Apparently it is in SNCF-land.
https://www.railforums.co.uk/forums/infrastructure-stations.43/create-thread
https://www.railforums.co.uk/forums/infrastructure-stations.43/create-thread
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Is OHLE lubrication a thing?
- Thread starter Peter Fox
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edwin_m
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I think you've linked to the screen you used to create the thread, not to the one you intended to!Apparently it is in SNCF-land.
https://www.railforums.co.uk/forums/infrastructure-stations.43/create-thread
The graphite pantograph thread provides lubrication as it gradually wears away. I'm not aware of anything else being used but interested to hear.
I had some involvement with pantograph carbons (or the fallout from them) at one time. A nice man at Morganite, who also make crucibles, told me that the carbon/graphite is also impregnated with copper to increase its conductivity and lead for lubrication. Presumably both also strengthen the carbon. I got the impression it was done in a bath of liquid metal after the first stage of production, but I suppose the whole thing might be sintered in one process.
Sorry for the link cock-up above. The proper link is:https://www.railpictures.net/photo/722000/
(No, it wasn't an excess of 'lubrication'.)
(No, it wasn't an excess of 'lubrication'.)
That looks really nasty! I have never heard of OLE lubrication anywhere else, but a thought: Are you sure it's lubricant?
I remember a night-time mid-winter journey into Austria, when the whole valley was lit up by the arc of the pantograph. I decided that it was because thick frost had iced up the wire, and the arc was being struck through the mm or two of ice. Something must have been getting damaged!
High-current relatively low voltage DC might benefit from "Kilfrost" or something similar being applied to the wires.
I remember a night-time mid-winter journey into Austria, when the whole valley was lit up by the arc of the pantograph. I decided that it was because thick frost had iced up the wire, and the arc was being struck through the mm or two of ice. Something must have been getting damaged!
High-current relatively low voltage DC might benefit from "Kilfrost" or something similar being applied to the wires.
edwin_m
Veteran Member
Guessing here, but I wonder if the current on DC OLE systems is too much to use graphite, as it's not a very good conductor so might get too hot. If the SNCF DC pantographs have (or had) metal to metal contact them maybe that's why they need (or needed) lubrication?
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