Power supply device, power supply means and vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a power supply device for a vehicle, in particular for a utility vehicle such as an electric bus or an electric heavy goods vehicle or for a rail vehicle, comprising a contact device (1) which can be lowered towards a vehicle in order to form an electrical contact between the contact device (1) and the vehicle, comprising a lowering device (2) which is connected to the contact device (1), and comprising a drive (3) for moving the contact device (1), in particular for lifting processes of the contact device (1), the drive being coupled to the contact device (1). According to the invention, a spring device (4) is connected to the lowering device (2), the spring device having a preload before a lowering process of the contact device (1), wherein at least one spring force driving the contact device (1) downwards is formed during the lowering process of the contact device (1). This enables reliable contact-connection with the vehicle.

Description

[0001] Power supply device, power supply device and vehicle

[0002] The invention relates to a power supply device for a vehicle, in particular for a commercial vehicle such as an electric bus or an electric truck or for a rail vehicle, with a contact device which can be lowered towards the vehicle to form an electrical contact between the contact device and a vehicle, with a lowering device which is connected to the contact device and which can be connected to a power supply device, and with a drive for moving the contact device, in particular for lifting operations of the contact device, which drive is coupled to the contact device and which can be connected to the power supply device.

[0003] To supply power to vehicles, devices can be used that automatically establish electrical contact between chargers or charging stations on the one hand and batteries of electric vehicles on the other. For example, the standards EN (European Standard) 50696 and SAE (SAE International) J3105 describe such devices.

[0004] These devices are used, for example, to bridge distances, to transmit contact forces and to transmit charging current between chargers or charging stations on the one hand and vehicles on the other.

[0005] A distinction is often made between devices with active and passive contact force generation. In devices with active contact force generation, for example, the contact heads of these devices are moved to charging stations via actuators. After the contact heads dock with the charging stations, contact forces are generated between the contact heads and the charging stations.

[0006] In devices with passive contact force generation, contact forces are generated, for example, via the weight of contact heads, by lowering the contact heads, for example, from charging stations onto vehicle docking devices.

[0007] DE 20 2014 007 218 U1, for example, is known from the prior art, which shows a power transmission device with active contact force generation. The power transmission device has a linkage, a contact device, and an actuator with a brushless electric motor, wherein the contact device can be brought into contact with current-carrying contact surfaces of a vehicle by means of the linkage.

[0008] Furthermore, WO 2022 / 100790 A1 discloses a power supply device with passive contact force generation, in which arms which are connected to one another in an articulated manner and to which a contacting device is coupled can be moved by means of a drive arrangement between a raised position and a lowered position, wherein the contacting device can be held in a lowered position by means of its weight force.

[0009] Furthermore, WO 2023 / 072365 A1 describes a positioning arrangement for a charging station and a contacting method. The positioning arrangement has a positioning device, a drive device and a charging contact, by means of which a contact surface of an electric vehicle can be contacted to supply the vehicle with electrical power. The drive device comprises a support means connected to the positioning device, via which a tensile force can be transmitted to the positioning device, as a result of which the charging contact can be positioned. In addition, US 2023 / 0098461 A1 shows a charging device in which, for a charging process on an electric vehicle, a charging head can be lowered onto a contact device of the vehicle by means of an adjusting device. The adjusting device can have scissor levers that are connected to one another in an articulated manner.

[0010] The invention is based on the object of specifying a power supply device which is further developed compared to the prior art and which enables the transmission of high contact forces.

[0011] According to the invention, this object is achieved with a power supply device according to claim 1, in which a spring device is connected to the lowering device, which spring device has a pretension before a lowering process of the contact device, wherein during the lowering process of the contact device at least one spring force is formed which drives the contact device downwards and supplements the weight forces of at least the contact device, the lowering device and the spring device, promoting the lowering process of the contact device.

