Power supply device

Abstract

To provide a power supply device and a mobile body that properly supply or charge power on the mobile body by reducing the influence of foreign objects, etc.SOLUTION: A power supply device B has a terminal member 42 on a power supply side that supplies power to a mobile body A by making contact with a mobile body side terminal member 85 that a self-propelled mobile body A has. The power supply device B includes a first arm 31 capable of being made to oscillate in the direction of travel of the mobile body A by being pushed by the mobile body A as the mobile body A moves, and a second arm 41 that is capable of pivoting in conjunction with the first arm 31 and has a power supply side terminal member 42 that approaches to the mobile body side terminal member 85 as the first arm 31 is pushed by the mobile body A to be able to make contact with the mobile body side terminal member 85.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 17

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a power supply device, and more particularly to a power supply device that supplies power to or charges a mobile object. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART In a mobile object equipped with a rechargeable battery, a power supply device that connects to an external power supply device to supply power to or charge the battery is known, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1. When the vehicle's tires, which are the running parts of the vehicle, step on this power supply device, the lever plate rotates around an axis, and the lever plate rotates an arm attached to the axis. The power transmission device fixed to the tip of the arm then rises from the ground surface to the bottom of the vehicle, and contacts the power receiving device on the bottom of the vehicle, thereby starting power supply. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-91882 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The power supply components described in Patent Document 1, such as the lever plate, shaft, arm, and power transmission device, are located below the running part and the vehicle body. Therefore, foreign matter such as dirt, dust, and moisture adhering to the running part and the vehicle body can fall onto these components, causing problems such as affecting the operation of moving parts and the operation of power transmission and reception.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide a power supply device that can reduce the influence of foreign matter and the like and can supply power appropriately. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] This invention is A power supply device having a power supply side terminal member that contacts a mobile body side terminal member that a self-propelled mobile body has and supplies power to the mobile body, a first arm that is pushed by the moving body as the moving body moves, and thereby is swingable in the moving body's direction of movement; a second arm that is swingable in conjunction with the first arm, and that approaches the movable body-side terminal member and has the power supply-side terminal member that can come into contact with the movable body-side terminal member when the first arm is pushed by the movable body; Equipped with 、 the second arm is provided so that the second arm can be projected and retracted toward the movable body side terminal member, and the protective cover covers an upper portion of the second arm, the protective cover having a slit portion through which the second arm can pass; A power supply device comprising: relates to.

[0008] The present invention further provides: the first arm has a biasing body that applies a force to the second arm in a direction that moves the second arm toward the first arm; a restricting portion of the first arm that restricts the first arm from approaching the second arm; A power supply device comprising: relates to.

[0009] The present invention further provides: The second arm is swingable relative to the first arm. That is, A power supply device characterized by: relates to.

[0010] The present invention further provides: a support portion that restricts the swing of the first arm in a pushed direction as the moving body advances, and that can forcibly stop the advancement of the moving body via the first arm; The support portion is The first arm is pushed by the moving body and is pushed towards the support part. Switch and A power supply device comprising: relates to. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] The present invention provides a power supply device that can reduce the influence of foreign matter and the like and can supply power appropriately. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a power supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a side view of the power supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing the second arm in a retracted position. [Figure 3] 1 is a front view of a power supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] 1 is an enlarged plan view of a power supply unit in a power supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a second arm in a retracted position and a cover with a portion cut away. [Figure 5] 1 is an enlarged front view of a power supply unit in a power supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention, with a protective cover partially cut away, and with a second arm in a retracted position. [Figure 6] 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of a power supply unit in a power supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which a second arm is in a retracted position. [Figure 7] 1 is a front view of a movable body according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the movable body side terminal portion is closed by an electrode cover. [Figure 8] 1 is a side view of a movable body according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the movable body side terminal portion is closed by an electrode cover. [Figure 9] 1 is a bottom view of the movable body alone according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the movable body side terminal portion is closed by the electrode cover. [Figure 10] 1 is an enlarged side view of the periphery of a mobile object terminal unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the mobile object terminal unit is closed by an electrode cover. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of the periphery of the mobile body side terminal portion according to the embodiment of the present invention, in which the mobile body side terminal portion is exposed from the electrode cover. [Figure 12]1 is a diagram illustrating the operation of a movable body and a power supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention. This diagram shows a side view of the movable body before it enters the power supply device. The electrode cover of the movable body is in a closed state. The second arm is in a retracted position or a retracted state. [Figure 13] 1 is a diagram illustrating the operation of a movable body and a power supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The diagram shows a plan view of a state before the movable body enters the power supply device. The electrode cover of the movable body is in a closed state. The second arm is in a retracted position or a retracted state. [Figure 14] 1 is a diagram illustrating the operation of a movable body and a power supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The movable body is positioned on the entrance path of the power supply device, and shows a side view of the movable body in the state of entering the power supply device. The electrode cover of the movable body is in a closed state. The second arm is in a retracted position or in a retracted state. [Figure 15] 1 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of a movable body and a power supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It shows an enlarged side view of the main parts of the movable body when it has entered the mounting section of the power supply device and is moving on the mounting section towards the power supply unit. The electrode cover of the movable body is in a closed state. The second arm is in a stored position or state. The protruding portion of the protruding piece is located between the operating unit and the main frame. Lateral deviation of the movable body relative to the traveling direction is restricted by a guide plate, and the movable body moves towards the power supply unit. It shows the state in which the protruding portion, which is the tip of the protruding piece, enters between the main frame and the operating unit. [Figure 16] 1 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of a movable body and a power supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It shows an enlarged plan view of the main part when the movable body has entered the mounting portion of the power supply device and is moving on the mounting portion toward the power supply unit. The electrode cover of the movable body is in a closed state. The second arm is in a retracted position or a retracted state. The protruding portion of the protruding piece is located between the operating unit and the main body frame. [Figure 17]

[0023] Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of a movable body and a power supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of the main part showing the state at the moment when the movable body contacts the first arm, with the movable body moving on the mounting part of the power supply device and the inclined part of the protruding piece pressing down the electrode cover of the movable body. The electrode cover of the movable body is in the middle of rotating toward the exposed side by operating the operating part with the protruding piece between the operating part and the main body frame. The second arm is in a retracted position or retracted state. [Figure 18] This is an explanatory diagram of the operation of a movable body and a power supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The movable body moves on the mounting section toward the power supply section of the power supply device, and the inclined portion of the protruding piece further presses down the electrode cover of the movable body. The movable body also pushes the first arm backward, causing the second arm to rise and pass through the protective cover (the slit in the shielding cover). The electrode cover of the movable body is in the middle of rotating toward the exposed side by the protruding piece. The first arm is pushed by the side portion at the tip of the movable body and swings toward the support column, and the second arm is in the middle of rotating toward the power supply posture side in conjunction with the first arm. [Figure 19]

