A fast charging system for electrically driven vehicles and a method for forming an electrically conductive connection between a vehicle and a stationary charging station, the fast charging system having a contact device, a charging contact device and a positioning device, said contact device or said charging contact device being disposeable on a vehicle, said charging contact device being electrically contacted using the contact device when in a contact position, said contact device being positioned in a longitudinal and/or transverse direction with respect to the charging contact device as well as being moved to the contact position by means of the positioning device, said charging contact device comprising a charging-contact-element carrier having charging contact elements, said charging contact elements each forming a strip-shaped charging contact surface, said contact device comprising a contact element carrier having contact elements, said contact elements each forming a contact surface which is smaller than the charging contact surfaces, said contact elements being electrically contacted with the charging contact elements for forming contact pairs in each instance when in the contact position, the charging contact surfaces and the contact surfaces being disposed such in the longitudinal direction with respect to each other that a respective physical contact between the charging contact surfaces and the contact surfaces is formed in a defined order at respective longitudinal ends of the charging contact surfaces.

A method and associated system for determining a maintenance status for a pantograph arranged on a vehicle and/or a contact wire intended to be in electrical contact with the pantograph. Monitoring at least longitudinal, vertical or lateral accelerations of the pantograph. Detecting an acceleration pattern based on the monitored accelerations of the pantograph. Determining accelerations in a direction above a predetermined value in the detected acceleration pattern. Determining a maintenance status for the pantograph and/or the contact wire based on the detected acceleration pattern, and wherein the maintenance status indicates a level of wear on the pantograph and/or the contact wire.

A method and associated system for determining a maintenance status for a pantograph arranged on a vehicle and/or a contact wire intended to be in electrical contact with the pantograph. Monitoring at least longitudinal, vertical or lateral accelerations of the pantograph. Detecting an acceleration pattern based on the monitored accelerations of the pantograph. Determining accelerations in a direction above a predetermined value in the detected acceleration pattern. Determining a maintenance status for the pantograph and/or the contact wire based on the detected acceleration pattern, and wherein the maintenance status indicates a level of wear on the pantograph and/or the contact wire.

A pantograph positioning system may include a contact strip, a main valve, a supply line, at least one feeder line, and a detection line. The contact strip may be fastened to a pantograph and equipped with a wear detection circuit supplied a fluid. The main valve may include a pilot chamber and a secondary chamber, which are separated by a membrane. The membrane may be movable between a closed position, in which the membrane blocks an outlet aperture of the secondary chamber, and an open position, in which the membrane does not block the outlet aperture, allowing evacuation of the fluid. The supply line may supply the fluid to the secondary chamber of the main valve. The at least one feeder line may feed the fluid to the pilot chamber. The detection line may extend from the pilot chamber to the wear detection circuit of the contact strip.

A pantograph positioning system may include a contact strip, a main valve, a supply line, at least one feeder line, and a detection line. The contact strip may be fastened to a pantograph and equipped with a wear detection circuit supplied a fluid. The main valve may include a pilot chamber and a secondary chamber, which are separated by a membrane. The membrane may be movable between a closed position, in which the membrane blocks an outlet aperture of the secondary chamber, and an open position, in which the membrane does not block the outlet aperture, allowing evacuation of the fluid. The supply line may supply the fluid to the secondary chamber of the main valve. The at least one feeder line may feed the fluid to the pilot chamber. The detection line may extend from the pilot chamber to the wear detection circuit of the contact strip.

A charging station charges an electrical energy accumulator of a road vehicle. For energy supply from a two-pole overhead line system, the road vehicle has a pantograph with at least one wearing strip, which can be raised and lowered, for each contact pole. For each contact pole, the charging station contains at least two charging contacts which are arranged above a charging position for the road vehicle and are arranged next to each other so that for each contact pole at least two contact points can be established between the wearing strip and the charging contacts. This makes it possible to transmit higher charging currents, which shortens the charging time for the energy accumulator.

A charging station charges an electrical energy accumulator of a road vehicle. For energy supply from a two-pole overhead line system, the road vehicle has a pantograph with at least one wearing strip, which can be raised and lowered, for each contact pole. For each contact pole, the charging station contains at least two charging contacts which are arranged above a charging position for the road vehicle and are arranged next to each other so that for each contact pole at least two contact points can be established between the wearing strip and the charging contacts. This makes it possible to transmit higher charging currents, which shortens the charging time for the energy accumulator.

An electrical contacting apparatus for the current collector of a vehicle, includes at least an electrical first contact body that is coupled via at least a first spring apparatus to at least a first bearing apparatus, wherein the at least first bearing apparatus is connectable to a current collector linkage or to a current collector holder and where the at least first contact body is electrically connectable to the vehicle, where the at least first contact body and the at least first bearing apparatus are electrically insulated from each other such that it becomes possible to dispense with separate insulators for electrically insulating a current collector from its environment.

An operator assistance system associated with a work machine includes an imaging device mounted on the work machine and facing an overhead line and a pantograph of the work machine. The imaging device captures an input image including a first pictorial view that includes the overhead line. The operator assistance system also includes a controller communicably coupled with the imaging device. The controller generates an output image including a second pictorial view and a first indication element overlayed on the second pictorial view. The first indication element defines a reference zone, such that a presence of the overhead line of the second pictorial view within the reference zone indicates that the work machine is in desired alignment with the overhead line. The operator assistance system further includes a display device to display the output image thereon for providing a visual indication to an operator.

An operator assistance system associated with a work machine includes an imaging device mounted on the work machine and facing an overhead line and a pantograph of the work machine. The imaging device captures an input image including a first pictorial view that includes the overhead line. The operator assistance system also includes a controller communicably coupled with the imaging device. The controller generates an output image including a second pictorial view and a first indication element overlayed on the second pictorial view. The first indication element defines a reference zone, such that a presence of the overhead line of the second pictorial view within the reference zone indicates that the work machine is in desired alignment with the overhead line. The operator assistance system further includes a display device to display the output image thereon for providing a visual indication to an operator.