Electric Power Supply Assembly with Assisted Establishment of Electrical Contact with a Power-Collecting Track Carried by an Electrically Powered Vehicle

• US 20140262662A1
• Filed: 10/08/2012
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NewTL
• Original Assignee: NewTL
• Inventors: Andre, Jean-Luc
• Granted Patent: US 9,586,483 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 191/2
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 5/06 Structure of the rollers or their carrying means
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 5/42 for collecting current from individual contact pieces connected to the power supply line
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/32 by charging in short intervals along the itinerary, e.g. during short stops
• CPC Class Codes: B60M 1/36 Single contact pieces along the line for power supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

An electrical power supply system with assistance with the making of electrical contact, of a type having a power supply arm mounted on a post positioned alongside the road, entering into electrical contact with a longitudinal conductor rail carried on the vehicle, is characterized in that the arm has—at its end—a means of rolling or sliding that enters into moving contact with an adjacent lane alongside the conductor rail at the beginning of its length. This invention concerns the domain of electrically-propelled vehicles carrying at least one longitudinal power supply rail.

Claims

1. An electrical power system for an electrically-propelled vehicle with at least one electrical power distribution arm articulated on a post, with such posts being positioned at intervals along the road on which the vehicle is traveling;

the said arm is electrically connected to an electrical power supply, and is equipped with an electrical contact component used as a shoegear on a longitudinal conductor rail carried by the vehicle, characterized in that the following is provided for the arm associated with the longitudinal conductor rail carried by the vehicle;

a part of the arm that assists with the optimal making of electrical contact between the electrical contact component of the arm and the conductor rail carried by the vehicle and incorporates a temporary contact and pressure component;

a travel lane present on at least a part of the front upper section of the vehicle, adjacent to the conductor rail and extending over at least a portion of the length of the conductor rail, with the said temporary contact and pressure component bearing and moving on the said travel lane at the commencement of passing of the vehicle under the arm, before the electrical contact component bears on the said conductor rail.

2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the travel lane is a bearing ramp rising from the front to the rear of the vehicle.

3. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the ramp has a curved shape.

4. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the travel lane mounted on the vehicle a suspension.

5. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the travel lane extends over a limited length of the vehicle in relation to the length of the conductor rail, to release the temporary contact and bearing component from any contact with the vehicle when optimal electrical contact is established between the electrical contact component and the conductor rail.

6. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the travel lane extends over the entire length of the conductor rail, which incorporates a progressive and sufficient elevation of its upper contact surface in relation to the said travel lane to release the said travel lane from the temporary contact and bearing component when optimal electrical contact is established between the electrical contact component and the upper contact surface of the conductor rail.

7. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the arm is mounted on the post by an articulation connected to a suspension device of the arm.

8. The system according to claim 7, characterized in that the suspension device incorporates a load compensation spring and a damper.

9. The system according to claim 7, characterized in that the pivoting articulation of the arm on the post is offset transversally in relation to the vehicle, beyond the post.

10. An electrical power supply system according to claim 1, characterized in that the temporary contact and pressure component is positioned at the free end of the arm.

11. The electrical power supply system according to claim 1, characterized in that the temporary contact and pressure component is a rolling device that moves along the travel lane adjacent to the conductor rail.

12. The electrical power system according to claim 11, characterized in that the rolling device is carried on a roller bearing, in a dampened or floating manner, by the arm.

13. The electrical power supply system according to claim 1, characterized in that the temporary contact and pressure component is a sliding device that moves along the travel lane adjacent to the conductor rail.

14. The electrical power system according to claim 13, characterized in that the sliding device is carried in a dampened or floating manner, by the arm.

15. A power supply system according to claim 1, characterized in that it incorporates two electrical distribution arms, each coming into contact with a conductor rail existing on each of the longitudinal sides of the roof, or on each upper part of each side of the vehicle, with each arm being connected to one polarity of the vehicle'"'"'s electrical power supply.

16. The system according to claim 3, wherein the curved shape is a convex dome.

17. The system according to claim 11, wherein the rolling device is a wheel or roller.

18. The system according to claim 13, wherein the sliding device is a lug or shoe.