BEHAVIOUR OF PANTOGRAPHS AND OVERHEAD EQUIPMENT AT SPEEDS HIGHER THAN 160 KM/H. STATIC TESTS CARRIED OUT BY THE SNCF (SINGLE-PHASE A.C. ELECTRIFICATION)

In the context of ORE studies of overhead contact systems at high speeds, the SNCF carried out tests to determine the influence of various parameters on the fundamental characteristics of the contact system. In particular the influence of the following parameters has been examined: span length, conductor tensions, length and tension of stitch wires, spacing of droppers, contact wire sag, contact wire stagger, and system height (encumbrance). The maximum compliance is proportional to the span length and inversely proportional to the total conductor tensions. Considering the contact wire uplift relative to the horizontal plane between supports it appears that, with an upward force of 10 kp and a sag equivalent to 1/1000 of the span length, the different points of contact are more or less in a horizontal plane and this corresponds to an effective compliance factor of very nearly unity (see 1.3.3.1). The presence of a stitch wire increases minimum compliance to a variable extent depending on the length of the stitch. The different types of dropper configuration only have an effect in so far as the distance between adjacent droppers is increased. The frequency of oscillation is inversely proportional to the span length and proportional to the square root of the sum of conductor tensions. It is not influenced by the contact wire sag but it is slightly affected by the type of dropper arrangement and by the stitch wire.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Restrictions on the use of this document are contained in the explanatory material.
• Corporate Authors:

  International Union of Railways

  Office of Research and Experiments
  Utrecht,   Netherlands 
• Publication Date: 1968-10

Media Info

• Pagination: 25 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Catenaries (Railroads); Contact wire; High speed rail; Pantographs; Railroad electrification; Tests; Vehicle design
• Old TRIS Terms: Question a84
• Subject Areas: Design; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00052989
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: International Union of Railways
• Report/Paper Numbers: A84/RP 6/E
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 26 1976 12:00AM