Track switch having power rails with interdigitated end members
AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorJerry L. Brown
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A moving vehicle power distribution apparatus includes power signal and ground signal rails provided along a roadway track including a track switch. As the track switch is moved to pass the vehicle to selected roadway tracks, the signal and power rails can become misaligned and damage current collectors carried by the vehicle that travel along these rails. Coupling members having interdigitated members extend between the rail sections to control the movement of the current collectors as the vehicle travels through the track switch.
Claims9
In current collection apparatus for a vehicle having at least one collector shoe and operative to travel along a track including a track switch, with said track switch determining the passage of the vehicle between a first track section and a selected one of second and third track sections, the combination of
- first power rail means cooperative with the collector shoe and positioned along the first track section,
- second power rail means cooperative with the collector shoe and positioned along the track switch to provide a predetermined gap from the first power rail means,
- a first end member cooperative with the collector shoe and coupled with the first power rail means, with the first end member having a first contact surface extending into said gap in a first direction toward the track switch,
- a second end member cooperative with the collector shoe and coupled with the second power rail means, with the second end member being movable with the track switch and having a second contact surface extending into said gap in a second direction toward the first power rail means,
- with the first and second contact surfaces having an interdigitated relationship extending beyond said gap such that the position of a collector shoe is controlled through said gap by said first and second surfaces as the collector shoe travels through said gap.
In power collection apparatus for a vehicle having a collector member and traveling along a track including a movable track switch operative with a first track section, the combination of
- first power rail means operative with the collector member and positioned parallel to the first track section,
- second power rail means operative with the collector member and positioned parallel to and movable with the track switch, with the second power rail means being separated a predetermined distance from the first power rail means,
- said first power rail means including first coupling means cooperative with the collector member and having a first contact surface extending toward the second power rail means, and
- said second power rail means including second coupling means cooperative with the collector member and having a second contact surface movable with the track switch and extending toward the first power rail means and substantially parallel with the first contact surface,
- with the first contact surface extending past the second contact surface such that the collector member is controlled by the first and second contact surfaces when the vehicle travels between the track switch and the first power rail section.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.