[0023] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of a movable body and a power supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is an enlarged side view of the main parts when the inclined portion of the movable body moves to further press down the electrode cover of the movable body, the movable body pushes the first arm backward, causing the second arm to rise, and the power supply side terminal member comes into contact with the movable body terminal member (power receiving portion) to assume the power supply posture. The electrode cover of the movable body is in an exposed state, having been rotated toward the exposed side by the protruding piece. The first arm is shown in a state where it is pushed by the side portion at the tip of the movable body and further swings toward the support pillar. The second arm is shown in a state where it comes into contact with the movable body terminal member to assume the power supply posture. [Figure 20] This is an explanatory diagram of the operation of a movable body and a power supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention. With the power supply-side terminal member and the movable body terminal member in contact, the movable body is moved further rearward (toward the support column), causing the side portion at the tip of the movable body to swing the first arm and operate the switch. The electrode cover is in an exposed state, and the protruding piece further rotates it toward the exposed side. The first arm is pushed by the side portion at the tip of the movable body to swing and press the switch, causing the biasing body to extend. [Figure 21] This is an explanatory diagram of the operation of a movable body and a power supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention. This shows a front view of the state in which the power supply terminal member and the movable body terminal member are in contact with each other, and the first arm is swung to operate the switch. The electrode cover of the movable body is exposed. The first arm presses the switch, and the biasing body is extended. [Figure 22] 1 is a plan view illustrating the operation of the movable body and the power supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the power supply-side terminal member and the movable body terminal member are in contact with each other, and the movable body is moved further rearward (toward the support column) so that the side portion at the tip of the movable body swings the first arm to operate the switch. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] A moving object A and a power supply device B according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The outline of the configuration relating to power feeding of the power feeding device B will be explained. The power supply device B comprises a mounting section 11 having an access path 12 at one end through which the moving body A can enter, a power supply section C for supplying power to the moving body A, and a support section 21 provided at the other end of the mounting section 11. The power supply unit C includes a first arm 31 rotatably supported on the support unit 21, a second arm 41 rotatably supported on the support unit 21 and provided with a power supply side terminal member 42, a biasing body 35 that applies a force to rotate the second arm 41 toward the first arm 31, and a restricting unit 33 that restricts the first arm 31 from approaching the second arm 41. Reference numeral 34 denotes an attachment position adjustment portion. The attachment position adjustment portion 34 is a portion that makes it possible to adjust the attachment position of the restriction portion 33 relative to the first arm 31, and by changing the position of the restriction portion 33, it is possible to restrict the distance that the first arm 31 approaches the second arm 41.

[0014] The placing section 11 is provided in the power supply device B. The placing section 11 is capable of allowing the moving object A to climb on it. The mounting portion 11 has an entrance path 12 at one end thereof through which the moving body A enters toward the power supply side terminal member 42 . The moving object A enters the feeding point C from the entrance path 12 of the placing part 11 and climbs onto the placing part 11, and eventually the receiving part D of the moving object A comes into contact with the feeding point C, thereby entering a power feeding state. The power receiving unit D includes a movable body terminal member 85 that comes into contact with the power supply side terminal member 42 of the power supply unit C in the power supply device B.

[0015] The mounting section 11 is provided as a platform that is U-shaped or C-shaped in plan view. The power supply section C is located in the center of the U-shaped or C-shaped recess of the mounting section 11. An access path 12 is formed at the open end. The moving body A can climb onto the mounting section 11 from the access path 12. The access paths 12 that the traveling section 71 climb onto are provided in two places on one end side of the mounting section 11. The mounting section 11, which is shaped like a square bracket or a U-shape, has an open section E that is open below the moving body A in a powered state. The open section E, which is surrounded by the mounting section 11, is open below the moving body A except for the area where the traveling section 71 comes into contact. The opening E can reduce the ground contact area when installing the power supply device B. The reduction in the ground contact area improves the chances of stable grounding of the power supply device B when it is installed on the installation surface. In the embodiment, the opening E ensures that there are no obstructions between the installation surface on which the power supply device B is installed and below the mobile object A.

[0016] Even if there is an obstacle or the like protruding upward toward the moving object A between the mounting surface that is the mounting portion 11, the mounting surface can be installed on the installation surface so as to step over the obstacle and avoid it, thereby reducing the influence of the condition of the installation surface. In addition, the height of the obstacle may be a height that reaches near the bottom of the main body frame 75, which is a height that a moving object that has climbed onto the mounting portion 11 can step over. The open area E is not necessarily free from obstructions on the installation surface and below the moving body. If there are no portions of the mounting sections 11 in the open area E that are in direct contact with the installation surface, the open area E may have connecting members that do not contact the installation surface but connect the mounting sections 11 on the left and right sides of the moving body A in the traveling direction. In this case, it is possible to attach equipment and components that can expand the functionality of the power supply device B to the connecting members while avoiding obstacles, which is useful.

[0017] The distance between the mounting unit 11 and the moving body A in the front-to-rear direction when the moving body A is in the power supply state is set to be longer than the distance between the front and rear wheel axles, which is the wheelbase of the running unit 71 of the moving body A. In the case of the embodiment, the distance between the mounting unit 11 and the moving body A in the front-to-rear direction is set to be longer than the front-to-rear ground contact length of the running unit 71. Therefore, the entire running unit 71 in the power supply state can be positioned on the mounting unit 11, and the moving body A can be stably placed on the power supply device B.

[0018] By configuring the running part 71 of the moving body A to be located on the placement part 11, the moving body A can be moved together with the power supply device B. For example, by lifting up the power supply device B with a crane device or lifting it from below with a lifting device, it is possible to move the power supply device B and the moving body A together without having to support the moving body A separately.

[0019] When moving object A moves toward power supply unit C from approach path 12, moving object A is caused to approach so that the position and orientation of power receiving unit D of moving object A and the position and orientation of power supply unit C are aligned and they face each other. That is, moving object A must approach mounting unit 11 backward in a direction intersecting the rotation axis of second arm 41 toward second arm 41 while aligning the position of power receiving unit D, which is located in the left-right center with respect to the direction of travel of the lower part of main body frame 75, with the position of second arm 41, and then move appropriately on mounting unit 11 toward second arm 41, which is power supply unit C.

[0020] Reference numeral 15 denotes a guide plate. The mounting section 11 is provided with the guide plate 15. The guide plate 15 is made of a rectangular plate-shaped member. A pair of guide plates 15 are provided on the left and right outer sides of the moving body A mounted on the mounting section 11 in the direction of travel, facing each other with the running section 71 of the moving body A in between. Guide plate 15 is arranged along entrance path 12 of each mounting portion 11, extending from entrance path 12 toward power supply portion C. An upper portion of guide plate 15 is provided with folded portion 16 that is bent obliquely toward the outside of mounting portion 11.

