Improvement of a small diagnostic information collection device for monitoring the performance of electric rolling stock current receivers

During the operation of electric rolling stock current collectors, processes occur that lead to a decrease in the mechanical performance of current-carrying structures. Monitoring of the parameters of the operation of current collectors and the loads acting on them at present is difficult due to the fact that the electric potential between its elements and the body of the electric rolling stock corresponds to the operating voltage in the overhead contact line. The use of various methods of separating the data transmission medium and galvanic isolation of the sensor power supply is associated with some disadvantages, the main of which is the significant dimensions and mass of devices of this type. For research purposes, autonomous power supplies and information storage devices have been developed and used, which do not pretend to be used in the design of serial current collectors. The article describes a device designed to solve a variety of diagnostic tasks, using the principle of free energy utilization to power sensors, converters and a data transmission system to external media. Studies of the energy parameters of the electromagnetic field power selection modules and mechanical vibrations accompanying the operation of the current collector have been carried out. The main parameters of the piezoelectric module for power supply of a small-sized device for collecting diagnostic information are determined. The proposed approach should ensure the autonomy of the device when moving an electric rolling stock with a raised pantograph. At the same time, there is no dependence on the illumination or speed of movement characteristic of other alternative power sources. The layout solutions for the prototype of the device are presented, on the basis of which it is possible to build design documentation for the organization of the production of the installation batch. The role of the device in the system of functioning of controlled current collectors is described, as well as the change in the technology of their operation.