The crane collector is a key component of bridge cranes, gantry cranes and other cranes, responsible for powering the crane in motion (power transmission). It transfers the power of a fixed power source (such as a busbar) to the crane motor and control system through sliding contact, ensuring that the equipment continues to obtain power during movement. The following are the main knowledge points about the crane collector:
Crane Current Collector Basic Structure
Collector brush (carbon brush): a core conductive component, usually made of graphite or copper-based composite materials, directly in contact and rub with the busbar.
Collector arm (bracket): a metal arm supporting the collector brush, with a spring or air pressure device to maintain contact pressure.
Insulating component: prevents current from leaking to the crane metal structure.
Collector head: multiple groups can be connected in parallel to adapt to power supply systems with different phases or poles (such as three-phase AC or DC).
Crane Current Collector Working Principle
The crane collector is pressed against the busbar (such as a copper busbar or angle steel) by a spring or gravity mechanism, and continues to slide in contact as the crane moves.
The current flows from the busbar → collector brush → collector wire → crane electrical system, forming a closed loop.
As a key component of power transmission, the product advantages of crane collectors are mainly reflected in efficient power supply, reliability, adaptability and convenient maintenance. The following is a detailed analysis of its main advantages:
Efficient and stable power transmission
Low contact resistance: Use highly conductive materials (such as copper-graphite composite brushes) to reduce energy loss and improve power supply efficiency.
Continuous power supply: The sliding contact design ensures that there is no risk of power failure during the movement of the crane, avoiding sudden shutdown of the equipment.
Multi-pole integration: Supports three-phase AC or DC multi-pole synchronous power supply to meet the needs of high-power cranes.
High reliability and long life
Wear-resistant design: The collector brush is made of materials such as graphite and copper alloy, which are resistant to arc and mechanical wear and can last for tens of thousands of operations.
Adaptive pressure: The spring or pneumatic mechanism automatically adjusts the contact pressure to compensate for the unevenness or vibration of the busbar.
Anti-fall structure: The collector arm is equipped with a mechanical locking device to prevent the collector brush from detaching from the busbar due to crane vibration.
Wide adaptability
Strong environmental compatibility:
High protection level (IP54 and above), dustproof, waterproof, corrosion-resistant, suitable for harsh environments such as ports and metallurgy.
High temperature resistant models (such as metallurgical grade collectors) can withstand temperatures above 200°C.
Compatible with a variety of busbars: can be matched with copper bars, steel-aluminum composite rails, safety busbars, etc.
Flexible installation: supports top installation, side installation, oblique installation and other methods to adapt to different crane structures.
Convenient and economical maintenance
Modular design: The collector brushes can be replaced individually without disassembling the entire component, reducing maintenance costs.
Status visibility: Some models are equipped with wear indicators or alarm contacts to prompt replacement time.
Low maintenance requirements: Self-lubricating brushes reduce the frequency of manual lubrication and are suitable for high-operation rate occasions.
Safety protection
Insulation protection: The collector housing is made of high-strength insulating material to prevent leakage or short circuit.
Anti-arc design: Special materials or arc extinguishing structures reduce sparks during sliding contact and reduce fire risks.
Overload protection: Linked with the circuit breaker, it quickly cuts off the power supply when the current is abnormal.
Intelligent upgrade (high-end models)
Real-time monitoring: integrated temperature and current sensors, data feedback to the crane control system.
Wireless transmission: some new collectors support wireless status monitoring to achieve predictive maintenance.
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Why Choose Weihua Group's Crane Current Collectors?
1. A Benchmark in China's Crane Industry: Weihua Group is one of the leading crane manufacturers in China. Its products are widely used in key national sectors such as ports, metallurgy, energy, and aerospace. Its brand itself guarantees reliability and quality.
2. Superior Conductivity and Wear Resistance: The core of the current collector is the sliding contact line and the current collector brush (carbon brush block). Weihua typically uses high-quality T2 copper conductors, special aluminum alloys, or copper-based composite materials, coupled with high-performance metal graphite or metal-impregnated graphite brushes, ensuring low contact resistance, high conductivity, excellent wear resistance, and long lifespan, reducing electrical sparks and energy loss.
3. High Safety and Stability: The design emphasizes arc protection, dust prevention, and corrosion resistance (especially in outdoor or harsh environments). The current collector has a high IP rating and a robust mechanical structure, effectively coping with vibrations and impacts during crane operation, ensuring continuous, stable, and safe power supply without failure.
4. Adaptability and Modular Design: Weihua's current collectors are highly compatible with crane systems. Meanwhile, the product line is comprehensive, ranging from light to heavy-duty, and from ordinary environments to special environments such as explosion-proof and corrosion-resistant, with corresponding solutions. Modular replacement is supported for convenient maintenance.
5. Strict Quality Control System: From raw material selection to the production process and factory testing, Weihua adheres to a strict quality management system (such as ISO and CE certifications) to ensure that every product meets high standards.
6. Professional Technical Support: Weihua provides full-process technical support from selection and installation guidance to commissioning. Their engineers have a deeper understanding of the overall crane system and can provide optimal current collector configuration solutions.
Suitable Scenarios for Choosing Weihua Crane Current Collectors:
1. Situations with extremely high requirements for equipment reliability and safety (such as large ports, busy factory workshops, and hazardous environments).
2. Working conditions with high crane operating intensity and long continuous working hours.
3. Users who want to maintain consistency with the crane manufacturer's brand and obtain original manufacturer quality assurance and service.
4. Projects that pursue long-term stable operation and hope to reduce overall maintenance costs.
