Power supply means for electrically operated apparatuses and a switch for the power supply means

Power supply means for electrically operated moving apparatuses comprising:

• a trolley track comprising bus bars positioned at least over a portion of the length of the trolley track and above a space where the apparatuses move;
• trolleys movable on the trolley track, the trolleys comprising contacts arranged in contact with the bus bars, each trolley being connected to a respective apparatus by an electric cable;
• a first turntable-type switch, rotatable about a turning axis, installed in the trolley track above the space where the apparatuses move and comprising a first coupling portion forming part of the trolley track whereby, when said first coupling portion extends in the same direction as the trolley track and in alignment with the trolley track, the first coupling portion forms, together with the trolley track, a continuous trolley track along which a trolley is movable, said first coupling portion being pivotable about the turning axis away from the trolley track to another position, whereby the trolley is turnable with the first coupling portion by means of said first switch to another position;
• said first switch also comprising a second coupling portion, parallel to said first coupling portion, positioned reversely symmetrically with respect to said turning axis of said first switch, with each of said first and second coupling portions having bus bars;
• said bus bars of said first and second coupling portions having a phase sequence reversely symmetrical with respect to said turning axis;
• the coupling portions being spaced from one another such that a trolley can be positioned simultaneously on both coupling portions;
• both coupling portions of said first switch being turnable into alignment with said trolley track to form a continuous trolley track;
• said first switch being installed in the trolley track to form a shunting switch whereby, when two apparatuses pass by each other, the trolley of a first apparatus is stopped on said first coupling portion of said first switch forming a continuous trolley track and turned together with said first coupling portion away from the trolley track while said second coupling portion is correspondingly turned to form a continuous trolley track along which the trolley of a second apparatus is able to pass by said first switch, said first switch including braking and locking means for stopping a trolley at said first switch and for locking it in position during the turning movements of the first switch.