OCS SECTIONING & SWITCHING / 25 kV AC · 1.5 kV DC CRCC CERTIFIED / TB/T · GB · IEC

What types of steady arms exist and why must they slope upward?

Straight, bent and limiting steady arms; 1:5-1:10 upward slope puts the tube in compression

Short answer: Steady arms (locators) come as straight-tube (conventional lines), bent-tube (restricted clearance in tunnels - the bend frees headroom for pantograph lift) and limiting types (capping uplift on high-speed sections). The common slope standard is 1:5 to 1:10 upward (root higher than tip): when the pantograph lifts the wire, the force travels along the tube axis so the tube works in compression rather than bending - far more efficient.

Consequences of wrong slope

Too flat or downward: the tip sinks, creating a hard point or pantograph strike; too steep: stagger-holding ability drops. Bent arms installed reversed produce a reverse slope and an immediate strike risk. Current maintenance rules grade static angles (standard/alert/limit) - apply the line-specific regulation.

Related products

Positioning device product family

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