Safe low-voltage conductive ground-installed connecting device for statically and dynamically charging electric vehicles

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for supplying electric power to electric vehicles (139) comprising: one or more traction batteries; at least one current collector (140) integrated into the vehicles (139); and, in the ground, at least one fixed power duct substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the vehicles (139), comprising a vertical slit, which opens into a cavity of the duct for receiving the current collector (140), the cavity containing at least one electrical contact surface connected to a fixed current source by a power cable, the contact surface being located set back from a route of direct access through said slit, characterized in that the electrical contact surface is positioned in the cavity of the duct as an inclined cornice. This device is further characterized in that the slit has a width smaller than the safety standard according to which it must be impossible for a finger to be able to penetrate into the slit, which width is currently set to 12 mm in Europe (IEC 60529).

Description

Secure “low voltage” conductive ground connection device for static and dynamic charging of electric vehicles.

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical connection device for static and dynamic charging of electric vehicles.

[0002] The electrification of the vehicle fleet, light vehicles, utility vehicles, coaches, heavy goods vehicles, comes up against the problem of charging the batteries of these vehicles which on the one hand requires: a) immobilization of the vehicle and b) the installation of a cable manually connecting the electrical source to the on-board charger.

[0003] In application PCT / IB2021 / 051187, which was the subject of publication WO 2021 / 161247, the applicant proposed a highly automated mode of circulation for electric vehicles with a TBTS (Safety Extra Low Voltage) power supply limited to 120 volts direct current, but this configuration generates intensities that are too high to supply heavy goods vehicles with rapid charging, particularly for urban buses at stops.

[0004] The present invention provides a new solution for connecting electric vehicles to a fixed electrical source in LV (Low Voltage < 1,000 volts AC and 1,500 volts DC), via a roadway conduit, allowing dynamic charging, having on the one hand on its upper face a slot of width less than the safety standard preventing the penetration of a finger into the slot, width currently fixed at 12 mm in Europe (IEC 60529) and on the other hand a particular geometry which allows the live contact surfaces to be placed in an inclined cornice in a cavity making accidental access of fingers to the live surfaces impossible. This conduit is intended to be installed on the traffic lanes of motorways and expressways where the presence of people is restricted.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention describes an electrical power supply device for motor vehicles comprising a traction battery, a current collector via a supply conduit fixed to the ground substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the vehicle, comprising a slot for the passage of the current collector, containing electrical contact surfaces connected to a fixed current source by power cables, the contact surfaces being set back from direct access via the slot, characterized in that they are positioned in the conduit in an inclined cornice for safety complying with the standard.

[0006] The conduit, of a length exceeding the limits of road transport, has a polymer body allowing the said conduit to be wound on a reel of dimensions smaller than the road gauge, which gives it a behavior similar to that of a cable.

[0007] The conduit according to the invention is preferably installed in a groove planed in the roadway, the upper surface of the conduit being flush with the roadway.

[0008] In another embodiment of the invention, the conduit is fixed to the roadway and the elastomeric body on either side of the conduit has a transverse surface, catching up with the level of the roadway, with a gentle slope.

[0009] The contact surface has, on the face opening into the cavity, a low coefficient of friction and good resistance to abrasion by known means and the electrical connection is made on the other opposite face by direct lateral contact with the power cable.

[0010] Drilling successive holes for water drainage through the concrete slab in the groove is carried out in the case of a road surface covered with a non-draining asphalt.

[0011] The elastomer body of the conduit is reinforced by at least one open continuous metal profile, this profile comprising partial transverse cutouts thus reducing the bending inertia in the plane of the slot

[0012] The power cables are single-strand and the metal profile is open so that the conduit can be:plastically bent at the end of the production line to be wound onto the transport reel andstraightened during installation in the groove by a roller bending assembly.

[0013] Due to the substantial cross-sections of the power cables, the longitudinal folding and unfolding of the transversely cut lower face of the metal profile around an axis allows the power cables to be introduced.

[0014] The slot edges are metallic and electrically connected to "ground" and have a height equal to or greater than the width of the slot, the collector carried by the vehicle being in contact with at least one of the metal edges.