[0021] Even if the moving object A moving along the guide plate 15 tries to forcibly climb onto the guide plate 15, the turning portion 16 at the top of the guide plate 15 causes the moving object A to slide down along the slope of the turning portion 16. Therefore, the guide plate 15 not only prevents the moving object A from turning, but also prevents the moving object A from climbing over the guide plate 15. Furthermore, even if the running unit 71 equipped with the crawlers shown in the figure has a stronger ground contact driving force than the running unit 71 mainly composed of wheels (not shown), the running unit 71 that moves along the guide plate 15 and climbs over the turning portion 16 will slide down. Therefore, the running unit 71 can be prevented from climbing over the guide plate 15 and departing from the placement unit 11. The guide plate 15 allows the moving body A to enter the placement part 11 properly and moves the moving body A properly toward the power supply part C on the placement part 11, and prevents the moving body A from turning.

[0022] The opposing distance, which is the distance between the opposing surfaces of each guide plate 15, is set to be slightly larger than the overall width of the pair of running sections 71. In this embodiment, the opposing distance of the guide plates 15 is set to be slightly larger by about 101 to 105% than the overall width of the pair of running sections 71 provided on the left and right of the moving body A. This opposing distance makes it possible to accurately align the left-right positions of the power receiving unit D and the power supply unit C of the moving body A that has entered from the entrance path 12 with respect to the moving body A. The longitudinal distance of the guide plate 15 relative to the moving body A is longer than the axle distance, and the guide plate 15 is provided continuously from the access path 12 toward the power supply unit C. In other words, the length of the guide plate 15 is longer than the ground contact length. It can also be said that the distance of the guide plate 15 parallel to the traveling direction of the moving body A is longer than the axle distance between the front and rear wheel axles of the running unit 71.

[0023] By doing this, the moving body A that enters from the entrance road 12 while aligning the left and right positions of the power receiving part D and the power supply part C can move towards the power supply part C along the guide plate 15 without turning, since the running part 71 is positioned so as to be sandwiched between the guide plate 15 even after entering. The length of guide plate 15, which is arranged parallel to the traveling direction of moving object A, is long and continuous relative to traveling section 71, so even if moving object A tries to turn suddenly while moving on the device section, it is prevented from turning by guide plate 15. In other words, moving object A entering from approach path 12 can maintain the positional relationship between power supply unit C and power receiving unit D relative to the left and right of the traveling direction.

[0024] On the approach path 12 side of each guide plate 15, there is provided an approach guide section 14 that forces a mobile object A approaching from the approach path 12 to be positioned between the guide plates 15. The approach guide sections 14 are plate-shaped and are provided so that their width increases from the power supply section toward the approach path 12 in a plan view. Even if the orientation or position of the mobile object A is misaligned with respect to the power supply section C, the approach guide sections 14 allow the mobile object A to be positioned between the guide plates 15 by traveling along the approach guide sections 14 without the operator or observer having to perform any special operation, and the relationship in position and orientation between the power supply section C and the power receiving section D can be adjusted or maintained.

[0025] A slope 13 is provided on the access path 12. The slope 13 is provided on the access path 12 side of the mounting unit 11, with one end being a horizontal axis 18 facing left and right intersecting the traveling direction of the mobile object A, and the other end being configured to be able to rotate and turn up and down. The slope 13 can rotate so that its tip touches the installation surface even on an uneven installation surface, thereby assisting the mobile object A in entering the mounting unit 11. Even if the access path 12 is raised above the installation surface, the other end of the slope 13 can touch the installation surface, so there are no restrictions on the installation location of the power supply device B.

[0026] An adjuster 17 that can be brought into contact with the installation surface and can adjust the installation height is provided at the bottom of the placement portion 11. The adjuster 17 can be adjusted to protrude from and retract into the bottom surface of the placement portion 11 in the vertical direction. The adjuster 17 prevents the power supply device B from tilting or swinging even if the ground below the mounting section 11 is uneven, with unevenness or the like, and the moving body A can easily enter the mounting section 11.

[0027] In the power supply device B of this invention, when the moving body A moves backward through the entry path 12 of the mounting base of the power supply device B and approaches a power supply position where power can be supplied, the power supply side terminal member 42 comes into contact with the moving body side terminal member 85 provided on the moving body A, thereby enabling current to flow. More specifically, as the self-propelled moving body A approaches the support post 21, the second arm 41 having the power supply side terminal member 42 in the lying state rises, and the power supply device B enters an upright state, contacting the moving body side terminal member 85 provided on the moving body A, and the power supply side terminal member 42 supplies power to the moving body A. Note that the explanation will be given assuming that the power to be supplied in this embodiment is DC.

[0028] The movable body-side terminal member 85 is disposed under the main body frame 75 at the rear end, which is one end of the movable body A. The movable body-side terminal member 85 is a flat conductive member, and is disposed so that its surface faces downward. The movable body-side terminal member 85 also has a pair of positive and negative electrodes, which are disposed side by side in the center of the left and right sides of the main body frame 75 in the direction of travel. Power can be supplied when the positive and negative electrodes of the movable body-side terminal member 85 come into contact with the positive and negative electrodes of the power supply-side terminal member 42, respectively.

[0029] The first arm 31 is provided on the power supply device B so as to be able to swing in the moving direction of the moving body A by being pushed by the moving body A as the moving body A moves. The first arm 31 is a long member oriented diagonally upward so that its upper portion is closer to the moving body A, and is rotatably supported on the lower part of the support part 21 so that its upper portion, which is the other end side, swings back and forth around a rotation fulcrum shaft 32. The swing fulcrum shaft of the first arm 31 is oriented in a direction intersecting the traveling direction of the moving body A. The first arm 31 is pushed by the moving body A as the moving body A moves forward, and is thereby able to swing in the moving direction of the moving body A.

[0030] The second arm 41 is a long member, one end of which is supported by the support column 21, and the other end of which is movable up and down. In the embodiment, the one end of the second arm 41 is provided on a rotation fulcrum shaft 32 that is coaxial with the one end of the first arm 31, but this is not necessarily limited to this. For example, the rotation fulcrum shaft 32 on the one end of the second arm 41 may be provided at a position different from and parallel to the fulcrum shaft on the one end of the first arm 31. Second arm 41 is made of an insulating material, so that electricity flowing through power supply side terminal member 42, which is a conductive member provided at the tip of the other end of second arm 41, is not transmitted to other members of power supply device B (for example, first arm 31 or support part 21) via second arm 41. In the embodiment, second arm 41 is made of a plastic resin, but the material of second arm 41 is not limited as long as it is made of an insulator that can achieve the purpose of insulation.

