A protection arrangement for a current collector arranged on a vehicle having a rechargeable energy storage includes a first protective state in which the current collector is covered by the protection arrangement and a second open state in which the protection arrangement allows contact between the current collector and a corresponding current supply during charging of the energy storage and where the protection arrangement is automatically opened from the protective state to the open state when the vehicle has reached a predefined charging position. The current collector can be enclosed when the vehicle is not charged and the protection arrangement can open automatically when a charging position is reached. This can improve the safety of the vehicle and obviate the need of a specific circuit breaker that can disconnect the current collector from the electric energy storage. The charging of the vehicle can also be simplified.

A protection arrangement for a current collector arranged on a vehicle having a rechargeable energy storage includes a first protective state in which the current collector is covered by the protection arrangement and a second open state in which the protection arrangement allows contact between the current collector and a corresponding current supply during charging of the energy storage and where the protection arrangement is automatically opened from the protective state to the open state when the vehicle has reached a predefined charging position. The current collector can be enclosed when the vehicle is not charged and the protection arrangement can open automatically when a charging position is reached. This can improve the safety of the vehicle and obviate the need of a specific circuit breaker that can disconnect the current collector from the electric energy storage. The charging of the vehicle can also be simplified.

A compressed air supply device for a rail vehicle, having a main compressor for generating compressed air for a pneumatic brake system and a vehicle battery for supplying electric energy. The compressed air generator for supplying additional auxiliary air for operating at least one pneumatic actuator is provided in a frame of an adjusting drive for a pantograph. The compressed air generator for supplying auxiliary air includes an electric frequency converter for operating the electric-motor driven main compressor of the rail vehicle with low rotational speed from the electric drive energy provided by the vehicle battery. A secondary line is attached to the compressed air line connected to the main compressor to branch off the auxiliary air for the supply of auxiliary air of the actuator.

A compressed air supply device for a rail vehicle, having a main compressor for generating compressed air for a pneumatic brake system and a vehicle battery for supplying electric energy. The compressed air generator for supplying additional auxiliary air for operating at least one pneumatic actuator is provided in a frame of an adjusting drive for a pantograph. The compressed air generator for supplying auxiliary air includes an electric frequency converter for operating the electric-motor driven main compressor of the rail vehicle with low rotational speed from the electric drive energy provided by the vehicle battery. A secondary line is attached to the compressed air line connected to the main compressor to branch off the auxiliary air for the supply of auxiliary air of the actuator.

A non-rail-bound vehicle, in particular a truck, includes a current collector for supplying electric energy from a two-pole overhead conductor. A rocker can be vertically lifted or lowered by a rocking movement of a support extension arm about horizontal tilting axes of lower hinge assemblies and can be laterally displaced by a tilting movement of a support extension arm about vertical pivot axes of the lower hinge assemblies. The lower hinge assemblies are supported on a lifting device which is connected to a vehicle frame of the vehicle and through which the current collector can be vertically moved between a lower parked position and an upper operating position. In this manner, overhead conductors with an extended height range can be contacted without the current collector influencing the entire length of the vehicle.

A non-rail-bound vehicle, in particular a truck, includes a current collector for supplying electric energy from a two-pole overhead conductor. A rocker can be vertically lifted or lowered by a rocking movement of a support extension arm about horizontal tilting axes of lower hinge assemblies and can be laterally displaced by a tilting movement of a support extension arm about vertical pivot axes of the lower hinge assemblies. The lower hinge assemblies are supported on a lifting device which is connected to a vehicle frame of the vehicle and through which the current collector can be vertically moved between a lower parked position and an upper operating position. In this manner, overhead conductors with an extended height range can be contacted without the current collector influencing the entire length of the vehicle.

Techniques for electric vehicle systems, and in particular to a vehicle to vehicle charging system and method of use. In one embodiment, a system for vehicle to vehicle charging comprises: an electrical storage unit disposed on a charging vehicle; a charging plate in electrical communication with the electrical storage unit, the charging plate configured to provide a charge to a receiving vehicle; a charging vehicle arm interconnected to the charging plate and to the charging vehicle, the charging vehicle arm extendable; a charging vehicle controller that determines if the receiving vehicle requires charging and configured to position the charging plate proximate a charging panel of the receiving vehicle; wherein the charging panel receives a charge from the charging plate and charges the receiving vehicle.

A pantograph device of a trolley-type truck includes: a base frame; a bottom frame rockably attached to the base frame; a top frame rockably attached to the vicinity of the top end portion of the bottom frame through a connecting shaft; a collector shoe rockably supported in proximity to the top end portion of the top frame; a hydraulic cylinder for raising and lowering the bottom frame, attached to the base frame; and a spring which acts so as to rotate the top frame upward through the connecting shaft. By erecting the bottom frame by the hydraulic cylinder, the tensile force produced in the spring is increased and the top frame is rotated upward through the connecting shaft. This makes it possible to obtain a wide movable range without use of a long and strong spring and enhance the followability to overhead wires without increasing pressing force.

A pantograph device of a trolley-type truck includes: a base frame; a bottom frame rockably attached to the base frame; a top frame rockably attached to the vicinity of the top end portion of the bottom frame through a connecting shaft; a collector shoe rockably supported in proximity to the top end portion of the top frame; a hydraulic cylinder for raising and lowering the bottom frame, attached to the base frame; and a spring which acts so as to rotate the top frame upward through the connecting shaft. By erecting the bottom frame by the hydraulic cylinder, the tensile force produced in the spring is increased and the top frame is rotated upward through the connecting shaft. This makes it possible to obtain a wide movable range without use of a long and strong spring and enhance the followability to overhead wires without increasing pressing force.

A method is provided for controlling charging of an electric energy storage system in a vehicle including an electric machine which is arranged for propulsion of the vehicle. The method includes initiating the charging upon connection of the energy storage system to an external power supply via a first connector element associated with the vehicle and a second connector element associated with the external power supply, and monitoring a contact resistance defined by the connection of the connector elements. Furthermore, the method includes measuring and calculating the power loss over the connector elements during the charging, and generating an error signal if the power loss is higher than a predetermined threshold value, the error signal being dependent on the magnitude of the power loss. An arrangement for controlling charging of an electric energy storage system in a vehicle is also provided.