Abstract
A system for detecting a state of a current collector of an electrically driven vehicle includes a video camera device for digitally recording images of the current collector and an image-evaluating device for the data evaluation of the image recordings. The current collector has optically detectable markings, the position and/or shape and/or surface area and/or color of which can be detected by the image-evaluating device in an automated manner. A system that makes the automatic state detection faster and more reliable is thereby provided.
Claims
1. A system for detecting a state of a current collector of an electrically driven vehicle, the system comprising: a video camera device for digitally recording images of the current collector; an image evaluating device for data evaluation of the image recordings; and optically detectable markings extending inside the current collector, said optically detectable markings having at least one of a position or shape or surface area or color to be detected by said image evaluating device in an automated manner; said optically detectable markings including a marking disposed at a collector strip of the current collector and extending in a direction of wear of the collector strip, said marking having at least one of a position or shape or surface area or color changing with increasing wear.
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said optically detectable markings include a continuous marking or a plurality of separate markings disposed across a working width of the collector strip.
3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said optically detectable markings include a marking disposed at the collector strip outside of the working width as a reference.
4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said optically detectable markings include a plurality of markings disposed at the current collector in a distributed manner and having a defined reciprocal location in an operational state of the current collector.
5. The system according to claim 1, which further comprises a contrast panel attached to the current collector and forming a high-contrast background marking for at least part of the current collector in a viewing direction of said video camera device.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
(1) Further properties and advantages of the invention may be derived from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings, in which
(2) FIG. 1 schematically shows a first exemplary embodiment of a marking on a collector strip,
(3) FIG. 2 schematically shows a second exemplary embodiment of a marking on a collector strip,
(4) FIG. 3 schematically shows a third exemplary embodiment of a marking on a collector strip,
(5) FIG. 4 schematically shows a fourth exemplary embodiment of markings on collector strips and a yoke,
(6) FIG. 5 schematically shows a fifth exemplary embodiment of markings on collector strips,
(7) FIG. 6 schematically shows a sixth exemplary embodiment of markings on a current collector, and
(8) FIG. 7 schematically shows a seventh exemplary embodiment of of an inventive system for detecting a state, using perspective illustrations.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(9) An inventive system for detecting the state of a current collector 1, which is illustrated in its entirety in FIG. 6, comprises a video camera device 22 for digitally recording images of the current collector 1 on a moving vehicle. The video camera device may have one or more video cameras arranged at a detection point on a route, wherein said video cameras can record the current collector 1 from various recording directions. The video cameras may be installed on a bracket of an overhead line system for electrification of a route such as a railroad track or a motorway. The image recordings are sent to an image evaluating device 23 which may be arranged at the detection point or in an evaluation center for the purpose of data evaluation. The image evaluating device has means for processing electronic image data, including computing and storage means with executable programs for image processing. For improved image evaluation in relation to the state of the current collector, the current collector 1 has markings M whose position and/or shape and/or surface area and/or color on the recorded video images can be reliably detected by the image evaluating device in an automated manner.
(10) According to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, a collector strip 11 of the current collector 1 is fixed to a collector strip holder 12 which takes the form of a hollow section. The collector strip 11 has an elongated shape, which extends parallel to a transverse axis of the vehicle Q, and an essentially rectangular cross section. The collector strip 11 may consist of carbon or copper and rubs against an overhead contact wire of the overhead line system (not shown) with its upwards facing rubbing surface S during operation. In the context of an interplay between the course of the contact wire relative to the track layout, possible directional deviations of the vehicle, and throwing movements of the current collector in a transverse direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle L, it is endeavored to keep the rubbing contact with the overhead contact wire within a certain working width B, which does not utilize the full width of the collector strip 11. During operation, the collector strip 11 is abraded across the working width B, such that the rubbing surface S is lowered more or less evenly in a direction of wear V which runs parallel to a vertical axis of the vehicle H.
(11) According to FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, shaped markings M.sub.F in a contrasting color, e.g. a red color on a carbon collector strip, are applied to opposing longitudinal sides of the collector strip 11, said markings consisting of a row of triangular surfaces. The triangular surfaces border the collector strip holder 12 on their base sides and taper in an upward direction to their peaks, these being opposite to their base sides, on the edge of the longitudinal sides of the rubbing surface S. The peaks of the triangular surfaces are abraded as the wear increases, such that the shaped markings M.sub.F assume the shape of a trapezium or quadrilateral. The shapes and dimensions of the recorded shaped markings M.sub.F can be determined easily and reliably by image processing means, such that the remaining wear or the sustained wear at this location of the collector strip 11 can be deduced from the respective height of a color marking M.sub.F. It is particularly easy to detect the wear if a comparison with unworn shaped markings M.sub.F outside the working width B is possible on the recorded video images. This peripheral region of the collector strip 11 is therefore identified by reference markings M.sub.R in the form of a stripe on the collector strip holder 12.
(12) According to FIG. 2, the collector strip 11 is penetrated by a row of color markings M.sub.C in the form of columns across its width, wherein said markings extend in the direction of wear V and are composed in each case of a stack of segments of different colors. The color markings M.sub.C then appear on the rubbing surface S in a color which corresponds to the respective wear, and which can be identified easily and reliably from recorded video images in each case. The fine detail of the color markings M.sub.C can then be predetermined via the respective heights of the individual color segments.
