Contact Wire Inspection System (CIS)

The Contact Wire Inspection System (CIS) measures wire position and wear contactlessly in a single measurement process. The system comprises a Wire Wear Monitoring System (WWS), a Contact Wire Recording System (CRS) and an optional Laser Pole Detection System (LPS).

Reliable operation at up to 250 km/h

The CIS is mounted on the roof of an inspection car. Due to its high measurement frequency and rapid data processing, the system is suitable for use at speeds of up to 250 km/h. A processing unit inside the inspection train provides the operators on site with processed position data that has already been adjusted for the train’s roll, which is recorded separately. Additional features, such as the automatic cleaning of the measurement window, ensure that the system operates reliably and requires little maintenance. The CIS has its own lighting unit, meaning it can be operated reliably in any lighting conditions, including at night, in tunnels, or under bridges.

Camera-based wire wear detection

Cameras are used to identify the level of wire wear. The residual thickness of contact wires with a round cross section is calculated from the width of their sliding surface. The CIS’ camera-based measuring unit records the sliding surface and uses this information to derive data about the degree of wear. At a speed of 100 km/h, a line image is acquired every millimeter. Typically, a measurement value is generated every 12 mm.

Laser-based wire and pole detection

The CRS, a laser-based measuring unit, records the contact wire position. The system scans at high frequencies, achieving high precision. The measurement range extends from 0.5 m to 4 m depending on the environmental conditions.
Another laser-based system, the LPS, can be integrated into the CIS for pole detection. The LPS provides precise pole location data where GNSS fails due to local coverage problems. This helps to reliably locate defective sections identified during position and wear measurements. 

Contact Wire Inspection System Low-Speed (CIS-LS)

With the CIS-LS, we offer a low-speed, low-priced version of the CIS. The CIS-LS records the vertical and horizontal position and wire wear of up to four contact wires simultaneously.