[0031] Two second arms 41 are provided as a pair, and are arranged parallel to each other. The other end of second arm 41 rotates up and down around rotation fulcrum shaft 32 from a storage position in which it is laid down with its longitudinal direction facing approximately horizontal to a power supply position in which it is raised from the horizontal position in its longitudinal direction. Each of the two second arms 41 rotates independently about rotation fulcrum shaft 32, and the first arm 31 and second arm 41 rotate independently. The second arm 41 is capable of swinging in conjunction with the first arm 31, and when the first arm 31 is pushed by the movable body A, it approaches the movable body side terminal member 85 provided on the movable body A side and has a power supply side terminal member 42 that can come into contact with the movable body side terminal member 85.

[0032] The biasing member 35 is provided on the first arm 31. The biasing member 35 applies a force to the second arm 41 in a direction that moves it closer to the first arm 31 side. The biasing body 35 is provided so as to bridge the intermediate portion of the first arm 31 and the intermediate portion of the second arm 41. In this embodiment, the biasing body 35 uses a tension coil spring, which is an elastic body, and a biasing force is always applied so that the other ends of the first arm 31 and the second arm 41 approach each other. The biasing body 35 is provided on each of the two second arms 41.

[0033] In this embodiment, the restricting portion 33 is a pentagonal piece member provided on the side of the middle portion of the first arm 31. One side of the restricting portion 33 comes into contact with the second arm 41, thereby restricting the first arm 31 and the second arm 41 from rotating in a direction in which they approach each other. The restricting portion 33 is provided to prevent the first arm 31 and the second arm 41 from coming too close to each other due to the biasing body 35. A restricting unit 33 is provided to prevent the first arm 31 and the second arm 41 from becoming less than a predetermined sandwiching angle and to prevent the distance between their other ends from becoming less than a predetermined distance. This prevents the first arm 31 from tilting excessively downward when the second arm 41 is in a storage position where it is lying face down parallel to the mounting unit 11. The restricting unit 33 is provided so that its mounting position relative to the first arm 31 can be shifted by an attachment position adjusting unit 34, making it possible to adjust the sandwiching angle between the first arm 31 and the second arm 41 as needed. The attachment position adjusting unit 34 allows the first arm 31 to be in an appropriate position, and the contact position between the first arm 31 and the moving body A can be adjusted appropriately.

[0034] The restricting unit 33 is provided so that the angle between the first arm 31 and the second arm 41 can be adjusted, so that the contact position of the first arm 31 of the moving body A, which moves up and down due to wear of the running part 71 of the moving body A (wear of the track shown in the embodiment, or wear of the tire etc. in the embodiment not shown), can be appropriately adjusted to an appropriate position. In other words, since the moving body A can push the same position on the first arm 31, the timing at which the second arm 41 rises can be made the same regardless of the height of the moving body A.

[0035] The support pillar 21 is fixed to the support part 11 provided on the power supply device B, which is the support base, on the fulcrum side of the first arm 31. The support pillar 21 is provided so as to protrude upward firmly enough so that it will not be deformed even if it is pushed or hit by the moving body A. The support part 21 restricts the swing of the first arm 31 in the direction in which it is pushed as the moving body A advances, and forcibly stops the advancement of the moving body A via the first arm 31. The upper portion, which is the other end side of the first arm 31 that is rotatable relative to the support part 21, comes into contact with the first arm 31 at the side portion 77, which is the tip of the moving body A, after the moving body A enters from the entrance path 12 and gradually approaches the first arm 31. Furthermore, when the moving body A is advanced toward the support part 21, the first arm 31 is pushed by the side portion 77 of the moving body A, causing it to swing toward the support part 21. When the first arm 31 swings toward the support column 21, the first arm 31 comes into contact with the support column 21, and further swinging is restricted. Further progress of the moving body A is restricted by the support column 21 via the first arm 31.

[0036] A switch 22 is provided on the upper part of the support column 21 of the power supply device B. The switch 22 is operated when the moving object A presses the switch 22 toward the support column 21 via the first arm 31. Whether the switch 22 is operated or not is one of the conditions for determining whether or not to supply power to the battery 76, which is the power storage device of the moving object A, via the power supply-side terminal member 42 and the moving object-side terminal 85. The switch 22 is operable by swinging the first arm 31, and the power supply unit C starts supplying power to the battery 76 on the condition that the operation is completed and contact between the movable body side terminal member 85 and the power supply side terminal member 42 is completed.

[0037] The power supply side terminal member 42 will now be described. The power supply side terminal member 42 contacts the movable body side terminal member 85 that can be exposed downward from the movable body A, thereby supplying power to the movable body A. A power supply-side terminal member 42 is disposed at the tip end of each of the two second arms 41 on the other end side. One of the power supply-side terminal members 42 is a positive electrode, and the other power supply-side terminal member 42 is a negative electrode. A pair of movable body-side terminal members 85, which are power receiving-side terminal members on the movable body A side, are also provided, with one movable body-side terminal member 85 being a positive electrode and the other being a negative electrode. Because the second arm 41 to which the power supply-side terminal member 42 is attached is made of an insulator, electricity applied to the power supply-side terminal member 42 does not leak to other members.

[0038] By bringing the positive electrode of the power supply side terminal member 42 into contact with the positive electrode of the mobile body side terminal member 85, and also bringing the negative electrode of the power supply side terminal member 42 into contact with the negative electrode of the mobile body side terminal member 85, and then applying a DC voltage from the power supply device B side, power can be supplied to and charged by the battery 76, which is a power storage device provided in the mobile body A.

[0039] The contact surface 43 of the power supply side terminal member 42 with the movable body side terminal member 85 is provided as a flat surface, and the power supply side terminal member 42 is provided with a terminal fulcrum part 44 that enables the contact surface 43 to tilt and swing in the front-to-rear direction relative to the second arm 41. The axial direction of the terminal fulcrum part 44 is provided parallel to the rotation fulcrum axis 32 of the first arm 31 and the second arm 41. When the second arm 41 is in the stored position, the contact surface 43 is arranged so as to tilt upward and slightly toward the other end of the second arm 41. The power supply side terminal member 42 has a restricting pin 46 that protrudes toward the second arm 41 and is disposed in a hole 47 provided on the other end side of the second arm 41. The restricting pin 46 is provided movably within the hole 47 and restricts the rotation of the power supply side terminal member 42 around the terminal fulcrum part 44 so that the rotation is limited to the range up to which the restricting pin 46 comes into contact with the edge of the hole 47. The terminal fulcrum portion 44 is provided so that the second arm 41 can swing relative to the first arm 31 .

[0040] Reference numeral 45 denotes a terminal biasing body. The terminal biasing body 45 is provided on the power supply side terminal member 42. The terminal biasing body 45 rotates the power supply side terminal member 42, which rotates around the terminal fulcrum 44, in one direction. In the embodiment, the terminal biasing body 45 is disposed so that the contact surface 43 faces the other end of the second arm 41. The terminal biasing body 45 in the embodiment applies a rotational force to the power supply side terminal member 42 by applying a force to at least one side of the power supply side terminal member 42 using a leaf spring, but the type of biasing body may be any type as long as it is an elastic body such as a coil spring or a helical spring.

