A method for monitoring a pantograph. The method includes acquiring an impulse response of the pantograph, extracting a natural frequency and a damping coefficient of the pantograph from the impulse response, obtaining a similarity factor of a plurality of similarity factors, and detecting a fault in the pantograph from the plurality of fault types based on the plurality of the similarity factors. Acquiring an impulse response of the pantograph includes generating the impulse response by tapping the head of the pantograph and recording the impulse response utilizing a recording equipment.

A method for monitoring a pantograph. The method includes acquiring an impulse response of the pantograph, extracting a natural frequency and a damping coefficient of the pantograph from the impulse response, obtaining a similarity factor of a plurality of similarity factors, and detecting a fault in the pantograph from the plurality of fault types based on the plurality of the similarity factors. Acquiring an impulse response of the pantograph includes generating the impulse response by tapping the head of the pantograph and recording the impulse response utilizing a recording equipment.

A current collector supplies power to an electrical load movable along a conductor line and includes a movable holder for a contact element whose range of movement is restricted by two mechanical stops, and which is acted upon by a spring arrangement exerting a force in the direction of a first end of its range of movement to force the contact element against a power rail. A damping device is provided, which dampens movement of the holder caused by the spring arrangement in the direction of the first end of its range of movement, when the holder is situated within a predetermined first section of its range of movement, which is restricted on one side by the first end and does not include the entire range of movement. The damping device can be designed as a flow damper or a friction damper or as at least one spring element.

Described herein are a trolley and a road contact power supply device in cooperative use with the trolley. The trolley has a current collector. The current collector is composed of a contact slide plate, a first bent connecting rod and a second bent connecting rod, where a flat thin strong magnet is arranged on the contact slide plate. The road contact power supply device in cooperative use with the vehicle has a cable, a contact, a compression spring, an elastic sealing sleeve, a seal tube, a seal housing, a movable contact and a fixed contact, where an upper end of the movable contact is connected to a lantern ring made of a ferromagnetic material, and an upper end of the lantern ring is close to an upper surface of the contact.

Described herein are a trolley and a road contact power supply device in cooperative use with the trolley. The trolley has a current collector. The current collector is composed of a contact slide plate, a first bent connecting rod and a second bent connecting rod, where a flat thin strong magnet is arranged on the contact slide plate. The road contact power supply device in cooperative use with the vehicle has a cable, a contact, a compression spring, an elastic sealing sleeve, a seal tube, a seal housing, a movable contact and a fixed contact, where an upper end of the movable contact is connected to a lantern ring made of a ferromagnetic material, and an upper end of the lantern ring is close to an upper surface of the contact.

A drive arrangement for displacing a contacting device from a raised position to a lowered position includes a four-joint linkage having first, second and third arms interconnected such as to displace the contacting device as the first, second and third arms pivot. An actuator is connected via an actuating lever to the first arm and acted upon by a spring force which counteracts an actuating force applied by the actuator on the actuating lever. The actuating lever is pivotally connected to the first arm and supportable on the first arm via a catch when the first arm is displaced into a raised position and detachable from the first arm when the first arm is displaced into a lowered position, so that the actuating lever assumes a release position in the lowered position of the contacting device, with the contacting device maintained in the lowered position by its weight force.

A drive arrangement for displacing a contacting device from a raised position to a lowered position includes a four-joint linkage having first, second and third arms interconnected such as to displace the contacting device as the first, second and third arms pivot. An actuator is connected via an actuating lever to the first arm and acted upon by a spring force which counteracts an actuating force applied by the actuator on the actuating lever. The actuating lever is pivotally connected to the first arm and supportable on the first arm via a catch when the first arm is displaced into a raised position and detachable from the first arm when the first arm is displaced into a lowered position, so that the actuating lever assumes a release position in the lowered position of the contacting device, with the contacting device maintained in the lowered position by its weight force.

A method for testing whether a current collector of a vehicle, which is preferably not rail-bound and is driven by an electric motor, is in contact with a contact wire of an overhead line which extends in a direction of travel. The current collector, which can be moved along a vertical direction, has a carrier element and a contact strip, resiliently mounted on the carrier element by a primary spring element. The contact strip, upon contacting the contact wire, is deflected relative to the carrier element counter to the vertical direction out of a resting position, wherein the deflection is detected by a sensor unit and it is determined whether the contact strip is in contact with the contact wire. There is also described a corresponding current collector.

A method for testing whether a current collector of a vehicle, which is preferably not rail-bound and is driven by an electric motor, is in contact with a contact wire of an overhead line which extends in a direction of travel. The current collector, which can be moved along a vertical direction, has a carrier element and a contact strip, resiliently mounted on the carrier element by a primary spring element. The contact strip, upon contacting the contact wire, is deflected relative to the carrier element counter to the vertical direction out of a resting position, wherein the deflection is detected by a sensor unit and it is determined whether the contact strip is in contact with the contact wire. There is also described a corresponding current collector.

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.