A tethered charging and recharging (TCR) drone assembly system is provided. The TCR drone assembly system may be a nurse vehicle-based, a master/slave vehicle-based, a stationary structure and/or free standing TCR drone assembly system. The TCR drone assembly system is especially suitable for use on moving vehicles, for example, a self-propelled conventional type vehicle operated by an operator and/or autonomous or slave autonomous vehicle with no operator on board. The TRC drone assembly system may quickly couple and may deliver energy charges, recharges or other types of power propellants to vehicles while the vehicles are stationary or in motion. The assemblies are especially suitable for providing power to vehicles when only limited downtime of the vehicles is desired. The assemblies are suitable for use in, for example, the agricultural, construction, defense or other industries.

A tethered charging and recharging (TCR) drone assembly system is provided. The TCR drone assembly system may be a nurse vehicle-based, a master/slave vehicle-based, a stationary structure and/or free standing TCR drone assembly system. The TCR drone assembly system is especially suitable for use on moving vehicles, for example, a self-propelled conventional type vehicle operated by an operator and/or autonomous or slave autonomous vehicle with no operator on board. The TRC drone assembly system may quickly couple and may deliver energy charges, recharges or other types of power propellants to vehicles while the vehicles are stationary or in motion. The assemblies are especially suitable for providing power to vehicles when only limited downtime of the vehicles is desired. The assemblies are suitable for use in, for example, the agricultural, construction, defense or other industries.

The present invention relates to a current collector device (420) arranged mounting on a vehicle (100) to transmit electric power between current conductors (140) located in the surface of a road (110) and the vehicle (100). The current collector device (420) comprises, a first and second elongated current collector arm (150a, 150b) that are in operable connection with a base (170), the first and second elongated current collector arms (150a, 150b) are spaced apart from each other, and a first and second current collector pick-up heads (161, 162) are attached to the first and second elongated current collector arms (150a, 150b), respectively, and the elongated current collector arms (150a, 150b) are made of conducting material and arranged to conduct electrical current from conductors (140) located in the 10 surface of a road (110) and the vehicle (100).

The present invention relates to a current collector device (420) arranged mounting on a vehicle (100) to transmit electric power between current conductors (140) located in the surface of a road (110) and the vehicle (100). The current collector device (420) comprises, a first and second elongated current collector arm (150a, 150b) that are in operable connection with a base (170), the first and second elongated current collector arms (150a, 150b) are spaced apart from each other, and a first and second current collector pick-up heads (161, 162) are attached to the first and second elongated current collector arms (150a, 150b), respectively, and the elongated current collector arms (150a, 150b) are made of conducting material and arranged to conduct electrical current from conductors (140) located in the 10 surface of a road (110) and the vehicle (100).

An electricity collector device (100) for connecting a vehicle (200) to electrical supply rails (308, 309) in a conduit (304) is disclosed. The device (100) comprises a collector system (400), a wheeled enclosure (101), a vehicle connection (150) and a power cable (104). The collector system (400) comprises a retractable collector arm (401, 402) adapted to be inserted into a conduit (304) containing an electrical supply rail (309, 309), and to make electrical contact with the supply rail (308, 309). The wheeled enclosure (101) houses the collector system (400), and comprises flanged wheels (102, 103) adapted to be engageable with the conduit (304). The vehicle connection (150) is for attaching the device to a vehicle (200), allowing the enclosure (101) to move with least two degrees of freedom with respect to the vehicle (200). The power cable (104) is for connecting the collector system (400) to a vehicle (200).

An electricity collector device (100) for connecting a vehicle (200) to electrical supply rails (308, 309) in a conduit (304) is disclosed. The device (100) comprises a collector system (400), a wheeled enclosure (101), a vehicle connection (150) and a power cable (104). The collector system (400) comprises a retractable collector arm (401, 402) adapted to be inserted into a conduit (304) containing an electrical supply rail (309, 309), and to make electrical contact with the supply rail (308, 309). The wheeled enclosure (101) houses the collector system (400), and comprises flanged wheels (102, 103) adapted to be engageable with the conduit (304). The vehicle connection (150) is for attaching the device to a vehicle (200), allowing the enclosure (101) to move with least two degrees of freedom with respect to the vehicle (200). The power cable (104) is for connecting the collector system (400) to a vehicle (200).

A wire supporting structure supporting an electric wire extending between a bogie and a carbody in a railcar includes: a support supported by the carbody and including a fitted portion; a carbody-side coupling device supported by the carbody; an electric wire connected to an electrical apparatus of the bogie; an electric wire-side coupling device provided at a tip end of the electric wire and connected to the carbody-side coupling device; and a bracket connected to a part of the electric wire, the part being located close to the electric wire-side coupling device, the bracket including a fitting portion fitted to the fitted portion of the support, the bracket being supported by the support with the fitting portion fitted in the fitted portion.

A wire supporting structure supporting an electric wire extending between a bogie and a carbody in a railcar includes: a support supported by the carbody and including a fitted portion; a carbody-side coupling device supported by the carbody; an electric wire connected to an electrical apparatus of the bogie; an electric wire-side coupling device provided at a tip end of the electric wire and connected to the carbody-side coupling device; and a bracket connected to a part of the electric wire, the part being located close to the electric wire-side coupling device, the bracket including a fitting portion fitted to the fitted portion of the support, the bracket being supported by the support with the fitting portion fitted in the fitted portion.

A power rail connector for an electric power system in an electric machine includes a linkage having a lower link and an upper link, and a rail contactor coupled to the lower link and including electrical contacts positioned to electrically connect to a power rail. The linkage includes a fold joint, a lift joint, and a pivot, and is adjustable from an extended, current-collecting configuration to a collapsed configuration via rotation of the lower link relative to the upper link and rotation of the upper link relative to the pivot. Related machinery and methodology is also disclosed.

A power rail connector for an electric power system in an electric machine includes a linkage having a lower link and an upper link, and a rail contactor coupled to the lower link and including electrical contacts positioned to electrically connect to a power rail. The linkage includes a fold joint, a lift joint, and a pivot, and is adjustable from an extended, current-collecting configuration to a collapsed configuration via rotation of the lower link relative to the upper link and rotation of the upper link relative to the pivot. Related machinery and methodology is also disclosed.