Measurement of the Contact Force of the Pantograph by Image Processing Technology

Contact force between a pantograph and catenary is one of the most important indices for evaluating the contact performance of the pantograph-catenary system. Hence, some contact force measuring methods have been developed. However, currently used measurement methods have some problems. Firstly, the installation of sensors in a panhead could affect the dynamic characteristics of the pantograph. Secondly, they need data transmitting equipment, because built-in sensors are set under high-voltage condition. Thirdly, some kinds of pantographs cannot be equipped with sensors in a panhead because of structural restriction. To eliminate these problems, the authors have developed a new contact force measuring method by using image processing sensors mounted on the rooftop of a train.