Electrical power supply and guidance assembly along a ground rail for a wheeled vehicle
First Claim
1. An electrical power supply and guidance unit for guiding and supplying electrical power to a wheeled transportation vehicle, the wheeled transportation vehicle having a pivoting support including a guide head equipped with at least one pair of guide wheels being arranged in a downward pointing V configuration;
- the electrical power supply and guidance unit comprising;
a guide rail being supported by a desired ground surface, the guide rail having a central guiding core forming a pathway for cooperating with the guide wheels of the pivoting support;
the central guiding core protruding from a base of the guide rail and, during guidance of the wheeled transportation vehicle, the central guiding core being located between and engaged with the guide wheels of the pivoting support, the guide rail also having electrical supply conductors for supplying electrical power to the wheeled transportation vehicle, and said central guiding core further supporting a pair of protective elements being arranged to protect the electrical supply conductors while allowing the guide head to temporarily displace the adjacent protective elements to facilitate contact between the guide head and the guide rail.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical power supply and guidance assembly for a wheeled vehicle, consisting of a raisable and pivotable guide member supporting at least one pair of guide wheels which together define a V shape and engage the central web of the rail, the rail being a guiding profile section used as a track. Covering portions forming a linear closure protect the space containing the conductors. Opening mechanisms enable the contact portion(s) to pass through and along the closure to collect the supply current and automatically close the closure. The assembly is particularly suitable for electrically powered urban wheeled transport.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An electrical power supply and guidance unit for guiding and supplying electrical power to a wheeled transportation vehicle, the wheeled transportation vehicle having a pivoting support including a guide head equipped with at least one pair of guide wheels being arranged in a downward pointing V configuration;
- the electrical power supply and guidance unit comprising;
a guide rail being supported by a desired ground surface, the guide rail having a central guiding core forming a pathway for cooperating with the guide wheels of the pivoting support;
the central guiding core protruding from a base of the guide rail and, during guidance of the wheeled transportation vehicle, the central guiding core being located between and engaged with the guide wheels of the pivoting support, the guide rail also having electrical supply conductors for supplying electrical power to the wheeled transportation vehicle, and said central guiding core further supporting a pair of protective elements being arranged to protect the electrical supply conductors while allowing the guide head to temporarily displace the adjacent protective elements to facilitate contact between the guide head and the guide rail. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- the electrical power supply and guidance unit comprising;
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13. An electrical power supply and guidance unit in combination with a guide head being pivotably supported by a wheeled transportation vehicle for guiding and supplying electrical power to the wheeled transportation vehicle, the guide head being equipped with at least one pair of guide wheels arranged in a downward pointing V configuration;
- and the electrical power supply and guidance unit comprising;
a guide rail being supported by a desired ground surface, the guide rail having a central guiding core forming a pathway for cooperating with the guide wheels of the guide head;
the guide rail also having electrical supply conductors for supplying electrical power to the wheeled transportation vehicle, said central guiding core further supporting a pair of protective elements being arranged to protect the electrical supply conductors while allowing the guide head to temporarily displace the protective elements and facilitate contact between the guide head and the guide rail;
the protective elements comprise two cover elements made from a flexible material and being supported by the central guiding core; and
the guide head has, on at least one side of each inclined guide wheel, a contact-holding support and means for displacing a lip of each protective element. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
- and the electrical power supply and guidance unit comprising;
Specification