An arc-light-based method for estimation of contact strip wear

Abstract

A measured contact-loss ratio is used to estimate current-collection performance. There are two types of methods used to estimate the contact-loss ratio. One is to measure all the contact losses, including small ones; the other is to measure only contact losses that are greater than 5 ms in duration. The extent of wear of a contact strip caused by arc discharges varies as a function of the amount of electric charge. This fact makes it possible to manage the wear on a contact strip. This paper shows a calculation method for the amount of electric charge based on the output of a contact-loss measurement as well as the expected lifetime of the contact strip and the creation of a maintenance threshold level for of the contact strip.