Abstract: A railway vehicle having a plurality of electrical circuits is presented herein. The railway vehicle comprises an external power supply connection portion; a contactor of a normally closed type that opens and closes a common line connecting the plurality of electrical circuits to a ground, the contactor opening the common line by receiving supply of electric power through the external power supply connection portion and closing the common line when no current is applied; and an operation prohibition determining unit that determines whether supply of electric power to the plurality of electrical circuits is stopped and that prohibits the contactor from opening the common line when the supply of electric power is not stopped.

Abstract: A pantograph configuration for a vehicle has at least one pantograph embodied for at least temporary contact with an electrical network located externally outside the vehicle. The pantograph is movable from a contact position into a rest position. A first electrical network is located internally within the vehicle, which in the contact position is connected to the pantograph. A second electrical network located internally within the vehicle is connected to a ground or mass potential of the vehicle and in the rest position to the pantograph. In order to ensure that the pantograph is voltage-free in the rest position, the pantograph is connected to the first electrical network and the second electrical network in the rest position.

Abstract: A display for use in an off-highway truck includes a position element providing an indication to an operator of the off-highway truck to align the off-highway truck with an overhead trolley line as well as a pantograph element providing an indication to the operator to raise or lower a pantograph associated with the off-highway truck to respectively make or break contact with the overhead trolley line. In an optional aspect, an alarm indicator may be provided for signaling an alarm condition to the operator of the off-highway truck.

Abstract: An electric railway system includes an electric car and an electric-power supply device that supplies electric power to the electric car. The electric-power supply device includes a power source, and an overhead conductor portion connected to the power source. The electric car includes: a power collector installed on a roof of the electric car, having a contact conductor portion contactable to the overhead conductor portion, and being capable of raising and lowering the contact conductor portion based on an instruction from outside; a switching unit connected to the power collector, opening and closing a main circuit; an electric-power conversion device connected to the switching unit, performing an electric power conversion; an electric-power storage device connected to the electric-power conversion device; an electric motor driven by the electric-power conversion device, driving the electric car; and a control unit controlling at least the switching unit.

Abstract: When it is determined that a charge controllable vehicle and a charge uncontrollable vehicle coexist are connected to a plurality of charging stations, available power X is distributed and supplied to the charge controllable vehicle or the charge uncontrollable vehicle so that total power derived from the charge controllable vehicle and the charge uncontrollable vehicle does not exceed the available power X of a power supply unit, and the available power X is distributed as time division and supplied to the charge controllable vehicle and the charge uncontrollable vehicle.

Abstract: Electrically driven passenger transport vehicles are supplied with energy by an external electric supply network. If the external energy supply fails, vehicles of this type require special auxiliary devices that do not rely on the supply network, for example rely on auxiliary vehicles, in order to move said vehicles again. A vehicle can move independently during a failure of the external energy supply, by switching the electric drive of said vehicle to a battery drive.

Abstract: A method for detecting gaps to be bridged in a power supply of an electric rail vehicle includes continuously sensing at least one conductor rail for gaps with at least one contact signal transmitter travelling ahead of a plurality of electrically interconnected real current collectors, as seen in the direction of travel of the rail vehicle, with signal information obtained being stored. An instantaneous contact situation between the real current collectors and the conductor rail is determined from the memory contents. Positions of a virtual current collector travelling in advance are formed for each real current collector from the memory contents, with the distances between the contact signal transmitter and the virtual current collectors being such that a necessity to change over the traction power converter into the regenerative braking mode is indicated as soon as all of the virtual current collectors meet a gap in the conductor rail.

Abstract: A production line for manufacturing automobiles, for example, has a plurality of self-propelled carriages for carrying workpieces respectively thereon, the self-propelled carriages having respective first emergency shutdown circuits, and a plurality of automatic machines for processing the workpieces on the self-propelled carriages, respectively, the automatic machines having respective second emergency shutdown circuits, respectively. When one of the self-propelled carriage malfunctions, the first emergency circuit thereon is energized to interrupt movement of the self-propelled carriage along the production line, and operation of the automatic machine which processes the work-piece on the stopped self-propelled carriage is stopped in response to a signal which energizes the first emergency shutdown means on the self-propelled carriage.

Abstract: Offset condition detecting device for detecting offset condition of pantographs from overhead contact wires by means of electric current detected by a contact element mounted on the pantograph and insulated therefrom. The detection is made electrically and in case of emergency the pantographs are lowered down at high speed to prevent damage of pantographs of trolley-assisted vehicles.

Abstract: A mine safety system for use with a direct current power supply delivering power via a pair of conductors to the direct current load components of mining apparatus which includes a conductive frame electrically isolated from ground and at least one of the conductors. In the safety system, an alternating current generator transmits a predetermined frequency signal over the pair of conductors to the mining apparatus. A filter which passes the predetermined frequency signal is disposed at the mining apparatus in a shunt circuit with the load components, the filter thereby being connected to the generator.

Abstract: Manual closure of a switch in a power-supply circuit to an explosive type bolt causes detonation of the bolt which releases a caged spring that thereupon is rendered effective to rock a lever in the direction to lift a current-collecting shoe out of engagement with the surface of a power-supply third rail thereby causing power knockout to the driving motors of an electrically propelled vehicle.