Electric current collector arrangement

Claim 2

The combination of an electric current collector device, a gas cushion member, a supporting structure, and means movably connecting the cushion member and the supporting structure, the cushion member having means for containing a continuously generated cushion of gas for spacing the cushion member in use from a surface, and the collector device being so mounted on the cushion member that in use the collector device contacts an electrical conductor on said surface and is movable relative to the cushion member, the means connecting the cushion member and the supporting structure comprising a flexible membrane which, together with the cushion member and the supporting structure, defines a deformable chamber for pressurized gas forming a suspension for the cushion member.

Claim 3

The combination of an electric current collector device, a gas cushion member, a supporting structure, and means movably connecting the cushion member and the supporting structure, the cushion member having means for containing a continuously generated cushion of gas for spacing the cushion member in use from a surface, and the collector device being so mounted on the cushion member that in use the collector device contacts an electrical conductor on said surface and is movable relative to the cushion member, the means connecting the cushion member and the supporting structure comprising a flexible membrane which, together with the cushion member and the supporting structure, defines a deformable chamber for pressurized gas forming a suspension for The cushion member, and the collector device being connected to the cushion member by another flexible membrane which is subject to the pressure of the gas in the chamber so that the collector device is urged towards the conductor.

Claim 4

The combination of an electric current collector device, a gas cushion member, a supporting structure, and means movably connecting the cushion member and the supporting structure, the cushion member having means for containing a continuously generated cushion of gas for spacing the cushion member in use from a surface, and the collector device being so mounted on the cushion member that in use the collector device contacts an electrical conductor on said surface and is movable relative to the cushion member, the means connecting the cushion member and the supporting structure comprising a flexible membrane which, together with the cushion member and the supporting structure, defines a deformable chamber for pressurized gas forming a suspension for The cushion member, and the collector device being connected to the cushion member by another flexible membrane which is subject to the pressure of the gas in the chamber so that the collector device is urged towards the conductor.

Claim 5

The combination of an electric current collector device, a gas cushion member, a supporting structure, and means movably connecting the cushion member and the supporting structure, the cushion member having means for containing a continuously generated cushion of gas for spacing the cushion member in use from a surface, and the collector device being so mounted on the cushion member that in use the collector device contacts an electrical conductor on said surface and is movable relative to the cushion member, the means connecting the cushion member and the supporting structure comprising a flexible membrane which, together with the cushion member and the supporting structure, defines a deformable chamber for pressurized gas forming a suspension for the cushion member, and the arrangement of the deformable chamber being such that in use there is increasing resistance to movement of the cushion member as it approaches the supporting structure.

Claim 6

The combination of an electric current collector device, a gas cushion member, a supporting structure, and means movably connecting the cushion member and the supporting structure, the cushion member having means for containing a continuously generated cushion of gas for spacing the cushion member in use from a surface, and the collector device being so mounted on the cushion member that in use the collector device contacts an electrical conductor on said surface and is movable relative to the cushion member, the means connecting the cushion member and the supporting structure comprising a flexible membrane which, together with the cushion member and the supporting structure, defines a deformable chamber for pressurized gas forming a suspension for the cushion member, and the arrangement of the deformable chamber being such that in use there is increasing resistance to movement of the cushion member as it approaches the supporting structure.

Claim 7

In combination in a vehicle arranged for movement along a track having an electrical conductor extending along the length thereof, a load bearing structure, a gas cushion member, the gas cushion member having containment means for containing a load bearing cushion of pressurized gas spacing the cushion member in use from a surface of the track, gas supply means for supplying pressurized gas to the cushion, first connection means movably connecting the cushion member and the load bearing structure in spaced relation and so arranged as to produce increasing resistance to relative approaching movement of the cushion member and the load bearing structure, a current collector device, and second connection means movably connecting the current collector device and the gas cushion member and so arranged as to bias the current collector device away from the cushion member and into contact with the electrical conductor extending along the track.

Claim 8

In combination in a vehicle arranged for movement along a track having an electrical conductor extending along the length thereof, a load bearing structure, a gas cushion member, the gas cushion member having containment means for containing a load bearing cushion of pressurized gas spacing the cushion member in use from a surface of the track, gas supply means for supplying pressurized gas to the cushion, first connection means movably connecting the cushion member and the load bearing structure in spaced relation and so arranged as to produce increasing resistance to relative approaching movement of the cushion member and the load bearing structure, a current collector device, and second connection means movably connecting the current collector device and the gas cushion member and so arranged as to bias the current collector device away from the cushion member and into contact with the electrical conductor extending along the track.

Claim 9

The combination according to claim 4, wherein the current collector device is so disposed as to contact the electrical conductor within the gas cushion.

Claim 10

The combination according to claim 4, wherein the containment means is so arranged as to form a cushion containing curtain of moving gas.

Claim 11

The combination according to claim 4, wherein the second connection means comprises a flexible membrane movably connecting the current collector device and the gas cushion member, the flexible membrane in use being subject to a differential pressure across it of a sense to cause the membrane to bias the current collector device into contact with the electrical conductor.

Claim 12

The combination according to claim 7, wherein the containment means is so arranged as to form a cushion containing curtain of moving gas, the gas supply means comprising a deformable chamber which is defined in part by the flexible membrane and from which pressurized gas passes to the gas cushion via the containment means.

Claim 13

The combination according to claim 8, wherein the current collector device is so disposed as to contact the electrical conductor within the gas cushion, the flexible membrane being subject on one side to the pressure of gas in the deformable chamber and on its other side being subject to cushion pressure.

Claim 14

The combination according to claim 4, wherein the current collector device is biassed into contact with the electrical conductor by spring biassing means.