US3767868A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electric current collector shoe
Assignee: Von Roll AG
•
Filing: 1972-03-31
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Granted: 1973-10-23
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Expires: 1992-03-31
Abstract
Abstract A housing, holding sliding contacts, projects from the side of a tracked vehicle, the slide contacts engaging a current carrying member such as a current rail. The housing is mounted with a hinge connection to a link, the hinge itself being in turn pivoted to a bracket extending from the vehicle or the like towards the current carrying member. The hinges have hinge axes which are substantially parallel to the direction of travel of the vehicle, so that the shoe will be able to pivot and remain parallel to the current carrying rail, even if the distance of the tracked vehicle from the current carrying rail varies, and the rail itself curves. The bracket and hinge connection therein preferably is in form of a cradle, the current slide contacts being spring pressed towards the current carrying rail.
Inventors
- 👤 R Storrer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 19:57
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60L; B60L5/00; B60L5/38; B60L2200/00; B60L2200/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
202 words
Electric current collector for tracked vehicles to connect an electric cable (30) with a current carrying conductor (7) comprising a housing (18, 19) and slide contacts (25) held in said housing and projecting therefrom, the slide contacts being adapted to engage the current carrying member and to slide relatively thereto upon movement of the tracked vehicle; a support bracket (12) secured (11) to the vehicle (10) and extending towards the current carrying member; two pairs of hinges (14, 23) having hinge axes substantially parallel to the direction of travel of the vehicle, one pair each located at a side of the housing, and two links (13), one each interconnecting the hinges of a pair, one hinge of a pair connecting the support bracket (12) and the respective link (13), and the other hinge of a pair connecting the respective link (13) and the housing (17, 18, 19), the links being located one at each side of the housing adjacent the walls thereof which extend substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the vehicle to guide the housing with the slide contacts in parallel to the current carrying member, and permit relative movement between the vehicle (10) and the current carrying member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
202 words
Electric current collector for tracked vehicles to connect an electric cable (30) with a current carrying conductor (7) comprising a housing (18, 19) and slide contacts (25) held in said housing and projecting therefrom, the slide contacts being adapted to engage the current carrying member and to slide relatively thereto upon movement of the tracked vehicle; a support bracket (12) secured (11) to the vehicle (10) and extending towards the current carrying member; two pairs of hinges (14, 23) having hinge axes substantially parallel to the direction of travel of the vehicle, one pair each located at a side of the housing, and two links (13), one each interconnecting the hinges of a pair, one hinge of a pair connecting the support bracket (12) and the respective link (13), and the other hinge of a pair connecting the respective link (13) and the housing (17, 18, 19), the links being located one at each side of the housing adjacent the walls thereof which extend substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the vehicle to guide the housing with the slide contacts in parallel to the current carrying member, and permit relative movement between the vehicle (10) and the current carrying member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
Collector according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises two parts (18, 19) which are separable in a plane substantially parallel to the direction of travel of the vehicle, and substantially perpendicular to the track plane, the part (18) facing the current carrying member (7) carrying said slide contacts (25); spring means (26) securing the slide contacts in the housing; and openings for the cable formed in the other part (19) of the housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
Collector according to claim 1, wherein the hinge (22, 23) connecting the respective link (13) and the housing (17) is set back with respect to the slide contacts (25) to provide for sufficient clearance of the link from the current carrying member even upon tilting of the housing with respect to the current carrying member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
Collector according to claim 1, wherein each of the pairs of hinges comprises individual pairs of hinge pins, one each hinge pin being located at one side of the housing, the bracket, the hinge pins, and the respective links forming a cradle to hold the housing for swinging movement about the hinge pins and lateral translation of the housing about the hinge pins by the interconnection of the hinge pins by the links.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
Collector according to claim 1, including spring means bearing against the bracket (12) and the links (13) respectively, and tending to press the links, and hence the housing, towards the current carrying member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-22 | 1977-04-23 | 1977-10-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-22 | 1981-04-23 | 1981-10-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-22 | 1985-04-23 | 1985-10-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |