Abstract
System for electrically feeding at least one electrically powered vehicle comprising suspended elongated slotted element(s) having electric conductor(s) arranged in slot(s) and current collector(s) co-acting with the slotted element. The current collector(s) comprises contact element(s), collector arm(s) supporting the contact element(s) at its first end and is adapted to connect to a vehicle with its second end, and actuator(s) configured to act on the collector arm(s) to displace the first end contact element towards the slotted element(s). The actuator(s) displaces the first end of the collector arm towards the slotted element(s). The contact element is connected to the collector arm via a tracking device comprising a body part to which said contact element(s) is connected. The tracking device further comprises lateral guiding means configured to co-act with at least one laterally facing portion of the elongated slotted element to guide the tracking device laterally relative elongated slotted element. At least one lateral guiding means is laterally displaceable relative said body part by means of an alignment actuator.
Claims
1.-26. (canceled)
27. System for electrically feeding at least one electrically powered vehicle, comprising: at least one elongated slotted element being suspended and adapted to extend along a road section on which the at least one vehicle is adapted to travel with its lengthwise direction substantially in parallel with the direction of travel, said elongated slotted element comprising at least one electric conductor arranged in at least one slot in said elongated slotted element and being adapted to be electrically energized; at least one current collector being adapted to co-act with said at least one suspended elongated slotted element, said current collector comprising at least one contact element being adapted to connect electrically with corresponding at least one electric conductor of said elongated slotted element; at least one collector arm supporting the at least one contact element at its first end and being adapted to connect directly or indirectly to an electrically propellable vehicle at its second end, and at least one actuator configured to act on the at least one collector arm to displace the first end towards the at least one suspended elongated slotted element, wherein said contact element is connected to the at least one collector arm by means of a tracking device, said tracking device comprising a body part to which said at least one contact element is connected, said tracking device further comprising lateral guiding means comprising at least two guiding wheels or sliding elements configured to roll or slide against laterally facing portions on both lateral sides of the elongated slotted element to guide the tracking device laterally relative elongated slotted element, wherein said at least two guiding wheels or sliding elements are laterally displaceable relative said body part by means of an alignment actuator.
28. System according to claim 27, wherein said tracking device further comprises vertical guiding means configured to co-act with the elongated slotted element to guide the tracking device vertically relative said elongated slotted element.
29. System according to claim 27, wherein said at least two guiding wheels or sliding elements are laterally displaceable relative the body part by means of said alignment actuator between extended positions where the guiding elements or wheels are spaced apart a first distance being greater than the lateral width of the elongated slotted element and withdrawn positions where the guiding elements or wheels are spaced apart a second distance corresponding to said lateral width.
30. System according to claim 29, wherein said alignment actuator of the tracking device is a mechanical actuator comprising an alignment bar having a length in the lateral direction being equal to or greater than said first distance, said alignment bar being displaceable relative the body part, and being mechanically connected to the guiding wheels or sliding elements such as to displace the at least two guiding wheels or sliding elements towards each other when the alignment bar is pushed towards the body part.
31. System according to claim 30, further comprising an electronic control unit and at least one thereto connected position sensor, said electronic control unit being configured to, in response to signals from said at least one position sensor, control the at least one actuator such that the alignment bar of the tracking device is laterally aligned with said elongated slotted element, whereafter the electronic control unit controls the at least one actuator to displace the tracking device towards the elongated slotted element such that the alignment bar is pushed towards the body part of the tracking device.
32. System according to claim 27, wherein said elongated slotted element is provided with a flange or groove on at least one lateral side, said flange or groove extending along the lengthwise direction of the elongated slotted element and being configured to receive at least parts of the guiding wheels or sliding elements thereon or therein to support the tracking device when the guiding wheels or sliding elements are in abutment with the elongated slotted element.
33. System according to claim 27, wherein said at least one contact element is connected to the body part by means of one or more resilient connection means.
34. System according to claim 27, wherein said current collector comprises rotational connection means for directly or indirectly rotatably connecting the second end of the collector arm to a vehicle.
35. System according to claim 34, wherein said at least one actuator comprises an actuator configured to rotate the current collector around a rotational axis defined by the rotational connection means.
