Grounding contact
AssigneeSchunk Metall und Kunststoff GmbH
InventorBertram Menz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to a lightweight grounding contact for the transfer of currents between fixed vehicle elements of a rail vehicle and its rotating wheel axle, consisting of a plurality of contact elements (12), acted upon by a pressure in the direction toward the wheel axle, which element rests on a contact surface which originates at the wheel axle and is made of a carbon material. To achieve an always flat resting of the contact element on the contact surface, at least one contact element (12) is acted upon by pressure with a device (22) filled with a fluid (20).
Claims19
A grounding contact for transfer of currents between fixed vehicle elements of a rail vehicle and its rotating wheel axle, consisting of at least one contact element (12), acted upon by pressure in a direction toward the wheel axle, where the contact element rests on a contact surface which originates at the wheel axle and which is made of a carbon material said grounding contact comprising:
- a disc-shaped device (22) filled with fluid (20);
- the at least one contact element (12) is acted upon by the pressure of the disk-shaped device (22);
- a first flexible element (26) on a contact element side of the disc-shaped device which rests flat against the contact element (12);
- spring means (48);
- and
- a pressure plate (46), which is charged by the spring means in a direction toward the contact element, said spring means acting on the side of the disc-shaped device which is remote from the contact element.
A grounding device for transfer of current between a fixed vehicle element of a rail vehicle and a contact disc on the vehicle rotating wheel axle, said device comprising:
- a contact ring in the form of a cylinder having a first end closed by a yoke;
- a disc-shaped device including a pressure plate operable in the contact ring;
- spring means inserted between the yoke and the pressure plate;
- said disc-shaped device including a cushion formed between a first and second flexible element, a support ring cooperating with the flexible elements, means for providing a sealed chamber and a fluid filling the sealed chamber;
- at least one carbon brush electrically connected to the contact rings, and said spring means operating to press the disc-shaped device against the carbon brush which in turn is pressed against the contact disc on the rotating wheel axle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.