Patent Application
20130264163
The present disclosure relates to a mounting structure, and more particularly to the mounting structure for one or more pantographs.
Mounting structures are provided on machines in order to mount pantographs on the machine. The mounted pantograph facilitates in tapping electricity from an overhead electric line in order to power the machine. German Patent Number DE10256705 relates to a non-rail vehicle, such as a truck, used in open cast mining and having a pantograph. The pantograph is provided to supply power to the vehicle from a two pole overhead line. A sensor is also provided for determining the position of the pantograph relative to the overhead line. The sensor is connected to a display unit that can be seen by the driver and it shows the position of the pantograph. Furthermore, the sensor is connected to a control unit for the automatic steering of the vehicle.
In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a mounting structure for one or more pantographs. The mounting structure comprises a bottom support structure, a mid support structure, and a top platform. The bottom support structure includes a pair of primary front legs of a first length. The mid support structure includes a pair of secondary front legs of a second length. The pair of secondary front legs is coupled to the pair of primary front legs. The mid support structure further includes a pair of angled rear legs of a third length. The pair of angled rear legs is rigidly connected with the pair of secondary front legs by a deck. The second length is greater than the third length such that the pair of secondary front legs extend above the deck. A first and second pair of front and side extended support arms are rigidly connected to a top portion of the pair of secondary front legs. The top platform is coupled to the mid support structure and is configured to mount the one or more pantographs.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method for assembling a mounting structure. The method couples a bottom support structure to a pair of front mount elements. The bottom support structure includes a pair of primary front legs of a first length. The method couples a mid support structure to the bottom support structure and a pair of rear mount elements. The mid support structure includes a pair of secondary front legs of a second length. The pair of secondary front legs coupled to the pair of primary front legs. A pair of angled rear legs of a third length is rigidly connected to the pair of secondary front legs by a deck. The second length is greater than the third length such that the pair of secondary front legs extend above the deck. A first and second pair of front and side extended support arms is rigidly connected to a top portion of the pair of secondary front legs. Subsequently, the method couples a top platform assembled with one or more pantographs to the mid support structure.
Other features and aspects of this disclosure will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.
Further, the machine 100 includes an engine (not shown), a stairway 102, a bumper 104, a frame 106, a canopy 108, and an operator cabin 110. The engine may be a fuel based prime mover to power the machine 100 by combustion of natural resources, such as gasoline, other petroleum products or liquid natural gas. Moreover, the engine may be a petrol engine, diesel engine, or any other kind of engine utilizing combustion of fuel for generation of power.
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Further, the bottom support structure 116 may be coupled to the mid support structure 118 at mounting plates 302. The mounting plates 302 may have a plurality of holes for bolting the mid support structure 118 to the bottom support structure 116.
The secondary front legs 214 may be of a second length H2. The mid support structure 118 further includes a pair of angled rear legs 216 rigidly connected to the pair of secondary front legs 214 by a deck 218. The deck 218 may include a box like structure made up of a front member 219, a rear member 220 and two side members. The pair of front legs 214 is attached to the front member 219 of the deck 218, while the pair of angled rear legs 216 are connected to the rear member 220 of the deck 218. The pair of angled rear legs 216 may be of a third length H3. In one embodiment, the second length H2 of the pair of secondary front legs 214 may be greater than the third length H3 of the pair of angled rear legs 216, such that the pair of secondary front legs 214 may extend above the deck 218.
A person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the fixed lengths H1, H2 and/or H3 may be predetermined according to a variety of factors, for example, dimensions of machine 100 on which the mounting structure 112 will be mounted, height of overhead wires, and the like. Also, a ratio between any combination of the fixed lengths H1, H2, and/or H3 may be chosen in order to optimize on rigidity and support provided by the mounting structure 112.
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The mid support structure 118 may further include a pair of cross members 224 rigidly connected to the deck 218. Further, in one embodiment, a pair of angled support members 226 may be rigidly connected between the deck 218 and the pair of secondary front legs 214. The angled support members 226 may be located on opposite sides of the deck 218 and may provide rigidity to the mid support structure 118 of the mounting structure 112.
