What are pantographs on trains?
What are pantographs on trains?
Pantographs are a special devices mounted on electric trains to collect current from one or several contact wires. They consist of a pantograph head, frame, base, and drive system, and their geometrical shape is variable.
Why do trains have two pantographs?
This is because DC can only provide low voltage electric, to increase the power (output) of the locomotive, the current (A) have to be higher. However, if the current is too high, the fuse will broken. In order to reduce this risk, both pantographs will up.
What are the different types of pantographs?
There are two types of pantographs: single arm and double arm.
What do pantographs do?
A pantograph (or “pan”, or “panto”) is an apparatus mounted on the roof of an electric train, tram, or electric bus to collect power through contact with an overhead line. (By contrast, battery electric buses and trains are charged at charging stations). The pantograph is a common type of current collector.
How do pantographs work?
Pantograph is an apparatus which mounted on the roof of electric train to collect power through with an overhead tension wire. It lift or down on the basis of the wire tension. Typically a single wire is used with the return current running through the track. It is a common type of current collector.
How many pantographs does a train have?
On some systems using three phase power supply, locomotives and power cars have two pantographs with the third-phase circuit provided by the running rails.
How long does a pantograph last?
Under normal wear and tear, a carbon shoe can last from 9 months to a year before it needs to be replaced.
Which material is used in pantograph?
Pantograph strips are often made of steel, copper alloy, pure carbon, and metal-impregnated carbon, which have different principles of interaction with the contact wire. Carbon strips have smooth surfaces and no rough part that may abrade the contact wire.
Do pantographs wear out?
So yes, pantographs can break, but it’s rare to have your trip disrupted because of a broken pantograph. The parts of them that are designed to wear out (such as the carbon shoe) are monitored and replaced when needed.
How many pantographs are there?
What replaced the pantograph?
In 1821, Professor William Wallace (1768–1843) invented the eidograph to improve upon the practical utility of the pantograph. The eidograph relocates the fixed point to the center of the parallelogram and uses a narrow parallelogram to provide improved mechanical advantages.