36. System according to claim 27, further comprising a sliding device arranged at the second end of the collector arm, said sliding device being configured to allow lateral movement of the collector arm relative a vehicle.
37. System according to claim 27, wherein the collector arm is formed by at least two serially arranged arm segments comprising first and second arm segments, further comprising a sliding device arranged between said first and second arm segments, said sliding device being configured to allow lateral movement of the first arm segment relative the second arm segment.
38. System according to claim 29, further comprising an electronic control unit and at least one thereto connected position sensor, said electronic control unit being configured to: control the alignment actuator such that the guiding wheels or sliding elements are displaced to their extended positions; control, after the guiding wheels or sliding elements have been displaced to their extended positions and in response to signals from said at least one position sensor, the at least one actuator such that tracking device is aligned with the slotted element between the guiding wheels or sliding elements; control, after the tracking device has been aligned with the slotted element, the alignment actuator to displace the guiding wheels or sliding elements laterally inwards towards the slotted element until the at least one contact element is laterally aligned with the at least one corresponding electric conductor, and control, after the contact element has been laterally aligned with the at least one corresponding electric conductor, the at least one actuator to displace the tracking device towards the slotted element until the at least one contact element is in contact with the corresponding at least one electric conductor.
39. System according to claim 27, wherein each laterally facing portion of the slotted element is provided with an aligning edge at the bottom thereof, and wherein said tracking device comprises at least one set of aligning wheels or sliding elements on each lateral side thereof, wherein the aligning wheels or sliding elements at each lateral side are disposed to form a respective aligning surface being arranged to slide laterally against the corresponding aligning edges at the bottom of the laterally facing portions, the aligning wheels or sliding elements further being spaced apart a distance such that at least one aligning wheel or sliding element of each set of aligning wheels or sliding elements is able to roll or slide against a corresponding aligning edge at the bottom of the laterally facing portions, wherein the guiding wheels or sliding elements are laterally displaceable relative to the body part between extended positions where the guiding wheels or sliding elements are spaced apart a first distance being greater than or equal to the lateral width of the elongated slotted element and withdrawn positions where the guiding wheels or sliding elements are disposed at a distance from each other such that the guiding wheels or sliding elements roll or slide against respective lateral portions.
40. System according to claim 39, wherein at least one laterally facing portion of the slotted element is furthermore provided with a guiding edge at the top thereof, and wherein the guiding wheels or sliding elements are laterally displaceable relative the body part by means of being supported by holding elements at the lateral sides of the tracking device, which holding elements are rotatable relative the body part around respective axes of rotation being substantially parallel with the lengthwise direction, wherein at least one set of guiding wheels or sliding elements in the withdrawn position is aligned to co-act with the corresponding guiding edge at the top of the laterally facing portion, and wherein the guiding wheels or sliding elements in the withdrawn positions are disposed at a distance from each other such that said at least one set of guiding wheels or sliding elements roll or slide on said guiding edge.
41. System according to claim 40, wherein the guiding edges are chamfered, and wherein the guiding wheels are rotatable around axes of rotation disposed at corresponding angles as the guiding edges.
42. System according to claim 38, wherein the guiding wheels or sliding elements at each lateral side form a respective guiding surface, and wherein the aligning wheels or sliding elements and the guiding wheels or sliding elements are aligned such that, in the extended positions of the guiding wheels or sliding elements, each aligning surface of the aligning wheels or sliding elements and the guiding surface of the adjacent guiding wheels or sliding elements are disposed in a common plane.
43. System according to claim 39, wherein the at least one contact element is connected to the body part by means of a displacement device configured to displace the contact elements relative the body part in a direction towards and away from the body part.
44. System according to claim 27, wherein the at least one current collector comprises at least one ground contact element, said ground contact element being arranged to co-act with an exterior portion of the slotted element, said exterior portion being connected to ground, wherein said ground contact element is configured to, when the current collector is brought in contact with the slotted element, connect with said exterior portion prior to said at least one contact element connect with the corresponding at least one electric conductor.
