Patent ID: 6209693
Filing Date: 2001-04-03
Classification: B60M

Abstract:
A power line for an electric vehicle, comprising:a number of conducting elements (34) arranged in a traveling direction (8) of the electric vehicle (80) and separated electrically from one another;a first conducting line (27) supplied with a first polarity;a second conducting line (23) supplied with a second polarity;at least one strip element (60) extending in said traveling direction (8) along substantially the whole length of the power line; andan elongated enclosure (4) housing said strip element (60) and said first and second conducting lines (27, 23);characterized in that said strip element comprises:a striplike base portion (63) made at least partly of ferromagnetic material;an electric contact portion (71) at least partly superimposed on said striplike base portion (63); andreleasable connecting means (64, 72) interposed between said striplike base portion (63) and said electric contact portion (71);said striplike base portion (63) normally being positioned by force of gravity in a lowered rest position in which said striplike base portion (63) is substantially undeformed, and an electric connection (45, 69, 20a) is established between said second conducting line (23) and said conducting elements (34);said striplike base portion (63) being elastically deformable, and interacting with a magnetic field generated by excitation means (84) carried by said electric vehicle (80) to attract at least a portion of said striplike base portion (63) and of the electric contact portion (71) connected to and superimposed (64, 72) on the striplike base portion into a raised electric contact position in which an electric connection (51, 74, 75, 27a) is established between said first conducting line (27) and at least one said conducting element (34) via said electric contact portion (71);said releasable connecting means (64, 72) allowing said striplike base portion (63) to be disconnected by force of gravity from said electric contact portion (71) in an event a portion of said electric contact portion (71) remains in said raised electric contact position when said magnetic field is extinguished, so that the portion of the striplike base portion (63) formerly in the raised electric contact position drops into said lowered rest position, and, on reaching said lowered rest position, connects at least one conducting element simultaneously to said first (27) and second (23) conducting lines to produce a short-circuit, indicating a malfunction, between said first and second conducting lines (27, 23).