System Adapted For One or More Electrically Propellable Vehicles (Letting Water Pass By Electrical Conductors)

• US 20130025990A1
• Filed: 03/31/2011
• Published: 01/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elways AB
• Original Assignee: Elways AB
• Inventors: Asplund, Gunnar
• Granted Patent: US 8,776,970 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 191/22.C
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 5/40 for collecting current from lines in slotted conduits
• CPC Class Codes: B60M 1/10 Arrangements for energising and de-energising power line sections using magnetic actuation by the passing vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60M 1/34 in slotted conduits
• CPC Class Codes: B60M 1/36 Single contact pieces along the line for power supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 30/30 in transportation, e.g. on roads, waterways or railways

Abstract

This invention comprises an arrangement, adapted to letting water, rain water, melted ice and snow water or the like, to pass by electrical conductors (4a, 4b) and its contact surfaces (4a, 4b) and is related to a rail structure, where said arrangement, in the form of contact means ((4)) such as a current collector (41, 41) for driving an electric and by one or more batteries driven vehicle (1) along a stretch of roadway (2), adapted system (5) comprising: “a” one or more over an electric motor or individual electric motors (5) propellable vehicle (1) and “b” a plurality of road sections dividing the stretch of the roadway (2), each one being allotted one or more electric stations (“s1”, “III”) for thereby charging the batteries (B) of the vehicle (1) and/or supplying the required power and energy for driving the vehicle. At least three tracks (51a, 51, 52) are oriented parallel to each other in a common rail structure (30), where at least two of these tracks (51, 52) are adapted to support and enclose individual rails with contact surfaces (4a′, 4b′), which may be subjected to voltage, and that at least one track (51a) is disposed closer to the upper most portion (501) of the roadway (2) and adjacent to a track (51) for one of said rails (41) and its contact surface, which may be subjected to voltage.

Claims

1. A vehicle-related arm-shaped contact means and an arrangement adapted for letting water, as rain water, melted ice or snow water or the like, pass by electrical conductors and its contact surface (-s) and further related to a rail structure arrangement or system (“

S”

) for propelling an electrically, i.a. by one or several batteries or a set of batteries “

II”

, B), propellable vehicle (1) along a stretch of a roadway (2) and its associated roadway sections or portions (2a1, 2a), comprising “

a”

a plurality of roadway portions (2a1, 2a) for subdividing the stretch of the roadway (2), wherein each one of these road portions is allotted one or more elongated tracks or slits (51) having introduced therein current supplyable and under voltage placeable conductors and its contact surface (-s) (4a, 4b), connectable over a switch to one or more power sources (“

III”

) external to the vehicle, such as electric stations (“

s1”

), for thereby i.a. enabling a charging of said set of batteries (“

II”

, B) related to the vehicle (1), but over the battery set up driving the vehicle (1) along the stretch of roadway (2) and its roadway portion (2a1, 2a), and “

b”

one or more by means of an electric motor (5) or motors powerable vehicles (1), with each of the respective vehicles exhibiting a control circuit (100, “

R1”

) adapted for necessary distribution of power, adapted for creating required power and/or speed control, wherein said vehicle (1) is on its underneath side provided with an up and down and sideways, counting across the direction of transportation of the vehicle, displaceable contact means ((4)), and with said elongated track or tracks and its conductors (4a, 4b) extending along the stretch of the road and its roadway (2) and in which said contact means ((4)) is coordinated with a vehicle-related control equipment (100, 10) for creating an adaptation of the contact means ((4)) so as at least to offer a mechanical and electrical contact with said conductors and its contact surface (-s) (4a, 4b), at least two or three tracks (51, 51a, 52) are disposed parallel to each other in a common rail structure (30), with at least two of these tracks (51, 52) being adapted to support and enclose individual rails as electric contact surfaces (4a′

, 4b′

), subjected to voltage, that at least one track (51a) is disposed closer to the highest point (501) of the roadway (2) and adjacent to a track (51) of one of said contact surfaces (4a′

, 4b′

), that may be subjected to voltage.

2. Rail structure arrangement in accordance with claim 1, wherein said tracks (51a, 51, 52) are disposed within a chosen middle area of a subdivided lane of a roadway (2).

3. Rail structure arrangement in accordance with claim 1, wherein upper open portions of the tracks (51a, 51, 52) are adapted for being connected to a slanting upper surface (501) of the roadway (2).

4. Rail structure arrangement in accordance with claim 1, wherein the tracks, with said contact surfaces, which may be subjected to voltage, are shaped as an elongated rail disposed in a channel in the roadway (2), with said channel being dimensioned as a track or channel (30) for a conductor of snow, ice, and/or surface water to pass by rails with their upwardly open tracks and enclosed contact surfaces.

5. Rails structure arrangement in accordance with claim 4, wherein one edge portion of the channel (30), facing the highest point of the roadway, is disposed at a higher level than the upper edge portion of an adjacent track, with its first contact surface, for being subjected to voltage, whereas another edge portion of the channel, facing towards the edge of the road of the roadway (2), is disposed at a lower level than the upper portion of an adjacent track, with its second contact surface, being subjected to voltage.

6. Rail structure arrangement in accordance with claim 5, wherein the upper edge portion of a first track is angled in the direction of the roadway and adapted to connect to a virtual portion of the roadway, extending between one edge portion of the channel and its other edge portion.

7. Rail structure arrangement in accordance with claim 1, respectively, wherein three individual tracks are formed in the roadway, with two tracks adapted to support and contain individual rails with contact surface (-s) that may be subjected to voltage and with a track (51a) disposed adjacent to said two tracks and facing the highest point of roadway.

8. Rail structure arrangement in accordance with claim 1, wherein said tracks or gaps are disposed parallel to each other in a rail structure having wall sections made of metal and an intermediate wall section separating the external wall sections, that a first conductor surface with its contact surface (-s), which may be subjected to voltage, is allotted a lower portion for a track, limited by a first external wall section and an intermediate wall section, and that a second conductor with its contact surface (-s), which may be subjected to voltage, is allotted a lower portion for another track limited by a second external wall section and said intermediate wall section.

9. Rail structure arrangement in accordance with claim 1, wherein the intermediate wall section is formed of an electrically conductive material.

10. Rail structure arrangement in accordance with claim 1, respectively, wherein a first track is allotted a first electrically insulating layer, applied to surface portions facing each other for a wall section and an intermediate wall section and that this insulating layer is coordinated with a lower portion and intended to support conductor surface with its contact surface (-s), which can be subjected to voltage.

11. Rail structure arrangement in accordance with claim 1, respectively, wherein a second track is allotted a second electrically insulating layer, applied to surface portions facing each other for a second wall section and an intermediate wall section and that this insulating layer is coordinated with a lower portion and intended to support a second conductor surface with its contact surface (-s), which may be subjected to voltage.

12. Rail structure arrangement in accordance with claim 1, respectively, wherein the first electrically conductive layer is separated from the second electrically insulting layer by the intermediate wall section.

13. Rail structure arrangement in accordance with claim 12, wherein at least one of two or more electrically insulating layers are adapted to form an upper edge section, located below an upper edge portion of its associated track.