Abstract: There is an electric railway truck comprising an unsprung third rail collector beam for a swing arm primary suspension. The collector beam and attached current collector is mounted to the truck frame through the use of mounting adapters, links, and elastomeric bushings. Specifically, in the vicinity of the swing arm axle housings, the collector beam is secured to the mounting adapters which, in turn, are suspended below the respective axle housings by the links and accompanying elastomeric bushings. The torsional deflection of the elastomeric bushings permit the links to swing in the longitudinal direction, thereby accommodating the relatively larger angular and longitudinal axle housing motions created by a swing arm primary suspension.

Abstract: A contact shoe assembly for a train movable along a support track having an electrically-energized power rail extending substantially parallel with the support track. The contact shoe assembly includes a support member with two spaced-apart guide channels and can bend the shoe away from the power rail. A bracket arm is positioned between the guide channels and equipped with ball bearings that roll within the guide channels. A contact shoe is connected to a lower outwardly-extending portion of the bracket arm for contacting the power rail. A spring mounted between the support member and the bracket arm biases the contact shoe into a yielding engagement with the power rail. Vertical movement of the bracket arm responsive to a varying height of the power rail maintains the contact surface of the contact shoe horizontal and parallel to the power rail.

Abstract: An improved track and vehicle system are provided for model electric vehicles. The track system includes a number of interconnectable panels having alternate portions of negative and positive polarity conductor strips defined on a top surface thereof. The conductive strips are separated by non-conductive portions. Each of the panels includes electrical and mechanical interlocking devices carried on each side thereof so that any one panel can have additional panels connected on each of its sides. The vehicles include a unique arrangement of contacts carried on a linkage underneath of the vehicle to ensure that the vehicle remains at all times in contact with the conductors, regardless of the direction of movement of the vehicle from the surface of the panels.

Abstract: An arrangement in connection with a conductor track, the conductor track having a connection groove extending in the longitudinal direction of the track for connecting devices to the conductor track, and current conductors mounted in the connection groove in the longitudinal direction thereof for supplying power by an adapter to the devices connected to the conductor track. To provide a simple solution which expedites the installation, the arrangement has at least one signal conductor fixed to the outer surface of the conductor track for supplying a bus control signal to a device connected to the conductor track by an adapter.

Abstract: A model monorail system having at least one engine and at least one car coupled thereto, both being configured to move along a single upper rail member that is supported in an elevated position by a plurality of upright rail supports. In the preferred embodiment, each monorail engine assembly comprises one front wheel subassembly with a rotatable front wheel, one wheel subassembly with counter-rotating drive wheels, two weighted electrical pick-up subassemblies which are also pivotal, pivotal wheel-coupler assemblies attached to each end of each car assembly, as well as a plurality of safety arm subassemblies and a plurality of roller arm subassemblies, which together surround the upper surface, both side surfaces, and the bottom surface of the upper rail member to securely maintain the engine assemblies and coupled car assemblies in position on top of the upper rail member at all times during use.

Abstract: Brush contact for a vehicle, in particular a vehicle that runs on rails and that has a propulsion unit that is to be supplied with an electric current, with a sliding element for the transferral of the electric current from a live conductor, which is carrying an electric current, into the vehicle, whereby the sliding element contains carbon in at least one part of its contact surface that is turned toward the live conductor, whereby the brush contact is characterized by the feature that the contact surface that is turned toward the live conductor has at least one current-transferral region of a layer that comprises a composite material based on carbon-fiber-reinforced carbon.

Abstract: An axle for track-bound electrical toy vehicles, particularly railroad vehicles, with an axle shaft which consists preferably of a synthetic material and to the end of which current-drawing wheel rims are rotatably disposed by means of ball bearings, the wheel bearings being slipped onto slip-on sections formed on the axle shaft, metallic plug contact pins being disposed at the axle shaft, which are connected in an electrically conducting manner with the ball bearings and protrude preferably radially for drawing current from the axle shaft.

Abstract: A shunting device used on railroad maintenance vehicles, such as pickup trucks and other maintenance vehicles, for transmitting electrical signal through railroad tracks for operating signalling devices and notification to the dispatcher. The shunting device consists of a backing plate for attaching the device to the vehicle, an insulator block to electrically isolate the shunting device from the vehicle, a mounting plate for attaching the shunting device to the insulator block and providing height adjustment, a shock tube attached to the mounting plate, a brush support slidable within the shock tube, a biasing mechanism to provide an outward bias to the brush support, a clamping device attached to the brush support, a brush make with a plurality of wire cable secured and held in position within the clamping device, and an electrical connection on the brush support for electrically connecting the shunting device to a signal generator.

