Device for Monitoring Condition of a Railway Supply Line
The present invention provides a monitor for monitoring a condition of a railway supply line when the supply line is in contact with a head of a pantograph of a vehicle in order to power the vehicle. The monitor includes a camera for monitoring parameters indicative of operating capability of the railway supply line and a reflective element including a pattern arranged on the pantograph head. The camera is arranged on the vehicle so as to register the pattern position with respect to a vertical direction. A pantograph and a vehicle are also provided.
1 . A monitor for monitoring a condition of a railway supply line when the railway supply line is in contact with a head of a pantograph of a vehicle in order to power the vehicle, the monitor comprising:
a camera for monitoring parameters indicative of an operating capability of the railway supply line; and
a reflective element including a pattern arranged on the pantograph head,
the camera being arranged on the vehicle so as to register a pattern position with respect to a vertical direction.
2 . The monitor according to claim 1 , further comprising a calculator for processing the monitored parameters to determine whether the monitored parameters are changing relative to reference values and to determine whether the changes are indicative of an increased risk of a malfunction in the railway supply line.
3 . The monitor according to claim 2 , further comprising a Global Positioning System that localizes a defect on the railway supply line when the calculator determines that there is a risk of a malfunction.
4 . The monitor according to claim 2 , wherein the calculator calculates an acceleration of the vertical moves of the pantograph head by comparing successive captures, and calculates a force that the pantograph applies on the railway supply line based on the acceleration.
5 . The monitor according to claim 1 , wherein the camera is a linear camera.
6 . The monitor according to claim 1 , wherein the pattern of the reflective element includes at least two horizontal strips.
7 . The monitor according to claim 1 , wherein the camera includes a movable lens.
8 . The monitor according to claim 1 , further comprising an infrared light source directed toward the reflective element and a filter for the camera tuned at a same wave length as the infrared light source.
9 . A pantograph of a vehicle comprising:
a pantograph head contacting a railway supply line in order to power the vehicle; and
a reflective element having a pattern.
10 . A vehicle having a pantograph contacting a railway supply line comprising:
a pantograph head contacting the railway supply line in order to power the vehicle; and
a monitor for monitoring a condition of the railway supply line including:
a camera for monitoring parameters indicative of an operating capability of the railway supply line; and
a reflective element including a pattern arranged on the pantograph head,
the camera being arranged on the vehicle so as to register a pattern position with respect to a vertical direction.
11 . The monitor according to claim 5 , wherein the linear camera delivers at least 1000 measures per second.
12 . The monitor according to claim 1 , wherein the reflective element includes a retro-reflective material.
13 . The monitor according to claim 7 , wherein the lens is movable by tilting or shifting.
14 . The monitor according to claim 1 , wherein the reflective element is a sticker.
15 . The monitor according to claim 1 , wherein a parameter being monitored includes a force the pantograph applies to the railway supply line.
16 . The monitor according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is a high speed vehicle.