Adoption of different pantographs’ preloads to improve multiple collection and speed up existing lines

The current collection using more than one pantograph is needed in railway operation to provide power to non-electrically connected traction units and, in some cases, to reduce current density on the collector strips that heavily influences the wear on the contacting bodies. The multiple current collection may become a critical condition due to the mechanical disturbances produced on the trailing pantographs by the interaction between the first pantograph and the catenary. The present-day evolution of pantograph preload regulating systems, exploiting pressure-controlled servo-valves driven by electronic units, allows a diversification of the preloads of front and rear pantographs. In this work, a suitable solution to improve multiple pantograph collection quality is analysed by the use of a lower mean force on the leading pantograph aimed at reducing the oscillations of contact wire the trailing pantograph is subjected to. This would improve the current collection quality of the trailing pantograph, and could be pursued even admitting a slight worsening of front pantograph’s performances.