Abstract: An electrical energy capture system for use in connection with a hybrid energy off highway vehicle system of a off highway vehicle. The hybrid energy off highway vehicle system includes an off highway vehicle, a primary power source, and an off highway vehicle traction motor propelling the off highway vehicle in response to the primary electric power. The off highway vehicle traction motor has a dynamic braking mode of operation generating electrical energy. The electrical energy capture system includes an energy management processor carried on the off highway vehicle. The capture system also includes an off highway vehicle electric generator connected to and driven by the primary power source for selectively supplying primary electric power, wherein the generator is responsive to said processor. An electrical energy storage device is carried on a off highway vehicle and is in electrical communication with the off highway vehicle traction motor.

Abstract: A receiving connector 6A and upper and lower guide sockets 7 are mounted on an attachment 9, and the attachment 9 is mounted on a casing 3A by way of a bolt member 16 so that positioning of the attachment 9 is adjustable. Guide rails 5A guide wheels 4 of the movable tray 1 having a connector 6B. Upper and lower guide pins 8 are respectively inserted into the upper and lower guide sockets 7 to be guided. Thereby, the attachment 9 is moved and connectors 6A and 6B are smoothly connected to each other while being aligned.

Abstract: A hybrid energy locomotive system having an energy storage and regeneration system. In one form, the system can be retrofitted into existing locomotives, or installed as original equipment. The energy storage and regeneration system captures dynamic braking energy, excess motor energy, and externally supplied energy and stores the captured energy in one or more energy storage subsystems, including a flywheel, a battery, an ultra-capacitor, or a combination of such subsystems. The energy storage and regeneration system can be located in a separate energy tender vehicle. The separate energy tender vehicle is optionally equipped with traction motors. An energy management system is responsive to power storage and power transfer parameters, including data indicative of present and future track profile information, to determine present and future electrical energy storage and supply requirements. The energy management system controls the storage and regeneration of energy accordingly.

Abstract: A hybrid energy locomotive system having an energy storage and regeneration system. In one form, the system can be retrofitted into existing locomotives, or installed as original equipment. The energy storage and regeneration system captures dynamic braking energy, excess motor energy, and externally supplied energy and stores the captured energy in one or more energy storage subsystems, including a flywheel, a battery, an ultra-capacitor, or a combination of such subsystems. The energy storage and regeneration system can be located in a separate energy tender vehicle. The separate energy tender vehicle is optionally equipped with traction motors. An energy management system is responsive to power storage and power transfer parameters, including data indicative of present and future track profile information, to determine present and future electrical energy storage and supply requirements. The energy management system controls the storage and regeneration of energy accordingly.

Abstract: Prior battery-powered electric locomotives have used multiple diesel engines to charge the batteries and have not been commercially accepted. The present invention provides a yard switcher which combines battery storage with a gas microturbine generator to provide an effective fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly locomotive. locomotive.

Abstract: A drive unit for driving one or more bobbin carriers along a track of a bobbin transport system, comprises track engaging elements for engaging with the track and allowing the drive unit to travel along the track, a detector for detecting position indicators spaced along the track and for producing detector signals, and a computing device for receiving the detector signals from the detector and for computing the location of the drive unit on the basis of the detector signals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a free transfer machine equipped with independent motorized carriages. Each carriage comprises a variable speed motor, a rechargeable battery connected to contact blocks, and an individual travelling control system comprising a motor supply and control circuit which is controlled by a switch actuated by a front bumper and by a contactor mounted in series with the switch and carried by the lower face of the carriage in such a way as to be actuated by the retractable stop members. The circuit is also under the control of environment sensors. The trackway comprises, in relation to each work station, reed-contacts connected to an electric charge device and designed to cooperate with the contact blocks. The invention finds an application in transfer machines for production and assembly lines.

Abstract: A transportion system including a solar energy collecting monorail structure formed with a photovoltaic surface layer having a solar energy converting means for converting the collected solar energy to electrical energy. A power distribution means for distributing stored energy to transit vehicles being propelled along the monorail structure or distributing excess energy to a remote power utility source. The monorail structure includes means for propelling a transit vehicle according to magnetic principals associated with transverse flux motors. The system also includes a computer controlled, elevation compensating monorail structure extrusion machine comprising a fabrication chamber which continuously fabricates the monorail structure along a monorail construction right-of-way.

Abstract: A transportation system of a floated-carrier type according to the present invention has a guide rail cover extending in a longitudinal direction. The guide rail cover comprises a guide rail. A carrier is made to float, in a non-contact manner, from the guide rail, by means of floating device and is propelled along the guide rail by a transfer device. An electrical device and a battery for supplying a current thereto are mounted on the carrier. In this transportation system, a charging device is provided for charging the battery. The charging device comprises a first terminal connected to the battery, a charging power source located on the guide rail cover, and a second terminal, which is connected to the charging electric power source and can be brought into contact with the first terminal when the carrier is stopped at a predetermined position.

Abstract: A solar-powered rapid transit system is provided, which travels suspended above ground along a horizontal rail, supported by vertical/horizontal supports. The guide rail is basically a parallelogram, with five inner surfaces. It can be configured as either an overhead monorail system, or a birail system. The rail car is attached to and suspended from such rail by power transmission and support shafts, each of which attaches to a wheel box that fits into the horizontal guide rail. Power is transmitted to the wheels in each wheel box from several electric motors by a series of pulleys and belts in a unique configuration. Such wheels then propel the rail car or cars, which can be connected in series, down the rail. Power for electric motors is supplied by rectangular solar panels supported by vertical supports attached to the roof of each rail car, which extend several feet above the rail car and guide rails.

