A slidable current collector has frame formed as central substrate and sloped shoulders on opposing lateral sides of the central substrate. Electrical terminals pass through orifices arranged in at least two rows within the central substrate. At least one bumper is disposed on an underside of the central substrate between the at least two rows. During sliding on a power rail, the electrical terminals contact a rail surface, and the current collector can shift laterally on the rail surface across a distance between the bumper and one of the sloped shoulders. If disengagement of the electrical terminals from the rail surface occurs, angles on the sloped shoulders and the at least one bumper resist excessive lateral shifting and urge the electrical contacts to reengage with the rail surface.

A slidable current collector has frame formed as central substrate and sloped shoulders on opposing lateral sides of the central substrate. Electrical terminals pass through orifices arranged in at least two rows within the central substrate. At least one bumper is disposed on an underside of the central substrate between the at least two rows. During sliding on a power rail, the electrical terminals contact a rail surface, and the current collector can shift laterally on the rail surface across a distance between the bumper and one of the sloped shoulders. If disengagement of the electrical terminals from the rail surface occurs, angles on the sloped shoulders and the at least one bumper resist excessive lateral shifting and urge the electrical contacts to reengage with the rail surface.

The subject of the invention is a pantograph carriage for collection of electricity from a flexible cable (2), containing at least two conductor wires (3), partially moulded into a flexible screen, which forms flexible lips (2a) in the uncovered part of conductor wires, wherein the carriage is provided with a load bearing element (11) equipped with at least two load bearing rollers (7, 14, 16), with at least one roller rolling across the top surface of the flexible cable (2), characterised in that it contains at least two sliding drivers (6) attached to the load bearing element (8, 11), which in their working position enter spaces between the flexible lips (2a) of the cable (2) and touch the conductor wires (3) with their sliding surfaces, wherein at least one opening element (1, 4, 5) is provided in order to open the flexible lips (2a) of the cable (2) in order to form a space, where the sliding drivers (6) enter.

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).

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).

Electrified roadway systems include a roadway, and vehicles configured to operate on the roadway. The roadway has a base, and two electrically-conductive rails mounted on the base. One of the rails is electrically connected to a source of electric power, and the other rail is electrically connected to an electrical ground. The vehicles include non-electrically-conductive tires, and an electric motor mechanically connected to, and configured to rotate at least one of the tires to propel the vehicle along the roadway. The vehicles draw electric power from the roadway via two electrical pickups that contact the respective rails, and a retracted position at which the pickups are out of contact with the rails. A wear-resistant cover can be positioned on each of the rails. The wear resist covers can have features that maximize the contact area and the contact force between the covers and the rails.

A monitor device is provided with an imaging device that shoots an overhead line and a current collector, and a controller that processes an image. The controller includes a day or night determination processing section, and an image processing section that switches a parameter for recognizing the overhead line and the current collector in the image by executing image processing different in the daylight and at night based upon the result of the day or night determination. Further, there are provided reference photographic subjects to be shot by the imaging device in positions different from the overhead line and the current collector in an image area to be shot, and the day or night determination processing section performs the determination of day or night based upon a luminance average value of the reference photographic subjects inputted into an image input section.

A monitor device is provided with an imaging device that shoots an overhead line and a current collector, and a controller that processes an image. The controller includes a day or night determination processing section, and an image processing section that switches a parameter for recognizing the overhead line and the current collector in the image by executing image processing different in the daylight and at night based upon the result of the day or night determination. Further, there are provided reference photographic subjects to be shot by the imaging device in positions different from the overhead line and the current collector in an image area to be shot, and the day or night determination processing section performs the determination of day or night based upon a luminance average value of the reference photographic subjects inputted into an image input section.

A current collector for electrically supplying an electrical load which is movable along a conductor line. The current collector has a fastening element and at least one sliding contact with an elongate sliding contact surface, which extends in a longitudinal direction, for sliding contact with an electrically conducting line profile, which extends in the longitudinal direction, of the conductor line. The sliding contact is articulated on the fastening element at spaced apart fastening regions, so as to be movable in a feeding plane extending parallel to the longitudinal direction by means of two articulated lever arrangements. A resetting device acting on the articulated lever arrangements and on the fastening element is provided which, when the sliding contact is deflected from an inoperative position, in which the sliding contact surface preferably extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction, moves the sliding contact back into the inoperative position.

A current collector for electrically supplying an electrical load which is movable along a conductor line. The current collector has a fastening element and at least one sliding contact with an elongate sliding contact surface, which extends in a longitudinal direction, for sliding contact with an electrically conducting line profile, which extends in the longitudinal direction, of the conductor line. The sliding contact is articulated on the fastening element at spaced apart fastening regions, so as to be movable in a feeding plane extending parallel to the longitudinal direction by means of two articulated lever arrangements. A resetting device acting on the articulated lever arrangements and on the fastening element is provided which, when the sliding contact is deflected from an inoperative position, in which the sliding contact surface preferably extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction, moves the sliding contact back into the inoperative position.