Low wear conductor rail for electric railways - has hardened pick-up surface made by diffusing alloying elements into top surface of rail

摘要

The conductor rail is made from an aluminium profile (10) for economy and lightness. The top face of the rail is prepared for a low wear surface for the pickup shoe. Various hardening substances are diffused/alloyed into the top face to form the hard layer. These substances include silicon, iron, nickel and copper. The alloyed layer can be in discrete regions to form a complete surface. The layer has similar thermal expansion properties as the support rail, being mainly aluminium, and there is a minimum electrical resistance between the layer and the rest of the rail. This provides a low wear, low strain and low heating loss conductor surface.