Abstract:
The repeating transverse support is either a one-branch or a two-branch ( 15, 16 ) sleeper which is pressed against the bed plate ( 8 ) by elements which secure the directional guide rail ( 2 ). The terminal ends of this sleeper, which are in the form of mounting plates ( 23, 24 ), each support an electrical power supply lateral profile ( 33, 34 ) by way of an electrical insulator ( 27, 28 ) and an adjustment member. This repeating transverse support is of interest to the manufacturers of tracks for electrically powered guided road vehicles.

Description:
This application is a national stage completion of PCT/FR2008/001277 filed Sep. 12, 2008 which claims priority from French Application Serial No. 0706428 filed Sep. 13, 2007. 
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a repeating transverse support for at least one lateral electric supply profile and for the guide rail for an electrically powered road vehicle that is directionally guided along a median ground rail. 
     The repeating support according to the present invention comprises one branch or two segments or an arc which is pressed against the ground below the corresponding guide rail fastening element for which it serves as a contact and underneath which it is attached to the bed plate using the local element fastening the guide rail. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Attaching the lateral electric energy supply profiles for a vehicle is conventionally accomplished by mounting each electrically charged profile inside an attaching support using electrically insulating blocks. These supports are attached at regular intervals to the adjacent wall, for example, by bolting them in succession to posts serving as supports and keeping the supply profile above ground. 
     Patent Application No. EP 0745505 in the name of REHAU discloses, for example, an electrically insulating support for electric contact rails composed of a foot with a support arm for a contact rail comprising support and retaining beds for the rail that are attached using a non-metal attaching element. 
     PCT Application No. WO 00/53449 in the name of DAIMLER CHRYSLER describes a unit of electrical supply profiles and beams comprising an H-shaped guide beam for a vehicle transport system with an electrically insulating mounting support for an electric supply rail. 
     PCT Application No. WO 93/17891 in the name of WIRTHWEIN also discloses a conductive profile support composed of plastic pieces of adjustable shape that can be tightened around a conductive profile placed at a defined distance from the travel rail, with the support for the conductive profile and the rail resting on the sleepers. 
     In addition, Patent Application No. FR 2.875.751 of LOHR INDUSTRIE describes a ground electric supply system for a guided urban transport vehicle in which low voltage linear supply conductors are placed in a channel that is open at the top on either side of a central guide rail having a zero volt reset strip on each side. 
     In this device two side profiles with their exterior surfaces set in the concrete channel base extend longitudinally on either side of the central rail. 
     The linear supply conductors are held by a series of brackets and further surrounded and concealed by protective horizontal L-shaped profiles located above them. The brackets, like the protective profiles, are screwed into the side profiles and the screw nuts set in the concrete. 
     No means of adjusting the supply conductors is provided. The unit is set solidly in the concrete and there is no adjustment possible other than orienting the conductors or the distances of the conductors relative to one another or to the central rail. 
     Generally speaking, these different prior art systems comprise many constituent elements, which makes manufacturing and installation expensive. 
     Additionally they are not immobilized on the ground using rail attachments, in particular, central guide rail attachments. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The goal of the present invention is on the one hand, to facilitate placing and adjusting the relative separations and distances between the guide rail and the lateral electric supply profiles and on the other hand, to reduce installation costs in terms of installation time and time spent adjusting and attaching both the components and fastening elements. 
     Another goal of the invention is to facilitate distance regulation and position recovery between the two electric supply profiles and between the profiles and the median guide rail. 
     An important feature of the invention is that it saves installation and adjustment time as well as reducing the number of constituent elements. 
