Even in early childhood, many of us wondered: how do trams and trolleybuses turn? To children, this action often seemed to be some kind of incomprehensible miracle created by a machinist-wizard. However, if this is still a mystery to you, then it's time to figure out how trams turn on rails.
About the mechanism of movement of trolleybuses
In order to set the car in motion in the direction required along a given route, it is required to move both rods in the same direction, on which the movement of the trolleybus depends. To perform a given function, an arrow that controls the direction is used. To make a left turn of the car, the driver should pass the arrow with the engine running.
As for the right turn, this process occurs under the action of return springs. The movement mechanism of a trolleybus is much simpler than that of a tram, so now we need to dive into the study of a more complex issue, namely: how do trams turn?
About the movement mechanisms fortrams
The arrow of the transport in question has an electronic and remote control system for movement. Inside the mechanism is a double electric drive. The mechanism is put into operation thanks to the contact network, which is under an electrical voltage of about 600 volts.
The first of the electric drives enters the electric circuit with a serial connection in the direction of movement and is located inside the control arrow box on the right side relative to the tram movement, the other electric drive is located on the left.
On the contact wire at a distance of about 17 meters in front of the arrow itself, there are air contacts that lower the arc, which acts as a receiver of the electric current of the tram, slowly and without sudden movements interrupting the connection with the contact wire. At a distance of about 2.5 tens of meters after the arrow, on the left side in the direction of travel, next to the contact wire, there are other air contacts.
If, according to the route, the movement must continue in the right direction, then the driver drives the car under the air contacts, which are coasting up to the arrow, while turning off the engine. Thus, the arrow remains in the right direction to make the turn. If the driver must turn to the left, then he needs to turn on the engine first. At the moment when the tram passes under the air contacts with the engines turned on, an electrical circuit occurs. For this reason, the arrow changes its direction so that the driver cansteer the train to the left.
Now you should pay attention to the air contacts located after the arrow in order to understand exactly how the trams turn. At this interval of the path, another electric circuit already arises. Thanks to this contact, the arrow returns to its original state so that another driver can do the same manipulations. Thus, we answered the question of how the tram turns at the fork.
Conclusion
This topic may be incomprehensible and difficult at first, but believe me that if you delve into it well, you will easily figure it out. We hope that now you will be able to explain to other people how trams turn. Good luck in your further development and self-education!
