Transportation system electrical power distribution

Claim 2

A transportation system comprising a vehicle utilizing electrical power, a predetermined vehicle path, a power source extending along said path, a power collector electrically connectible to said power source for providing continuing power transfer between said power source and said vehicle, and coupling structure mounting said power collector on said vehicle, said power source comprising structure defining an elongated open sided channel located to receive said power collector, said channel having opposed inside surfaces which extend inwardly toward one another from the open side of the channel and power carrier structure exposed in said channel, said power carrier structure including a continuous electrical conductor extending along each said inside surface, said continuous electrical conductors being disposed parallel to one another in opposed relation on opposite sides of said channel, said power collector including an elongated head having outside surfaces generally conforming to the inside surfaces of said power source, and tapering toward the leading end of said head, and power receiver structure exposed through each of said outside surfaces of said head, said head and said channel being sized and structured so that said head may be inserted into and retracted through said open side of said channel at any point along the length of said channel, said outside surfaces of said head, when inserted in said channel, being received for guided engagement with said inside surfaces of said channel as said vehicle moves along said path with said power receiver structure in electrical contact with said electrical conductor to transfer electrical energy from said power source to said vehicle, and said coupling structure comprising retractor means for selectively inserting said power collector into guided engagement with said channel and retracting said power collector from said channel, and resilient coupling means between said vehicle and said power receiver structure constructed to permit relative movement between said power receiver structure and said vehicle during insertion of said power collector head into said channel.

Claim 3

The system of claim 1 wherein said power receiver structure comprises at least one electrically conductive contact member, mounted in said head, having a contact surface exposed through said head, and spring means biasing said contact member to protrude past the surrounding outside surface of said head.

Claim 4

The transportation system of claim 1 wherein said power carrier structure comprises a plurality of fixed parallel continuous conductors, spaced apart from one another by electrical insulating material, at least one conductor being located in each of said inside surfaces, and said power collector comprises an identical plurality of contact members, spaced apart from one another by electrical insulating material, and located for concurrent independent electrical engagement with said conductors when said head is inserted in said channel.

Claim 5

The system of claim 1 wherein said coupling means comprises spring structure between said retractor means and said head permitting relative movement of said head in a direction perpendicular both to said predetermined vehicle path and to the direction of movement of said head by said retractor means.

Claim 6

The system of claim 4 wherein said coupling means comprises a first mounting member secured to said retractor means, and a second mounting member secured to said head, and slidably secured on said first mounting member, and sAid spring structure is located between said mounting members along said direction of relative movement.

Claim 7

A transportation system comprising a vehicle utilizing electrical power, a predetermined vehicle path, a power source extending along said path, a power collector electrically connectible to said power source for providing continuing power transfer between said power source and said vehicle, and coupling structure mounting said power collector on said vehicle, said power source comprising structure defining an elongated open sided channel located to receive said power collector, said channel having opposed inside surfaces which taper inwardly toward one another from the open side of the channel, and power carrier structure exposed in said channel, said power collector including a head having outside surfaces generally conforming to the inside surfaces of said power source, and tapering toward the leading end of said head, and power receiver structure exposed through said head, said head and said channel being sized and structured so that said head may be inserted into and retracted through said open side of said channel at any point along the length of said channel, said head, when inserted in said channel, being received for sliding engagement in said channel as said vehicle moves along said path with said power receiver structure in electrical contact with said power carrier structure to transfer electrical energy from said power source to said vehicle, and said coupling structure comprising retractor means for selectively inserting said power collector into said channel and retracting said power collector from said channel, and resilient coupling means between said vehicle and said head permitting relative movement of said head in a direction perpendicular to both said predetermined vehicle path and to the direction of movement of said head by said retractor means comprising a first mounting member secured to said vehicle, a second mounting member secured to said head, and resilient means located between said mounting members permitting said movement of said head relative to said vehicle path and to the direction of movement of said head by said retractor means, and resilient support means between said second mounting member and said head, permitting angular movement of said head relative to said vehicle.

