A Study on the Measurement of Contact Force of Pantograph on High Speed Train

Appropriate upward force is crucial for the pantograph on high speed train to collect current from the catenery system without separation. However, at high speed, large aerodynamic lifting force is generated by the contact plate and the arms of pantograph, which may cause wear of the contact wire. In this study, to confirm the interface performance of the pantograph on Korea High Speed Train, a method to measure the contact force of the pantograph was proposed and the related measurement system was developed. The forces acting on the pantograph were clarified and a procedure to calculate the aerodynamic lifting force was proposed. A special device was invented and applied to measure the lifting force. Measured contact forces were displayed by the developed system and evaluated according to the criteria. Countermeasures were also taken to reduce the contact force based on the results.