Electricity: transmission to vehicles – Conductors – Trolley
Patent
1992-11-04
1994-03-29
Huppert, Michael S.
Electricity: transmission to vehicles
Conductors
Trolley
104 99, 191 37, 246419, B60M 118
Patent
active
052976610
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a power supply means for electrically operated moving apparatuses such as mining equipment, comprising
a trolley track comprising busbars and positioned at least over a portion of its length above a space where the apparatuses move;
trolleys movable on the trolley track, the trolleys comprising contacts arranged in contact with the busbars and each being connected to the respective apparatus by means of an electric cable with adjustable length; and
at least one turntable-type switch installed in the trolley track above the space where the apparatuses move and comprising a coupling portion forming part of the trolley track, whereby, when extending in the same direction as the trolley track in alignment with it, the coupling portion forms together with the trolley track a continuous trolley track along which the trolley is movable and which is pivotable about a vertical axis away from the trolley track to another position, whereby the trolley is turnable by means of the switch to another position together with the coupling portion when it reaches the switch.
The invention is also concerned with a turntable-type switch for a power supply means intended for electrically operated moving apparatuses, the power supply means comprising
a trolley track comprising busbars and positioned at least over a portion of its length above a space where the apparatuses move;
trolleys movable on the trolley track, the trolleys comprising contacts arranged in contact with the busbars and each being connected to the respective apparatus by means of an electric cable with adjustable length; the switch comprising a coupling portion forming part of the trolley track, whereby, when extending in the same direction as the trolley track in alignment with it, the coupling portion forms together with the trolley track a continuous trolley track along which the trolley is movable and which is pivotable about a vertical axis away from the trolley track to another position, whereby the trolley is turnable by means of the switch to another position together with the coupling portion when it reaches the switch.
In a trolley system intended for the power supply of various vehicles and machines, electric current is applied to the point of application from busbars positioned in a trolley track in the ceiling of a space where the vehicles or machine move. In addition to busbars, the trolley system comprises a roller race on which a trolley supporting slide contacts in contact with the busbars is movable. From the trolley a cable leads to the apparatus utilizing the current. When the apparatus moves on, the trolley slides along its roller race while the slide contacts make contact with the busbars, thus conducting current to the apparatus through the cable.
Various conditions require trolley track structures and switches of different types, in order that several apparatuses could utilize the same trolley track. It is a fairly common practice to use a single trolley track comprising required busbars, switches being installed at junctions for shunting the trolley to an intersecting trolley track. When, for instance, the track is branched or there are several moving apparatuses, it is necessary to provide switches and in some cases a shunting track of sufficient length for trolleys moving in opposite directions. Trolley switches known in the prior art include a bending switch, a guillotine switch to be displaced aside and a turntable switch.
In the bending switch, the switching is carried out by bending a portion of the trolley track to an other position; this kind of switch is today fairly common in mining use. The arrangement is simple and reliable in operation, but it has many disadvantages. Strains caused by the bending weaken the structure in the long run, which involves a safety risk. Furthermore, rather a long portion of the track, typically 7 to 8 meters, has to be bent to achieve the required sideward displacement, wherefore the switch is unreasonably long in practice. The len
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Huppert Michael S.
Lowe Scott L.
Tamrock Oy
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