Abstract: A buried power supply system for an electric vehicle (17) equipped with collector shoes (16, 22), the system comprising a succession of conductive segments (5A, 5B, 5C) that are electrically isolated from one another, and that form a conductive track for the shoes on a road surface. Each segment is provided with individual switching means (11) of the static type, which means are received under the segment in a trough along which a common power supply link (14) and a common return link (13) run. The switching means provide electrical continuity between the segment to which they are assigned and the power return link so long as a connection control signal for connecting a segment to the power supply link is not received from a vehicle either directly by the segment in question (5C) or by either of the immediately adjacent segments (5B, 5D). The vehicles include means for transmitting a connection control signal to a segment of track.

Abstract: A power line (1) wherein a hollow elongated enclosure (4) houses a conducting line (27) and an elastically deformable strip element (60) which is normally in a rest position extending substantially undeformed along the whole of the enclosure when the line is not engaged by an electric vehicle. The strip element (60) interacts with a magnetic field generated by an electric vehicle (80) engaging the line, to attract a portion (60a) of the strip element (60) into a raised contact position in which an electric connection is established between the conducting line (27) and at least one power plate (34) outside the enclosure (4). The line also has a detecting device (52) for detecting the strip element (60) in the rest position and so determining non-engagement of the line.

Abstract: A power supply device includes a power supply member having: a first conductive plate electrically connected with one of positive and negative terminals of a power source; a second conductive plate electrically connected with the other terminal; a first insulating layer provided between the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate; a second insulating layer provided on an outside surface of the second conductive plate; a plurality of supply electrode members attached on an outside surface of the second insulating layer, the plurality of supply electrode members being spaced from one another, one supply electrode member being electrically connected with the first conductive plate, another supply electrode member adjacent to the one supply electrode member being electrically connected with the second conductive plate; a plurality of current collecting electrode members provided in a movable object which is movable on a specified plane, one of at least two current collecting electrode members being

Abstract: A conveyor includes electrification rails and modules mounted on those rails to provide electricity to a pallet, so that appliances being carried on the pallet can be plugged in as they travel along the conveyor. The modules include an improved T-shaped shoe for contacting the bottom surface of the pallet, toe bars which prevent the shoe from pivoting sideways as the pallet pushes on the shoe, and a switch for turning power to the shoe on and off, depending upon whether there is a pallet on top of the shoe.

Abstract: An electrified pallet conveyor system for conveying appliances under electrical connection for testing, and which includes an electrical distribution contact shoe busway assembly. The busway consists of an elongated tubular housing having a continuous side access slot and a number of bus bar conductors mounted inside which coextend with the housing for conducting electricity. The electrical contact shoe assemblies are inserted at any desired location along the busway by inserting them into the access slot and twisting them 90.degree.. These contact shoe assemblies are prevented from further rotation by the confines of a closure strip which closes the side access slot of the housing off on opposite sides of the contact shoe assembly. A keying mechanism is also provided to prevent lateral movement of the contact shoe assembly in the bottom of the bus bar housing.

Abstract: A battery of an electric vehicle is inductively charged while the electrical vehicle is moving, using a magnetic field along different portions of an extended linear distance and an inductive coil mounted on an electric vehicle, by having the electric vehicle, as it traverses the different portions of the extended linear distance, move within the influence of the magnetic field. An apparatus senses progress of the electric vehicle along the extended linear distance. The apparatus produces the magnetic field by a power switch bank connected to an array of inductive coils.

Abstract: A transportation system for use with a roadway including conductive sections on the roadway so that electric vehicles having contact members thereon may contact the conductive sections. The sections extend in the direction of travel along the roadway and have spaces therebetween and the vehicle has at least three contact members spaced on the vehicle so that at least two of the contact members are always in contact with oppositely poled sections with unidirectional current flow means between each conductor and the motor.

Abstract: An electrical modular roadway system adapted for transmitting power to and controlling inductively coupled vehicles traveling thereon. The system comprises a plurality of elongated, electrically connected inductor modules arranged in an aligned end to end spaced apart order to form a continuous vehicle path. Each module has a magnetic core and power windings which generate a magnetic field extending above the road surface. Controllable relays are connected between modules for allowing operating electric current to either activate or bypass selected modules. Sensing windings in modules are activated by the presence of a vehicle on one module to provide control signals to relays for other modules.

Abstract: A plurality of stationary markers (A, B, C, and D) are symmetrically placed at predetermined locations in the right of way of an electrically propelled traction vehicle on opposite sides of a transition point coinciding with a gap (14) between adjacent sections (13a, 13b) of a wayside conductor. Proximity sensing means (PSR, PSL) on the vehicle provide discrete output signals on a first line (43) upon passing the first and third markers (A and C) and on a second line (44) upon passing the second and fourth markers (B and D). Receiver logic means (42) includes means (108, 111-115, and 118-127), responsive to the output signals on the first and second lines, respectively, for producing a first control signal (on line 51) during the first-to-third marker interval and a second control signal (on line 50) during the second-to-third marker interval.

Abstract: A current transmitting system for use with a self-propelled automatically steered electric vehicle includes a pair of parallel, circularly arranged bus bars connected to a low-frequency A.C. power source, an induction cable extending along the bus bars and connected to a high-frequency A.C. power source, and a current collecting shoe slidable on and along each of the bus bars for transmitting the current carried by the bus bar to an electric device mounted in the vehicle. In this system, each of the bus bars is divided into two sections one of which is connected to the low-frequency A.C. power source through a coil.