[0041] A protruding piece 61 is provided on the side of the second arm 41, which is on the side of the power supply unit C of the power supply device B. The protruding piece 61 is a member having a beak-shaped projection 63 in a side view at the tip that extends from the support unit 21 side of the power supply device B toward the front of the moving body A, and is fixed to the mounting unit 11, which is a mounting base. The protruding piece 61 is fixed to the power supply device B and protrudes from the power supply-side terminal member 42 toward the moving body A side. In this embodiment, the protruding piece 61 is formed of a plate-like member and is provided on the left side of the moving body A adjacent to the second arm 41 in the forward direction.

[0042] An inclined portion 64 is provided on the protruding piece 61, inclining from the tip portion on the moving body A side to the lower portion of the protruding piece 61 toward the support portion 21 and downward. The upper part of the inclined part 64 is disposed so as to protrude further toward the moving body A than the power supply side terminal member 42 in a side view, and reaches the lower part of the protruding part 63. The upper part of the protrusion 63 is provided in an arc shape so as to gradually slope downward from the upper end of the protruding piece 61 in the direction from the entrance path 12 of the moving body A toward the support part 21.

[0043] The inclined portion 64 is provided so as to slope downward in an arc shape from the sharp tip of the protrusion 63 in the direction from the entrance path 12 of the moving body A toward the support portion 21. In this embodiment, the inclined portion 64 is in an arc shape. Therefore, the movement of the member sliding on the inclined portion 64 becomes smooth. The inclined portion 64 is provided so that the angle of inclination gradually becomes vertical in the direction from the approach path 12 of the moving body A toward the support portion 21 and toward the lower end. The inclined portion 64 located at the bottom of the protruding piece 61 is provided so as to be almost vertical. In the embodiment, the inclined portion 64 is provided so as to be curved in an arc shape, but it may also be configured by combining multiple straight portions.

[0044] The positional relationship between the protruding piece 61 and the second arm 41 will be described. The protrusion 63 and the inclined portion 64 of the protruding piece 61 are disposed in a direction from one end side toward the other end side of the second arm 41, and are disposed at a position extending further toward the other end side. In other words, the inclined portion 64 is disposed so as to protrude further toward the movable body A side than the power supply-side terminal member 42 in a side view. This allows the electrode cover 81 disposed on the movable body A (described later) to start rotating from the closed state toward the exposed state before the second arm 41 transitions from the retracted position to the power supply position. In addition, the positional relationship between the protruding piece 61 and the second arm 41 described above prevents the second arm 41 and the electrode cover 81 from interfering with each other until the power supply-side terminal member 42 of the second arm 41 moves toward the movable body-side terminal member 85 provided on the movable body A side.

[0045] The positional relationship between the protruding piece 61 and the moving body A will be described. The protruding piece 61 is positioned in the width direction relative to the traveling direction of the movable body A as an operating unit 82 (described later) provided on the electrode cover 81 of the movable body A. Furthermore, the upper end of the protruding piece 61 is provided so as to be lower than the lower surface of the main body frame 75 of the movable body A. With this configuration, when the movable body A enters the mounting unit 11, which is the mounting base, from the entrance path 12, the protruding piece 61 does not interfere with the main body frame 75, and the protruding portion 63 can reach the operating unit 82. Furthermore, as the movable body A enters, the operating unit 82 is pressed against the inclined portion 64 at the bottom of the protruding portion 63, thereby moving the operating unit 82 downward. In other words, the contact between the protruding piece 61 and the operating unit 82 allows the electrode cover 81 to rotate from the closed state to the exposed state.

[0046] The positional relationship between the protruding piece 61 and the moving body A during power supply will be described. The lower part of the inclined part 64 formed from the protrusion 63 of the protruding piece 61 is disposed forward of the movable body-side terminal member 85 in the forward direction of the movable body A when the movable body A is in a state where it can supply power and the electrode cover 81 is in a completely exposed state. In other words, in a side view, the front end of the movable body-side terminal member 85 when the movable body A is in a power supply state is disposed at a position that does not overlap with the lower part of the inclined part 64 in the front-to-rear direction of the movable body A. This allows the operating part 82 to be moved significantly downward and forward of the movable body A to widely open the electrode cover 81.

[0047] The divided structure of the protruding piece 61 will be described. The protruding piece 61 may be divided and fixed to the power supply device B. In this embodiment, the protruding piece 61 is divided into a protruding piece main body 611 having a protrusion 63 for operating the operation unit 82, and an attachment part 62 of the protruding piece 61 for fixing the protruding piece main body 611 to the power supply device B. The attachment part 62 of the protruding piece 61 and the protruding piece main body 611 are fixed to each other by fastening members consisting of bolts and nuts. The attachment portion of the protruding piece 61 has an elongated hole 65, and the height position of the upper end of the protruding piece 61 can be adjusted by adjusting the fastening position of the fastening member within the elongated hole 65. As a result, even if the relative height of the main body frame 75 to the power supply device B changes due to wear of the running part 71 (crawler in this embodiment) of the moving body A, by adjusting the vertical position of the main body of the protruding piece 61, the protruding piece 61 does not interfere with the main body frame 75, and the operating part 82 can be reliably operated at the inclined part 64.

[0048] A protective cover 51 is provided on the mounting portion 11 so as to cover the other end of the second arm 41, and the protective cover 51 is provided so that the second arm 41 can be projected and retracted toward the movable body side terminal member 85, and has a notch 511 through which the second arm 41 can pass. When the second arm 41 is in the retracted position, the protective cover 51 covers the other end of the second arm 41 and the upper part of the power supply-side terminal member 42. The protective cover 51 has a notch 511 at the upper part that allows the other end of the second arm 41 and the power supply-side terminal member 42 to pass through as the second arm 41 rotates between the retracted position and the power supply position. Furthermore, a shielding cover 52 is provided to cover the notch 511. The shielding cover 52 is made of a flexible, non-conductive, non-conductive material. In this embodiment, a rubber-like plate is used.

[0049] The shielding cover 52 has a slit 521 formed in a direction along the longitudinal direction of the second arm 41 in the storage position. The slit 521 is normally closed, and when the second arm 41 rotates, the other end of the second arm 41 and the power supply-side terminal member 42 push the shielding cover 52 aside, opening the slit 521, allowing the other end of the second arm 41 and the power supply-side terminal member 42 to appear and disappear from the protective cover 51. The slit 521 in the shielding cover 52 is formed by arranging the shielding covers 52 so that they overlap each other. The shielding covers 52 and the slit 521 cover the upper part of the second arm 41 in the storage position, preventing foreign matter from adhering to the power supply-side terminal member 42. The slit 521 formed by overlapping the shielding covers 52 tightly closes the gap, preventing foreign matter from easily passing through the slit 521 and entering below the shielding cover 52.

