Automation proposal applied to Trolleybus current collector

Abstract

This work presents the main steps performed in the development of a system proposal to automate the operation of the current collector that is used in trolleybuses, aiming, mainly, to continuously monitor the contact with the overhead electric wire and also to provide the coordinated movement of collection in situations of circuit disconnection, in order to reduce the incident of collisions between the collector and the mechanical structure of this wire. These improvements are aimed at contributing to the quality of the public transport service, a factor that corroborates the expansion of new routes of mass public transport that use renewable sources of energy, replacing the traditional vehicles powered by combustion with fossil fuel. The method employed and the details contained in this proposal allow the use of an expressive o part of the traditional design of the current collector, being suggested the substitution of parts, adequacy of the mechanical structure related to the fixation points of the components, installation of sensor elements, actuating elements, and programmable controller with dedicated algorithm for this application. The positive results observed in the computational evaluations of the electronic and pneumatic circuit, which are managed by a dedicated control algorithm for these systems, suggest that the resources and components proposed in this work when effectively integrated in trolleybuses will be able to meet the purposes for which they are intended.