A control system includes an interface device having a body extending between a first end and a second end and that provides power to a vehicle system from an external power source. Sensors may be coupled with the interface device and detect sensor data associated with the coupling of the external power source with the interface device. A controller receives the sensor data from the sensors and determines a coupling location at which the external power source is coupled with the interface device. The coupling location may be at a first position between the first end and the second end of the interface device. The controller controls movement of the vehicle system to change the coupling location between the external power source and the interface device from the first position to a second position between the first and second ends of the body.

An electrically driven vehicle contains a current collector for supplying electrical energy from a bipolar overhead line system. The collector has an articulated support rod, which bears, on the contact wire side, a contact collector having a contact strip, and which is coupled, on the vehicle side, to a lift drive for positioning the support rod and for pressing the contact collector to a contact wire of the overhead wire system, a detection device for detecting a lateral position of a contact point of the contact wire on the contact strip and a driver assistance system for executing an automatic steering intervention as a function of the detected lateral position of the contact point. The vehicle has increased availability for a feed of electrical energy from the overhead line system in that the contact strip is supported on the contact collector via at least two spring elements.

An electrically driven vehicle contains a current collector for supplying electrical energy from a bipolar overhead line system. The collector has an articulated support rod, which bears, on the contact wire side, a contact collector having a contact strip, and which is coupled, on the vehicle side, to a lift drive for positioning the support rod and for pressing the contact collector to a contact wire of the overhead wire system, a detection device for detecting a lateral position of a contact point of the contact wire on the contact strip and a driver assistance system for executing an automatic steering intervention as a function of the detected lateral position of the contact point. The vehicle has increased availability for a feed of electrical energy from the overhead line system in that the contact strip is supported on the contact collector via at least two spring elements.

A vehicle and a method for controlling a vehicle including a current collector transmitting electric power from a current conductor located in a predetermined position in the surface of a road a distance from one side of the road; a first detecting means generating a signal indicative of the position of the current collector relative to a current conductor reference point; where the current collector is displaceable to track the current conductor in response to the signal; and a second detecting means detecting the position of the current collector are provided. The method involves determining a first distance representing the position of the current collector relative to the current conductor reference point; determining a second distance representing the position of the current collector relative to a vehicle reference point; and determining a distance between the vehicle reference point and the current conductor reference point using the first and second distances to determine a current vehicle position on the road.

A vehicle and a method for controlling a vehicle including a current collector transmitting electric power from a current conductor located in a predetermined position in the surface of a road a distance from one side of the road; a first detecting means generating a signal indicative of the position of the current collector relative to a current conductor reference point; where the current collector is displaceable to track the current conductor in response to the signal; and a second detecting means detecting the position of the current collector are provided. The method involves determining a first distance representing the position of the current collector relative to the current conductor reference point; determining a second distance representing the position of the current collector relative to a vehicle reference point; and determining a distance between the vehicle reference point and the current conductor reference point using the first and second distances to determine a current vehicle position on the road.

A current collector for a rail vehicle intended for international transport includes a support bringing two contact strips into electrically conductive contact with a contact wire on the roof of the rail vehicle. Each contact strip has a first length and a contact strip extension at each end. Each contact strip extension is rotatably mounted and connected to a respective end of the contact strip. In a first position the contact strip extensions are hinged inwards, such that a resulting total length of the contact strip with the associated contact strip extensions corresponds to the first length of the contact strip. In a second position, the contact strip extensions are hinged outwards, such that the resulting total length of the contact strip with the associated contact strip extensions corresponds to a second length of the contact strip which is greater than the first length.

A current collector for a rail vehicle intended for international transport includes a support bringing two contact strips into electrically conductive contact with a contact wire on the roof of the rail vehicle. Each contact strip has a first length and a contact strip extension at each end. Each contact strip extension is rotatably mounted and connected to a respective end of the contact strip. In a first position the contact strip extensions are hinged inwards, such that a resulting total length of the contact strip with the associated contact strip extensions corresponds to the first length of the contact strip. In a second position, the contact strip extensions are hinged outwards, such that the resulting total length of the contact strip with the associated contact strip extensions corresponds to a second length of the contact strip which is greater than the first length.

System for electrically feeding electrically powered vehicles comprising at least one suspended elongated slotted element having electric conductor(s) arranged in slot(s) and at least one current collector co-acting with the slotted element. The current collector(s) comprises contact element(s) and collector arm(s) supporting the contact element(s) at its first end and is adapted to connect to an electrically powered vehicle with its second end. The collector arm(s) is formed by at least two serially arranged arm segments. A first arm segment is provided with forcing means arranged to, when the first arm segment is within a working distance from the slotted element, provide a force towards the slotted element such that the contact element connects with the corresponding electric conductor. The second arm segment is provided with at least one actuator acting on the second arm segment to displace the first arm segment to a position within the working distance.

A positioning unit and method for forming an electrically conductive connection between a stationary charging station and a vehicle, wherein an electrical charging contact of a positioning unit is movable relative to a charging contact surface and contacted by the positioning unit having an articulated arm device and a corresponding drive device, wherein the charging contact includes a contact position for power transmission and a retracted position for power interruption, the drive device having an adjustment drive acting on the articulated arm device and a spring device wherein a contact force acting on the charging contact surface can be formed by the adjustment drive having a control device and an electric motor actuated by the control device, wherein the adjustment drive is designed such that a torque of the electric motor is detected by the control device, and the contact force controlled by the control device based on the torque.

The invention relates to an arrangement (11, 21, 41) for transferring electric energy to a vehicle, in particular to a track bound vehicle such as a light rail vehicle (81) or to a road automobile, whereinthe arrangement (11, 21, 41) comprises an electric conductor arrangement (41) for producing an alternating electromagnetic field and for thereby transferring the energy, the conductor arrangement (41) comprises a plurality of consecutive segments (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5), wherein the segments (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5) extend in the direction of travel of the vehicle, each of the consecutive segments (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5) comprises at least one alternating current line (44a, 44b, 44c) for carrying a phase of an alternating current in order to produce the alternating electromagnetic field, each of the consecutive segments (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5) is combined with an assigned controller (CTR1; 31) adapted to control the operation of the segment (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5) independently of the other segments (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5), at least two neighbouring segments (41a, 41b) of the consecutive segments (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5) are inductively coupled to each other so that a first segment (41b) of the neighbouring segments (41a, 41b), while the first segment (41b) is operated under control of its assigned controller (CTR1; 31), induces a voltage and thereby produces an induced alternating electric current in a second segment (41a) of the neighbouring segments (41a, 41b), if the second segment (41a) is not operated under control of its assigned controller (CTR1; 31), the arrangement (11, 21, 41) comprises a controllable coupling (S1) for coupling the second segment (41a) to a load (RL; F1, S1; 105), which controllable coupling (S1) has a first operating state in which the second segment (41a) is coupled to the load (RL; F1, S1; 105) so that any alternating electric current in the second segment (41a) is damped by the load (RL; F1, S1; 105), and has a second operating state in which the second segment (41a) is not coupled to the load (RL; F1, S1; 105) so that any alternating electri