A control system configured to control electrical power distribution of a vehicle formation is provided. The vehicle formation includes a gateway vehicle comprising a gateway prime mover for propelling the gateway vehicle, and a target vehicle comprising a target electric motor for propelling the target vehicle. The gateway vehicle includes a charging component electrically connectable to a charge surface along a road operable by the vehicle formation, the gateway vehicle further comprising a power distribution unit connected to the charging component and the target vehicle. The control system includes control circuitry connected to the gateway vehicle, the target vehicle and the power distribution unit, the control circuitry being configured to receive a signal indicative of a current energy requirement for the gateway vehicle and the target vehicle; and control, based on the current energy requirement, the power distribution unit to distribute electric power within the vehicle formation.

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 storage assembly includes a shelf which has a plurality of planes and a plurality of supports for articles. The storage assembly further includes a sorting station for supplying and/or receiving articles; a transit area interposed between the shelf and the sorting station; a plurality of transport vehicles for transporting articles, each transport vehicle having a housing for receiving one or more articles; A second plurality of guides flank the supports and extend along the planes in order to guide the transport vehicles. A lift is provided for lifting a transport vehicle of the plurality of transport vehicles towards a plane of the plurality of planes, while lowering means are included for lowering the transport vehicle of the plurality of transport vehicles from the plane of the plurality of planes towards the transit area, after the transport vehicle has completely travelled along the plane of the plurality of planes.

A fastening device for fastening a conductor line to at least one mounting element. The fastening device has at least one holding element connectable to the conductor line. The holding element fastens the conductor line to the mounting element such that movement perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the conductor line is not possible. A conductor line system has a conductor line, which is fastened by a first fastening device to a first mounting element and by a second fastening device spaced apart therefrom to a second mounting element. The first fastening device is connected to the conductor line and to the first mounting element in such a way that movement in the longitudinal direction is not possible. The second fastening device is connected to the conductor line and/or to the mounting line in such a way that movement in the longitudinal direction is possible.

A charging module for an electric vehicle includes an enclosure having a plurality of sides and an at least partially open top, the enclosure defining a hollow interior; a conductor rail disposed in the at least partially open top of the enclosure, the conductor rail being configured to be placed in electric communication with an electrical power source; and at least one external insulator disposed in the at least partially open top of the enclosure adjacent to the conductor rail. The at least one external insulator is disposed between the conductor rail and at least one of the sides of the enclosure. The conductor rail is configured to transmit electrical energy from the electrical power source to the electric vehicle.

A ground equipment for a transport system includes a track for a land transport vehicle; an external power supply device including a plurality of power supply segments arranged sequentially along the track, the plurality of power supply segments forming an external power supply zone, at least one end segment being situated in vicinity to one end of the external power supply zone adjacent to a zone with no external power supply, to be traveled with an onboard power supply device, a communication antenna being associated with the or each external power supply segments; and a controller adapted to power on the end segment and adapted to send, using an antenna associated with that end segment, a signal indicating the end of a zone with an external power supply in response to a presence signal of the land transport vehicle received by said antenna.

An electrical circuit for a vehicle includes at least one electrical contact device for an intermittently detachable electrical connection to a vehicle-external electrical network, a vehicle-internal electrical network and at least one detector device which determines if a connection exists between the contact device and the vehicle-external network. The circuit has at least one switching device which closes the electrical connection between the contact device and the vehicle-internal network depending on the connection determined between the contact device and the vehicle-external network. A method for making contact and/or breaking contact of a vehicle with a vehicle-external electrical network is also provided.

An electrical circuit for a vehicle includes at least one electrical contact device for an intermittently detachable electrical connection to a vehicle-external electrical network, a vehicle-internal electrical network and at least one detector device which determines if a connection exists between the contact device and the vehicle-external network. The circuit has at least one switching device which closes the electrical connection between the contact device and the vehicle-internal network depending on the connection determined between the contact device and the vehicle-external network. A method for making contact and/or breaking contact of a vehicle with a vehicle-external electrical network is also provided.

This installation includes, on-board the vehicle (12) equipped with a battery (30), an on-board device (20), electrically connected to the battery (30) and provided with a plurality of electric contacts, and on the ground, a ground device (40), combined with the on-board device (20), connected to an electric power source (50) and including a plurality of electric contacts, each electric contact of the ground device (40) being able to be put into contact with a corresponding contact of the on-board device (20) and the installation being able to apply, safely, an electric recharging power issued by the electric power source (50) to the battery (30). This installation is characterized in that the plurality of electric contacts of the on-board device (20) and of the ground device (40) exclusively includes two electric contacts, i.e. a phase contact (21; 41) and neutral contact (22; 42).

A vehicle power supply system is configured to supply power to a vehicle from a power supply apparatus laid on a power supply lane of a vehicle travel path, the power supply apparatus includes a plurality of power supply segments laid in a preset interval along the power supply lane, and a controller configured to control the plurality of power supply segments. The controller is configured to estimate timing of the vehicle reaching a next power supply segment that supplies power next after a present power supply segment that is supplying power, from at least a vehicle velocity derived from a change in position of the vehicle, and cause the next power supply segment to start power supply at the timing estimated.