A widespread problem with electrically powered trains is the risk of rupturing the power line when the pantograph used to collect the electrical current becomes worn or damaged. Parts of the carbon strip that are pressed against the power line become torn, and eventually the power line can become stuck in its movement over the carbon strip – with catastrophic results. The cost of retrieving the train and repairing the power lines is huge, in addition to the cost of the line being blocked while repairs are made.
Detection of damaged current collectors (Automatic Pantograph Monitoring System, APMS)
By using our unique non intrusive, tracking-radar to monitor the pantograph, it is possible to take high-resolution digital images of the carbon strip. Sophisticated processing of these images enables the detection of any damage, and an alarm is sent to the railway administrator so that the train may be stopped at the next station.
The APMS project is now in the testing and fine-tuning phase in close cooperation with our first customer, the Swedish National Rail Administration.
This is how the APMS works
The automatic monitoring of carbon strips on pantographs method makes it possible to maintain the detector without interrupting the traffic (non intrusive).
The radar sensor first detects the radar echo from the current collector when the approaching train is roughly 100 meters away. As the train moves towards the sensor, the echo signal is tracked until the current collector is 7 meters from the camera.
At this point the image quality is optimal and the picture is taken. To protect the train engineer from being blinded by the flash, the flash is equipped with a red filter.
After the camera captures the image of the current collector, the digital image is transferred to the Master Controller (MC) and further to the Image Processing Unit which separates and checks the image of the carbon strips.
If the check shows that the carbon strip has been damaged or worn down (option), an alarm is transmitted through Ethernet or a GSMR/GPRS modem.
