The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 23, 2002
Filed:
May. 09, 2000
Vito Siciliano, Pieve Ligure, IT;
Alcide Del Naja, Naples, IT;
Ansaldo Trasporti S.p.A., Naples, IT;
Abstract
A current pickup device wherein a supporting structure ( ), carried in articulated manner by an electric vehicle ( ), supports an elongated central permanent magnet ( ), and a pair of current pickup members ( ) spaced with respect to each other on opposite sides of the central magnet ( ). The current pickup device may be used in conjunction with a power line wherein a number of insulated conducting elements ( ) are arranged in the traveling direction ( ) of the electric vehicle ( ), and are supplied successively as the electric vehicle travels along the line. The permanent magnet ( ) interacts with ferromagnetic reference elements ( ) extending along the power line and in a predetermined position with respect to the conducting elements ( ), to position the supporting structure ( ) in a self-centered position in which the field lines generated by the magnet ( ) at least partly enter the ferromagnetic reference elements ( ) along a minimum path, and in which the current pickup members ( ) mate respectively with at least one conducting element ( ) and a continuous ground line extending parallel to the conducting elements ( ).