Major Results of Research and Development in Fiscal 2004 III-4

4. A technique to control pantograph contact force using aerodynamic force

Proposal of a technique to control pantograph contact force by jetting out air from the pantograph head

Supply of the air required to control the contact force automatically from the pantograph head front edge

Pantograph contact force is actively controlled as a means to drastically decrease changes in the contact force between contact wire and pantograph at high speeds. A method has been proposed using an air cylinder as a control device to achieve this, but the mechanism involved is complicated.
In order to obtain the required control force, the RTRI proposed a method whereby air is taken in from the front edge of pantograph head and jetted out from the rear edge, with its flow rate controlled to adjust the pantograph head lift characteristics (Fig. 1). Air is automatically taken in from the pantograph's front edge without requiring a supply of compressed air, which simplifies the mechanism of the system.
Numerical simulation (Fig. 2) and a wind tunnel test (Fig. 3) verified that a control force (about 100N) greater than the static lift force was obtained at 300km/h.

Fig. 1 Contact force control mechanism using aerodynamic force

Fig. 2 Field of speed at air jet (numerical calculation)

Fig. 3 Changes in the pantograph head lift force characteristics at air jet (wind tunnel test)

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