What Is a Pantograph?

Electric traction locomotive The electrical equipment that obtains electric energy from the contact network is installed on the roof of the locomotive or the motor vehicle. The pantograph can be divided into single-arm bow and double-arm bow, which are composed of skateboard, upper frame, lower boom (lower frame for double-arm bow), chassis, bow spring, transmission cylinder, support insulator and other components. Diamond-shaped pantographs, also known as diamond pantographs, were very common in the past, but were gradually eliminated due to higher maintenance costs and the possibility of breaking the contact net in the event of failure. In recent years, single-arm bows have been used (see photo). The smoothness of the load current through the contact line and the contact surface of the pantograph slide is related to the contact pressure, transition resistance, and contact area between the slide and the contact line, depending on the interaction between the pantograph and the contact net.

The smoothness of the load current through the contact line and the contact surface of the pantograph slide, the contact pressure between it and the slide and the contact line,

Pantograph of Shaoshan Type 3 electric locomotive

The pantograph is divided into four categories: two-arm type, one-arm type, vertical type, and Ishizu type. ^[1]

Pantograph double arm

The dual-arm pantograph is the most traditional pantograph. It can also be called a "diamond" pantograph, which is named for its diamond shape. However, due to the higher maintenance costs and the risk of breaking the contact net during failure, some newly manufactured railway vehicles have switched to single-arm bows; some railway vehicles (such as the Shinkansen 300 series vehicles) have changed from the original Double-arm bow, transformed into a single-arm bow.

Pantograph single arm

In addition to the two-arm type, there is also a single-arm type pantograph, which can also be called a Z () shape pantograph. The advantage of this pantograph is that it is lower in noise than the double-arm pantograph, and it is less likely to break the contact net in the event of a fault. It is a more common type of pantograph. Depending on the design method of each railway vehicle manufacturer, there will be some differences in the design of the pantograph.

Pantograph vertical

In addition to the two pantographs mentioned above, there are also some pantographs that are designed vertically, and can also be referred to as "T" (also known as wing) pantographs. Their low wind resistance is particularly suitable for high-speed driving. Reduce noise while driving. Therefore, this pantograph is mainly used for high-speed railway vehicles. However, due to the high cost, the vertical pantograph has not been used (the Japanese Shinkansen 500 Series was changed from a vertical pantograph to a single-arm pantograph).

Pantograph Ishizu

The sixth-generation president of Japan's Okayama Electric Rail, invented by Ishizu Ryusuke in 1951, is also known as the "Okaden-type" and "Oka-rail type".