Abstract: Power switching apparatus for an electrically driven vehicle drawing power from a plurality of spaced apart ground disposed busses separated by insulators. The apparatus employs a pair of contacts for routing power from the busses to the vehicle motor, the speed of which is controlled by the power frequency presented at each successive buss as the vehicle proceeds on its journey. The contacts are serially positioned one after another with respect to the line of travel of the vehicle and are joined together by a switching mechanism which senses the power status of each contact at any particular moment. Power is transferred to the vehicle motor through one contact or the other in accordance with a selected sequence of operation. Voltage arcing and power lapse conditions are substantially alleviated by this arrangement.

Abstract: An improved system for supplying electric power to and automatically controlling the speed of driverless electrically motivated wheeled vehicles on a guideway utilizing a plurality of guideway disposed power busses, each supplied by a sequentially variable frequency power supply. The vehicle is propelled by an electric motor sequentially in contact with the busses. The speed of the motor is controlled by the particular power frequency encountered at each buss while the vehicle moves forward on the guideway. One or more designated stop and start zones are selected for stop and start journey events in which the busses within the zone are alternatively powered by either a series of power supplies emitting frequencies at which the vehicle will decelerate to a stop or a series of power supplies emitting frequencies at which the vehicle will accelerate forward from a stopped position or alternatively continue in the normal course of travel.