The present invention relates to a monitoring device for monitoring catenary-pantograph interaction in a railway vehicle (100) comprising a frequency-tunable radio receiver module (2) with its associated antenna (1) for the reception of radio signals (500) emitted by pantograph-catenary interaction in the radio frequency and microwave bands; and a control module (4) for detecting electric arcs (400) in the radio signal (500) received by the radio receiver (2) within at least one of the tuned bands. Information about the detected arcs (400) can be stored in the storage module (3) and used to generate records and/or alarms sent by a communication module (6). The radio receiver module (2) can be accompanied, in an input-output module (9) to facilitate pantograph monitoring and maintenance, by a pantograph current measurement module (8) and an odometry and positioning module (7) to obtain the position and speed of the vehicle.

A method for controlling the charging of one or more electric vehicles at one or more charging stations in a geographic locality includes determining if the charging event of an electric vehicle of the one or more electric vehicles increases a demand billing rate. The demand billing rate may be a cost per unit of energy in the locality. The method also includes charging the electric vehicle at the charging event such that the demand billing rate is not increased.

A method for controlling the charging of one or more electric vehicles at one or more charging stations in a geographic locality includes determining if the charging event of an electric vehicle of the one or more electric vehicles increases a demand billing rate. The demand billing rate may be a cost per unit of energy in the locality. The method also includes charging the electric vehicle at the charging event such that the demand billing rate is not increased.

A current collector for a non-rail-bound, electric traction vehicle has an articulated support linkage, which, on the contact wire side, supports rocker assemblies with contact strips and, on the vehicle side, has a base joint for articulation to the traction vehicle. A pneumatic reciprocating drive is coupled to the support linkage for raising the rocker assemblies from a lower parking position into an upper contact position when the reciprocating drive is pressurized and for lowering into the parking position under its own weight when depressurization occurs. An exhaust air line connects the reciprocating drive to the environment to lower the rocker assemblies. An air accumulator and a downstream throttle valve are connected between the reciprocating drive and an environment opening of the exhaust air line. The rocker assemblies can be quickly lowered and nevertheless brought into the parking position without damage in order to disengage the current collector.

The present invention relates to a method for switching power supply path of at least one electrical machine, said electrical machine being arranged to be selectively supplied power by a first power supply path and a second power supply path, respectively, by alternately opening and closing said power supply paths, said first and second power supply paths being arranged to connect a power supply source to a first connection terminal means of said electrical machine. The method includes, when switching from said first power supply path to said second power supply path: opening said first power supply path; by means of said electrical machine, controlling a terminal voltage of said first connection terminal means to substantially a power supply voltage of said second power supply path; and closing said second power supply path.

The present invention relates to a method for switching power supply path of at least one electrical machine, said electrical machine being arranged to be selectively supplied power by a first power supply path and a second power supply path, respectively, by alternately opening and closing said power supply paths, said first and second power supply paths being arranged to connect a power supply source to a first connection terminal means of said electrical machine. The method includes, when switching from said first power supply path to said second power supply path: opening said first power supply path; by means of said electrical machine, controlling a terminal voltage of said first connection terminal means to substantially a power supply voltage of said second power supply path; and closing said second power supply path.

A current collector monitoring system in one aspect of the present disclosure is provided with: a collected current measurement unit; a collected current state determination unit; an image acquisition unit; an event recognition unit; an event determination unit; and a determination result output unit. When a state of collected current corresponds to an abnormal state, the image acquisition unit acquires an image including, within an angle of view, a collector shoe provided to a current collector.

A current collector monitoring system in one aspect of the present disclosure is provided with: a collected current measurement unit; a collected current state determination unit; an image acquisition unit; an event recognition unit; an event determination unit; and a determination result output unit. When a state of collected current corresponds to an abnormal state, the image acquisition unit acquires an image including, within an angle of view, a collector shoe provided to a current collector.

The invention relates to a device for fastening a sliding element to a current collector or to a rocker mounted there, to draw electrical energy from an overhead contact line to an electrically driven vehicle. The device comprises a sliding element, a carrier, and a carbon contact piece arranged on the carrier, and a fastening point for fastening the sliding element to the current collector is formed between the sliding element and the current collector. At each fastening point between the sliding element and the current collector, a detent means is arranged on the side of the sliding element and, for each detent means, a receptacle for said detent means is arranged on the side of the current collector, wherein each detent means and the receptacle associated therewith are releasably brought into engagement with each other by inserting and locking the detent means in the receptacle.

An electric vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, with a current collection device (2). The current collection device has at least one contact device (2a, 2b). An electrically conductive contact, of the current collection device (2) to an external power supply (1), can be achieved by the contact device (2a, 2b). The vehicle comprises a DC link (11) and at least one electric traction motor (10). During normal driving operation, the current is conducted from the current collection device (2), via the DC link (11), into the one of the traction motors (10) and a current connection is formed between the contact device (2a, 2b) and the DC link (11). The current connection is at least partially bidirectional. A disconnecting device (5) is arranged between contact device (2a, 2b) and DC link (11). The disconnecting device (5) is designed to be interrupted unidirectionally.