[0015] Preferably the power cables are made of aluminum with contact surfaces made of copper or steel, possibly stainless steel, and the contact surfaces have partial transverse cutouts reducing the bending inertia in the plane of said slot.

[0016] The conduit is supplied with direct current and has two electrical contact surfaces positioned in an inclined cornice on either side of the slot in a cavity, advantageously one is supplied with low voltage with a potential difference lower than "earth" and the other with low voltage with a potential difference higher than "earth". Preferably, the direct current voltages may be + 400 volts and - 400 volts.

[0017] The vehicles have under their structure a laterally movable collector, comprising a means of vertical retraction allowing electrical connection with the contact surfaces in the low position and allowing in the high position to preserve the ground clearance of these vehicles.

[0018] The lateral movement of the collector consists of a pantograph arm pivoting laterally on its attachment or alternatively sliding on a transverse rail integral with the structure of the vehicle.

[0019] The dynamic current collector comprises at least one conductive wiper capable of tilting in the cavity of the conduit relative to a longitudinal axis located below the upper face of said conduit.

[0020] The conduit has at the base of the cavity evacuation holes for rainwater and debris of dimensions greater than the width of said slot.

[0021] For static charging, the conduit is of short length fixed to the roadway and does not need to be flexible. The polymer body on either side of the conduit has a longitudinal hump shape to laterally catch up with the level of the roadway on a gentle slope. The location of the contact surfaces can advantageously be identical to that for a dynamic charge, the same collector can then carry out the static and dynamic loads. In the case of charging in a covered parking lot, the charge being limited to 20 kW, commonly in alternating current, a known switching system will allow the recharge of the traction battery, although taking more time.

[0022] Known means make it possible to place the collector vertically above the slot during its deployment and to tilt the wipers laterally to come into contact with the inclined cornice contact surfaces after penetration into the cavity through the slot.

[0023] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description given below of an example of its embodiment. Reference will be made to the appended drawings, among which:

[0024] - represents an axisymmetric view with removal of the polymer over a short length of the roadway conduit in a roadway groove according to the invention illustrating the cutouts in the metal profile and on the contact surfaces in an inclined cornice.

[0025] - represents an axisymmetric view of the metal profile bent during transport on a coil.

[0026] - represents an axisymmetric view of a dual carriageway during the milling of the groove followed by the unrolling of the conduit on the roadway.

[0027] - figures 4 and 5 represent, in cross section, the longitudinal folding of the lower part of the metal profile to allow the introduction of rigid cables and the unfolding of the lower part by rollers.

[0028] - represents an axisymmetric view of a static load cushion according to the invention.

[0029] - represents an axisymmetric view of the roadway conduit in a groove placed vertically above a rainwater drainage channel.

[0030] - represents an axisymmetric view of another embodiment of the roadway conduit according to the invention comprising enlarged rainwater drainage orifices.

[0031] - represents an axisymmetric view of a compacted wire power cable directly carrying the contact surface anchored in the insulating sheath of the cable.

[0032] - represents a front view of a guide “finger” embedded with tangential wheels in a slotted road rail used in combination with the invention.

[0033] - represents an axisymmetric view of the inclined wheel “finger”.

[0034] - represents a longitudinal static direct current charging bar according to the invention intended for trams with cross sections.

[0035] - represents an axisymmetric side view of a tramway equipped with the collector according to the invention.

[0036] - represents a rear axisymmetric view of the folded tram collector approaching the entrance of the longitudinally sectioned bar.

[0037] - represents a rear axisymmetric view of the lowered tram collector preparing to enter the static charging bar according to the invention.

[0038] - represents an axisymmetric front view of a light vehicle equipped with a folded compact collector approaching a static charging bar with increased lateral placement tolerance according to the invention.

[0039] - represents a front view of the collector engaged in a static charging strip supplied with alternating current according to the invention.

[0040] - represents an enlarged front axisymmetric view of the lowered collector preparing to enter the static charging bar according to the invention.

[0041] - represents an axisymmetric view of a truck equipped with a dynamic collector engaged in a continuous roadway conduit according to the invention.

[0042] - represents an axisymmetric front view of the dynamic collector engaged in a continuous roadway conduit according to the invention.