Claim 8

A transportation system comprising a vehicle utilizing electrical power, a predetermined vehicle path, a power source extending along said path, a power collector electrically connectible to said power source for providing continuing power transfer between said power source and said vehicle, and coupling structure mounting said power collector on said vehicle, said power source comprising structure defining an elongated open sided channel located to receive said power collector, said channel having opposed inside surfaces which taper inwardly toward one another from the open side of the channel, and power carrier structure exposed in said channel, said power collector including a head having outside surfaces generally conforming to the inside surfaces of said power source, and tapering toward the leading end of said head, and power receiver structure exposed through said head, said head and said channel being sized and structured so that said head may be inserted into and retracted through said open side of said channel at any point along the length of said channel, said head, when inserted in said channel, being received for sliding engagement in said channel as said vehicle moves along said path with said power receiver structure in electrical contact with said power carrier structure to transfer electrical energy from said power source to said vehicle, and said coupling structure comprising retractor means for selectively inserting said power collector into said channel and retracting said power collector from said channel, and resilient coupling means between said vehicle and said head permitting relative movement of said head in a direction perpendicular to both said predetermined vehicle path and to the direction of movement of said head by said retractor means comprising a first mounting member secured to said vehicle, a second mounting member secured to said head, and resilient means located between said mounting members permitting said movement of said head relative to said vehicle path and to the direction of movement of said head by said retractor means, and resilient support means between said second mounting member and said head, permitting angular movement of said head relative to said vehicle.

Claim 9

A transportation system comprising a vehicle utilizing electrical power, a predetermined vehicle path, power source structure extending along said path, said power source comprising two elongated open sided channel defining structures, each of which extends along said predetermined vehicle path, one on one side of said vehicle path and the other on the other side of said vehicle path, the open side of each channel facing toward said vehicle path and each said channel having opposed inside surfaces which extend inwardly through one another, and power conductor structure exposed in each said channel, two power collector head structures electrically connectible to said power source for providing continuing power transfer between said power source and said vehicle, each said power collector head structure being arranged for engagement with a respective one of said channel defining structure with at least one of said channel defining structures having a power collector head engaged therewith throughout travel of said vehicle along said predetermined vehicle path, each said power collector head structure having outside surfaces that generally conform to the inside surfaces of said channels and taper toward the leading end of said head, and contact structure protruding past said outer surfaces of said head, said head and said channel being sized and structured so that said head may be inserted into and retracted through said open side of said channel at any point along the length of said channel, said outside surfaces of said head, when inserted in said channel, being received for guided engagement with said inside surfaces of said channel as said vehicle movEs along said path with said contact structure in electrical contact with said power conductor structure to transfer electrical energy from said power source to said vehicle, and two coupling structures mounting said power collector head structures on opposite sides of said vehicle, each said coupling structure comprising means for selectively inserting its power collector head structure into guided engagement with said channel and retracting said power collector head structure from said channel, resilient coupling means between said vehicle and said contact structure constructed to permit relative movement between said contact structure and said vehicle during insertion of said power collector head into said channel, and resilient support means between said vehicle and said power collector head permitting angular movement of said head relative to said vehicle.