45. System according to claim 44, wherein said at least one ground contact element is resiliently preloaded by means of at least one spring member which is compressed when the contact element makes contact with the exterior portion.
46. System according to claim 27, wherein said at least one contact element each comprises at least two contact element parts being individually resiliently preloaded by means of at least one spring member which is compressed when the contact element makes contact with the corresponding electric conductor.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0039] Above discussed and other aspects of the present invention will now be described in more detail using the appended drawings, which show presently preferred embodiments of the invention, wherein:
[0040] FIG. 1 shows a cross section view of an embodiment of the system according to the invention arranged in a mine,
[0041] FIG. 2a-2d shows an embodiment of the system according to the invention, where the current collector and slotted element are shown at different relative positions,
[0042] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of parts of another embodiment of the system according to the invention (shown without the at least one slotted element),
[0043] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the embodiment in FIG. 3 with its telescopic collector arm extended to two different lengths,
[0044] FIG. 5 shows a side view of parts of yet another embodiment of the system according to the invention (shown without the at least one slotted element),
[0045] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a tracking device of another embodiment of the system with the guiding wheels shown in extended and withdrawn positions,
[0046] FIG. 7 shows a side view of the tracking device in FIG. 6,
[0047] FIG. 8 shows a cross-section view of parts of yet another embodiment of the system according to the invention (shown without collector arm and parts of the tracking device),
[0048] FIG. 9a-d shows parts of yet another embodiment of the system according to the invention (shown without collector arm), where the tracking device is shown in four different positions relative the slotted element, and
[0049] FIG. 10 shows a cross-section view of parts of the embodiment in FIG. 9a-d.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0050] FIG. 1 shows a cross section view of an embodiment of the system according to the invention along with an electrically powered mine vehicle 1 arranged in a mine. The system comprises elongated slotted elements 2 and a current collector 4. The elongated slotted elements 2 are suspended consecutively from the ceiling of a mine tunnel extending along the road section 3 on which the vehicle 1 is adapted to travel with its lengthwise direction substantially in parallel with the direction of travel. The elongated slotted element comprises two electric conductors 5 arranged in respective slots 6 in said elongated slotted element. The electric conductors are electrically energized to supply the vehicle with electric power. The current collector 4 co-act with the elongated slotted elements 2. The current collector comprises two contact elements 7 and a telescopic collector arm 8. A hydraulic actuator 9 is arranged within the collector arm to extend and withdraw the arm. The contact elements 7 connect mechanically and electrically with the electric conductors 5. The collector arm 8 supports the contact elements at its first end 8 and connects to the vehicle 1 at its second end 8. The contact elements 7 are connected to the collector arm 8 by means of a tracking device 10, the tracking device comprising a body part 11 to which said contact elements 7 are attached. The tracking device 11 further comprises lateral guiding means 12a, 12b in the form of guiding wheels adapted to roll against opposite laterally facing portions 2, 2 of the elongated slotted element 2 to guide the tracking device laterally relative elongated slotted element. The guiding wheels are laterally displaceable relative said body part by means of an alignment actuator 13 between extended positions where the guiding wheels are spaced apart a first distance being greater than the lateral width of the elongated slotted element and withdrawn positions (as shown in FIG. 1) where the guiding wheels are spaced apart a second distance corresponding to said lateral width. In FIG. 1, only a laterally extending rod part of the hydraulic alignment actuator can be seen in FIG. 1. The slotted element 2 is vertically aligned with respect to the road 3. The alignment actuator is electrical (comprises a motor), but may in other embodiments for example be hydraulic.
[0051] FIG. 2a-2d shows an embodiment of the system according to the invention, where the current collector and slotted element are shown at different relative positions. The embodiment corresponds to what is shown in FIG. 1 and the figure references correspond, but it is simplified by comprising only one guiding wheel 12 rather than two wheels 12a, 12b as in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2a, the tracking device is roughly aligned with the slotted element. Such rough alignment can be achieved by means of positions sensors, which may be magnetic. Precise alignment is achieved by displacing the guiding wheel 12 laterally towards the body part 11 of the tracking device by means of actuator 13. In FIG. 2b, the guiding wheel 12 is in abutment with a laterally facing side portion. In FIG. 2c, the actuator 13 has further withdrawn, which means that the body portion 11 and collector arm 8 has been displaced to the right until the guiding wheel has reached its withdrawn position where the contact elements 7 are aligned with the slots 6 and the electric conductors. In FIG. 2d, the telescopic collector arm 8 has been extended such that contact elements make contact with the conductors. It is understood that the alignment steps illustrated by FIG. 2a-2d are typically controlled by an electronic control unit (ECU).
