System and method for supporting elevated power rails
AssigneeCaterpillar Global Mining Equipment LLC
InventorIgor Strashny
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A modular structure supports elevated rail segments for delivering electrical power to a moving work machine, such as a hauler at a mining site. Opposite ends of a roadside barrier contain complementary tubular couplers arranged vertically. A lower end of a dielectric post positioned in one of the tubular couplers has opposing dielectric plates at an upper end. A top edge of each plate has a creepage concavity between a pair of rail recesses. Another dielectric post of similar configuration is positioned in the other of the tubular couplers. Holes within the couplers and the posts ensure alignment of respective rail recesses in which conductive rails are placed. Dielectric inserts frictionally lock the rails into the rail recesses.
Claims20
A mobile machine power conductor linkage for receiving power from a power conductor rail assembly, comprising:
- a movable conductor arm assembly including a proximal end at a front-most end of a mobile machine and a distal end extendable away from a side of the mobile machine;
- and
- a contactor assembly coupled to a distal end of the conductor arm assembly for sliding along the power conductor rail assembly,
- wherein the mobile machine power conductor linkage is configured to couple to the power conductor rail assembly that is at least 8 feet above the ground between uppermost and lowermost portions of the mobile machine.
A mobile machine power conductor linkage for receiving power from a power conductor rail assembly, comprising:
- a telescoping conductor arm assembly including a proximal end adjacent a frame of a mobile machine and a distal end extendable away from a side of the mobile machine, wherein at least a portion of the telescoping conductor arm assembly extends in a direction parallel to a ground surface, the side of the mobile machine being located between a front-most end and a rear-most end of the mobile machine;
- and
- a contactor assembly coupled to a distal end of the telescoping conductor arm assembly,
- wherein the mobile machine power conductor linkage is configured to connect to and slide along the power conductor rail assembly that is at least 8 feet above the ground.
A mobile machine power conductor linkage for receiving power from a power conductor rail assembly, comprising:
- a movable conductor arm assembly forming a first arm assembly and including a proximal end adjacent a frame of the mobile machine and a distal end extendable away from a side of the mobile machine, the side of the mobile machine being located between a front-most end and a rear-most end of the mobile machine;
- a second arm assembly coupled to the first arm assembly;
- and
- a contactor assembly coupled to a distal end of the second arm assembly for sliding on the power conductor rail assembly,
- wherein the mobile machine power conductor linkage connects to the power conductor rail assembly at a height of at least 8 feet above a ground surface but below an uppermost surface of the mobile machine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.