[0043] - represents an axisymmetric front view of the dynamic collector engaged in a cushion on the roadway containing the continuous conduit according to the invention.

[0044] - represents the rear view of the dynamic collector rolling on the roadway in the approach phase to the conduit slot.

[0045] - represents a rear axisymmetric view of the

[0046] - represents an inclined side view of the dynamic collector illustrating the automatic emergency lifting devices in the event of an obstacle.

[0047] - represents an inclined side view of the dynamic collector illustrating the devices for tilting and maintaining the contact pressure of the wipers.

[0048] - represents an installation of the roadway conduit according to the invention on the highly automated road traffic mode of the applicant (WO 2021 / 161247).

[0049] Illustrates conduit 1 comprising a slot 12 of width “L” less than the safety standard preventing the penetration of a finger into the slot currently set at 12 mm in Europe (IEC 60529). The conduit 1 contains: the contact surfaces 2 and 3 in an inclined cornice which comprise inclined transverse cutouts 13, opening in the lower part to greatly reduce their resistance to bending in the plane of symmetry of the conduit, the power cables 5 and 6, which carry the contact surfaces 2 and 3 can advantageously in the embodiment for dynamic load, be connected to poles of potential differences higher and lower than the "earth", the power cables 7a and 7b are connected to the neutral, they are of substantial sections because in the case of a dual-voltage supply 400 volts / 800 volts the passage of the intensity will be between one pole and the neutral in 400 volts and between the two poles in 800 volts.the metal profile 4 which advantageously includes transverse cutouts 10 to reduce its bending resistance in the plane of the slot 12 and cutouts 14 in the parts flush with the surface of the roadway to allow the polymer body 9 to pass through and increase the non-slip coefficient SRT. This requirement can also be met by rough painting. the body 9 contains a cavity 8 with an inclined slope to allow rainwater to flow through the transverse holes 11a opening into the lateral channels 17 between the roadway and the conduit, delimited by the groove 15 planed in the roadway 16. The body 9 may advantageously include longitudinal holes 11 for the purposes of transmitting various information (temperatures, etc.) or power in medium voltage in particular.

[0050] Illustrates the 4' metal profile plastically bent to allow winding onto the 21 reel of the.

[0051] Illustrates the installation on the right-hand lane 19 of a motorway or expressway 20 bordered by edge lines or white stripes 18. A small groove 15 is planed in the roadway 16 by a rotary cutter 22 with a horizontal axis. The conduit 1 is unwound from the coil 21 and straightened by the bender 23 then by a roller guide assembly 24 realigned with the groove 15 in which the conduit 1 is placed and possibly fixed by gluing. A slicing device (not shown) will be used to cover the width of the coil and an alternative solution by lateral displacement of the coil could be considered if the cutter 22 and the coil 21 are on the same construction vehicle (not shown).

[0052] Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a method for introducing, before extrusion of the elastomeric body 9 onto the metal profile 4, the rigid power cables 5, 6, 7 and 8 into the metal profile 4a which has been formed by profiling sheet metal with a fold 25. In the, we see the power cables 5, 7a and 7b already inside the profile 4a and the power cable 6 with its insulating sheath 26 is introduced vertically and then pushed to the left into its final location so that the rollers 27, 28 and 29 can straighten the lower part of the metal profile 4a.

[0053] The invention illustrates another embodiment for the static charging of electric vehicles, such as buses at stops or terminals, heavy goods vehicles in logistics hubs or in motorway parking lots, private or utility vehicles in parking lots or private garages. In these cases, the conduit is of reduced length from less than one meter to a few meters and is contained in a flattened bar or cushion 30 having a humpback profile which ends in a rounded 31 at each end. The polymer bar 30 has in its upper part inverted U-shaped edges 32 and 33 connected to the "earth". The power bars 34a and 34b can be made of copper and if they are made of aluminum as illustrated, they will be covered with contact surfaces 35 and 36 made of surface-conducting metal. Holes 37 and grooves 38 in the bar 30 allow rainwater to flow away.

[0054] Illustrates a conduit 1' slightly different from conduit 1 of which the upper face is flush with the top of the roadway 16 in which there is a gutter 40 for collecting rainwater.

