Roadway vehicle

Abstract

Apparatus and a system are provided for a trackless-roadway vehicle having internal and external propulsion energy sources; the external energy being obtained by a collector plow from electric power rails located in a conduit below the roadway. The collector plow, sensors, the plow elevating mechanism, and the plow steering mechanism are mounted on a laterally movable carriage on the underside of the vehicle. By means of servo-systems comprised of sensors, servo-amplifiers, and drive motors with associated gearing, the plow is automatically and continuously translated and orientated to maintain the plow arms in the vertical plane of the slot in the cover of the conduit. The plow consists of two arms, each with a contactor. When the plow is out of the conduit, the contactors lie in a single plane so that they may pass through the slot. After passing through the slot the contactors are brought to bear on the power rails by contra-rotation of the plow arms. Switching and relay means are employed to transfer the propulsion motor between the external and internal sources, to effect recharging of the internal source, and to control the limits of the horizontal and vertical travel of the plow.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.