Pantograph assembly with force dampeners

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12528359-B2
Application number	US-202217814148-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 21, 2022
Priority date	Jul 21, 2022
Publication date	Jan 20, 2026
Grant date	Jan 20, 2026

Abstract

A pantograph assembly includes one or more force dampeners. When the pantograph is in a lowered position, the force dampeners absorb forces imparted onto the pantograph assembly by the movement of a work machine to which the pantograph assembly is installed. Additionally, in some examples, the pantograph assembly includes a support frame that provides structural rigidity to an A-frame.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A work machine, comprising:
an electric motor; a pantograph assembly providing a first source of electrical power to the electric motor, the pantograph assembly comprising;
a pan head comprising at least one conductive brush for receiving electrical power from an overhead conductor when the pan head is in an extended position whereby the conductive brush is in electrical contact with the overhead conductor;
a base frame connected to the work machine;
an articulated assembly connected to the base frame, the articulated assembly comprising a first link hingedly connected to the base frame, and further comprising a second link hingedly connected to the first link;
a lifting mechanism configured to force the second link to rotate with respect to the first link, thereby raising the pan head to the extended position from a lowered position;
a pan base connected to the base frame, the pan base configured to receive the pan head when the pan head is in the lowered position; and
at least one force dampener to absorb at least a portion of a force imparted by a work machine movement onto the pan head when the pan head is in the lowered position, the force dampener comprising:
an upper section connected to the pan head and comprising an engagement mechanism and an engagement dome, the engagement dome connected to an exterior surface of the upper section;
a lower section connected to the pan base, wherein
at least a portion of the lower section comprises a deformable material,
the engagement mechanism engages with a receiving section of the lower section when the pan head is in the lowered position, and
the deformable material is configured to absorb at least a portion of energy imparted to the pan head, via the engagement mechanism, due to relative motion between the pan head and the pan base.

2 . The work machine of claim 1 , wherein the upper section comprises:
at least one plate; and wherein the engagement mechanism comprises a shoe constructed from an elastic polymer, plastic, silicone, or fluid-filled sack.

3 . The work machine of claim 2 , wherein the lower section comprises;
a first backer plate having a first side pad connected on the first backer plate; a second backer plate having a second side pad connected on the second backer plate; a bottom pad; and wherein the receiving section is defined by a first exterior surface of the first side pad, a second exterior surface of the second side pad, and a third exterior surface of the bottom pad.

4 . The work machine of claim 2 , wherein the upper section further comprises:
a second plate; and an alignment block configured to spatially align the at least one plate with the second plate.

5 . The work machine of claim 1 , wherein the lower section comprises an engagement section defined by an exterior surface of the lower section, the engagement section sized to receive at least a portion of the engagement dome when the pan head is placed in the lowered position.

6 . The work machine of claim 1 , wherein the second link comprises:
an A-frame connected to the pan head whereby when the lifting mechanism is activated, a thrust rod forces the A-frame to rotate about a hinge, raising the pan head to the extended position, and wherein when the lifting mechanism is deactivated, the thrust rod retracts, allowing the A-frame to lower to lower the pan head to the lowered position; and a support frame connected to a right arm of the A-frame and a left arm of the A-frame, the support frame configured to provide structural rigidity to the A-frame.

7 . The work machine of claim 6 , wherein the second link further comprises a load block, wherein a left arm of the support frame and a right arm of the support frame are connected to the load block.

8 . A pantograph assembly, comprising:
a pan head comprising at least one conductive brush for receiving electrical power from an overhead conductor when the pan head is in an extended position and the conductive brush is in electrical contact with the overhead conductor; a base frame configured to be connected to a work machine; an articulated assembly connected to the base frame, the articulated assembly comprising a first link hingedly connected to the base frame, and a second link hingedly connected to the first link; a lifting mechanism which, when engaged, causes the second link to rotate with respect to the first link, thereby raising the pan head to the extended position from a lowered position; a pan base connected to the base frame, the pan base configured to receive the pan head when the pan head is in the lowered position; and at least one force dampener to absorb at least a portion of a force imparted by a motion of the pantograph assembly onto the pan head when the pan head is in the lowered position, the force dampener comprising:
an upper section connected on the pan head and comprising an engagement mechanism and an engagement dome, the engagement dome connected to an exterior surface of the upper section;
a lower section connected on the pan base, wherein at least a portion of the lower section comprises a deformable material, wherein the engagement mechanism of the upper section engages with a receiving section of the lower section when the pan head is in the lowered position; and
the deformable material configured to absorb at least a portion of energy imparted onto the pan head transferred through the engagement mechanism caused by a relative motion of between the pan head and the pan base.

9 . The pantograph assembly of claim 8 , wherein the upper section comprises:
a front plate; a back plate; an alignment block configured to spatially align the front plate with the back plate; and wherein the engagement mechanism comprises a shoe constructed from an elastic polymer, plastic, silicone, or fluid-filled sack.

10 . The pantograph assembly of claim 9 , wherein the lower section comprises;
a first backer plate having a first side pad connected to the first backer plate; a second backer plate having a second side pad connected to the second backer plate; a bottom pad; and wherein the receiving section is defined by a first exterior surface of the first side pad, a second exterior surface of the second side pad, and a third exterior surface of the bottom pad.

11 . The pantograph assembly of claim 10 , wherein the first side pad, the second side pad, or the bottom pad are constructed from an elastic or partially elastic polymer, plastic, silicone, or a fluid-filled sack.

12 . The pantograph assembly of claim 8 , wherein the lower section comprises an engagement section defined by an exterior surface of the lower section, the engagement section sized to receive at least a portion of the engagement dome when the pan head is placed in the lowered position.

13 . The pantograph assembly of claim 8 , wherein the second link comprises:
an A-frame connected to the pan head whereby when the lifting mechanism is activated, a thrust rod forces the A-frame to rotate about a hinge, raising the pan head to the extended position, and wherein when the lifting mechanism is deactivated, the thrust rod retracts, allowing the A-frame to lower to lower the pan head to the lowered position; and a support frame connected to a right arm of the A-frame and a left arm of the A-frame, the support frame configured to provide structural rigidity to the A-frame.

14 . The pantograph assembly of claim 13 , wherein the second link further comprises a load block, wherein a left arm of the support frame and a right arm of the support frame are connected to the load block.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Randall Jacob Dean
• Hogan Richard Eugene
• Jayakody Nimesh Akalanka
• Jonnavittula Praveen Kumar

Classifications

• B60L5/19 Primary

  using arrangements for effecting collector movement transverse to the direction of vehicle motion · CPC title

• B60L5/28

  Devices for lifting and resetting the collector · CPC title

• B60L5/24

  Pantographs · CPC title

• B60L2200/40

  Working vehicles · CPC title

• B60L5/08

  Structure of the sliding shoes or their carrying means · CPC title