Abstract: Conveying equipment provided with a conveying vehicle guided by a single overhead rail without the necessity of an auxiliary rail due to the wheel and vehicle body unit construction which enables stable running of the vehicle. The equipment of the invention employs only one rail, thereby being simple in construction and extremely convenient for a non-permanent installation or a conveying equipment whose route is frequently changed, and also made remote-controllable by photo signals in simple operation.

Abstract: An electric motor driven toy train is disclosed which comprises multiple cars, each of which is articulated about a vertical axis and each of which has only a single axle so as to minimize the turning radius of the train set. A child sits upon the second car, the coal tender, and steers the first car, the locomotive of the set. A small battery driven electric motor drives one wheel of the tender to impart motion of the train set. The cars are interconnected by pivotally articulated connectors having a novel latch structure for interlocking the connectors.

Abstract: An electric motor driven toy train is disclosed which has a novel wheel and track assembly for minimizing slippage and avoiding binding between the train's wheels and the track as the train goes around a curve section of the track. The train's wheels are each stepped in cross-section with a small diameter rim and a large diameter rim, and the wheels ride on track sections with rails that are also stepped in cross-section. The inside rail of a curve track section is structured so that only the inside train wheels' small diameter rims ride thereover, and the outside rail is structured so that only the outside wheels' large diameter rims ride thereover. The train comprises multiple cars, each of which is articulated about a vertical axis and each of which has only a single axle so as to minimize the turning radius of the train set. A child sits upon the second car, the coal tender, and steers the first car, the locomotive of the set.

Abstract: An installation for the accommodation, insertion and removal of an energy-storage device, preferably, an electric battery, in a motor vehicle which has a special area for accommodating the energy-storage device. Connections are provided in the accommodating area of the vehicle, which connections correspond to the connections on the energy-storage device itself. Conveying and guide arrangements are provided for conveying the energy-storage device into and out of the accommodating area. The energy-storage device rests in a supporting frame provided with corresponding guide elements. The supporting frame is movable into and out of the accommodation area by way of the conveying arrangement in such a manner that the connections of the energy storage device automatically are connected and disconnected with the connections provided on the vehicle.

Abstract: A personnel carrier for use in an underground coal mine comprises a rail vehicle having driving cabs at opposite ends thereof with driving controls in each cab. Power is supplied from a battery mounted between the cabs to an electric driving motor arranged to drive one of a pair of axles or both axles as desired through one or more respective gearboxes. Safety features include an isolating switch operable from either cab, a flameproof rotary switch disposed substantially midway between the two cabs for activating one set of driving controls or the other and operable from outside the vehicle and an emergency braking circuit. Normal braking is electrical and achieved by moving a single control lever from power to braking. The emergency brake comprises a disc brake unit on each axle urged to the on position by springs but held in the off position hydraulically providing that a foot pedal in the activated cab remains depressed.

Abstract: Apparatus for positioning battery-operated road vehicles at relay stations where exhausted batteries are replaced with recharged batteries and wherein automatic or semiautomatic equipment is used for removal and/or introduction of batteries has a horizontal platform for the rear wheels and two sockets for the front wheels of a vehicle. The sockets are provided in a slide which is movable to and fro in parallelism with the front axle of the vehicle and is mounted in a carriage which is movable back and forth along the ground in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The carriage and the slide are movable by discrete motors to respectively move the vehicle lengthwise and about a vertical axis to an optimum position relative to a dolly or lift for delivery of recharged batteries or removal of exhausted batteries.

Abstract: A front wheel driven, gas powered vehicle is converted to include a rear differential connected for power input to a first and second electrical motor, or a single electric motor if desired. When first and second electrical motors are used they are connected in parallel, the power input thereto being brought across a current limiting series of resistors to protect and control the current level thereto. A switching circuit connects in various series and parallel combinations a plurality of batteries and concurrently switches the necessary current limiting resistance. Thus a control combination is provided including a manual selector for the desired forward and reverse directions and the low and high current ranges which is further multiplied by the various resistances. In this configuration, the normally available gasoline power plant is retained in the vehicle and is augmented during periods of nonoptimal use by the above electric motor provisions.

Abstract: An electrically driven vehicle, especially a passenger motor vehicle with an electric power source taken along in the vehicle which is arranged in the area of the vehicle floor and is connected therewith by way of mounting supports, whereby the latter are provided with means that effect a detachment of the electric power source, especially of a storage battery, from the vehicle in case of an impact of the vehicle beginning with a predetermined impact strength.

Abstract: A motor vehicle has an enclosed battery storage compartment with a door separating the compartment from an adjacent support surface that has been roughened to reduce slippage of persons stepping thereon. A battery holder has a mounting base in the compartment and a battery cell support tray mounted on wheels for rolling between a position on top of the mounting base, where the battery cells are housed, and a position on the surface, where the battery cells are inspected and serviced. Mounted to the tray is a handle having a horizontally extending grip portion for grasping to move the handle or tray and a vertical projecting lock portion for engaging a keeper, mounted on the mounting base, to lock the tray in a stationary position. When the handle is in a tray locking position, the grip portion of the handle extends adjacent the tray and the compartment door can be closed, retaining the handle in its locked position.