Continuously installable/removable collector trolley

• US 6,805,226 B1
• Filed: 02/07/2003
• Issued: 10/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Universal Electric Corp. (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: Universal Electric Corp. (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Ross, Steven L., Hilgert, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, MARK T
• Application Number:
  US10/360,246
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 191/23.R, 191/23.A, 191/48, 191/25, 191/28, 191/30, 191/45.R, 191/49, 191/50, 191/52, 191/63.1, 191/54.1, 191/59, 191/45.A, 104/89, 104/93, 104/94, 104/95, 104/139, 104/140, 105/148, 105/150, 105/153, 105/154, 105/155, 105/15, 16/91, 16/97, 161/06
• US Class Current: 191/45.00A
• 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 1/34 in slotted conduits

Abstract

A continuously installable/removable collector trolley includes a plurality of selectively extendable and retractable bearing assemblies. The bearing assemblies may be retracted to permit insertion and removal of the trolley into a conductor bar track at any point along the track. The bearing assemblies may then be extended to secure the trolley within the track, and to permit the bearings to roll along the track, permitting movement of the trolley.

Claims

1. A collector trolley for use within a conductor bar system, the conductor bar system having a plurality of conductor bars contained within a housing, the housing further having a pair of shelves along its lower sections for supporting the trolley, the trolley comprising:

a chassis dimensioned and configured to fit within the housing, the chassis having four corners;

a plurality of electrically conductive brushes extending from the chassis, each of the brushes being dimensioned and configured to form an electrical connection with one of the conductor bars; and

a plurality of bearing assemblies, each bearing assembly including a base and at least one bearing, each bearing assembly being structured to selectively reciprocate between a retracted position and an extended position, the bearing assemblies being dimensioned and configured to permit insertion and removal of the collector trolley from the housing when in the retracted position, and to support the collector trolley on the shelves, with the bearings rolling along the shelves and each of the brushes forming an electrical connection with one of the conductor bars, when the bearing assemblies are in the extended position.

2. The collector trolley according to claim 1, wherein the bearing assemblies are four in number, with one bearing assembly disposed adjacent to one of the four comers of the collector trolley.

3. The collector trolley according to claim 2, further comprising a pair of release levers, each of the release levers being dimensioned and configured to selectively and generally simultaneously extend and retract two of the four bearing assemblies.

4. The collector trolley according to claim 1, wherein each bearing assembly includes a pair of bearings.

5. The collector trolley according to claim 1, wherein:

the chassis includes a polarizer; and

the housing includes a polarizing lip, dimensioned and configured to interfere with the polarizer upon insertion of the chassis into the housing in an improper orientation, thereby resisting insertion of the chassis in the improper orientation.

6. The collector trolley according to claim 1, wherein the brushes are in the form of generally rectangular plates.

7. The collector trolley according to claim 6, wherein the brushes are slidably mounted within the chassis, with the brushes sliding between a retracted position and an extended position, and being spring-biased towards the extended position.

8. A collector trolley for use within a conductor bar system, the conductor bar system having a plurality of conductor bars contained within a housing, the housing further having a pair of shelves alone its lower sections for supporting the trolley, the trolley comprising:

a chassis dimensioned and configured to fit within the housing, the chassis having four corners;

a plurality of electrically conductive brushes extending from the chassis, each of the brushes being dimensioned and configured to form an electrical connection with one of the conductor bars;

four bearing assemblies, each bearing assembly being disposed adjacent to one of the four corners of the collector trolley, each bearing assembly including a base and at least one bearing, each bearing assembly being structured to selectively reciprocate between a retracted position and an extended position, the bearing assemblies being dimensioned and configured to permit insertion and removal of the collector trolley from the housing when in the retracted position, and to support the collector trolley on the shelves, with the bearings rolling alone the shelves and each of the brushes forming an electrical connection with one of the conductor bars, when the bearing assemblies are in the extended position;

a pair of release levers, each of the release levers being dimensioned and configured to selectively and generally simultaneously extend and retract two of the four bearing assemblies, each release lever further having;

a base;

a handle portion;

a pivot axis about which the release lever is rotated;

a pair of pins extending from the base, located radially outward from the pivot axis;

the base of each bearing assembly defines a slot dimensioned and configured to receive one of the pins; and

the release levers and bearing assemblies being dimensioned and configured so that rotation of each release lever causes the pin to push the pair of bearing assemblies associated with it towards either their extended position or their retracted position.

