6DExtensive use of rigid conductor lines to reduce maintenance work
  • Proposal of deflection-free rigid conductor lines to eliminate contact loss
  • Reduction of local wear and replacement work for contact wires on commercial service lines
  •    Special overhead contact line are used for tunnels with a small cross-sectional area as the distance between the contact wires and the tunnel wall is short. However, this constitutes a weak point in terms of maintenance and reliability, and to address the issue the RTRI proposed the introduction of rigid conductor lines featuring small amounts of deflection (Fig. 1). In subways, trains mounted with specific pantographs run in tunnels where rigid conductor lines are installed, whereas limited express trains and locomotives mounted with a range of pantographs run through mountain tunnels on other railways, posing the problem of contact loss. In this regard, the proposed rigid conductor lines reduce deflection (one of the causes of contact loss) by about 60%. The contact loss ratio for the proposed conductor as measured on a commercial service line was less than 3% (a normally accepted value) under a range of pantograph conditions, demonstrating its superior performance (Fig. 2). When the results of running tests in the RTRI compound are also taken into account, the conductor lines can be considered suitable for operation at speeds of up to 130km/h, or up to the maximum speed on narrow-gauge lines. After continuous surveying of wear on contact wires, the RTRI confirmed that the risid conductor lines showed less local wear 30 months after installation than special overhead contact line in a tunnel on the same section (Fig. 3). Based on the above findings, as well as the fact that rigid conductor lines are free from tensile force, it is thought that contact wire replacement work can be reduced.

     

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