[0055] Illustrates another embodiment of the roadway conduit according to the invention comprising enlarged rainwater drainage orifices 11b. Advantageously, the transverse cutouts 10' are not strictly transverse but of reduced width 42 at their lower parts on some cutouts compared to their widths 41 at the upper part so as to allow an enlarged cutout width 43 for the passage of large rainwater drainage orifices 11b.

[0056] Illustrates another embodiment of the 5' and 6' power cables with twisted compacted wires directly carrying the contact surface 2', 3' anchored in the insulating sheath 26'. The inclined transverse slots 13' of the contact surfaces 2' and 3' which open into the lower part of the cable are advantageously extended to the upper part by an anchoring hole in the insulating sheath 39.

[0057] Figures 10 and 11 illustrate a slotted roadway guide rail 50 of continuous construction similar to the metal profile 4 but which does not have a contact surface 2, 3, while maintaining the possibility of being wound on a reel like the conduit 1 thanks to the transverse cutouts 52 in the lower part similar to the cutouts 10. The non-opening slot 51 of width L, identical to the slot 12, has two chamfers 53 on its upper part. The metal profile 54 comprises a polymer body 55. The guide finger 56 on board a vehicle (not shown), which engages the guide rail 50, has the form of a rectangular plate 57 with beaks 58 at both ends to eject any debris falling into the slot 51. Three inclined wheels 59 are fixed on the plate 57.The wheels 59, by bearing on the chamfers 53, prevent the body 57 from coming into contact with the metal profile 54 and provide a positive, wear-free guidance means on the guide rail which can possibly compensate for the loss of visual contact with the edge lines of a roadway in automated driving.

[0058] Illustrates a longitudinal strip 60 for static direct current charging according to the invention intended for trams. The two bodies 61a and 61b of the strip are made of polymer and comprise two power bars 34a and 34b, with a T-shaped section, which, due to their lengths much greater than those of the collector wipers, offer a significant tolerance in the longitudinal positioning of the wipers, and therefore of the vehicle carrying them, relative to the strip 60. The power supply of these power bars 34a and 34b by the source is carried out in the central zone by cables connected to the bars by lugs 62. At the bottom of cavity 8, a conductive folded sheet 63a runs along the bottom of the bodies 61a and 61b and comprises lateral tabs 63b which serve as a bearing surface for the vertical bolts 64 for fixing in the roadway, the conductive folded sheet 63 being therefore connected to the ground. The terminals 61 are protected by a cover 65.

[0059] Illustrates a tram equipped with the collector 70 fixed on the chassis of the central bogie 71 engaged in a bar 60 to carry out rapid charges at each station, making it possible to limit the size of the traction batteries.

[0060] Figures 14 and 15 illustrate a tram collector 70 in the folded position during travel between stations () and which lowers () when approaching the stations. The collector 70 comprises a deformable parallelogram mechanism for vertically retracting the collector carrier 72 above the ground clearance. The upper arm 73 is articulated on the axis 74 on the support 75 fixed to the chassis of the bogie 71. At the other end of the upper arm 73 an auxiliary support 76 is articulated on the axis 77. The lower arm 78 is articulated on the axis 79 with the support 75 and on the axis 80 with the auxiliary support 76 to close the deformable parallelogram. The body 81 of the actuation cylinder is attached to the support 75.A transverse axis 83 (hidden) fixed perpendicularly to the rod of the actuation cylinder 82 slides in a slot secured (hidden) and parallel to the upper arm 73, thus allowing the wiper holder 72 to raise in the event of impact with an obstacle on the track even if the cylinder is in the lowered position. The auxiliary support 76 comprises a block of insulating elastomer 84 on which the conductive arms 85 and 86 are vertically articulated, which form a horizontal deformable parallelogram allowing a lateral alignment tolerance between the bar 60 and the wiper holder 72. The wipers 87 (visible) and 88 (hidden) carry two vertical axes 89 and 90 to attach mechanically and electrically to the bars 85 and 86. The wiper holder 72 made of insulating material comprises two metal wheels 91 and 92 with horizontal axes mounted on springs to roll on the ramp 93 at the entrance to the bar 60 and then on the folded conductive sheet 63a connected to the ground.The springs of the metal wheels 91 and 92 apply the appropriate pressure between the collectors 87, 88 and the power bars 34a and 34b. Two cables 94 of large cross-section electrically but flexibly connect the power bars 34a and 34b of the bar 60 to the terminal block (not shown) carried by the chassis of the central bogie 71 via the collectors 87, 88 and the conductive arms 85 and 86.