[0012] This enables secure electrical contact between the contact device and, for example, a docking device of a vehicle, via which, for example, the vehicle's batteries can be supplied with electrical current and charged. By generating a high contact force between the contact device and, for example, the vehicle's docking device, a high electrical charging power for the vehicle can be achieved. The spring device creates an additional force from which, together with the weight forces of the contact device, the lowering device and the spring device itself, the contact force can be generated.

[0013] The spring device only moderately increases the overall mass of the power supply device. This allows, for example, the load-bearing requirements for a support device (e.g., a ceiling of a vehicle depot or a crossbeam, etc.) to which the power supply device may be connected in an articulated manner, to be reduced. The support device can therefore be lightweight, etc.

[0014] The lowering process of the contact device can be initiated, for example, by a reduction of a torque of the drive, whereby the contact device is not raised by means of the drive, but a downward movement of the contact device is braked by the drive due to the weight forces and the spring force, etc.

[0015] For example, supply lines of the power supply device can be connected to the lowering device and / or to the contact device.

[0016] The supply lines can, for example, be electrically connected to contact elements of the contact device.

[0017] Further advantageous embodiments of the power supply device according to the invention emerge from the subclaims.

[0018] It is helpful, for example, if the lowering device has a plurality of scissor levers.

[0019] This measure increases the mechanical stability of the power supply device.

[0020] A preferred solution is obtained if the spring device has at least one first lowering spring, wherein the at least first lowering spring is connected to a first scissor lever of the lowering device and a scissor lever bearing of the lowering device or wherein the at least first lowering spring is connected to the first scissor lever and a second scissor lever of the lowering device.

[0021] This results in a compact, functional arrangement comprising the lowering device and the spring device. A movement of the lowering device correlates with a change in the spring tension of the spring device. For example, the spring device can have a greater spring tension in a retracted, first state of the lowering device than in a second, extended state, as a result of which a relaxation process of the spring device can contribute to a movement of the lowering device into the second state, etc. If, for example, the contact device is connected to the scissor lever bearing, the spring device, when coupled to the scissor lever bearing, can also bring about, for example, mechanical stabilization and / or resetting of the contact device.

[0022] It may also be advisable for the lowering device to have at least four scissor levers, preferably six scissor levers.

[0023] This measure allows the load-bearing capacity and weight of the lowering device to be adjusted as needed. The power supply device can be modular, i.e., a first number of scissor levers can be selected, for example, depending on the contact force and adapted to the mechanical properties of the spring device. It is also possible, for example, for the spring device to be dimensioned depending on a predetermined second number of scissor levers, etc.

[0024] This allows the contact force of the power supply device to be adjusted. For example, thanks to the spring device, the first number of scissor levers can be selected to be small, which allows, for example, the mass of the power supply device to be reduced without reducing the contact force (due to the spring device). However, it is also possible, for example, to increase the contact force based on the predetermined second number of scissor levers using the spring device.

[0025] A structurally and functionally simple solution for manipulating the contact device is achieved if the drive is designed as a motorized hoist. The drive can, for example, be designed as a cable pull, etc.

[0026] In connection with an embodiment of the drive as a motorized hoist, it can be helpful if a conveyor means of the drive is articulated to a drive lever of the drive, wherein the drive lever contacts a first stop of the power supply device during the lowering process of the contact device and wherein the drive lever is released from the first stop when the contact device is fully lowered. The conveyor means of the drive can be designed, for example, as a rope, a belt, a strap or a chain, etc. The drive lever enables compensation for a relative movement between the power supply device and a vehicle, which can be caused, for example, by passengers boarding or alighting or by one-sided lowering of the vehicle by means of a level control in order to make boarding or alighting easier (kneeling), etc.By changing the angular position of the drive lever, which can perform rotational movements relative to the conveying means, a height difference between the power supply device and the vehicle can be compensated, for example.

[0027] For example, an upper surface of the drive lever may contact a lower surface of the first stop.

[0028] The first stop can, for example, be connected to the contact device.

[0029] The drive lever can, for example, be connected to the contact device in an articulated manner.

