Study on Characterization of Electrical Contact between Pantograph and Catenary

Perfect sliding contact which requires appropriate contact force between pantograph and contact wire is the key point to guarantee the stability of current collection in locomotive. In order to study on characterization of electrical contact between pantograph and catenary, first, a novel test apparatus of pantograph electrical contact has been developed according to the filed application. The apparatus can simulate laterally (zigzag) movement, vertical vibration and the flexible line contact between pantograph contact strip and contact wire. Then, electrical contact experiments are carried out using this apparatus. Characteristics of static contact resistance under various contact force and traction current are analyzed. A fitted formula for contact resistance is proposed which have two independent variables of contact force and traction current. Possible mechanism for variation of contact resistance is represented in microscopic view of contact surface. It is demonstrated that the static contact resistance decreases with the contact force and traction current increasing.