[0061] Illustrates a light vehicle 99 equipped with a compact, folded static charging collector 100 approaching a static charging strip 120 with increased lateral capture capacity compared to the strip 60 comprising a polymer body 121. The electrical connections with the source are hidden by a cover 132.

[0062] Illustrates, in front view, the static charging strip 120, wired in single / three-phase alternating current, repeating the configuration of the strip 60 described in the wired direct current. As for the strip 60, the body 121 has two T-shaped notches 122 to receive the direct current power bars 34a, 34b which, in the case of an alternating current supply, comprise two conductors coupled two by two 123-124, 125-126 by a black insulating material, these four conductors being connected to the 3 phases and to the neutral of the AC source. The wiper holder 72' similar to the wiper holder 72 of figures 14 and 15 comprises four wipers 133 (masked), 134 (masked), 135 and 136 as well as two lateral contacts "CP" 137 and "PP" 138 (masked), known to allow an exchange of information between vehicle and source, connected to the contact plates 127, 128 and held in the body 121 in L-shaped notches.As for the bar 72, a conductive folded sheet 63', connected to the ground, serves as a rolling surface for the wheels 91' and 92' (hidden) mounted on a spring which exerts the appropriate pressure between the collectors 133, 134, 135 and 136 and the metal bars 123-124, 125-126.

[0063] Illustrates the compact collector 100 in the deployed position, which includes an inverted four-bar mechanism for vertically raising the collector carrier 72' above ground clearance while reducing the longitudinal size "l" of the collector relative to the collector 70. The collector 100 has a frame 101 fixed laterally by the fasteners 102 on a side member (not shown) of the vehicle 99. The upper arm 103 of great length is attached to the frame 101 by the articulation 104, its other end being fixed to a knee 105 by the articulation 106. The second bar of the mechanism 107 is shorter and attached to the frame by the articulation 108 and to the knee 105 by the articulation 109. A cylinder body 110 is articulated on the frame 101 (hidden) and the cylinder rod 111 has a slot 112 in which slides an axle 113 fixed to the upper arm 103.This light 112 thus allows the wiper holder 72' to rise in the event of an obstacle impacting the face 114 of the knee 105 even if the jack 110-111 is in the extended position.

[0064] Figures 19, 20 and 21 illustrate a truck 139 equipped with a dynamic collector 140, according to the invention, engaged in the conduit 1'. The collector 140 is mounted on a transverse rail 141 advantageously arranged at the front of the truck 139. The collector 140 comprises a buffer 142 and fairings 143a, 143b on either side to reduce the drag. On the, the collector 140 engages a conduit 1' whose upper surface is flush with the surface of the roadway while theillustrates the same collector 140 engaged in a conduit 1' which is inserted in a cushion 145 comprising lateral orifices 146 for the flow of rainwater and debris of dimensions greater than the width of the slot 12 of width "L". This represents a substantial advantage of the invention which makes it possible to operate with conduits 1, 1' placed in a roadway groove or on the roadway.This means that sections of road can be created where, alternatively, the conduit 1, 1' is located protruding or in the roadway, for example for work zones on the motorway where it is necessary to temporarily modify the lateral location of the road without it being necessary to install a groove capable of managing rainwater.

[0065] Illustrates the sectional details of the conduit 1' which differs somewhat from the conduit 1 with rigid conductors 5, 6, 7 by an enlarged cavity 8', a metal profile 4b having a V shape at the bottom, power cables with compacted wires 5' and 6' whose insulation 26' serves as anchoring to the contact surfaces 2', 3'.

