Auxiliary vehicle current collector
US5673774A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 25, 1995 |
| Grant date | Oct 7, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 25, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60L2200/26
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An energy collector allows flow of electrical energy between a vehicle and a rail of a railway track. The energy collector includes a vehicle mounting device for mounting the energy collector to such vehicle; a collector shoe for sliding electrical contact on such rail; and a lever arm having a first end and a second end. The energy collector also includes a bottom torsion unit connected to the collector shoe and connected to the second end of the lever arm. The bottom torsion unit is disposed so that the collector shoe is forcefully and generally aligned upon such rail even as the collector shoe encounters physical deviations along a surface of such rail. The energy collector further includes a top torsion unit connected to the vehicle mounting device and connected to the first end of the lever arm. The top torsion unit is disposed so that a generally downwardly oriented force is applied to and conveyed by the lever arm to and through the bottom torsion unit to the collector shoe so as to encourage contact between the collector shoe and such rail. The energy collector additionally includes a shunt engageable at an initial end to such vehicle and connected at a terminal end to the …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.