Monitoring system for monitoring a condition of an electric rail system and/or of a current collector of the rail system

In an electric rail system including a current collector mounted for movement along at least one rail of the electric rail system, a monitoring system comprising at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of:

• a camera configured to record images of a portion of the rail system in front of the current collector or behind the current collector relative to a movement direction of the current collector along the rail;
• at least one vibration sensor on at least one slip contact of the current collector,
• an optical spark sensor configured to detect sparks in a contact region between the slip contact and the at least one rail, and
• at least one distance sensor configured to detect a distance between the at least one distance sensor and the at least one rail,
• wherein the rail system comprises a plurality of current rails, insulated from one another, of a direct, alternating, or three-phase system and at least one control rail.

In an electric rail system including a current collector mounted for movement along at least one rail of the electric rail system and configured to draw current from the at least one rail, a monitoring system comprising at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of:

• a camera configured to record images of a portion of the at least one rail in front of the current collector or behind the current collector relative to a movement direction of the current collector along the rail;
• at least one vibration sensor on at least one slip contact of the current collector,
• an optical spark sensor configured to detect sparks in a contact region between the slip contact and the at least one rail, and
• at least one distance sensor configured to detect a distance between the at least one distance sensor and the at least one rail,
• wherein the at least one sensor comprises the camera and the at least one vibration sensor and the optical spark sensor and the at least one distance sensor,
• wherein the at least one distance sensor includes a laser,
• wherein one of the at least one distance sensor is associated with each rail of the at least one rail,
• wherein the at least one slip contact includes a first part movable connected to a second part,
• wherein the at least one vibration sensor comprises an acceleration sensor connected to the first part of the at least one slip contact,
• wherein one of the at least one vibration sensors is connected to each of the at least one slip contact, wherein the current collector includes a cover and the spark sensor is located inside the cover, and
• wherein the cover is sealed against ambient light influences.