9. The collector trolley according to claim 8, wherein each of the release levers includes a means for securing the release lever in a position corresponding to the extended position of the bearings.

10. A conductor bar system, comprising:

an elongated housing, comprising;

a plurality of conductor bars;

a pair of lower sections, each lower edge section having a shelf;

a collector trolley, comprising;

a chassis dimensioned and configured to fit within the housing, the chassis having four corners;

a plurality of electrically conductive brushes extending from the chassis, each of the brushes being dimensioned and configured to form an electrical connection with one of the conductor bars; and

a plurality of bearing assemblies, each bearing assembly including a base and at least one bearing, each bearing assembly being structured to selectively reciprocate between a retracted position and an extended position, the bearing assemblies being dimensioned and configured to permit insertion and removal of the collector trolley from the housing when in the retracted position, and to support the collector trolley on the shelves, with the bearings rolling along the shelves and each of the brushes forming an electrical connection with one of the conductor bars, when the bearing assemblies are in the extended position.

11. The conductor bar system according to claim 10, wherein the bearing assemblies are four in number, with one bearing assembly disposed adjacent to one of the four corners of the collector trolley.

12. The conductor bar system according to claim 11, further comprising a pair of release levers, each of the release levers being dimensioned and configured to selectively and generally simultaneously extend and retract two of the four bearing assemblies.

13. The conductor bar system according to claim 10, wherein each bearing assembly includes a pair of bearings.

14. The conductor bar system according to claim 10, wherein:

the chassis includes a polarizer; and

the housing includes a polarizing lip, dimensioned and configured to interfere with the polarizer upon insertion of the chassis into the housing in an improper orientation, thereby resisting insertion of the chassis in the improper orientation.

15. The conductor bar system according to claim 10, wherein the brushes are in the form of generally rectangular plates.

16. The conductor bar system according to claim 15, wherein the brushes are slidably mounted within the chassis, with the brushes sliding between a retracted position and an extended position, and being spring-biased towards the extended position.

17. A conductor bar system, comprising:

an elongated housing, comprising;

a plurality of conductor bars;

a pair of lower sections, each lower edge section having a shelf;

a collector trolley, comprising;

a chassis dimensioned and configured to fit within the housing, the chassis having four corners;

a plurality of electrically conductive brushes extending from the chassis, each of the brushes being dimensioned and configured to form an electrical connection with one of the conductor bars;

four bearing assemblies, each bearing assembly being disposed adjacent to one of the four corners of the collector trolley, each bearing assembly including a base and at least one bearing, each bearing assembly being structured to selectively reciprocate between a retracted position and an extended position, the bearing assemblies being dimensioned and configured to permit insertion and removal of the collector trolley from the housing when in the retracted position, and to support the collector trolley on the shelves, with the bearings rolling alone the shelves and each of the brushes forming an electrical connection with one of the conductor bars, when the bearing assemblies are in the extended position;

a pair of release levers, each of the release levers being dimensioned and configured to selectively and generally simultaneously extend and retract two of the four bearing assemblies, each release lever further having;

a base;

a handle portion;

a pivot axis about which the release lever is rotated;

a pair of pins extending from the base, located radially outward from the pivot axis;

the base of each bearing assembly defines a slot dimensioned and configured to receive one of the pins; and

the release levers and bearing assemblies being dimensioned and configured so that rotation of each release lever causes the pin to push the pair of bearing assemblies associated with it towards either their extended position or their retracted position.

18. The conductor bar system according to claim 17, wherein each of the release levers includes a means for securing the release lever in a position corresponding to the extended position of the bearings.