[0050] Moving object A will be described. In this embodiment, the moving object A is a self-propelled brush cutter. The present invention can be applied to the moving object A regardless of whether it is manually operated, including remotely controlled, or whether it travels independently under autonomous control. The moving body A is capable of moving forward and backward, and turning left and right in conjunction with the forward and backward movement. The moving body A has a main body frame 75 and running parts 71 at the left and right ends of the main body frame 75 in the moving direction.

[0051] In this embodiment, the traveling unit 71 is a crawler device equipped with tracks, and left and right turning is performed by the difference in speed between the left and right tracks, causing the mobile unit A to move forward and backward and turn. The traveling unit 71 drives the drive wheels 72 with an electric motor, causing the tracks to move in circles, thereby moving the mobile unit A. The moving body moves backward and approaches the power supply unit C. The traveling unit 71 does not have to be the crawler device shown in the figure, and may be a traveling unit 71 having a plurality of wheels (preferably four wheels).

[0052] In the case of a crawler device, it has at least a drive wheel 72 and an idler wheel 73, and may further have one or more rollers 74. In an embodiment of the present invention, any of the drive wheel 72, idler wheel 73, and roller 74 that are located on the rearward side relative to the traveling direction forming the contact length of the crawler device may be referred to as a rear wheel, and any of the drive wheel 72, idler wheel 73, and roller 74 that are located on the forward side relative to the traveling direction may be referred to as a front wheel. In this embodiment, the wheels 74 located on the rear side are referred to as rear wheels, and the idler wheels 73 located on the front side are referred to as front wheels. In this embodiment, the drive wheels 72 located on the rear side of each of the left and right sides are equipped with motors (not shown), and are driven to rotate by power from a battery 76.

[0053] The battery 76 is installed on the main body frame 75. The battery 76 is a power storage device that serves as a power source for the electric motor. The electric motor is driven to rotate by consuming power from the battery 76. A mobile body side terminal member 85 is provided at the bottom of the main body frame 75 at the rear end, which is one end side of the mobile body A, and power can be supplied to the battery 76 by contacting the power supply side terminal member 42 provided on the power supply device B. With this configuration, the battery 76, which is a power storage device, can be charged without removing it from the mobile body A.

[0054] The electrode cover 81 is provided on the movable body A so as to surround the sides and bottom of the movable body side terminal member 85. The electrode cover 81 is a container-shaped box-like member, and a rotation fulcrum 83 is located on the front side, which is the other end side of the movable body A, so that the electrode cover 81 can rotate freely. The electrode cover 81 can be repositioned between a closed state in which it covers the movable body side terminal member 85 to prevent the intrusion of foreign matter, and an exposed state in which it exposes the movable body side terminal member 85 and makes it possible to connect it to the power supply side terminal member 42. The electrode cover 81 has an operating portion 82 that is operated by the protruding piece 61 to change the position of the cover from a closed state to an exposed state.

[0055] The electrode cover 81 can be rotated to freely change its position between a closed state in which it covers the movable body side terminal member 85 to prevent the intrusion of foreign matter, as shown in FIG. 10, and an exposed state in which it exposes the movable body side terminal member 85 and makes it possible to connect it to the power supply side terminal member 42, as shown in FIG. 11. Of the rear side surface, which is the side surface opposite to the pivot point 83 of the electrode cover 81 in the closed state, the inner surface gradually faces upward toward the movable body A as the electrode cover 81 transitions to the exposed state. Furthermore, when the electrode cover 81 reaches the end of the rotation direction toward the exposed state, the inner surface tilts upward and backward toward the movable body A. In other words, even if there is a foreign object or the like inside the electrode cover 81, by transitioning the electrode cover 81 to the exposed state, the foreign object or the like can fall downward along the inner surface by its own weight.

[0056] When the electrode cover 81 is changed from a closed state to an exposed state, the inner surface is tilted, allowing foreign matter and the like to fall due to gravity, and in the exposed state the operating unit 82 is positioned forward relative to the movable body side terminal member 85. In other words, in the exposed state the electrode cover 81 rotates until the operating unit 82 is positioned forward of the rotation fulcrum 83 of the electrode cover 81. By adopting such a positional relationship, the inner surface of the electrode cover 81 is reliably tilted.

[0057] Reference numeral 84 denotes an elastic body. The elastic body 84 constantly applies force to the side where the electrode cover 81 is in the closed state. The elastic body 84 is provided near the pivot fulcrum 83 of the electrode cover 81. In this embodiment, a coil spring is used as the elastic body 84, and the coil spring is incorporated into the hinge portion which is the pivot fulcrum 83. The elastic body 84 constantly applies force to the electrode cover 81 so as to rotate the rotatable electrode cover 81 towards the closed state.

[0058] The electrode cover 81 has an operating unit 82 at one end, which is the rear side in the traveling direction of the movable body A. The operating unit 82 is a pin-shaped member that protrudes left and right from either the left or right side surface of the electrode cover 81 in the traveling direction. In this embodiment, the operating unit 82 is provided so as to protrude from the rear side and left side surface of the electrode cover 81 in the traveling direction toward the left side surface in the traveling direction. The electrode cover 81 can be rotated between a closed state and an exposed state by operating the operating unit 82. In the exposed state, the operating unit 82 is positioned so as not to overlap vertically with the movable body-side terminal member 85 of the movable body A in the power supply state, as seen from the side. In other words, the operating unit 82 in the exposed state is positioned on the other end, which is forward of the movable body-side terminal member 85 of the movable body A.

[0059] In the closed state, the operating unit 82 is disposed with a gap between it and the underside of the main body frame 75. The protruding piece 61, which is a member for operating the operating unit 82, is inserted into this gap to change the electrode cover 81 from the closed state to the exposed state. The rear surface of the electrode cover 81, which is the side surface on which the operating portion 82 is disposed, is inclined downward in the exposed state, making it easier to expel foreign matter.

[0060] The operation and effect of the embodiment of the present invention will be explained based on actual work. The storage position of the second arm 41 when the moving object A is not placed on the placement unit 11, which is a placement table, will be described. 1 to 6, 12, and 13, the movable body A is not placed on the mounting portion 11. The second arm 41 has rotated downward by its own weight and is in a stored position, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6. At this time, the contact surface 43 of the power supply-side terminal member 42 is biased by the terminal biasing body 45 and is disposed so as to be inclined upward and slightly horizontally, so that foreign matter on the contact surface 43 falls along the inclination, and the contact surface 43 can be kept clean. The upper part of the power supply side terminal member 42 is covered with the protective cover 51 and the shielding cover 52, so even if foreign matter falls from above, it will not adhere to the contact surface 43. In addition, since the slits 511 are provided so as to overlap each other, the slits 511 turn up to create gaps, preventing the intrusion of foreign matter through these gaps.

