Patent ID: 6070703
Filing Date: 2000-06-06
Classification: B60L

Abstract:
A contact shoe assembly for mounting on the side of a train movable along a support track having an electrically-energized power rail extending substantially in parallel with the support track comprising:a support member having two vertically-oriented, spaced-apart guide channels and adapted for mounting to the side of the train in operative relationship to the power rail wherein each guide channel comprises two spaced-apart, vertically-oriented parallel plates and having their top portion bending away from the power rail toward the side of the train;a bracket arm disposed in between said guide channels and coupled to said guide channels for vertical movement, said bracket arm including:(i) ball bearing means for rolling engagement with said plates of respective guide channels;(ii) a support portion for supporting said ball bearing means; and(iii) a cantilevered portion coupled to said support portion, and approximately perpendicular thereto;a contact shoe having a planar contact surface and connected to said bracket arm; andbiasing means selectively mounted between said support member and said bracket arm and supported by said support portion, for biasing said contact shoe into yielding engagement with the power rail so that during vertical and horizontal movement of said bracket arm responsive to a varying height of the power rail, said planar contact surface moves from a horizontal portion, parallel to the power rail, to a vertical position away from the power rail.