Abstract: A toy wheel for a model electric train is provided which is formed of two parts axially arranged next to each other. One part of the wheel has a rolling face having a high coefficient of friction for engagement with a track rail. The other part of the wheel is electrically conducting and, in use, engages a side of the track rail. A spring biases the electrically conducting part toward the rolling part and, in use, into electrical engagement with the current carrying rail on which the rolling part rides.

Abstract: A carbon brush for a collector has a recess which is filled with a layer of galvanically applied, copper plating, in which at least one longitudinal wire is provided as a connecting conductor, which is mechanically and electrically linked with the brush through being embedded in and completely surrounded by the copper layer.

Abstract: A device that attaches to a pneumatic tired convertible rail highway vehicle for the purpose of shunting electrical current of railroad tracks so that the current will actuate signaling devices. The shunt mechanism is actuated by raising and lowering the guide. No other actuation is needed. The shunt mechanism is located between the road wheel and the rail wheel. A wire or carbon brush makes electrical contact and closely follows the guide wheel. The shunt mechanism is mounted on shafts allowing adjustment for the gauge of the track. A reinforcing bar prevents radial twisting of the carbon or wire brush. A spring provides a light constant tension against the carbon or wire brush to insure electrical contact.

Abstract: A contact strip for a pantograph used on an electric railcar, comprising a front surface member which is to be in contact with the trolley wire to collect current from the latter and a rear surface member which is to be fixed to the collector head, the front surface member being made of an abrasion-resistant metal plate having desired mechanical characteristics and resistivity, the rear surface member being made of a metal plate having the better mechanical characteristics, a same or lower resistivity than the front surface member and a specific gravity less than that of the front surface member, the front and rear surface members being connected integrally to each other.

Abstract: In an endless conveyor with a plurality of load carriers, current collectors are associated with the load carriers and each exhibit an input part and a current collecting part. The current collecting part is mounted on the load carriers rotatably relative to the input part. Contact arms attached to the current collecting part are in contact with sliding contact rails. The current collected from the sliding contact rails passes via the contact arms, the current collecting part and sliding contacts connected to the current collecting part to the input part and from there to the respective load carrier.

Abstract: A power collection apparatus is disclosed for the purpose of power distribution from a central power supply to the propulsion motors of at least one mass transit vehicle operative with a predetermined roadway track, including one or more rail gaps and/or crossover switches, to permit the vehicle to transfer from one section to a second section of that roadway track. The power collection apparatus includes collector support apparatus carried by each vehicle and designed to be operative with a rail support member for three individual phase power rails, a ground rail and a signal rail, permitting high speed vehicle passage through a rail gap and a crossover switch.

Abstract: A rail electrification system for electric railways utilizing 3-phase power, comprising three conductor rails arranged in a group characterized by a staggered relationship, commonly known as a delta configuration, so that two of the rails face in one direction and the third faces in an opposite direction. For taking off the 3-phase power from the conductor rails, the car is equipped with two sets of three collectors or shoes each, with the sets being disposed on opposite sides of the conductor rail group. Three of the collectors (not all in one set) function when the car is traveling in one direction along the rails, whereas the remaining three collectors function when the car has been turned around and is traveling in the opposite direction along the rails.

Abstract: A collector for collecting and passing an electric current in sliding contact, which is used for an electric train, a crane, a hoist or the like, said collector comprising a substrate metal or metal matrix into which a solid lubricant is dispersed, a layer of a prescribed thickness containing dispersed therein particles of the solid lubricant having a particle size of up to 2.5 mm, which is formed on the sliding surface side of the collector, and a solid lubricant-free layer of a prescribed thickness formed on the opposite surface side of the collector.

Abstract: A current-collecting elastic tire for a vehicle in which a plurality of electrodes of conductive material are continuously or discontinuously embedded in the tire body in the circumferential direction of the tire tread portion, and these electrodes are exposed at one end thereof from the tire tread surface and connected electrically at the other end thereof to the vehicle by electrical wiring so that external electric current can be collected by the tire.

Abstract: Electric power is provided to the motor of a self-propelled carriage of an aerial ropeway through two cables by which the carriage is supported.

Abstract: Electrical connection apparatus for two conductors respectively connected to an electrical supply source and to a utilization device, the conductors being respectively secured to first and second elements which are relatively rotatable with respect to one another through the intermediary of a roller bearing having a cage constituted by first and second parts respectively secured to the first and second elements and balls inserted in the cage. First and second conductive contacts are fixedly secured to the first element and are in rubbing contact respectively with a first annular grounding track and a second annular conductive track. The first and second tracks are fixedly secured to the second part of the cage, the grounding track being formed by a thin layer of low electrical resistance deposited in a peripheral groove in the second part of the cage.