The standards of safety are considered for avoiding short circuit or
unwanted incidence
during ETB/EV operation on road including height of flyover bridges on road or
multi-level
flyovers, buildings, trees and any other system near to road.
[0067] Modern operational ETBs with single coach/articulated ETB operate at
750V DC after
replacing pole adaptors system including ropes and mounting ECC pantograph 100
on top of
ETB/EV 300 at center of front wheels 302 of ETB/EVs 300 as shown in Fig. 1, to
receive
power from pair of overhead 600V-1kV DC or AC supply lines 200. Small on-board
backup,
Power Supply Management (PSM) system upgraded for 600 V-1kV DC supply to
manage all
supplies according to requirement of traction motor and other equipments on-
board including
charging of on-board backup.
[0068] Multi power diodes in parallel are connected to meet the overall power
rating if single
power diode current rating does not fulfill the highest load in ETB/EV 300 and
to reduce
weight of pantograph 305, single 3-phase power rectifiers as per current
rating are used to
replace 6 power diodes.
[0069] Light Vehicles powered by electric traction motor using on-board
electric power
storage/backup system may use Charging while driving facility for reducing
weight of on-
board back up to get better response and no charging time additional with
small back up. For
this light vehicles/electric cars mount pantograph structure with ECC setup
and smart card
setup (not shown here) for payment of electricity used. For use of charging
while driving
facilities by light vehicles/electric cars, ECC setup must be activated for
valid payment and
active pantograph otherwise, smart card setup deactivates ADD which don't
allow
pantograph to rise up for connection, disconnect DC bus bar to power cable
using controlled
switch as well as measures the power consumption via electronic current and
voltage meter
at DC bus bar output to ensure use of electricity by only active users. Direct
monitoring of
non-active pantograph as indicator is made for traffic police to check of
illegal use of
electricity and damaging overhead power supply resources.
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[0070] The ECC details of design dimensions as shown in Fig.2 in accordance
with Fig. 1
are as follows:
L=Total length of pantograph top arm including insulator base. [Std 6" less
than outer width
of ETB/EV]
D=Total length of Current collecting arm of Pantograph (slightly less than
whole pantograph
length) [Standard L-61
A=Separation between pair of overhead supply line P&N 201/202 with Minimum 12"
and
max up to D (standard 12").
B=Length of segmented carbon shoe 104 A/2 or 6" whichever is less (standard
6").
C=Width of segmented Carbon Shoe 104 A/3 or 3.45" whichever is less (standard
3.45").
I=Gap between two Saw tooth shaped segmented Carbon shoes 104 [standard 2mm],
with
saw tooth height [z] depending on diameter of overhead touching line [T] or
standard 0.5".
H=Width of pantograph top arm including insulator base. B+3" or 9" whichever
is less
[standard 91.
T=Width of overhead wire 201 and 202 touching carbon shoes 104.
Insulating Base: Three layers depending on ETB/EV power rating and power
diodes.
Jumper Length= 3 x B or 20" whichever is greater as shown in Fig-4.
Example: Design dimensions of ECC for a low floor Electric trolley Bus with
AC, size
Length-10 m, Width- 2.5 m, Height- 2.5 m, are given herewith:
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Si. Particulars Dimensions Remark
No
1. Overhead wires Separation 12" or more Wire to wire
2 Overhead wire jumper 20" May be 18" as per
overhead line gap
3. Insulated Pantograph Height
1.5-2.5 M As per std
Insulated Base top end of 92"
4.
Pantograph (L) with Horns
Width of Pantograph top end 9"
5.
insulator base
6. Total length of current collector 86" L-6"
Arm of ECC
Width of total current collector 6" A/2
7.
Arm of ECC
8. Gap between two Carbon Shoes
2.0 mm 600V to lkV AC/ DC
supply
9. Nos. of Carbon Shoes 24-25 Nos,
Isolation resistance between two Full with 2.5 More than 100 MO
10.
Carbon Shoes with air kV meager
11. Dead Zone at Standard Crossings 20" If no other supply line
Angular length of three 11.95" Min for 3.45"
carbon
12. combined Carbon Shoes (S) with shoe
two isolation gaps
Lateral Movement in connected 2.1M or 1.5 2.4M manual
13. with overhead supply lines both side of
overhead lines
14. Road lane 2 of 2.54M
As per std
[0071] For rating of power diodes multi diodes in parallel may be connected to
meet the
highest load in ETB and to reduce weight of pantograph, a single 3-phase
rectifier may
replace 6 power diodes .
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[0072] Fig. 5 depicts the block diagram current flow from overhead supply
lines 200 up to
last equipment on ETB 300 to be powered. The control and monitor, back up are
powered
by on-board storage like batteries/ultra capacitors etc. charged by PSM when
connected to
supply. PSM can utilize on-board backup during failure of supply/power cut,
deviation of
route, lane change, overtaking and dead zone created if any by insulators and
jumpers etc.
and charged by PSM when connected reduces heavy backup onboard.
17