(13) According to FIG. 3, the collector strip 11 is penetrated by a surface area marking M.sub.S. The surface area marking M.sub.S has a triangular cross section, and is developed as a color inclusion which extends continuously or sectionally over the width of the collector strip 11. The triangular cross section borders the collector strip holder 12 on its base side and tapers in an upward direction to its peak, this being opposite to its base side, at the rubbing surface S. As wear increases, the surface area marking M.sub.S becomes visible at the rubbing surface as a continuous or interrupted stripe of increasing surface area, and can therefore be identified by the image evaluation. The wear-dependent widening of the stripe is predetermined by the peak angle of the triangular cross section of the surface area marking M.sub.S. In order to allow the wear to be identified more effectively on the video images, the surface area marking M.sub.S may be combined with a color marking M.sub.C in the form of colored layers as per FIG. 2.
(14) The course of the wear can be reliably identified over the working width B of the collector strip 11 in all of the embodiments of optically detectable markings M as per FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, wherein said embodiments may also be combined with each other.
(15) According to FIG. 4, a yoke 10 of the current collector 1 has two collector strips 11 which run parallel to each other and to the transverse axis of the vehicle Q, and which are arranged one behind the other relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle L. The collector strip holders 12 have downwards curving terminating horns 13 at their lateral ends, aiding the lateral mounting of a contact wire onto the collector strips 11, and are connected together and to a crossbar 9 of the current collector 1 via two parallelogram guides 14. Position markings M.sub.P are applied to the yoke 10 at predetermined positions, their location relative to each other being defined according to the design. A position marking M.sub.P may take the form of a circular symbol with circle segments of different colors, such that the position to be marked is defined by a center of a circle and is identified easily and reliably on recorded video images. Position markings M.sub.P are arranged e.g. at the outer ends of the terminating horns 13 and at the transition to the collector strip holders 12. In the context of image evaluation, on the basis of a comparison between the detected actual relative location of the position markings M.sub.P and a stored reference relative location, it is now possible to deduce whether each of the collector strips 11 and/or collector strip holders 12 and terminating horns 13 have deformations such as distortions or warping, for example. Position markings M.sub.P may also be applied to a central location on the parallelogram guides 14. This means that it is also possible to measure the actual position and actual location of the collector strips 11 relative to each other and within the yoke 10 by image processing means, and to compare these with reference positions and reference locations. Discrepancies indicate deformations or damage of these components.
(16) According to FIG. 5, flat contrast panels 20 are arranged on the underside of the collector strip holder 12 and provided with a color scheme which contrasts starkly with the material of the collector strips 11. By means of suitable arrangement and alignment relative to the recording direction of a video camera, the contrast panels 20 form background markings M.sub.B which make it possible in the context of image evaluation to identify the silhouettes and the body of the collector strips 11 on the video recordings more effectively, in order to detect chips or even fractures in the collector strips 11 in an automated manner.
(17) According to FIG. 6, a current collector 1 has a base frame 2 which is supported on a vehicle (not shown) via electric insulators 3. The current collector 1 has an articulated frame 4 comprising a lower arm 5 which is connected to the base frame via a lower joint 6, and an upper arm 8 that is connected to the lower arm 5 via an upper joint 7. The upper arm 8 has two bars which diverge in the form of a V, starting from the upper joint 7, and whose ends are connected by a crossbar 9 which runs parallel to the transverse axis of the vehicle Q. The crossbar 9 forms the swivel joint of the yoke 10, about which the two parallelogram guides 14 bearing the collector strips 11 are rotatably mounted. A lifting device 16 is arranged on the base frame 2 and activates an operating rod 15 which is connected via a joint 18 on the frame. The operating rod 15 is connected to the upper arm 8 via a joint 19 on the frame. By means of activating the lifting device 16, the double-arm pantograph frame 4 can move the yoke 10 between a lower resting position and an upper operating position, in which the collector strips 11 are pressed against the overhead contact wire (not shown) in order to establish a rubbing contact. In order to ensure that the collector strips 11 remain at the same height when the yoke 10 is being raised or lowered, one of the parallelogram guides 14 and the lower arm 5 are coupled by a guide rod 17. In addition to the position markings M.sub.P on the yoke 10 as described above, position markings M.sub.P are also applied to the joints 7, 18 and 19 and to the base frame. As a result of their positive guidance, the position markings M.sub.P on the joints 7 and 19 and the position markings M.sub.P on the yoke 10 can only move on defined trajectories which have a fixed relative location in relation to the fixed position markings M.sub.P on the base frame 2 and on the joint 18. Any deviation of the position markings M.sub.P from their predetermined trajectories, as detected by means of image evaluation, indicates deformations in the frame 4 or the yoke 10 and may indicate a limitation or lack of operational suitability of the current collector 1.
(18) According to FIG. 7, position markings M.sub.P may also take the form of shaped components 21 which are attached at defined positions of the yoke 10 of a current collector 1 and have a component shape outline which can be detected more easily by image evaluation. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, mounted on each of the collector strip holders 12 in the end region of the collector strips 11 are circular shaped components 21 whose centers identify a defined position and whose surfaces identify a defined plane. In an operational state of the current collector 1, the four shaped components 21 may define the same plane. Deformations such as distortions or warping of the components of the yoke 10 can be deduced by detecting the reciprocal actual location of these position markings M.sub.P and the elliptical actual shapes resulting from the recording direction of the video camera in respect of the outlines of the shaped components 21.
