Abstract: A slider is slightly moved in a direction in which both side surfaces of the slider come in contact with inclined surfaces of impact mitigating parts of neighboring contact strip pieces. For this reason, the inclined surface of the impact mitigating part of the contact strip piece which the slider approaches is relatively downwardly slid with respect to one side surface of the slider. In addition, the inclined surface of the impact mitigating part of the contact strip piece from which the slider moves away is relatively upwardly slid with respect to the other side surface of the slider. As a result, since an impact generated between the contact strip piece and the slider is mitigated by the impact mitigating part without fitting the slider into a stepped section between the neighboring contact strip pieces, the slider is smoothly transferred from the one contact strip piece of the neighboring contact strip pieces to the other contact strip piece.

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.

Abstract: A current collector assembly for positioning a current collecting shoe into electrical contact with an electrified rail for use with a mobile unit. The collector assembly includes a pair of identical mounting blocks which are used to mount the collector assembly to the mobile unit. The mounting blocks can be used with either a single collector head configuration or a dual collector head configuration. The collector assembly includes a universal support arm that can be used either alone or in combination with a second identical support arm to connect a collector head to the mounting block. The universal support arm includes a main body and a first and a second end. The first end extends at an angle with respect to the main body and is connected to a connecting rod passing through the mounting block. The second end of the support arm includes a pair of mounting holes which are used to connect the support arm to the collector head.

Abstract: A trolley brush for sliding electrical connection with a live rail, which is of simple construction and maintains precise alignment of the sliding contact with the live rail with relative change of position between the live rail and the base of the trolley brush. The trolley brush is comprised of a base, an arm attached thereto which can be turned about a first axis which is almost at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the arm and a sliding contact support attached to the arm which can be turned about a second axis which is almost perpendicular to the first axis and to the longitudinal axis. The base has a slot-like recess whose plane extends in the plane formed by the first axis and the longitudinal axis, the recess having a limiting first wall.

Abstract: The invention is a conveyor assembly (10) having a vehicle (12) which moves about a track (18). The track (18) includes rails (20) extending therealong for supplying power and command signals to the vehicle (12). The rails (20) are separated into isolated sections separated by buffers (24) with each section supplying electrical signals. The vehicle (12) includes at least two contacting pads (32, 33) for contacting a rail (20) and conducting the electrical signal on the rail (20) to the vehicle (12). The contracting pads are spaced a distance such that at least one contacting pad (32, 33) is in electrical connection with the rail (20) so that the vehicle (12) continuously receives the electrical signals. The receiver (34) of the vehicle (12) receives the signals from both contacting pads (32, 33) and combines the signals while preventing back feeding to the other contact pad (32, 33).

Abstract: A transporting device having an overhead track arrangement with straight sections, curved sections, crossing sections and switching sections. A track carriage is movably mounted on the track. A wheeled transport carriage unit moves over a floor surface and is releasably coupled to the track carriage. Structure is provided for effecting a desired movement of the track carriage through switching sections and crossing sections. The transport carriage unit has the drive mechanism thereon and essentially pushes and follows the guide offered by the cooperating track and track carriage.

Abstract: A control current transmitter is provided of the type having contactor means which yieldingly engage a control current track for a trolley in conveyor systems. The contactor means consists of two contact blocks or rollers positioned in the longitudinal or driving direction of the trolley, disposed one behind the other and spaced apart from each other in an insulated manner, each of which is provided with separate control current lines coupled thereto.

Abstract: The electrical collector unit (41) and the overhead conductor entrance (26) are designed so that four collectors (63, 64, 66, 67) can properly enter the conductor slots (18, 19, 21, 22) without manual assistance and with the vehicle, not shown, carrying the collection unit (41) traveling at near a walking speed. Two collector subassemblies (42, 43) are mounted on the vehicle, not shown, each of which carries two collectors and includes spring biased parallel links (73, 74, 76, 77) between a pair of pivot posts (71, 86), a guide roller (61) engageable with side walls (28, 29, 36, 67) of the entrance chute (26) and equalizer beams (134, 136) supporting the collectors (63, 64 or 66, 67).

Abstract: An overhead plural conductor trolley rail and flying pickup for supplying electrical power to a vehicle includes a plastic extrusion fastened to an overhead structure housing parallel flat conductors, the exposed underside of each of the conductors being engaged by shoes carried on vehicle supported trolley units. At one end of the rail a guide structure for the trolley includes a central, side skirted or inverted channel shaped portion, flanked at either end by oppositely extending side-skirted ramps each inclined upwardly from the central portion. The approach ramp also diverges horizontally outwardly of the rail support. To accurately engage the trolley carried shoes with the rails, the operator need only insure that the trolley enters the divergent portion of the guide at its widest open end.

Abstract: A trolley rail housing provided with a plurality of parallel open-bottom slots extending lengthwise thereof has an electric conductor mounted up in each slot, with an end portion of the housing offset upwardly and connected by a downwardly inclined portion to the rest of the housing. An electrical pick-up unit adapted to be carried by a vehicle includes a plurality of collectors mounted for vertical and lateral movement, with spring means urging the collectors upwardly. This unit also includes a pair of laterally spaced guide members disposed above the collectors and movable laterally with them and adapted to engage the opposite sides of the rail housing when the pickup unit, separated from the housing, is moved toward its offset end.

Abstract: A device for receiving power from a rigid conductor extending in the direction of advance to an electrically driven, rail vehicle, which comprises current collecting members independently supported on a base through elastic members having a low spring constant, as far as possible, within the working ranges. The current collecting member has a higher predetermined vertical level than the average static height of the rigid conductor so as to be displaced back to the average static level of the rigid conductor. The current collecting member is maintained in a resilient condition during operation so that it is responsive to any sudden changes in pressure and thus prevent separation from the rigid conductor.

Abstract: A current collector shoe suspension for sliding contact with an electric power line in an externally powered electric vehicle. Current collecting shoes are resiliently biased toward a power rail through a plurality of interconnected vibration absorbing units pivotally mounted to the vehicle. Each unit can vibrate independently of the others, and the units have different resonance points so displaced that their vibration characteristic curves overlap, whereby the shoes maintain contact with the rail over a wide range of vibration frequencies and amplitudes.