[0030] Switching the drive based on sensor measurements is made possible if at least one sensor is arranged to detect a position of the drive lever, wherein the at least one sensor is connected to the drive in a signal-transmitting manner. This measure allows, for example, the drive to be switched off if the sensor detects an intermediate position of the drive lever in which the drive lever is not in contact with the first stop and the fully lowered state of the contact device is reached.

[0031] The sensor can, for example, be designed as a potentiometer or as a Hall sensor, etc., and can be arranged, for example, on a joint between the drive lever and the contact device if the drive lever is connected to the contact device in an articulated manner. However, it is also conceivable, for example, that the sensor is arranged as a distance sensor on the contact device and that the position of one end of the drive lever is detected by means of the sensor, etc.

[0032] It is also possible, for example, to design the sensor as a limit switch and connect it to the first stop, etc.

[0033] A favorable solution is also obtained if at least one lever spring is connected to the drive lever, which has a first tensioning energy during the lowering process of the contact device and a second tensioning energy in the fully lowered state of the contact device, wherein the first tensioning energy is greater than the second tensioning energy.

[0034] This measure promotes the release of the drive lever from the first stop when the contact device is fully lowered. After the contact device has been fully lowered, the lever spring initiates a relaxation process, which reinforces the downward movement of the conveyor and the release of the drive lever from the first stop when the contact device is fully lowered.

[0035] If, for example, the lever spring is not completely relaxed in the fully lowered state of the contact device and at the end of the relaxation process of the lever spring and the second tensioning energy is therefore greater than 0 J, the conveyor can be kept under a residual tension in the fully lowered state of the contact device by means of the second tensioning energy, thereby enabling a reliable initiation of a lifting process for lifting the contact device.

[0036] The drive lever can, for example, be applied to a second stop of the power supply device during the downward movement of the conveyor after the contact device has reached its fully lowered position. The second stop can, for example, be connected to the contact device.

[0037] It can also be helpful if at least one lever spring is connected to the contact device. This measure results in a compact, functional arrangement of the contact device, the drive lever, and the lever spring. The lever spring can, for example, be designed as a leg spring, etc., between the contact device and the drive lever.

[0038] A simple and robust drive means is obtained if the drive has a motor, a gearbox and a winch, wherein the conveying means of the drive is guided by means of the winch, can be wound onto the winch and can be unwound from the winch, and wherein for the transmission of torque from the motor via the gearbox to the winch the motor is coupled to the gearbox and the gearbox is coupled to the winch.

[0039] Compensation for the inclination of a vehicle, to which the power supply device can be docked, for example for carrying out an electrical charging process, can also be achieved if the contact device is connected in an articulated manner to the lowering device. Supplying a vehicle with electricity at a stop, in a depot or at a charging station, etc. is made possible by a power supply device according to the invention with at least one power supply device according to the invention and with a holding device, wherein a vehicle can be arranged below the holding device and the lowering device of the at least one power supply device is connected to the holding device so that it can be lowered towards the vehicle.

[0040] The power supply device can be connected, for example, via the holding device to a ceiling of a hall forming the power supply device or to a cross member of a loading frame forming the power supply device, etc.

[0041] The lowering device can, for example, be connected to the holding device in an articulated manner.

[0042] For example, electrical supply lines of the power supply device can be connected to the power supply device, which can be connected, for example, to an electricity network via the power supply device.

[0043] A promising field of application for the power supply device according to the invention and the power supply device according to the invention can be developed with a vehicle according to the invention which can be supplied with electrical power by means of a power supply device according to the invention and can be arranged below a power supply device according to the invention and has at least one docking device, wherein the at least one docking device is designed to be able to be brought into mechanical and electrical contact with the power supply device, wherein the at least one docking device is designed to be mechanically and electrically compatible with the power supply device.

[0044] The contact device of the power supply device can, for example, have first contact rails which are spaced apart from one another and which can be brought into contact with second contact rails of the docking device, wherein the first contact rails can be arranged at right angles to the second contact rails, etc. The docking device can, for example, be arranged on a roof of the vehicle, wherein electrical vehicle cables can be led from the docking device, for example, to a battery of the vehicle, etc. The battery can, for example, be charged by means of the power supply device.

