US 4,225,023 A · Collector head for trolley cars

Abstract

A collector head for collecting current from an overhead wire for a trolley car is disclosed having a contact shoe which is pivotable about the longitudinal axis of the overhead wire. The collector head includes a base which is mounted on a shaft extending from the trolley car such that the head is rotatable about the axis of the shaft. The collector head also includes a contact shoe holder for holding the contact shoe. Arms pivotably connect the base to the contact shoe holder in a trapezoidal configuration. The joints at which the arms are connected to the base and to the contact shoe holder have axes of rotation parallel to a longitudinal axis of the contact shoe. A resilient element is disposed between the base and the contact shoe holder. As the contact shoe holder is moved laterally with respect to the overhead wire the contact shoe pivots about the longitudinal axis of the overhead wire, and the lateral forces which tend to unseat the overhead wire from the contact shoe are opposed by a restoring force supplied by the resilient element.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A collector head for attachment to a shaft extending generally vertically with respect to a trolley car, said collector head comprising:

a base member including means for pivotably mounting the base member on said shaft with said base member being rotatable about a generally vertical axis;
a contact holder including means for conducting an electric current;
and
connecting means for pivotably connecting said base member with said contact holder,
wherein said connecting means includes resilient means for restraining motion of said contact holder relative to said base member, and
wherein said connecting means further includes at least two rigid arms each pivotably connected both to said base member and to said contact holder, each of said rigid arms being pivotable about a longitudinal axis of the collector head.

3 more elements

A collector head for collecting current from an overhead wire for a trolley car, said collector head being attached to a shaft extending generally vertically from said trolley car such that said head is pivotable about the vertical axis of said shaft, said collector head comprising:

a base member having first and second swivel joint bushings;
a contact holder having a longitudinal axis and third and fourth swivel joint bushings, said contact holder including means for electrical contact with said overhead wire;
means for pivotably connecting said base member to said contact holder including a first arm pivotably connected both to said first and said third swivel joint bushings so as to form first and third swivel joints having first and third axes of rotation,
respectively, and a second arm pivotably connected both to said second and said fourth swivel joint bushings so as to form second and fourth swivel joints having second and fourth axes of rotation, respectively;
and
resilient means disposed between said base member and said contact holder for restraining lateral motion of said contact holder relative to said base member;
wherein the axis of rotation of each of the swivel joints is parallel to the longitudinal axis of said contact holder;
and
wherein the distance between said first and second axes of rotation is greater than the distance between said third and fourth axes of rotation;
and
whereby said electrical contact means is pivotable about the longitudinal axis of said overhead wire.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Collector head for trolley cars

Life of this patent

Collector head for trolley cars

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13