[0061] A force is applied to first arm 31 by biasing member 35 so as to bring it closer to second arm 41. At this time, restricting portion 33 restricts first arm 31 from completely falling toward second arm 41, so first arm 31 can maintain a state in which it is tilted obliquely relative to support portion 21. 12 and 13 show a state before the moving object A enters the power supply device B, in which the electrode cover 81 of the moving object A is in a closed state, and the second arm 41 is in a stored position or in a stored state.

[0062] The entry of the moving object A into the placement section 11, which is a placement table, will be described. The moving object A moves from the state shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 to the stage from the approach path 12 as shown in FIG. 14, and gradually approaches the support column 21 side. 14, the moving body A is located on the access path 12 of the power supply device B, and is in the middle of entering the power supply device B. The electrode cover 81 of the moving body A is in the closed state. The second arm 41 is in the stored position or in the stored state.

[0063] The moving body A enters the entrance path 12 in a backward movement state and approaches the support part 21. As the moving body A continues to enter, the side part 77 located at the tip of the moving body A eventually comes into contact with the upper part of the first arm 31 in a laid-down state. As the moving body A continues to advance by backing up the power supply device B, the operating part 82 moves relative to the protruding piece 61 located below the main frame 75, and eventually, as shown in Figure 15, the tip of the protruding part 63 is positioned between the operating part 82 and the main frame 75 and advances between them.

[0064] As shown in Figures 15 and 16, when the moving object A enters onto the power supply device B and moves on the mounting part 11 toward the power supply part C, the second arm 41 remains in the stored position or state, and the protrusion part 63 of the protruding piece 61 is positioned between the operating part 82 and the main body frame 75. 15 and 16, the electrode cover 81 of the moving object A is in a closed state. The guide plate 15 restricts left and right deviation of the moving object A relative to the traveling direction, and the moving object A moves toward the power supply part C.

[0065] 17, when moving body A further moves from the state shown in Figures 15 and 16 on mounting portion 11 of power supply device B toward power supply portion C, inclined portion 64 of protruding piece 61 presses down electrode cover 81 of moving body A, moving body A contacts first arm 31, and electrode cover 81 of moving body A operates operating portion 82 by protruding piece 61 between operating portion 82 and main body frame 75, and is in the middle of rotating toward the exposed side. Second arm 41 is in the retracted position or retracted state. If the moving body A continues to move backward with the side portion 77, which is the tip end of the moving body A, in contact with the upper portion of the first arm 31, the first arm 31 will rotate toward the support portion 21 around the swing fulcrum shaft. Furthermore, as the movable body A is moved toward the support portion 21, the operating portion 82 is pushed down while sliding along the inclined portion 64 of the protruding piece 61, causing the electrode cover 81 to rotate in the direction from the closed state to the exposed state.

[0066] As shown in Figure 18, when the moving body A moves further from the state shown in Figure 17 on the mounting portion 11 toward the power supply portion C of the power supply device B, the inclined portion 64 of the protruding piece 61 further presses down the electrode cover 81 of the moving body A, and the moving body A pushes the first arm 31 backward, causing the second arm 41 to rise and pass through the protective cover 51 (slit 521 of the shielding cover 52). The electrode cover 81 of the movable body A is in the middle of rotating toward the exposed side by the protruding piece 61. The first arm 31 is pushed by the side part 77, which is the tip of the movable body A, and swings toward the support part 21, and the second arm 41 is in the middle of rotating toward the power supply posture side in conjunction with the first arm 31.

[0067] In response to the rotation of the first arm 31, the second arm 41 starts to rise from the stored position via the biasing member 35, and the second arm 41 gradually rises in conjunction with the swinging of the first arm 31. When the operating part 82 reaches the lower end of the inclined part 64, the second arm 41 moves upright to the power supply position in conjunction with the first arm 31, which is swung toward the support part 21 by the movable body A. At this time, the operating part 82 is operated by the lower end of the inclined part 64 so as to face the movable body A in the forward direction, so that the electrode cover 81 does not interfere with the electrode cover 81 when the second arm 41 moves.

[0068] 19, when the movable body A moves further from the state shown in FIG. 18 on the power supply device B toward the power supply unit C, the operating unit slides the inclined portion 64 to further press down the electrode cover 81 of the movable body A in the direction to expose it, and the movable body A pushes the first arm 31 rearward toward the support member 21, causing the second arm 41 to rise, the power supply-side terminal member 42 to contact the movable body terminal member 85 (power receiving unit D) and assume the power supplying posture, and the electrode cover 81 of the movable body A is rotated toward the exposed side by the protruding piece 61 and assumes the exposed posture. The first arm 31 is pushed by the side portion 77 at the tip of the movable body A and swings further toward the support member, and the power supply-side terminal member 42 assumes the power supplying posture in contact with the movable body terminal member 85. However, with the positional relationship between the movable body A and the power supply device B shown in FIG. 19, power supply does not start. As the second arm 41 rises, the other end of the second arm 41 and the power supply side terminal member 42 push aside the slit 511 in the protective cover 51 and are positioned above the protective cover 51. As the movable body A moves backward, the movable body side terminal member 85 is positioned above the power supply side terminal member 42, and they eventually come into contact with each other.

[0069] The power supply posture will be described with reference to FIGS. 19, 20, 21, and 22. 19, as shown in Figures 20, 21, and 22, the movable body A moves further backward and moves over the power supply device B. Then, with the power supply-side terminal member 42 and the movable body terminal member 85 in contact with each other, the movable body A is moved further backward (towards the support part 21), and the side part 77 at the tip of the movable body A swings the first arm 31 to operate the switch 22. Electrode cover 81 is in an exposed state and is further rotated toward the exposed side by protruding piece 61, and first arm 31 is pushed by side portion 77, which is the tip of movable body A, to swing and press switch 22, and biasing body 35 assumes an extended state. Second arm 41, which has been brought into the power supply position by biasing body 35, can swing first arm 31 independently of the second arm even in a state in which swinging is fixed. By rotating the first arm 31 toward the support part 21, the second arm 41 is rotated upward, the power supply side terminal member 42 of the second arm 41 comes into contact with the movable body side terminal member 85, and the second arm 41 assumes the power supply posture.

[0070] When the movable body A is moved toward the support part 21, the operating part 82 is pressed by the lower end of the inclined part 64, causing the electrode cover 81 to rotate to the end of the rotation direction and become exposed, and at the same time, the power supply side terminal member 42 carried by the second arm 41 comes into contact with the movable body side terminal member 85, assuming a power supply posture in which power can be supplied. When the electrode cover 81 is rotated to the end of its rotation direction, the inner surface of the rear side of the electrode cover 81 is inclined, so that the electrode cover 81 can be turned upside down, and any foreign matter inside the electrode cover 81 can be dropped downward along the inner surface. Therefore, the inside of the electrode cover 81 is cleaned every time power is supplied, and can be kept constantly clean.