[0045] The vehicle can be, for example, an electric bus, an electric truck or an electric rail vehicle, etc.

[0046] The invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments.

[0047] It shows, for example:

[0048] Fig. 1: A side view of an exemplary embodiment of a power supply device according to the invention, which is connected to an exemplary embodiment of a power supply device according to the invention, wherein the exemplary embodiment of a power supply device according to the invention for charging a battery of an exemplary embodiment of an inventive

[0049] Vehicle can be docked to the exemplary embodiment of a vehicle according to the invention.

[0050] A schematic side view shown in Fig. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a power supply device according to the invention.

[0051] The power supply device is configured for an electric bus, i.e. for a commercial vehicle, and comprises a metallic contact device 1, a metallic lowering device 2, a drive 3 and a metallic spring device 4, from which an inverted charging current collector is formed.

[0052] The bus is an exemplary embodiment of a vehicle according to the invention. However, according to the invention, it is also conceivable for the vehicle to be designed, for example, as an electric truck or an electric rail vehicle, etc.

[0053] The contact device 1 can be lowered toward the vehicle to form an electrical contact between the contact device 1 and the vehicle. Fig. 1 shows a partially lowered state of the contact device 1. In a fully lowered state of the contact device 1, the contact device 1 contacts a docking device 5 on a roof 6 of the vehicle.

[0054] The docking device 5 is thus designed to be brought into mechanical and electrical contact with the power supply device and is designed to be mechanically and electrically compatible with the power supply device.

[0055] A lithium-ion battery of the vehicle (not shown in Fig. 1) can be supplied with electrical power by means of the power supply device and can thus be charged. The lithium-ion battery is connected to the docking device 5 via electrical vehicle cables (not shown in Fig. 1).

[0056] The lowering device 2 is connected to the contact device 1 and, for supporting the power supply device, to an exemplary embodiment of a power supply device according to the invention. The power supply device is designed as a charging station in a vehicle depot and has a holding device 7 designed as a crossbeam, to which the lowering device 2 is connected in an articulated manner and via a rolling contact. The lowering device 2, and thus the power supply device, is detachably connected to the holding device 7 of the power supply device, for example for maintenance purposes. The vehicle is arranged below the holding device 7 of the power supply device.

[0057] A first guide lever 8 and a second guide lever 9 of the power supply device are pivotally coupled to the lowering device 2. A guide roller 10 is rotatably connected to the first guide lever 8 and the second guide lever 9, which are aligned converging toward one another, in the region in which the first guide lever 8 and the second guide lever 9 overlap. The guide roller 10 is arranged in a guide groove 11 of the holding device 7 and can roll therein.

[0058] The lowering device 2 has a plurality of scissor levers which are arranged in a parallelogram shape in a state of the power supply device shown in Fig. 1.

[0059] The lowering device 2 has six scissor levers. However, according to the invention, it is also possible for the lowering device to comprise a smaller number of scissor levers, for example, four scissor levers, or a larger number of scissor levers.

[0060] A first end of a first scissor lever 12 and a second end of a second scissor lever 13 are pivotally connected to a scissor lever bearing 18 of the lowering device 2. The first scissor lever 12 and the second scissor lever 13 are arranged converging toward one another and overlapping one another in the region of the first end and the second end. The contact device 1, in turn, is connected to the scissor lever bearing 18. The contact device 1 is thus pivotally connected to the lowering device 2.

[0061] A third end of the first scissor lever 12 is pivotally coupled to a fourth end of a third scissor lever 14, a fifth end of the second scissor lever 13 is pivotally coupled to a sixth end of a fourth scissor lever 15. The third scissor lever 14 and the fourth scissor lever 15 are arranged to cross one another and are pivotally connected to one another, with a seventh end of the third scissor lever 14 being pivotally coupled to an eighth end of a fifth scissor lever 16 and a ninth end of the fourth scissor lever 15 being pivotally coupled to a tenth end of a sixth scissor lever 17.

