A current collector supplies power to an electrical load movable along a conductor line and includes a movable holder for a contact element whose range of movement is restricted by two mechanical stops, and which is acted upon by a spring arrangement exerting a force in the direction of a first end of its range of movement to force the contact element against a power rail. A damping device is provided, which dampens movement of the holder caused by the spring arrangement in the direction of the first end of its range of movement, when the holder is situated within a predetermined first section of its range of movement, which is restricted on one side by the first end and does not include the entire range of movement. The damping device can be designed as a flow damper or a friction damper or as at least one spring element.

A method and an arrangement are provided for inductive positioning of a current collector on a vehicle relative to a stationary current conductor. The method involves transmitting a signal having predetermined phase characteristics using a signal transmitter arranged along the longitudinal direction of the current conductor; detecting the transmitted signal using a signal receiver on the vehicle, which signal receiver comprises at least one vertical antenna; detecting the phase characteristics of the signal induced in the at least one vertical antenna, indicating the relative location of the vertical antenna and the signal transmitter in the transverse direction of the vehicle; and controlling a positioning arrangement in dependence of the received signals.

An electrically driven vehicle contains a current collector for supplying electrical energy from a bipolar overhead line system. The collector has an articulated support rod, which bears, on the contact wire side, a contact collector having a contact strip, and which is coupled, on the vehicle side, to a lift drive for positioning the support rod and for pressing the contact collector to a contact wire of the overhead wire system, a detection device for detecting a lateral position of a contact point of the contact wire on the contact strip and a driver assistance system for executing an automatic steering intervention as a function of the detected lateral position of the contact point. The vehicle has increased availability for a feed of electrical energy from the overhead line system in that the contact strip is supported on the contact collector via at least two spring elements.

A zip line trolley for movement along a tensioned support member, such as a cable, with an eddy current braking system including non-ferrous electrically conductive components between which there is rotatably supported at least one wheel rollingly engaged with the cable and carrying magnetic devices which induce eddy currents in the side plates to brake the respective wheel, features a cooling system thermally coupled to the side plate arranged to carry the eddy current, so as to receive heat generated by the induced eddy currents, and configured to release the received heat to ambient air as the trolley moves along the cable. According to another aspect, the braking system features magnetic assemblies supported for generally radially-directed sliding movement on at least one of the wheels and a distinct annular component, which is conducive to carrying eddy currents, and which registered with an outward-most location of the sliding magnetic assemblies.

A zip line trolley for movement along a tensioned support member, such as a cable, with an eddy current braking system including non-ferrous electrically conductive components between which there is rotatably supported at least one wheel rollingly engaged with the cable and carrying magnetic devices which induce eddy currents in the side plates to brake the respective wheel, features a cooling system thermally coupled to the side plate arranged to carry the eddy current, so as to receive heat generated by the induced eddy currents, and configured to release the received heat to ambient air as the trolley moves along the cable. According to another aspect, the braking system features magnetic assemblies supported for generally radially-directed sliding movement on at least one of the wheels and a distinct annular component, which is conducive to carrying eddy currents, and which registered with an outward-most location of the sliding magnetic assemblies.

The disclosure relates to an overhead line system for supplying electricity to the drive of one or more construction machines for piece good or bulk material transport, wherein the overhead line comprises at least one pair of lines which extend parallel along the route, carry current with opposing polarity and which can be electrically contacted by corresponding current collectors of the construction machines, characterized in that each line is provided at the end with at least one guide forming a feed channel for receiving the head of the current collector, the feed channel converging in the direction of the associated line.

The disclosure relates to an overhead line system for supplying electricity to the drive of one or more construction machines for piece good or bulk material transport, wherein the overhead line comprises at least one pair of lines which extend parallel along the route, carry current with opposing polarity and which can be electrically contacted by corresponding current collectors of the construction machines, characterized in that each line is provided at the end with at least one guide forming a feed channel for receiving the head of the current collector, the feed channel converging in the direction of the associated line.

A cable transportation system without a hauling cable and comprising: a plurality of transporting units; two supporting cables for supporting the transporting units in a suspended configuration; a plurality of trolleys, wherein each trolley supports a transporting unit in a suspended configuration and comprises rolls configured for resting and rolling on the supporting cables and at least one electric motor configured for moving the trolley along the supporting cables.

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.

This assembly, which includes a ground level power supply system of the type using conduction, including conductive tracks arranged on a roadway, and an electric vehicle, capturing electric energy from said tracks it moves on the roadway, is characterized in that the power supply system includes a ground level antenna, configured so as to have a constant radiation chart along a longitudinal axis of the roadway and emitting a positioning signal, and in that the electric vehicle includes an on board antenna and an on board module, connected to the on board antenna and capable of determining a lateral position of a center of the on board antenna relative to the longitudinal axis from the positioning signal captured by the on board antenna.