Static system for supplying current through the ground for an electric vehicle and electric vehicle intended to be supplied by means of such a supply system

Abstract

A system for supplying current through the ground for an electric vehicle, especially for an electric rail vehicle, includes a succession of conducting segments ( A, B, C, D) which are electrically isolated from each other and together form a conducting supply track against which at least one supply collector shoe ( ) on the vehicle is applied, and a set of high-voltage supply devices ( ) each connected to a conducting segment and each provided with a detector capable of detecting a collector shoe and with switching devices ( ) suitable for selectively causing a corresponding segment to be supplied with current when a collector shoe is present on the segment and causing the said collector shoe to be connected to a zero-potential source ( ) when a collector shoe is not present thereon. The switching devices include a pair of elements (T , T ) forming static switches controlled by detector ( ) in order to cause the corresponding segment to be supplied with current when a collector shoe is present thereon and to be connected to the zero-potential source when a collector shoe is not present thereon, respectively. Each supply device furthermore includes short-circuiting devices ( ) which are forced into the closed state, and are interposed between the corresponding segment and the zero-potential source ( ), and which are made to open by the detector ( ).