Acta Mechanica Slovaca 2025, 29(2):38-44 | DOI: 10.21496/ams.2025.018

Tortuosity Decoder as a Tool for Evaluating Tramway Overhead Contact Line Parameters

Peter Onderčo1, *, Jan Rybář2, Jozef Leja3, Sohaibullah Zarghoon4
1 Institute of Automation, Informatization, and Measurement, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Nám. slobody 17, 812 31 Bratislava, Slovakia
2 Institute of Automation, Informatization, and Measurement, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Nám. slobody 17, 812 31 Bratislava, Slovakia
3 Institute of Mathematics and Physics, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Nám. slobody 17, 812 31 Bratislava, Slovakia
4 Institute of Automation, Informatization, and Measurement, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Nám. slobody 17, 812 31 Bratislava, Slovakia

This paper describes a tortuosity decoder used to measure the parameters of overhead contact lines for tram systems. The decoder is integrated into the pantograph of the measuring tram operated by Dopravný podnik Bratislava, a. s. (Bratislava Transport Company). Its primary function is to assess the tortuosity of the overhead contact lines, which is linked to the wear of carbon strips on trams. Additionally, it monitors the stable and reliable contact between the pantograph and the overhead contact line. This measurement is crucial for ensuring the smooth operation of urban public transport, directly impacting the quality of services and overall transportation safety. The maintenance of tram infrastructure relies on the regular collection and analysis of these measured data. The tortuosity decoder is connected to the computer in a tram in where we can evaluate data set and make measurement results. Along with the graphs, the evaluation is also carried out through the balance table of uncertainties, where we chose tortuosity as the main measurement parameter. There is also designed a measurement model for tortuosity, which also considers influencing factors.

Keywords: Measurement, Overhead Contact Line, Quality, Safety, Tortuosity Decoder, Tram.

Received: February 24, 2025; Revised: July 20, 2025; Accepted: July 22, 2025; Published: June 10, 2025  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Onderčo, P., Rybář, J., Leja, J., & Zarghoon, S. (2025). Tortuosity Decoder as a Tool for Evaluating Tramway Overhead Contact Line Parameters. Acta Mechanica Slovaca, 29(2), 38-44. doi: 10.21496/ams.2025.018
Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. . Onderčo, Peter. Measurement and evaluation of selected parameters of tram lines. [Diploma thesis]. Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava. Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Institute of automatization, informatization and measurement. Supervisor: doc. Mgr. Ing. Jan Rybář, PhD. Bratislava: Sjf STU BA, 2024, 79 pages.
    2. . Rybář, Jan; Onderčo, Peter. Příspěvek k měření parametrů tramvajových tratí /Contribution to the measurement of tram line parameters/. In Metrologie /Metrology/. Roč. 32, č. 3 (2023), s. 27 - 30. ISSN 1210-3543.
    3. . Chudý, Vladimír; Palenčár, Rudolf; Kureková, Eva; Halaj, Martin. Meranie technických veličín /Measurement of technical quantities/. Bratislava: STU v Bratislave, 1999. 688 s. ISBN 80-227-1275-2.
    4. . Kubát, Bohumil. Městská a příměstská kolejová doprava /Urban and suburban rail transport/. Praha: Wolters Kluwer Česká republika, 2010. ISBN 978-80-7357-539-7.
    5. . Rybář, Jan; Onderčo, Peter; Vajgel, Rastislav. Měřicí tramvaj jako pojízdná výzkumná laboratoř /Measuring tram as a mobile research laboratory/. In Metrológia, skúšobníctvo a technické normy /Metrology, testing and technical standards/. Roč. 28, č. 1 (2023), s. 5 - 12. ISSN 2989-3178.
    6. . Dovica, Miroslav; Kelemenová, Tatiana; Palenčár, Jakub. Bezdotykové metódy merania geometrických veličín /Non-contact methods for measuring geometric quantities/. 1. vyd. Košice Strojnícka fakulta Technickej univerzity v Košiciach 2020. 171 s. ISBN 978-80-553-3380-9.
    7. . Měření parametrů trakčního vedení /Measurement of overhead contact line parameters/. [document] Softvérpre meranie parametrov trakčného vedenia meracou električkou /Software for measuring traction line parameters with a measuring tram/. Užívateľská príručka /User manual/. 12 strán /12 pages/.
    8. . Spolupráce sběrače proudu a trolejového vedení /Cooperation of current collector and overhead contact line/. Available online: https://docplayer.cz/23310827-Spoluprace-sberace-proudu-a-trolejoveho-vedeni.html (accessed on 25-11-2024).
    9. . Heller, Petr. Kolejová vozidla /Rolling stock/. Plzeň: Západočeská univerzita v Plzni, 2021. ISBN 978-80-261-0693-7.
    10. . Palenčár, Rudolf; Wimmer, Gejza; Palenčár, Jakub; Witkovský, Viktor. Navrhovanie a vyhodnocovanie meraní /Designing and evaluating measurements/. 1. vyd. Bratislava Spektrum STU 2021. 160 s. Edícia vysokoškolských učebníc. ISBN 978-80-227-5080-6.
    11. . Onderčo, Peter; Rybář, Jan; Leja, Jozef. Analýza prístupov a možností inovácií v oblasti merania parametrov električkových tratí v krajinách V4/Analysis of approaches and possibilities for innovation in the field of measuring parameters of tram lines in the V4 countries/. In Recenzovaný sborník příspěvků mezinárodní vědecké konference MMK 2024. 1. vyd. Hradec Králové: Magnanimitas, 2024, S. 901-910. ISBN 978-80-87952-41-2.
    12. . Micro-epsilon, Inductive sensors based on eddy currents. Available online: https://www.micro-epsilon.cz/fileadmin/download/products/cat--eddyNCDT--en.pdf (accessed on 19-07-2025).

    This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original publication is properly cited. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.


    Return to the content