Ironing
The term ironing is commonly used on trams , railways and trolleybuses and describes the removal of a pantograph from the overhead line . The term refers to the pantograph .
Depending on the vehicle type and age, this is done in different ways: In almost all older types of trams, the power connection is interrupted by pulling down and tying the pantograph with the so-called bow rope that leads into the vehicle. In some cases the pantographs snap into a hook on the vehicle roof. Sometimes the brackets snap into the lowest position. In the case of newer railways, the brackets are lowered by electric motors . They snap into the lowest position.
On some trams and many railways, the pantographs are also lowered by compressed air . A piston pushes the bracket down and it engages. If this did not happen, the bracket would slowly rise again with decreasing pressure until it is in contact with the catenary again .
Attaching a pantograph to the overhead line is called ironing .