[0052] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of parts of another embodiment of the system according to the invention (shown without the at least one slotted element). The tracking device 110 comprises four guiding wheels 115a-d, two on either side of the slotted element, which guiding wheels are laterally displaceable relative the body part 111 of the tracking device. Two contact elements 106 each co-acting with a corresponding electric conductor. The tracking device is furthermore provided with vertical guiding wheels 114a-d arranged to roll against a downwardly facing portion of the slotted element (assuming a vertical alignment thereof). The alignment actuator (not shown) of the tracking device is electrical (comprises a motor), but may in other embodiments for example be hydraulic. The alignment actuator displace the two pairs of guiding wheels towards and away from each other. The collector arm 108 is telescopic and is rotationally connected at its first/upper end to the tracking device. The lower/second end of the current collector is connected via rotational connection means in the form of a hinge joint 118 to a sliding device 120. A hydraulic actuator 109a is configured to rotate the current collector around the rotational axis defined by the rotational connection means. A further hydraulic actuator 109b is configured to rotate the tracking device relative the collector arm. The sliding device 120 arranged at the second end of the collector arm is configured to allow lateral movement of the collector arm relative the vehicle.
[0053] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the embodiment in FIG. 3 with its telescopic collector arm extended to two different lengths,
[0054] FIG. 5 shows a side view of parts of yet another embodiment of the system according to the invention (shown without the at least one slotted element). The embodiment corresponds to that shown in FIGS. 3-4, but differs in that the collector arm is formed from two serially arranged arm segments 308a, 308b. Arm segment 308a corresponds to the telescopic arm 108 in FIG. 3, and is connected via a sliding device 320 (to allow relative lateral movement between the two arm segments) and a hinge joint to the lower arm segment 308b which is in turn is connectable to the vehicle via a lower hinge joint.
[0055] FIG. 6 shows a tracking device of another embodiment of the system which corresponds to the embodiment in FIG. 3 except for the tracking device being different. The guiding wheels 215a-d are shown in extended and withdrawn positions, and FIG. 7 shows a side view of the tracking device in FIG. 6 illustrating the vertical movement of the alignment bar 213. A total of four contact elements 206, where two co-act with each electric conductor, are connected to the body part 211. The alignment actuator of the tracking device is a mechanical actuator 213 comprising an alignment bar 213 having a length in the lateral direction being equal to or greater than the distance between the guiding wheels in their extended positions (first distance). The alignment bar is displaceable vertically relative the body part 211 and is mechanically connected to the guiding wheels to displace the two pairs of guiding wheels towards each other when the alignment bar is pushed towards the body part. The mechanical connection may for example be achieved by means of a desmodromic type of cam arrangement, i.e. the downwards movement of the alignment bar incurs a rotation of a cam which in turn pulls the guiding wheels inwards.
[0056] FIG. 8 shows a cross-section view of parts of yet another embodiment of the system according to the invention (shown without collector arm and parts of the tracking device). This embodiment is similar to those shown in FIGS. 3-5 but differs mainly in that the slotted element 402 is provided with flanges 416a, 416b at both lateral sides. The flanges extend along the lengthwise direction of the elongated slotted element. The guiding wheels 415a, 415b are angled such that they roll onto the flanges 416a-b to support the tracking device vertically, which means that it is not necessary to force the tracking device upwards once the guiding wheels have engaged with the flanges. The vertical guiding wheels 414a-b are also angled to roll against opposite lower sides of the flanges. The guiding wheels 415a-b are rotatably connected to L-shaped holding elements which are in turn rotatably connected to the body part (not shown) such that the guiding wheels are laterally displaceable between extended positions (angled out) as shown with solid lines, and withdrawn positions (angled in) as shown with dotted lines when making contact with the flanges. This means that the tracking device can be aligned with the slotted element by means of upwards movement together with inwards displacement of the guiding wheels.