Claim 10

A transportation system comprising a vehicle utilizing electrical power, a predetermined vehicle path, power source structure extending along said path, said power source comprising two elongated open sided channel defining structures, each of which extends along said predetermined vehicle path, one on one side of said vehicle path and the other on the other side of said vehicle path, the open side of each channel facing toward said vehicle path and each said channel having opposed inside surfaces which extend inwardly through one another, and power conductor structure exposed in each said channel, two power collector head structures electrically connectible to said power source for providing continuing power transfer between said power source and said vehicle, each said power collector head structure being arranged for engagement with a respective one of said channel defining structure with at least one of said channel defining structures having a power collector head engaged therewith throughout travel of said vehicle along said predetermined vehicle path, each said power collector head structure having outside surfaces that generally conform to the inside surfaces of said channels and taper toward the leading end of said head, and contact structure protruding past said outer surfaces of said head, said head and said channel being sized and structured so that said head may be inserted into and retracted through said open side of said channel at any point along the length of said channel, said outside surfaces of said head, when inserted in said channel, being received for guided engagement with said inside surfaces of said channel as said vehicle movEs along said path with said contact structure in electrical contact with said power conductor structure to transfer electrical energy from said power source to said vehicle, and two coupling structures mounting said power collector head structures on opposite sides of said vehicle, each said coupling structure comprising means for selectively inserting its power collector head structure into guided engagement with said channel and retracting said power collector head structure from said channel, resilient coupling means between said vehicle and said contact structure constructed to permit relative movement between said contact structure and said vehicle during insertion of said power collector head into said channel, and resilient support means between said vehicle and said power collector head permitting angular movement of said head relative to said vehicle.

Claim 11

The system of claim 7 wherein said channel defining structures diverge from one another at a junction with only one of said channel defining structure extending along the predetermined vehicle path past said junction, and said system includes first retractor means operable to engage one of said power collector heads with its corresponding channel defining structure, and second retractor means operable to disengage the other power collector head from the other said channel defining structure.

Claim 12

The system of claim 7 wherein said vehicle includes road wheels, and said power collector heads are located adjacent and outside of said wheels.

Claim 13

The system of claim 1 wherein said conductors have exposed surfaces substantially coplanar with the said inside surfaces of said channel.

Claim 14

The system of claim 10 and further including cover means including two flexible sheet members of electrical insulating material disposed in shingled relation across said open side of said housing.

Claim 15

The system of claim 1 and further including a third conductor located at the innermost end of said channel, substantially midway between said inside surfaces.

Claim 16

An electrically powered vehicle adapted to receive power continuously from a power source extending along a predetermined vehicle path comprising a body, electrical propulsion means carried on said body, a power collector connected to said electrical propulsion means adapted for sliding engagement with a continuous power source extending along a predetermined vehicle path, and comprising an elongated tapered head having two opposed outer surface portions disposed at an angle to one another, each said outer surface portion being adapted to engage a corresponding surface of said continuous power source for aligning said head relative to said continuous power source and three electrically conductive members, two of said members being disposed adjacent respective ones of said outer surface portions and the third electrically conductive member being disposed adjacent the intersection of said two outer surface portions, each said electrically conductive member having an exposed contact surface for electrical connection to said power source, and coupling structure mounting said power collector on said vehicle body, said coupling structure comprising retractor means for selectively inserting and retracting said power collector relative to said power source, and resilient coupling means between said vehicle body and said head, said resilient coupling means between said vehicle body and said head including a first mounting member secured to said vehicle body, a second mounting member secured to said head, resilient means located between said mounting members permitting relative movement of said head in a direction perpendicular to both said vehicle path and to the direction of movement of said head by said retractor means, and resilient support means between said second mounting member and said head, permitting angular movement of said head relative to said vehicle body.

Claim 17

An electrically powered vehicle adapted to receive power continuously from a power source extending along a predetermined vehicle path comprising a body, electrical propulsion means carried on said body, a power collector connected to said electrical propulsion means adapted for sliding engagement with a continuous power source extending along a predetermined vehicle path, and comprising an elongated tapered head having two opposed outer surface portions disposed at an angle to one another, each said outer surface portion being adapted to engage a corresponding surface of said continuous power source for aligning said head relative to said continuous power source and three electrically conductive members, two of said members being disposed adjacent respective ones of said outer surface portions and the third electrically conductive member being disposed adjacent the intersection of said two outer surface portions, each said electrically conductive member having an exposed contact surface for electrical connection to said power source, and coupling structure mounting said power collector on said vehicle body, said coupling structure comprising retractor means for selectively inserting and retracting said power collector relative to said power source, and resilient coupling means between said vehicle body and said head, said resilient coupling means between said vehicle body and said head including a first mounting member secured to said vehicle body, a second mounting member secured to said head, resilient means located between said mounting members permitting relative movement of said head in a direction perpendicular to both said vehicle path and to the direction of movement of said head by said retractor means, and resilient support means between said second mounting member and said head, permitting angular movement of said head relative to said vehicle body.