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In one embodiment as shown in
Mounting plates 408 may be provided on the top portion 406 of the pair of secondary front legs 214, and on the first and second pair of front and side extended support arms 402, 404. Corresponding mounting plates 502 may be provided on the top platform 120 so that the mid support structure 118 may be coupled to the top platform 120 by bolting. In one embodiment, other coupling methods such as riveting, welding, or any combination thereof may also be used.
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The pantographs 114 may be mounted on the top platform 120. In another embodiment, rubber shock mounts or iso-mounts may be provided on the top platform 120 for mounting the pantographs 114.
The above described mounting structure 112 may be used to mount the pantographs 114 on the machine 100. Generally, the pantographs 114 are mounted on the machine 100, in order to make electrical contact with a power distribution system such as the overhead electric lines or catenary. The pantograph 114 may be used to tap electricity from the electric line and power the machine 100, for example, heavy locomotives, trains, trams, trucks, and the like.
The pantographs 114 allow more power to be transmitted to a drive train of the machine 100 while the machine 100 is heavily loaded. For example, a mining truck may require a large amount of energy, while carrying a load uphill. This energy may be transferred via the pantographs 114. The mounting structure 112 described above, has a modular design including the bottom support structure 116, the mid support structure 118, and the top platform 120. The modularity of the mounting structure 112 may allow easy shipment and also easy assembly at a supplier site. Hence, the modularity allows for ease of manufacture and transport of the mounting structure 112. The mounting structure 112 may have a hollow construction, thereby facilitating in a light weight design.
At step 702, the bottom support structure 116 having the pair of primary front legs 202 of the first length H1 is coupled to the pair of front mount elements 212. The pair of front mount elements 212 may be welded to the bumper 104 of the machine 100. In one embodiment, the coupling may be provided by bolting. At step 704, the mid support structure 118 is coupled to the bottom support structure 116 and the pair of rear mount elements 228. The pair of rear mount elements 228 may be welded to the frame 106 of the machine. In one embodiment, the mid support structure 118 may be bolted to the bottom support structure 116. The mid support structure 118 may include the pair of secondary front legs 214 of the second length H2. The pair of secondary front legs 214 is coupled to the pair of primary front legs 202, thereby coupling the mid support structure 118 and the bottom support structure 116. The pair of primary and secondary front legs 202, 214 may be coupled by bolting, riveting, welding, and/or any other method known in the art. The mid support structure 118 may further include the pair of angled rear legs 216 of the third length H3 rigidly connected to the pair of secondary front legs 214 by the deck 218. In one embodiment, the second length H2 may be greater than the third length H3, such that the pair of secondary front legs 214 extend above the deck 218. The mid support structure 118 may further include the first and second pair of front and side extended support arms 402, 404 rigidly connected to the top portion 406 of the pair of secondary front legs 214.
Subsequently, the pantographs 114 may be assembled on the top platform 120. At step 706, the top platform 120 assembled with the pantographs 114 is coupled to the mid support structure 118. The mounting structure 112 may additionally include other components and/or supporting members, without deviating from the scope of the disclosure.
In another embodiment, the plurality of spacers 410 may be provided between the top platform 120 and the top portion 406 of the secondary front legs 214 of the mid support structure 118. The spacers may facilitate in adjusting the height of the mounting structure 112, to allow the pantograph 114 mounted on the top platform 120 to make electrical contact with an overhead line or catenary of a power distribution system. Additionally, the design of the mounting structure 112 described herein may provide an optimized robust structure. As shown in
While aspects of the present disclosure have been particularly shown and described with reference to the embodiments above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various additional embodiments may be contemplated by the modification of the disclosed machines, systems and methods without departing from the spirit and scope of what is disclosed. Such embodiments should be understood to fall within the scope of the present disclosure as determined based upon the claims and any equivalents thereof.