[0057] FIG. 9a-d shows parts of yet another embodiment of the system according to the invention (shown without the collector arm, which may be of the type shown in FIG. 3/4 or FIG. 5), where the tracking device 510 is shown in four different positions relative the slotted element 502. The slotted element is seen in a cross-section, and the longitudinal end of the current collector is seen. The elongated slotted element 502 differs from the above-described embodiments in that it comprises chamfered guiding edges 516a, 516c at the top of the laterally facing portions 502, 502 of the slotted element, and chamfered aligning edges 516b, 516d at the bottom. In this embodiment, the edges are chamfered at 45 degrees angle relative the direction of movement of the contact elements, which in the shown vertical alignment equals to 45 degrees relative a vertical plane. The elongated slotted element comprises two electric conductors 505 arranged in respective slots 507 in the elongated slotted element. In other embodiments, there may be only one electric conductor, alternatively three or more electric conductors.
[0058] The tracking device 510 comprises two sets of aligning wheels 514a, 514b on each lateral side thereof (only one set on each side can be seen in FIG. 9a-d), the aligning wheels being stationary (apart from rolling motion) relative the body part 511. The aligning wheels are angled at 45 degrees such as to be able to roll against the chamfered aligning edges 516b, 516d. The aligning wheels thus form vertical guiding means. Further, due to the V-shape formed by the aligning wheels, they also form lateral guiding means by means of upwards movement of the tracking device and sliding action of the aligning wheels against the chamfered aligning edges. In this embodiment, each set of aligning wheels comprise three parallel wheels arranged to rotate around respective common axes of rotation 514a, 514b.
[0059] The tracking device 510 further comprises two sets of guiding wheels 515a, 515b on each lateral side of the body part 511 (only one set on each side can be seen in FIG. 9a-d), the guiding wheels being arranged laterally outside the aligning wheels 514a, 514b. The guiding wheels are laterally displaceable relative the body part by means of being rotatably attached to a respective holding element 517a, 517b which is pivotable/rotatable relative the body part around axes of rotation (axis of rotation 517 of holding element 517a is seen in FIG. 10) which are perpendicular with the corresponding axes of rotation 515a, 515b of the guiding wheels. When the tracking device is aligned with the slotted element, as shown in FIGS. 9c and 9d, the axes of rotation of the holding elements are substantially parallel with the lengthwise direction of the slotted element.
[0060] The aligning wheels 514a, 514b and the guiding wheels 515a, 515b have the same diameter, and in the extended positions of the guiding wheels as shown in FIG. 9a, the axis of rotation 514a, 514b of the alignment wheels and the axis of rotation 515a, 515b of the guiding wheels on the respective side lie in the same plane, which plane is disposed at the same angle as the chamfered aligning edges (45 degrees in this embodiment). Consequently, each of the guiding surfaces 515a, 515b formed by the guiding wheels lie in the same plane as the corresponding aligning surfaces 514a, 514b formed by the aligning wheels. The alignment actuators 517c, 517d of the tracking device are pneumatic cylinders, but may in other embodiments for example be electric, hydraulic or other actuation means that may be applied by those skilled in that art. Further, the actuator may be wire-operated or the like, i.e. an actuator that gets its movement via for example wires from a source of power disposed at a distance. The alignment actuators pivots/rotates the holding elements such that the guiding wheels are displaced towards and away from the slotted element.
[0061] The current collector comprises two sets of contact elements 506, each set of contact element being adapted to co-act with a corresponding electric conductor 505 in the slotted element 502. The contact elements are connected to the body part 511 by means of a displacement device 518 which is shown in more detail in FIG. 10. The displacement device is configured to displace the contact elements towards and away from the body part 511, i.e. in a direction towards and away from the slotted element when the current collector is laterally aligned therewith.
[0062] The current collector in FIG. 9a-d aligns with the slotted element as follows.