[0062] The lowering device 2 can be lowered towards the vehicle via an eleventh end of the fifth scissor lever 16 and a twelfth end of the sixth scissor lever 17 and is articulatedly coupled to the holding device 7.

[0063] The fifth scissor lever 16 and the sixth scissor lever 17 converge and overlap in the region of the eleventh and twelfth ends. The first guide lever 8 is pivotally connected to the sixth scissor lever 17, and the second guide lever 9 is pivotally connected to the fifth scissor lever 16.

[0064] The spring device 4 is connected to the lowering device 2, arranged in a mechanical parallel circuit to the lowering device 2, and comprises a first lowering spring 19 and a second lowering spring 20, which are designed as helical springs. The first lowering spring 19 is pivotally connected to the first scissor lever 12 and pivotally connected to the scissor lever bearing 18; the second lowering spring 20 is pivotally connected to the second scissor lever 13 and pivotally connected to the scissor lever bearing 18.

[0065] According to the invention, it is also conceivable that, for example, only the first lowering spring 19 is arranged and connected in an articulated manner to the first scissor lever 12 and in an articulated manner to the second scissor lever 13. The drive 3 is designed as a motorized hoist, which is designed as a cable pull.

[0066] The drive 3 comprises a motor 21 designed as an electric motor, a gear 22 and a winch 23, wherein a conveyor means 24 of the drive 3 designed as a cable is guided by means of the winch 23, can be wound onto the winch 23 and can be unwound from the winch 23. In the partially lowered state of the contact device 1 shown in Fig. 1, the conveyor means 24 is partially wound onto the winch 23.

[0067] For torque transmission from the motor 21 via the gear 22 to the winch 23, the motor 21 is coupled to the gear 22, and the gear 22 is coupled to the winch 23. The drive 3 is connected to the holding device 7 and thus to the power supply device, as well as to an electricity network via drive lines (not shown in Fig. 1) for supplying the drive 3 with electrical current.

[0068] The drive 3 is designed to move the contact device 1, in particular for lifting operations of the contact device 1, and for this purpose is coupled to the contact device 1 via the conveying means 24.

[0069] The drive 3 can be switched on and off and the speed of the drive 3 can be adjusted via an operating computer (not shown in Fig. 1) in the vehicle depot, whereby, for example, a lifting process of the contact device 1 can be initiated.

[0070] For this purpose, the drive 3 is connected to the operating computer via signal lines not shown in Fig. 1.

[0071] The spring device 4 is pre-tensioned prior to a lowering operation of the contact device 1. A rotational speed of the drive 3 can be adjusted to carry out the lowering operation of the contact device 1 such that the contact device 1 is lowered due to the weight forces of the scissor levers, the contact device 1, and the spring device 4, with the drive 3 braking the lowering operation of the contact device 1.

[0072] The spring device 4 is relaxed during the lowering process of the contact device 1, wherein during the lowering process of the contact device 1, spring forces of the first lowering spring 19 and the second lowering spring 20 are formed which drive the contact device 1 downwards and promote the lowering process of the contact device 1 by weight forces of the contact device 1, the lowering device 2 and the spring device 4.

[0073] The conveyor 24 of the drive 3 is pivotally connected to a drive lever 25 of the drive 3. The drive lever 25 is pivotally connected to the contact device 1.

[0074] A mechanical first stop 26 and a mechanical second stop 27 of the power supply device are connected to the contact device 1.

[0075] During the lowering process of the contact device 1, an upper side of the drive lever 25 contacts a lower side of the first stop 26. The drive lever 25 is released from the first stop 26 in the fully lowered state of the contact device 1, since in the fully lowered state of the contact device 1, first contact rails of the contact device 1 (not shown in Fig. 1) contact second contact rails of the docking device 5 (likewise not shown in Fig. 1) and the contact device 1 is supported on the docking device 5.

[0076] The first contact rails and the second contact rails are designed as electrical conductors and are aligned at right angles to each other. The first contact rails and the second contact rails can mechanically contact each other in a crossed alignment.