[0066] Figures 22 and 23 illustrate the collector 140 in the approach phase to engagement in the slot 8' where the wheels 147a and 147b, in contact with the roadway, support the weight of the collector 140 which moves laterally on the carriage 148 sliding on the rail 141. This movement, while rolling, is obtained by the action of the motor / encoder 149 acting on the belt 150 connected to the carriage 148. Similarly, if the truck changes lane, the front part 151 of the upper arm 152 comes into contact with the inclined stops 153a and 153b fixed on the rail 141 mechanically causing the collector 140 to rise.

[0067] Figures 24 and 25 illustrate the collector 140 in detail with the vertical deformable parallelogram constituted by the upper arm 152 articulated on the carriage 148 on the axis 157, and the lower arm 154 also articulated on the carriage 148, these two arms being connected in parallelogram to the frame 162 carrying the wheel 147b. The wheel 147a is mounted on the stopper 142 which slides in the frame 162 thanks to the slots 164a and pins 164b. The stopper is held in the advanced position by the springs 165. A wheel 155 comprising a central flange is carried by a support 156 articulated on the axis of the wheel 147b.When the collector rolls on the wheels 147a and 147b before engaging the slot 8, gravity holds the wheel 155 in the low position and by means of the crossbar 159 and the connecting rods 172a and 172b the friction holders 171a and 171b, articulated on the frame 162 on the longitudinal axis 163, hold the friction members 160a and 160b vertical in the longitudinally extruded volume of the wheels 147a and 147b as can be seen in the. When the wheels 147a and 147b fall into the slot 8, the wheel 155 comes into contact with the upper face of the conduit 1' which pushes the wheel 155 into the high position and by action on the connecting rods 172a 172b, the friction holders 171a and 171b tilt the friction members 160a and 160b on the tilting axis 163 to bring them into contact with the contact surfaces 2' and 3' of the conduit 1'.In order to apply a constant pressure on the wipers, the connecting rods 172a and 172b are not connected directly to the wiper holders 171a and 171b but to the pushers 174a and 174b articulated on the tilting axis 163 which apply, via the springs 176a and 176b, a constant pressure on the wiper holders 171a and 171b. The cables 166 electrically connect the wipers 160a and 160b to the carriage 148.

[0068] When an obstacle hits the stopper 142, the springs 165 compress and the rear part of the wedge-shaped stopper 142 (not shown) bears on the inclined surfaces 177a and 177b of the support 156 and moves the wheel 155 to the low position, which jointly raises the frame 162 of the collector 140 and tilts the wipers 160a and 160b into the vertical position.

[0069] At the end of the stroke of the stopper 142 when the pins 164b reach the end of the stroke of the slots 164a, the arm 178 of the stopper 142 pulls on the connecting rod 179 which releases the ring 180 from the cylinder rod 181 by a known means of balls / grooves and the springs 183 instantly raise the collector to avoid the obstacle. In fact the body of the cylinder 182 is attached to the carriage 148 and it is the ring 180 via the pins 184 which raises the upper arm 152. Again these pins 184 slide in slots 185 of the upper arm 152 to allow the upper arm to raise in the event of an obstacle impacting the stopper 142 even if the cylinder 182-181 is in the retracted position.

[0070] Illustrates the possibility of supplying low voltage to the applicant's system described in application PCT / IB2021 / 051187, which was the subject of publication WO 2021 / 161247, by placing a 1'' conduit according to the invention in the ramp 190.

[0071] It will be noted that the position of the collector 140 on the transverse rail is provided by the motor / encoder 149 and by placing the collector 140 at the front of the vehicle, the information provided by the encoder makes it possible, in highly automated driving, to control the direction of the vehicle even in the event of loss of visual reference of the edge lines in rain, night or snow, providing an additional level of safety to automated driving systems.Furthermore, the guide finger 56 which can operate on the conduit 1, 1' or the guide rail 50 can be mounted, retractably, in parallel on the rail 141 on either side of the collector 140 to allow more advanced automation of driving, in particular during changes of direction, by allowing, by engaging a short section of guide rail 50 located to the right or left of the main conduit 1, 1', to take a branch to the left or right of the motorway or expressway, or to take an exit towards a logistics hub or a rest area in the event of drowsiness. This guide finger 56, by cooperating with the rail 50, can also secure the movement of driverless shuttles in urban or peri-urban areas, the static charging bar 60 at stops being placed parallel to and at a fixed distance from the rail 50.

