The invention relates to a device for controlling and regulating a required pressing force from a current collector of a vehicle on an overhead line, a method for using such a device and a vehicle having at least one such device, wherein the device has a base control circuit, an additional control circuit and a working pressure control circuit. The base control circuit has a base control circuit adjustment device for adjusting a base pressure from a provided power pressure and the additional control circuit has a control device for adjusting an additional pressure from a provided power pressure, wherein the base pressure and the additional pressure act together to form a working pressure and to provide the required pressing force.

Methods and systems for precision charging control of an untethered vehicle include at least a wireless charging antenna carried by a vehicle and in electrical communication with a vehicle propulsion system. A plurality of wireless charging antennae is positioned on or within a roadway and are in communication with at least a roadway control system and a power source. An authentication connection is established between the vehicle wireless charging antenna and the roadway control system. A dynamic seek operation is triggered between the first wireless charging antenna and the one of the plurality of second wireless charging antennae to pair the first wireless charging antenna with the one of the plurality of second wireless charging antennae. A quantity of electrical energy is transferred between the first wireless charging antenna and the one of the plurality of second wireless charging antennae.

An apparatus in which electric power is generated for an electrical load from differentials in electric field strengths within a vicinity of powerlines includes: a plurality of electrodes separated and electrically insulated from one another for enabling differentials in voltage resulting from differentials in electric field strength experienced there at; and electrical components electrically connected therewith and configurable to establish one or more electric circuits whereby voltage differentials cause a current to flow through the established electric circuit for powering the electrical load. Preferably, the apparatus includes a control assembly having one or more voltage-detector components configured to detect relative voltages of the electrodes; and a processor enabled to configure—based on the detected voltages and based on voltage and electric current specifications for powering the electrical load—one or more of the electrical components to establish an electric circuit for powering the electrical load.

A UAV in which electric power is generated for an electric load from differentials in electric field strengths within a vicinity of powerlines includes: a plurality of electrodes separated and electrically insulated from one another for enabling differentials in voltage resulting from differentials in electric field strength experienced thereat; and electrical components electrically connected therewith and configurable to establish one or more electric circuits whereby voltage differentials causes a current to flow through the established electric circuit for powering an electric load. Preferably, the UAV includes a control assembly having one or more voltage-detector components configured to detect relative voltages of the electrodes; and a processor enabled to configure—based on the detected voltages and based on voltage and electric current specifications for powering the electric load—one or more of the electrical components to establish an electric circuit for powering the electric load.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, a charging station for charging of a UAV within a vicinity of powerlines includes an interface for electric coupling with the UAV for charging of a rechargeable battery of the UAV; a power supply having first and second electrodes separated and electrically insulated from each other for enabling a differential in voltage at the first and second electrodes resulting from a differential in electric field strength experienced at the first and second electrodes when within the vicinity of the powerlines; and electrical components electrically connected with the first and second electrodes and configured to establish a circuit with the rechargeable battery of the UAV when electronically coupled with the interface. The differential in voltage between the first and second electrodes causes electric current to flow through the electric circuit for charging the battery of the UAV.

A system for wirelessly transmitting power between a track and independent movers in a motion control system includes a pick-up coil provided proximate to the magnets on the movers. The fundamental component of the voltage applied to the drive coils interacts primarily with the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnets on the movers and not with the pick-up coil. Consequently, the pick-up coil does not interfere with desired operation of the movers but rather, interacts primarily with the harmonic components and has current and voltages induced within the pick-up coil as a result of the harmonic components. The energy captured by the pick-up coil reduces the amplitude of eddy currents on the mover. After harvesting the harmonic content, the pick-up coil may be connected to another circuit on the mover and serve as a supply voltage for the other circuit.

The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for inductive positioning of a current collector (14; 24) on a vehicle relative to a stationary current conductor (13; 23; 33; 43; 53). The invention involves transmitting a signal having predetermined phase characteristics using a signal transmitter (37; 47; 57) arranged along the longitudinal direction of the current conductor (13; 23; 33; 43; 53); detecting the transmitted signal using a signal receiver on the vehicle, which signal receiver comprises at least one vertical antenna (30; 40; 50a, 50b); detecting the phase characteristics of the signal induced in the at least one vertical antenna (30; 40; 50a, 50b), indicating the relative location of the vertical antenna (30; 40; 50a, 50b) and the signal transmitter (37; 47; 57) in the transverse direction of the vehicle; and controlling the positioning means (25, 26) in dependence of the received signals.

An apparatus comprises a first induction section comprising a first core and a first coil on the first core. A second induction section comprises a second core and a second coil on the second core. The first core comprises rail extensions, where at least two of the rail extensions extend from opposite ends of the first core. The second core comprises shoe portions located at respective ones of the rail extensions, where a gap is provided between each of the rail extensions and respective ones of the shoe portion. The second induction section is configured to move relative to the first induction section in a path along the extensions. The first induction section is configured to induce current in the second induction section, including when the second core moves relative to the first core along the extensions, to provide a contactless induction coupling between the first induction section and the second induction section.

A high speed train power unit comprising: carbody that comprises: a roof; a floor; a driver's cab at a front end of the carbody; and a technical compartment that comprises: a low voltage zone that comprises an air conditioning unit designed to condition the driver's cab, wherein the air conditioning unit is on the roof, a traction zone that comprises a rheostatic brake on the roof, and a technical zone, wherein the low voltage zone, the traction zone, and the technical zone of the technical compartment are respectively located next to each other along a longitudinal axis of the power unit; at least two bogies mounted under the floor of the carbody; and a main transformer located under the carbody between the bogies.

A high speed train power unit comprising: carbody that comprises: a roof; a floor; a driver's cab at a front end of the carbody; and a technical compartment that comprises: a low voltage zone that comprises an air conditioning unit designed to condition the driver's cab, wherein the air conditioning unit is on the roof, a traction zone that comprises a rheostatic brake on the roof, and a technical zone, wherein the low voltage zone, the traction zone, and the technical zone of the technical compartment are respectively located next to each other along a longitudinal axis of the power unit; at least two bogies mounted under the floor of the carbody; and a main transformer located under the carbody between the bogies.