[0077] Upon contact between the first contact rails and the second contact rails, an electrically conductive connection is formed. The docking device 5 is thus designed to be mechanically and electrically compatible with the power supply device.

[0078] A lever spring 29 designed as a metallic leg spring is connected to the contact device 1 and the drive lever 25 in the region of a joint 28, via which the drive lever 25 is connected to the contact device 1. Since the drive lever 25 is placed against the first stop 26 during the lowering process of the contact device 1 and keeps the lever spring 29 mechanically tensioned, the lever spring 29 has a mechanical first tensioning energy during the lowering process of the contact device 1 and a mechanical second tensioning energy in the fully lowered state of the contact device 1, at the end of a relaxation process of the lever spring 29, wherein the first tensioning energy is greater than the second tensioning energy.

[0079] The second tensioning energy is greater than 0 J in order to keep the conveyor 24 mechanically tensioned and to facilitate a winding process of the conveyor 24 onto the winch 23 when the contact device 1 is to be lifted again.

[0080] Since the contact device 1 is supported on the docking device 5 in the fully lowered state of the contact device 1 and the drive lever 25 is thereby released from the first stop 26, the lever spring 29 carries out the relaxation process after the fully lowered state of the contact device 1 is reached.

[0081] At the end of the relaxation process, the drive lever 25 is applied to the second stop 27 arranged below the first stop 26, wherein the lever spring 29 has the second tensioning energy.

[0082] A sensor 30 for detecting a position of the drive lever 25 is connected to the joint 28, via which the drive lever 25 is connected to the contact device 1. The sensor 30 transmits signals via sensor lines (not shown in Fig. 1) and is electrically connected to the drive 3 to supply the sensor 30 with electrical current. The sensor 30 is designed as a potentiometer. The sensor 30 detects intermediate positions of the drive lever 25 between the first stop 26 and the second stop 27. Upon detection of such an intermediate position, the drive 3 is switched off. According to the invention, it is also possible for the sensor 30 to be designed as a Hall sensor. According to the invention, it is furthermore also conceivable for the sensor 30 to be designed, for example, as a distance sensor, which is arranged on the contact device 1 and via which positions of one end of the drive lever 25 are detected, etc.

[0083] It is also conceivable that the sensor 30 is designed, for example, as a limit switch connected to the first stop 26, etc.

[0084] Supply lines of the power supply device (not shown in Fig. 1) are connected to the lowering device 2 and to the contact device 1.

[0085] The supply lines are electrically connected to the first contact rails of the contact device 1 and, via the holding device 7 and electrical connections of the vehicle depot, to the electricity network.

[0086] The total weight force of the lowering device 2, the contact device 1, the spring device 4 and the supply lines is approximately 245 N and the spring forces of the spring device 4 in the fully lowered state of the contact device 1 are approximately 98 N, which results in a contact force between the contact device 1 and the docking device 5 of approximately 343 N. According to the invention, it is possible to dimension the lowering device 2, the contact device 1, the supply lines and / or the spring device 4 differently in order to obtain different ratios of the total weight force to the spring forces and / or to achieve different values ​​for the contact force.

