The use of a variety of vehicles is very active today. They are all united by the fact that they need to be managed. The driver's controller is also designed to be controlled. With it, you can remotely control the traction motor in the brake or traction mode.
General description of the purpose of the element
Using the control controller, it is possible to connect to a low voltage source, as well as disconnect in the desired sequence of wires of the control circuit. In other words, with this device, you can turn on and off the high-voltage devices in the desired sequence during start-up, stop, during speed control and change of direction when driving an electric locomotive. The driver's controller is equipped with a small number of handles. Each of them has several main positions, each of which will correspond to a certain mode of operation of the power circuit. Switching these handles, the driver is able to control the vehicle.
Instrument design
When designing a driver controller, several requirements should be followed. Firstly, it should be made in such a way as to ensure maximum simplicity and ease of use. Secondly, the simplest kinematic component for the locking mechanisms should be provided. Thirdly, the dimensions and mass of the entire mechanism should be minimized as much as possible. Among other important design requirements, it is worth highlighting the need to ensure high reliability of all its switching mechanisms, convenience during inspection and during repair of the driver’s controller.
In addition, all the handles should be placed on the remote control in such a way as to ensure not only simplicity and ease of use, but also so that during the control of the locomotive the driver would not be distracted from monitoring signals, paths, and the network. The driver’s controller has interlocking mechanisms. This eliminates the erroneous movement of two opposite in function handles by the driver.
Zero position
Another important point in the operation of any controller of the driver is the zero position of one of the handles. Most often, it becomes reverse or reverse-selective. Its main feature is the ability to remove. It can only be removed from the control panel after moving to the zero position. The peculiarity lies in the fact that such a lever can be moved to a similar position only after all other handles are moved to the zero position. It should be noted that the device of the controller of the driver assumes the presence of only 1 removable reverse or reverse-selective handle on all control panels, despite the fact that the controller itself will be installed in each control cabin of the locomotive.
This whole system is necessary so that the driver could not mistakenly leave any handle on on one of the controllers. This would cause a malfunction in the normal operation of the electrical circuit when controlling an electric locomotive or electric train from another controller.
Main types
The purpose of the driver controller remains unchanged for any design. To date, there are two main types - drum, cam.
As for the design of the drum controllers, in this case, the closing and opening of the wires of the control circuit will be carried out using special segments located on the drum. The so-called fingers are attached to this segment, which, in turn, are connected to the corresponding wires for controlling the electrical circuit. The fingers themselves are attached to the stand.
If we talk about cam controllers, in this case instead of a drum, cam contactors or contactor elements are used to close the control wires of the circuit. These elements are mounted on a special rack, and cam washers act on them.
Description of the KME-8 controller
In order to better familiarize yourself with the purpose and principle of the controller, you can take a few specific examples. A set of freight electric locomotives has a device such as KME-8.
As for its design, it relates to cam devices. If we talk about the KME-8 controller, then it consists of the following main parts: a case with a cast base, a cast cover and several vertical racks. On the front, the entire body is covered with a casing; in the back there is also a casing, but it is already removable. The same contactor elements for control are attached to the rear vertical racks of the controller. Moving contacts will be controlled by cam washers that are worn on special vertical shafts. It is the rotation of these shafts that the driver will control by moving the handles of the controller.
Handle design
You should start with the main lever, which, of course, is connected to the main shaft. This lever allows you to control the traction motors in the appropriate mode and at the same time has 37 positions, not counting the zero.
Next, pay attention to the brake handle, which is connected to the brake shaft. If you move the lever clockwise, then the positions of the controller of the driver in this case are limited to 15, not counting zero. Moving the handle will mean regulating the excitation current in a regenerative mode. This lever can also be rotated counterclockwise. In this case, he will have only 4 positions that will weaken the excitation of traction engines.
To fix both the main and brake grips in one place, a latch or a special protrusion can be used. If we talk about the latch, then it has a tooth that moves into a special slot due to the action of the spring. In order to move the lever from its place, that is, move it to another position, you will need to press the latch against it so that the tooth comes out of the groove. After that, the handle can be moved, the latch is released, and the lever can be moved until it enters the next groove.
Purpose of a reversing or reversing-selective handle
As for the most important handle - reverse-selective, it connects to the same shaft. With ball bearings, it is mounted on top of the brake shaft. Design feature is as follows. The reverse-selective shaft mounted on the brake shaft is connected to the second reverse-selective shaft by means of a gear transmission. The second shaft is mounted on the main shaft. As for the positions of the lever of this type, it has nine positions. One of them is zero, and 4 positions in each direction.
When translating “Forward” counterclockwise - 4 positions, when translating “Back” clockwise - 4 more. When moving the lever forward, the position “M” corresponding to operation in traction mode will be included in the first position. The following three items will correspond to different schemes for connecting traction motors in braking mode. This will be a parallel connection "P", serial-parallel "SP" and serial "C". As for the positions when moving the handle back, they will all be similar to these.
Locomotive controller
The controller of the locomotive driver is intended for ionic control of the locomotive's power plant. If in the case of an electric locomotive switching the reversing handle changes the control circuit, then for a locomotive moving such a lever will mean a change in direction.
As for the design, the controller is assembled from a welded body, a steel cover, two drums - the main and the reversing one. In addition, there is a reversible type handle and helm. The shafts of this controller also have cam washers. Using these washers, you can close and open the contact elements in the desired sequence.