Method and device for testing whether a current collector is in contact

A method for testing whether there is contact between a current collector and a contact wire of an overhead line, the current collector being disposed on a motor vehicle driven by an electric motor and the contact wire extending in a direction of travel, the current collector having two contact regions oriented transversely to the direction of travel and are disposed one behind another in the direction of travel and on each of the contact regions an end contact is disposed, a pair of end contact disposed on a same end side is connected to a measuring device, which comprises the steps of:

• detecting an electrical state variable by means of the measuring device;
• and
• determining in accordance with a detected electrical state variable whether the pair of end contact is in contact with the overhead line.

A device for testing whether there is contact between a current collector disposed on a motor vehicle driven by an electric motor and a contact wire of an overhead line extending in a direction of travel, the device comprising:

• the current collector having two contact regions oriented transversely to the direction of travel and disposed one behind another in the direction of travel and on each of said contact regions an end contact is disposed at both ends of said contact regions;
• and
• a measuring device, a pair of end contacts disposed on a same end side is connected to said measuring device and an electrical state variable being detected by means of said measuring device, said measuring device configured such that depending on a detected electrical state variable, it is determined whether said pair of end contacts is in contact with the overhead line.