[0071] The power supply-side terminal member 42 is configured to be rotatable around the terminal fulcrum 44 while receiving a rotational force from the terminal biasing body 45, which allows the contact surface 43 to come into surface contact with the movable body-side terminal member 85. In other words, even if the vertical positional relationship or the relative front-to-rear angle of the movable body-side terminal member 85 with respect to the second arm 41 shifts due to wear of the traveling part 71 of the movable body A (wear of the tracks shown in the embodiment or wear of the tires, etc., in the embodiment not shown), the power supply-side terminal member 42 rotates around the terminal fulcrum 44, thereby ensuring an area where the contact surface 43 comes into contact with the movable body-side terminal member 85. The terminal biasing body 45 ensures this contact.

[0072] Furthermore, each of the pair of second arms 41 can rotate independently, and an upward force is applied to each second arm 41 by the biasing body 35, so that even if the movable body A itself is tilted back and forth or left and right relative to the power supply device B, the pair of power supply side terminal members 42 and the pair of movable body side terminal members 85 can reliably contact each other.

[0073] Even if the power supply-side terminal member 42 comes into contact with the movable body-side terminal member 85, power is not yet supplied. To start power supply, the first arm 31 must be further swung toward the support section 21 by the movable body A. When the movable body A is further moved backward toward the support section, the first arm 31 rotates toward the support section 21. Meanwhile, the second arm 41 does not rotate because the power supply-side terminal member 42 and the movable body-side terminal member 85 are in contact, and the biasing member 35 provided between the first arm 31 and the second arm 41 extends. The restricting portion 33, which moves together with the first arm 31, also moves away from the second arm 41.

[0074] The power supply start operation will now be described. 20 and 21, first arm 31 rotates, and when first arm 31 comes into contact with support column 21, first arm 31 operates switch 22. When a control unit (not shown) of power feeding device B detects that switch 22 has been operated and that power feeding-side terminal member 42 has come into contact with mobile body-side terminal member 85 (more precisely, that the positive electrodes of power feeding-side terminal member 42 and mobile body-side terminal member 85 have come into contact with the negative electrodes of power feeding-side terminal member 42 and mobile body-side terminal member 85), it performs a process of checking continuity between power feeding-side terminal member 42 and mobile body-side terminal member 85, and if it is determined that there are no abnormalities that would cause problems during power feeding, power is fed to battery 76, which is a power storage device on mobile body A. In addition, power supply device B supplies DC power to moving body A via a conversion device (not shown) that converts AC power into DC power and a control unit (not shown) that monitors and controls the AC power and DC power, thereby supplying power to moving body A.

[0075] The storage position from the end of power supply will be explained. 20 and 21, when it is desired to move the mobile object A from the power supply device B, the mobile object A is advanced from the power supply part C toward the access road 12. To set the second arm 41 to the stored position, the steps leading up to the start of power supply described above are reversed. When the mobile object A is advanced, the force pressing the first arm 31 toward the support part 21 is eliminated, and the first arm 31 is released from contact with the support part 21. In other words, the operation of the switch 22 by the first arm 31 is released, and at this point the control part ends the power supply operation.

[0076] As the movable body A moves forward further, the first arm 31 rotates toward the second arm 41 so as to fall under its own weight. As the first arm 31 falls, the first arm 31 approaches the second arm 41 as if drawn by the biasing member 35 until it is restricted by the restricting portion 33. As the movable body A moves forward, the first arm 31 is no longer supported from below, and therefore rotates downward together with the second arm 41 under its own weight.

[0077] The second arm 41 passes through the slit 511 of the protective cover 51 on the way to the storage position, and assumes the storage position in which the power supply side terminal member 42 is located below the protective cover 51 and the shielding cover 52. The protective cover 51 and the shielding cover 52 cover the top of the power supply side terminal member 42, so even if a foreign object falls from the moving object A moving on the mounting part 11, the foreign object will not easily adhere to the power supply side terminal member 42. In addition, the slits 521 are also arranged to overlap each other, so that the slits 521 will not open and unintentionally form a gap, and therefore foreign object will not slip in through this gap and fall toward the power supply side terminal member 42.

[0078] Furthermore, the contact surface 43 of the power supply terminal member 42 is inclined upward and slightly horizontally, so that foreign matter on the contact surface 43 falls along the inclination. Therefore, the power supply terminal member 42 can be kept clean even after power is supplied, so that the next time it is used, there is no need to bother removing foreign matter, and power supply work can be performed with reduced power supply failures caused by foreign matter.

[0079] The transition of the electrode cover 81 from the exposed state to the closed state will be described. When it is desired to move the moving body A away from the power supply device B, the moving body A is moved forward. To change the electrode cover 81 from the exposed state to the closed state, the procedure is reversed from the process of changing from the closed state to the exposed state described above.

[0080] An elastic body 84 is provided at the pivot point 83 of the electrode cover 81, so that the electrode cover 81 automatically pivots in the direction from the exposed state toward the closed state even when the downward pressure from the inclined portion 64 is removed. As the movable body A is moved forward, the operating portion 82 moves upward while sliding on the inclined portion 64 and the protrusion 63. When the support of the inclined portion 64 and the protrusion 63 on the operating portion 82 is removed, the electrode cover 81 enters a closed state in which it is completely closed. In the closed state, the electrode cover 81 protects the movable body side terminal member 85 from foreign matter such as surrounding dust, dirt, and obstacles, and ensures reliable power supply. [Explanation of symbols]

[0081] A Mobile B Power supply device 31 First Arm 41 Second Arm 42 Power supply side terminal member 85 Moving body side terminal member

Claims

1. A power supply device having a power supply side terminal member that contacts a mobile body side terminal member that a self-propelled mobile body has and supplies power to the mobile body, a first arm that is pushed by the moving body as the moving body moves, and thereby is swingable in the moving body's direction of movement; a second arm that is swingable in conjunction with the first arm, and that has the power supply side terminal member that approaches the movable body side terminal member and can come into contact with the movable body side terminal member when the first arm is pushed by the movable body; Equipped with the second arm is provided so as to be able to protrude and retract toward the movable body side terminal member, and a protective cover covering an upper portion of the second arm has a slit portion through which the second arm can pass; A power supply device comprising:

2. the first arm has a biasing body that applies a force to the second arm in a direction that moves the second arm toward the first arm; a restricting portion of the first arm that restricts the first arm from approaching the second arm; The power supply device according to claim 1, further comprising:

3. the second arm is swingable relative to the first arm; 3. The power supply device according to claim 1, wherein the power supply device is a power supply unit.

4. a support part that restricts the swing of the first arm in a pushed direction as the moving body advances, and that can forcibly stop the advancement of the moving body via the first arm; the support part is a switch that is pushed toward the support part by a first arm that is pushed by a moving body; 4. The power supply device according to claim 1, further comprising:

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