     This is achieved through the use of a repeating transverse support along a track traveled by a guided road vehicle for the lateral electric supply of the road vehicle using an electrically charged lateral profile through a median directional guide rail mounted on a bed plate characterized by having a transverse support that attaches to the bed plate by means of the attaching element on the directional guide rail and which is in the form of a sleeper, the terminal extremities of which each support an electrical power supply lateral profile using an electrical insulator and a means for mechanically adjusting orientation and distances. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other characteristics and features of the invention will be apparent from reading the following detailed description with reference to the attached drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a guide and supply track comprising the repeating lateral support according to a first embodiment with a vertical electrical insulator; 
         FIGS. 2 and 3  are perspective views from two different angles showing a portion of the guide track with the repeating lateral support comprising one lateral electric supply side and the guide rail; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of a guide and supply track with the repeating transverse support according to a second embodiment with a horizontal electrical insulator; 
         FIGS. 5 and 6  are perspective views from two different angles showing a portion of the guide track with the repeating transverse support comprising one lateral electric supply side and the guide rail; 
         FIGS. 7 and 8  are illustrative views respectively showing in perspective and in transverse cross-section a guide and electrical supply track with the repeating transverse support according to a simplified embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective of one example of configuring the tack at the entry to or exit from the circuit; 
         FIG. 10  is a plane view of the track portion with the repeating transverse support the same as in the embodiments in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , but without an electrical supply profile; 
         FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective view showing the means for adjusting the distance and orientation of the electrical supply profile corresponding to the variation in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The invention falls into the realm of guide and supply tracks for guided road vehicles powered by electrical energy. 
     A guide and electric supply track  1  comprises a central guide rail  2  upon and along which pass two angled guide rollers  3 , 4  on a guide assembly (not shown) of a road vehicle, that is, an electrically powered vehicle on tires. 
     Guide rail  2  is attached to the ground by its foot  5  using elements such as bolts  6  and  7  anchored to bed plate  8 . These bolts are designed to immobilize the position of adjustable rail attachment elements on the right  9  and left  10  of the rail. These rail attachment units each consist of a transverse immobilizing piece  11  or  12  covered with a maintenance piece  13  or  14 , respectively, that is adjustable in position, the extremity of each one bearing upon the corresponding side of cushion  5  of guide rail  2  to immobilize it. 
     Obviously the invention is not limited to a guide assembly with two angled rollers, but on the contrary, applies to any ground rail guided vehicle. 
     Guide rail  2  bears locally on one or more transverse elements called sleepers, for example, plates  15  or  16 , the extremities of which are joined on bed plate  8 . 
     The sleepers  15  or  16  are the mechanical base elements for left and right supports  17  and  18  for the lateral electric supply profiles. Their left extremities  19  and right extremities  20  face each other. 
     The sleepers are pressed against the ground by foot  5  and immobilized by the adjustable attachments on guide rail  2  which crosses over them. 
     For this purpose, the left or right extremities  19  or  20  on sleepers  15  or  16  have enlarged openings  21 ,  22 , respectively, near their juncture which may be oblong for the passage of bolts  6  and  7  which are anchored to the ground. 
     Flat sleepers  15  and  16  are followed by a level area, that is, an area that contacts bed plate  8 , each terminating in an end plate  23  or  24 , respectively, raised up by an ascending ramp  25  or  26 , each ramp defined by two transverse angles. 
     According to a first embodiment, on each end plate  23 ,  24  a vertical electric insulator  27  or  28  is attached, having flanges that support a square plate  29  or  30  that is attached to the upper extremity of the corresponding electric insulator  27  or  28  with a screw for adjusting orientation. There is attached to square plate  29  or  30 , preferably also adjustably, a claw-like or clamping element  31  or  32  for gripping the base of a lateral electric supply linear profile  33  or  34 , for example, an I-shaped profile. The front of each of these lateral electrical supply linear profiles  33  or  34  is equipped with a conductive groove  35  or  36  each having a planar longitudinal front surface  37  or  38  forming a pathway for a shoe, for example, a shoe designed to continuously capture the electrical power supply (not shown). 
     The electric supply support for one side has been described. In the majority of cases, as shown in  FIG. 1 , an identical supply unit exists on the other side, even in a simplified embodiment where a single sleeper  15  or  16  supports a single lateral electric supply profile. 