Claim 18

The vehicle of claim 13 wherein said conductive members are mounted in Said head and resilient means bias said members to protrude past the adjacent outside surface of said head.

Claim 19

The vehicle of claim 13 wherein said resilient coupling means comprises spring structure between said vehicle body and said head permitting relative movement of said head in a direction perpendicular both to said predetermined vehicle path and to the direction of movement of said head by said retractor means.

Claim 20

The vehicle of claim 15 wherein said coupling means comprises a first mounting member secured to said retractor means, and a second mounting member secured to said head, and slidably secured on said first mounting member, for movement relative to said first mounting member, and said spring structure is located between said mounting members along said direction of relative movement.

Claim 21

The vehicle of claim 13 wherein said retractor means comprises a pantograph linkage having one side secured to said vehicle, the opposite side resiliently coupled to said head, and arms facing said sides, and drive means for selectively expanding and contracting said linkage.

Claim 22

The vehicle of claim 17 wherein said drive means includes a fluid actuated piston assembly mounted on said vehicle, having a fluid actuated piston rod secured to one of said arms.

Claim 23

An electrically powered vehicle adapted to receive power continuously from one of two power sources that extend along a predetermined vehicle path comprising a body, electrical propulsion means carried on said body, two power collectors, each connected to said electrical propulsion means and each arranged for sliding engagement with a respective one of said power sources, and each capable of independently receiving power sufficient for said vehicle, each said power collector comprising an elongated tapered head having two opposed outer surface portions disposed at an angle to one another, each said outer surface portion being adapted to engage a corresponding surface of said continuous power source for aligning said head relative to said continuous power source and three electrically conductive members electrically isolated from one another for engaging separate conductors of a said power source, two of said members being disposed adjacent respective ones of said outer surface portions and the third electrically conductive member being disposed adjacent the intersection of said two outer surface portions, each said electrically conductive member having an exposed contact surface for electrical connection to said power source, and coupling structure mounting said power collector on said vehicle body, said coupling structure comprising retractor means for selectively inserting and retracting said power collector relative to said power source, and resilient coupling means between said vehicle body and said head.

Claim 24

An electrically powered vehicle adapted to receive power continuously from one of two power sources that extend along a predetermined vehicle path comprising a body, electrical propulsion means carried on said body, two power collectors, each connected to said electrical propulsion means and each arranged for sliding engagement with a respective one of said power sources, and each capable of independently receiving power sufficient for said vehicle, each said power collector comprising an elongated tapered head having two opposed outer surface portions disposed at an angle to one another, each said outer surface portion being adapted to engage a corresponding surface of said continuous power source for aligning said head relative to said continuous power source and three electrically conductive members electrically isolated from one another for engaging separate conductors of a said power source, two of said members being disposed adjacent respective ones of said outer surface portions and the third electrically conductive member being disposed adjacent the intersection of said two outer surface portions, each said electrically conductive member having an exposed contact surface for electrical connection to said power source, and coupling structure mounting said power collector on said vehicle body, said coupling structure comprising retractor means for selectively inserting and retracting said power collector relative to said power source, and resilient coupling means between said vehicle body and said head.

Claim 25

The vehicle of claim 19 and further including switch means carried by said vehicle including follower means for sensing fixed guide means extending along said predetermined vehicle path, said follower means having first and second operating modes enabling said vehicle to select one of two alternate paths at a junction of said predetermined vehicle path and means engaging one of said power collectors with a cooperating power source and disengaging the other power collector from its cooperating power source in coordination with switching of said follower means from one operating mode to another.

Claim 26

The vehicle of claim 20 including road wheels, wherein said power collectors are located on opposite sides of said vehicle and outside of said road wheels.