[0087] List of names

[0088] 1 contact device

[0089] 2 lowering device

[0090] 3 Drive

[0091] 4 spring device

[0092] 5 Docking device

[0093] 6 Roof

[0094] 7 Holding device

[0095] 8 First guide lever

[0096] 9 Second guide lever

[0097] 10 Leadership role

[0098] 11 Guide groove

[0099] 12 First scissor lever

[0100] 13 Second scissor lever

[0101] 14 Third scissor lever

[0102] 15 Fourth scissor lever

[0103] 16 Fifth scissor lever

[0104] 17 Sixth scissor lever

[0105] 18 scissor lever bearings

[0106] 19 First countersunk spring

[0107] 20 Second countersunk spring

[0108] 21 Engine

[0109] 22 gearboxes

[0110] 23 winds

[0111] 24 funding

[0112] 25 drive levers

[0113] 26 First attack

[0114] 27 Second attack

[0115] 28 joint

[0116] 29 Lever spring

[0117] 30 Sensor

Claims

Patent claims 1. A power supply device for a vehicle, in particular for a commercial vehicle such as an electric bus or an electric truck or for a rail vehicle, comprising a contact device (1) which can be lowered towards the vehicle to form an electrical contact between the contact device (1) and a vehicle, a lowering device (2) which is connected to the contact device (1) and which can be connected to a power supply device, and a drive (3) for moving the contact device (1), in particular for lifting operations of the contact device (1), which drive is coupled to the contact device (1) and which can be connected to the power supply device, characterized in that a spring device (4) is connected to the lowering device (2), which spring device has a preload before a lowering operation of the contact device (1),wherein during the lowering process of the contact device (1) at least one spring force is formed which drives the contact device (1) downwards and promotes the lowering process of the contact device (1) and supplements the weight forces of at least the contact device (1), the lowering device (2) and the spring device (4).

2. Power supply device according to claim 1, characterized in that an inverted current collector is formed from the contact device (1), the lowering device (2), the drive (3) and the spring device (4).

3. Power supply device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the lowering device (2) has a plurality of scissor levers.

4. Power supply device according to claim 3, characterized in that the spring device (4) has at least one first lowering spring (19), wherein the at least first Lowering spring (19) is connected to a first scissor lever (12) of the lowering device (2) and a scissor lever bearing (18) of the lowering device (2) or wherein the at least first lowering spring (19) is connected to the first scissor lever (12) and a second scissor lever (13) of the lowering device (2).

5. Power supply device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the lowering device (2) has at least four scissor levers, preferably six scissor levers.

6. Power supply device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the spring device (4) is arranged in a mechanical parallel circuit to the lowering device (2).

7. Power supply device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the drive (3) is designed as a motorized hoist.

8. Power supply device according to claim 7, characterized in that a conveyor means (24) of the drive (3) is articulated to a drive lever (25) of the drive (3), wherein the drive lever (25) contacts a first stop (26) of the power supply device during the lowering process of the contact device (1) and wherein the drive lever (25) is released from the first stop (26) in a fully lowered state of the contact device (1).

9. Power supply device according to claim 8, characterized in that at least one sensor (30) is arranged to detect a position of the drive lever (25), wherein the at least one sensor (30) is connected to the drive (3) in a signal-transmitting manner.

10. Power supply device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that at least one lever spring (29) is connected to the drive lever (25), which has a first tensioning energy during the lowering process of the contact device (1) and has a second tensioning energy in the fully lowered state of the contact device (1), wherein the first tensioning energy is greater than the second tensioning energy.

11. Power supply device according to claim 10, characterized in that the at least one lever spring (29) is connected to the contact device (1).

12. Power supply device according to one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that the drive (3) has a motor (21), a gear (22) and a winch (23), wherein the conveying means (24) of the drive (3) is guided by means of the winch (23), can be wound onto the winch (23) and can be unwound from the winch (23), and wherein for the transmission of torque from the motor (21) via the gear (22) to the winch (23), the motor (21) is coupled to the gear (22) and the gear (22) is coupled to the winch (23).

13. Power supply device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the contact device (1) is articulated to the lowering device (2).

14. Power supply device with at least one power supply device according to one of claims 1 to 13 and with a holding device (7), characterized in that a vehicle can be arranged below the holding device (7) and the lowering device (2) of the at least one power supply device is connected to the holding device (7) so that it can be lowered towards the vehicle. 15 . A vehicle which can be supplied with electrical power by means of a power supply device according to one of claims 1 to 13 and which can be arranged below a power supply device according to claim 14, having at least one docking device ( 5 ), characterized in that the at least one Docking device ( 5 ) is designed to be brought into mechanical and electrical contact with the power supply device , wherein the at least one docking device ( 5 ) is designed to be mechanically and electrically compatible with the power supply device .

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