Arm-Shaped Current Collector for Electric Vehicle Power Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for electrically propellable vehicles struggle to efficiently manage power distribution across elongated road sections with mutually insulated conductors, requiring vehicles to adapt to specific roadway lengths and lacking continuous energy supply without manual adjustment.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle-related contact means formed from electrically insulating material with conductive surfaces, capable of running along tracks with parallel conductors, using a combination of internal and external power sources, including a diesel generator and external power stations, to ensure continuous energy supply and adapt to varying roadway lengths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If vehicles are adapted to specific roadway lengths, then power distribution can be managed, but the system lacks flexibility for varying roadway lengths and requires manual adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The contact means is designed to be movable along the roadway, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position and the length of roadway sections it covers. This dynamic capability enables the system to adapt to varying roadway lengths without requiring manual reconfiguration or fixed vehicle adaptations, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact means serves multiple functions: it collects power from conductors, distributes power to different roadway sections, and adapts to various roadway configurations. This multi-functionality allows a single system to handle diverse roadway lengths and power distribution requirements, improving adaptability while managing complexity through integrated design.
2Productivity
If continuous energy supply is implemented across elongated road sections, then vehicles can operate without manual adjustment, but power distribution across mutually insulated conductors becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The roadway is divided into multiple sections with mutually insulated conductors, allowing independent power distribution to each section. The contact means can selectively engage with different conductor sections, enabling continuous energy supply across elongated road sections while managing the complexity of insulation requirements through modular segmentation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system ensures continuous power supply to the vehicle as it moves along the roadway by maintaining constant engagement with the conductor sections. The contact means continuously collects and transfers energy across the insulated conductors, eliminating interruptions and manual adjustments while managing distribution complexity through continuous operational design.
3Loss of energy
If a combination of internal and external power sources is used, then efficient power management is achieved, but the system requires coordination between multiple power sources
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines internal vehicle power sources with external roadway power sources into a unified power distribution system. The contact means facilitates merging these power sources, allowing the vehicle to efficiently utilize external power when available and switch to internal sources when needed, improving energy efficiency while managing coordination complexity through integrated power management.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes power distribution parameters by adjusting the ratio of internal to external power usage based on vehicle needs and roadway conditions. This parameter adjustment enables efficient energy management by optimizing power source selection while the control system manages the complexity of coordinating multiple power sources through adaptive parameter control.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables electric vehicles to operate seamlessly along elongated road sections with continuous energy supply, eliminating the need for vehicle-length adaptations and ensuring efficient power management using a combination of internal and external power sources.
Implementation Method 1
said contact means comprising an electrically conductive material (160) extending through said electrically insulating material (141) so as to form one or more contact surfaces (144, 146) on said contact means (41)
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 1D~4
Figure 5~9
AI summary
The present invention has its application to a vehicle-related arm-shaped contact means ((4)) related to a contact means arrangement as a current collector or system ("S") for propelling an electrically, i.a. by batteries ("II", B), propellable vehicle (1) along a roadway (2) comprising "a"a plurality of roadway portions (2a, 2a1),wherein said road portions are allotted at least one track or slit (51, 52), having introduced therein current supplyable conductors (4a, 4b), and "b" one or more powerable vehicles (1), with each vehicle exhibiting a control circuit (100, "R1") adapted for necessary distribution of power, wherein said vehicle (1) is on its underneath side provided with a displaceable contact means ((4)) as said current collectors. Said current collector (41,41') is shaped as a main portion (141),made of an electrically insulating material, and having a lower surface (142) facing towards the contact surface (4a') being shaped flat, and having a lower contact surface (144) consisting of an electrically conductive material(160). The electrically conductive material (160) is adapted to extend through the main portion (141) for forming one or more upper contact surfaces (146a) and/or connecting conductors(146b).