Wear estimation of current collector contact strips by analysis of a 3D scanning results

The technical condition of current collector contact strips is very important when operational reliability of railway transportation is considered. The authors proposed a novel measurement system based on a 3D camera to register the shape and dimensions of the current collector contact strips surface. The system was installed above the railway track for tests in target ambient. During the trial operation a few dozen of contact strips 3D-profiles were recorded for the locomotives which passed the test point. The collected results vary widely, particularly with regard to the position and tilt of the obtained profiles. This variety makes the surface analysis more complex. Therefore, an automatic method for normalization of the registered profiles was introduced. Standardized profiles are compared with the pattern of a new contact strip in order to estimate their wear. Summary of scanning and analysis results confirm the possibility of commercial use of the introduced system.