[0063] In FIG. 9a, the current collector has been roughly laterally aligned with the slotted element by means of the collector arm, whereafter a control system orders the tracking device 510 to be displaced towards the slotted element by means of the collector arm such that the uppermost of guiding wheels 515a makes contact with the chamfered aligning edge 516b. The tracking device is displaced further upwards such that the first the guiding wheels 515a, and thereafter the aligning wheels 514a slide on the chamfered aligning edge 516b until the position shown in FIG. 9b is achieved. Thus, both the guiding wheels and the aligning wheels have an aligning function. The sliding motion has been stopped by means of the lowermost of alignment wheels 514b having come into contact with chamfered aligning edge 516d. The current collector with its tracking device is now laterally aligned with the slotted element.
[0064] The control system receives signals from position sensors 519a, 519b indicating that the current collector is laterally and vertically aligned, whereafter the control system orders the alignment actuators 517c, 517d to pivot the holding elements 517a, 517b until the guiding wheels 515a, 515b make contact with the respective chamfered guiding edges in the position shown in FIG. 9c. The axes of rotation 515a, 515b of the guiding wheels are now angled at corresponding angles as the chamfered guiding edges 516a, 516c. Thereafter, the control system orders actuator 518a (see FIG. 10) to displace the contact elements 506 upwards into the slots 507 into contact with the electric conductors 505 of the slotted element as can be seen in FIG. 9d. At the same time, ground contact element 506 comes into contact with an exterior portion 502 of the slotted element, which is connected to ground.
[0065] In FIG. 10, shows a cross-section view of parts of the embodiment in FIG. 9a-d. The cross-section is taken in a vertical plane through the rightmost contact element 506 as seen in FIG. 9a-d. As can be seen in FIG. 10, the contact element 506 is formed form a plurality of consecutively arranged plate-shaped elements, each being resiliently connected (by means of spring members 518e for example) to an elongated base part 518d of displacement device 518. The base part is connected to the body part 511 of the tracking device by means of two parallel and pivotable rods 518b, 518c which are rotatably connected at respective ends thereof to the base part and the body part. Further, an actuator in the form of a pneumatic cylinder 518a is connected between the base part and the body part such as to displace the base part 518d towards and away from the body part 511. In other embodiments, the actuator may be hydraulic, electric or other means of actuation such as a wire-operated actuator or the like, i.e. an actuator that gets its movement via for example wires from a source of power disposed at a distance. Further in FIG. 10, it can be seen that two sets of aligning wheels 514a are disposed longitudinally spaced apart at opposite longitudinal sides of the holding element 517a. Further, it can be seen that two sets of guiding wheels 515a are fitted longitudinally spaced apart on the holding element 517a. In other embodiments, only one set or more than two sets of guiding/aligning wheels are provided on each lateral side of the tracking device.
[0066] For safety reasons the ground contact element makes contact before the main contact elements. This is achieved by all of the individual plate-shaped elements of contact elements 506 and ground contact elements 506 being pre loaded with one or more springs (518a for example) that is allowed to compress. This compression spring also allows for un-even wear of individual contact elements, which may also be referred to as brushes, allowing all contact elements to be seated against the respective electric conductor. Actuator 518a applies a controlled force to ensure the correct contact force is maintained to the brush carrier assembly, the individual brush springs then allow each brush to maintain an even individual force to the electric conductors.
[0067] Although reference is made above to a control system, which may be an electronic control system, it is not illustrated in the figures since such systems are well known in the art.
[0068] The description above and the appended drawings are to be considered as non-limiting examples of the invention. The person skilled in the art realizes that several changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention. For example, tracking devices of one embodiment may be combined with collector arms from other embodiments. Further, the edges of the slotted element in FIG. 9a-d are not necessarily chamfered at 45 degrees. Furthermore, while these figures are shown in a vertical overhead orientation, it is appreciated that the orientation may be any angle from the vertical plane. It is appreciated that wheels may be sliders, skid plates, magnets or in fact any other means of providing the function of the wheels as described. It is obvious that the individual contact element springs may be another device or devices such as pneumatic energizers, rubber or other devices that can apply a controlled and known force to each brush. The number of electric conductors (and contact elements) may be one or more.
