Abstract: An energy transmission and control system includes a power supply, a conductive support to electrically couple to the power supply, and a vehicle to electrically couple to the conductive support to receive electrical energy from the power supply. The conductive support can be configured to support the vehicle for travel along the conductive support and to transmit the electrical energy from the power supply to the vehicle. The electrical circuit can be configured to transmit a communications signal at a low frequency of about five hundred kilohertz or less. The vehicle can include a translating contact for electrically coupling the vehicle to the conductive support, a switch for selectively transmitting the electrical energy from the power supply to an electrically powered element or subsystem, and a controller to receive the communications signal and operate the switch to selectively transmit the electrical energy to the electrically powered element or subsystem.

Abstract: A reel device may include a stator and a rotor rotationally coupled with the stator. The rotor may include a drum for spooling a cable. The reel device may also include a biasing mechanism configured to rotate the rotor to spool the cable onto the drum, and a magnet connected to one of the stator or the rotor. The other of the stator or the rotor may include a conductive material that interfaces with the magnet when the rotor is turned to slow spooling of the cable onto the drum.

Abstract: A retractable cable or hose station can include a guide with a first pulley fixed with respect to a longitudinally extending track. The retractable cable or hose station can also include a trolley configured to travel along the track, where the trolley has at least a second pulley to be positioned in a line with the first pulley generally parallel to the longitudinally extending track. The retractable cable or hose station can also include a flexible cable or hose configured to be looped around the first pulley and the second pulley so that the trolley can be pulled toward the first pulley when a free end of the flexible cable or hose is pulled away from the first pulley. The retractable cable or hose station can include a biasing mechanism for biasing the trolley away from the first pulley to tighten and retract the flexible cable or hose.

Abstract: A spring-driven reel is adapted to include a gear assembly, and a reel assembly operatively coupled to at least one gear of the gear assembly. The spring-driven reel can also include at least one spring assembly. The spring assembly can include a screw member and a non-rotatable nut moveably mounted to the screw member.

Abstract: A spring-driven reel adapted to have a line or cable wound onto the spool of the cable. As the line or cable is pulled from said spool, a helical spring is compressed. The helical spring causes the line or cable to be wound upon the spool if slack occurs in the line or cable.

Abstract: A collector shoe assembly for use with an electrified conductor rail is disclosed. A support block comprised of first and second housing members secured together which has a plurality of spaced-apart, spring-loaded collector shoe segments movably positioned therein, the outer ends of which are in engagement with the conductor rail.