A current collector and a method for transferring energy from a conductor rail to a vehicle by means of a current collector, the current collector comprising a carrying device, a contact pressing device and a sliding piece which forms a sliding contact surface, the carrying device for mounting the current collector being formed on a vehicle, the contact pressing device being formed such that by means of the contact pressing device, the sliding piece is moveable relative to a conductor rail and pressable against the conductor rail for forming a sliding contact with a contact pressing force in a sliding contact position, the contact pressing device comprising a rocker unit for generating the contact pressing force using a rocker and a spring member, the spring member being rotatable in such a manner that the sliding piece disposed on the rocker is moveable in one direction into the sliding contact position while generating the contact pressing force, the contact pressing device comprising a retaining element which connects the spring member to the carrying device, the carrying device having a carrying element and a pivot mechanism for positioning the contact pressing device on the vehicle, at least the rocker unit along with the sliding piece being moveable between the sliding contact position and a storing position away from the conductor rail by means of the pivot mechanism.

A current collector for an electrical load that can be moved along a conductor line in a travel direction. The current collector has at least one contact piece, which is supported on a rocking arm to be rotatable about an axis of rotation extending perpendicularly to the travel direction. To bring the contact piece into contact with an electrically conductive conductor strand of the conductor line, the contact piece can be moved toward the conductor strand by the rocking arm. The current collector also includes a connection cable, which connects the contact piece to a connection terminal for the electrical loads in an electrically conductive manner. A conductor line system includes a conductor line and at least one electrical load that can be moved on the conductor line in the longitudinal direction of the conductor line. The conductor line has at least one electrically conductive conductor strand for bringing into sliding contact with at least one contact piece of a current collector.

A current collector for an electrical load that can be moved along a conductor line in a travel direction. The current collector has at least one contact piece, which is supported on a rocking arm to be rotatable about an axis of rotation extending perpendicularly to the travel direction. To bring the contact piece into contact with an electrically conductive conductor strand of the conductor line, the contact piece can be moved toward the conductor strand by the rocking arm. The current collector also includes a connection cable, which connects the contact piece to a connection terminal for the electrical loads in an electrically conductive manner. A conductor line system includes a conductor line and at least one electrical load that can be moved on the conductor line in the longitudinal direction of the conductor line. The conductor line has at least one electrically conductive conductor strand for bringing into sliding contact with at least one contact piece of a current collector.

A current collecting device for an electrical load that can travel in a direction of travel along a conductor line, with at least two sliding contact pieces arranged on a rocker one after another in the direction of travel. The rocker is mounted on a rocker arm about a rotation axis extending perpendicularly to the travel direction, through which rocker arm the rocker can be moved towards a conductor for contact of the sliding contact pieces with an electrically conductive conductor strand of the conductor line. A conductor line system includes such a conductor line and at least one such electrical load. The current collecting device and conductor line system provide a reliable guiding of the current collecting device contact in the conductor strand of the conductor line, as well as reliable energy transmission.

A current collecting device for an electrical load that can travel in a direction of travel along a conductor line, with at least two sliding contact pieces arranged on a rocker one after another in the direction of travel. The rocker is mounted on a rocker arm about a rotation axis extending perpendicularly to the travel direction, through which rocker arm the rocker can be moved towards a conductor for contact of the sliding contact pieces with an electrically conductive conductor strand of the conductor line. A conductor line system includes such a conductor line and at least one such electrical load. The current collecting device and conductor line system provide a reliable guiding of the current collecting device contact in the conductor strand of the conductor line, as well as reliable energy transmission.

The invention relates to a contact unit and to a method for steering electric arcs on a contact unit, in particular for supplying vehicles with power via an overhead wire (20), the contact unit comprising a sliding contact device (19), the sliding contact device having a contact strip support (21) and a contact strip (22) disposed thereon, the contact unit having a steering device (24) for electric arcs (25) which is disposed on the contact unit, the steering device being provided with a magnet (30).

A current collector and a conductor line system having such a current collector. The current collector has a holder and a carbon brush arranged in carbon brush support movable relative to holder in a feed direction from and to the conductor line. The carbon brush is movable in a feed direction from and to conductor line. The disclosure solves the task of achieving better and reliable guiding of the carbon brush on the conductor line and simpler design of the current collector, using a current collector in which the carbon brush is additionally movable in a transverse direction running essentially across the longitudinal direction, a spring element being provided between the carbon brush and holder.

Battery powered quadrotors or drones have a limited operation time. To extend operation time, a powered tether can be used. This tether provides power to the drone allowing it to stay up indefinitely. Most tethered drones are captured to the base station. The tether can reel in and out as the drone moves, but the drone can't go higher or further than the maximum length of the tether. If the tether can be automatically disconnected, the drone could fly off for some remote mission, assuming the drone had an onboard power source such as rechargeable batteries. The present invention relates to a self-powered drone tether that comprises a rechargeable drone in flight which is referred to as the rechargeable drone, a drone that carries a powered tether which is referred to as the tether drone, a coupling mechanism between the rechargeable drone and the tether drone, and a base station with a powered tether and tether deployment system.

During travel of the electric vehicle, the charging arm is extended in the vehicle width direction, a positive electrode overhead line of the power supply device and a positive electrode power reception unit of the charging arm are brought into contact at the same time that a negative electrode overhead line of the power supply device and a negative electrode power reception unit of the charging arm are brought into contact, and a power storage device for driving the electric vehicle is charged. A charging head that is the tip section of the charging arm is held within a V-shaped groove to which the positive electrode overhead line and the negative electrode overhead line are attached, thereby minimizing the loss of contact even if the charging arm shakes in the vertical direction as a result of the condition of the road surface, brake operation, or the like.

During travel of the electric vehicle, the charging arm is extended in the vehicle width direction, a positive electrode overhead line of the power supply device and a positive electrode power reception unit of the charging arm are brought into contact at the same time that a negative electrode overhead line of the power supply device and a negative electrode power reception unit of the charging arm are brought into contact, and a power storage device for driving the electric vehicle is charged. A charging head that is the tip section of the charging arm is held within a V-shaped groove to which the positive electrode overhead line and the negative electrode overhead line are attached, thereby minimizing the loss of contact even if the charging arm shakes in the vertical direction as a result of the condition of the road surface, brake operation, or the like.