Slidable current collector and method for contacting conductor rail

• Main Authors: STRASHNY, Igor, RAJESH, Roopa
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 10.10.2024
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; CURRENT COLLECTORS; ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT OR PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLEDVEHICLES; ELECTRICITY; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES, IN GENERAL; LINE CONNECTORS; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; POWER SUPPLY LINES, AND DEVICES ALONG RAILS, FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLES IN GENERAL

Abstract iv SLIDABLE CURRENT COLLECTOR AND METHOD FOR CONTACTING CONDUCTOR RAIL A slidable current collector (118) has an array of terminals (306) with carbon brushes (406) for contacting conductor rails (108) to deliver electrical power to a moving work machine (100). The terminals (306) have upper sections (520) with a conductive post (522), lower sections (500) that include a reservoir 10 (506) of liquid metal (514), and bladders (546) that connect the upper sections with the lower sections. Magnets (410) surround outer shells (404) of the terminals. Air above a threshold pressure fed into the bladders (546) holds the upper sections (520) apart from the lower sections (500) and forces the magnets (410) away from the conductor rails. Air below the threshold pressure allows the magnets to clamp 15 the terminals (306) to the conductor, lowers the conductive post (522) into the liquid metal (514), and urges the carbon brushes (406) against the conductor rails. The bladders (546) provide a fluid suspension distributed across the array of terminals (306), enabling consistent electrical contact and wear for the carbon brushes (406).