[0072] The present invention allows the dynamic charging of electric vehicles with the aim of offering a solution to enable the reduction of the size of batteries, in particular those of heavy goods vehicles by a factor of 3 to 5 with an impact on the weight, the cost, the need to reinforce the thermal design vehicle and the environmental impact that the size of the latest generation batteries currently imposes on electromobility without dynamic charging.

[0073] It goes without saying that the devices according to the invention can be adapted to other connection configurations and the examples which have just been given are only specific illustrations which are in no way limiting of the fields of application of the invention.

Claims

A power supply system for electrically propelled vehicles comprising one or more traction batteries, at least one current collector (70, 100, 140) mounted on said vehicles, and at least one fixed ground-level power supply conduit (1, 1', 1'') substantially parallel to the direction of travel of said vehicles, comprising a vertical slot (12) opening into a cavity (8, 8') in said conduit to receive said current collector (70, 100, 140), said cavity (8, 8') containing at least one electrical contact surface (2, 2', 3, 3', 123, 124, 125, 126) connected to a fixed current source by a power supply cable (5, 5', 6, 6'), said contact surface (2, 2', 3, 3', 123, 124, 125, 126) being recessed of direct access through said slot (12), characterized in that said electrical contact surface is positioned in said cavity (8, 8') of said conduit (1, 1', 1'') in inclined cornice. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said conduit (1, 1', 1'') is of length exceeding the limits of road transport, said conduit comprising at least one polymer body (9) allowing the winding of said conduit onto a reel (21) of dimensions smaller than the road gauge. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said conduit (1, 1', 1'') is installed in a groove (15) milled in the pavement (16), the upper surface of said conduit (1, 1') being flush with said pavement (16). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said conduit (1, 1', 1'') is positioned on said roadway (16) or in the cushion (145) on either side of the conduit having a transverse surface, catching up with the level of said roadway (16), in gentle slope. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the polymer body (9) is reinforced by at least one continuous metal profile (4, 4a, 4b) open at the level of said slot (12). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said contact surface (2, 2', 3, 3', 123, 124, 125, 126) has on its face opening into the cavity a low coefficient of friction and good resistance to abrasion by known means and in that the electrical connection is made on the opposite face by direct lateral contact with said power cable (5, 5', 6, 6'). Device according to claim 5 characterized in that said conduit (1, 1', 1'') comprising said metal profile (4, 4a, 4b) and power cables (5, 5', 6, 6') is: plastically flexed at the exit of the manufacturing line to wind onto said transport reel (21) and straightened during said installation in or on said roadway (16). Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the straightening during installation is done by a roller bending device (23). Device according to claim 5, characterized in that said metal profile (4, 4a, 4b) has partial transverse cutouts (10, 10') reducing its bending inertia in the plane of said slot (12). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said slot (12) has a width less than the safety standard preventing the penetration of a finger into the slot (12) currently set at 12 mm in Europe (IEC 60529). Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the edges of said slot (12) are metallic and electrically connected to "ground" and have a height equal to or greater than the width of the slot, the flanged wheel (55), or inclined wheels (59) having a conductive polymer tread. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that said power cable (5, 5', 6, 6') is made of aluminum electrically connected to the conductive contact surface (2, 2', 3, 3') and that said contact surface has partial cutouts (13, 13') reducing the bending inertia in the plane of said slot (12). Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the conduit (1, 1') is supplied with direct current and comprises in said cavity (8, 8') at least two electrical contact surfaces (2, 2', 3, 3') positioned in inclined cornice, on either side of said slot (12), one (2, 2') being supplied with low voltage below neutral and the other (3, 3') with low voltage above neutral. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that said current collector (140) comprises at least one conductive brush (160a, 160b) capable of tilting after vertical insertion into said cavity (8, 8'), the tilting axis (163) being located below the upper face of said conduit (1, 1', 1''). Device according to claim 10, characterized in that said conduit (1, 1') has at the base of said cavity orifices (11a, 11b, 146) for the evacuation of rainwater and debris of dimensions greater than the width of said slot (12).

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