     According to another embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4 through 6 , the two sleepers  15  and  16  are also identical in their general definition. In this case, end plates  23  or  24  directly support an inverse square plate  39  or  40 , with its lower plane portion attached with allowance for play to the corresponding end plate  23  or  24 , respectively, by two assemblies  41  or  42 , for example, bolts or the like for adjusting position and orientation. The upright portion of square plate  39  or  40  holds a flanged horizontal electric insulator  43  or  44 . 
     The extremity of the body of each electrical insulator  43  or  44  is shaped like a frontal plate or disc  45  or  46  engaging corresponding lateral electric supply profile  47  or  48  with a sideways U-shaped section. Each plate or disc engages the electric supply profile by its opposing edges or two opposing border areas in two opposing grooves  49  and  50  with rectangular bases to support it while allowing it to slide for longitudinal adjustment. Its front surface is used as before as a pathway for a contact shoe acting as an electrical energy accumulator (not shown). 
     Another embodiment shown in  FIGS. 7 ,  8  and  9  consists of providing on foot  5  of guide rail  2  a transverse support or sleeper  51  that may be flat and made of a single piece, the central portion of which serves as a base plate for foot  5 , the central portion being traversed by local attachments  6  or  7  on guide rail  2 . 
     This transverse support  51  or sleeper is a flat transverse support generally arched in shape with raised extremities, for example, with a portion angled to form an inclined ramp  52  or  53  and with a terminal plate  54  or  55  obliquely oriented relative to the longitudinal axis of the track as shown in  FIGS. 7 ,  10  and  11 . 
     In each case the support holds at each terminal plate  54  or  55  a horizontal electrical insulator  43  or  44 , respectively, on the front portion of which there is slidably attached an electrically charged profile  47  and  48  as in the preceding embodiment. 
     A portion of the trajectory of the guided road vehicle may be formed by attaching a succession of several simple guide rails  2  replaced at longer or shorter intervals by attachments bearing on one of the flat transverse supports described above comprising at each of its raised extremities a horizontal insulator  43  or  44  receiving a lateral electrical supply profile  47  or  48 , respectively. 
     Insulators  43  or  44  are attached so as to be adjustable in position after guide rail  2  has been set so as to maintain the functional distance necessary to supply electricity to the vehicle as it passes and ensure proper positioning of the profile serving as a grooved electricity supply. 
     Adjustments take place by means of the combination of diagonal wedges such as wedge  56  with the oblique orientation of terminal plates  54  and  55 . 
       FIG. 9  is a schematic representation of an arrangement at the outlet or inlet of a circuit. 
     The lateral electric supply profiles have at their extremity a portion  57  or  58  with a portion that is curved toward the exterior  59  or  60  so as to form an engagement or disengagement zone allowing entry into the electrified circuit or egress for an outside intervention, for example, or placing it in reserve or some other state. The electrical energy harnessing shoes make progressive contact with the electrified profiles. 
     Two exemplary embodiments of the means for adjusting distance and orientation are shown in the drawings. 
     First, for the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 , the means for adjusting distance and orientation takes the form of a slot  61  and  62  transverse to the axis of the track, generally rectangular, on at least the large portion of each respective end plate  23  and  24  along which the threaded rod extremity of insulator  27  or  28  is displaced and immobilized by an attachment means, for example, a screw  63  and  64 , each exerting immobilizing pressure through a washer. 
     This means constitutes the transverse regulation that allows the rail to be adjusted relative to the track axis. 
     The means is completed by square plate  29 ,  30 , one of which serves as the adjustable attachment means for orienting the electricity supply rail. This square plate  29 ,  30 , one of which is easily visible in its entirety in  FIG. 2 , can be immobilized in an adapted angular position after being slightly pivoted around the fixation point on its base, using a screw, for example. 
     The combination of the two movements above, one transverse to the longitudinal track axis along slot  61  or  62  and the other a pivoting movement, regulates distance and recovers position for centering and regulating orientation in order to maintain the linear electrical supply structures in parallel. 
     According to another variation shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6 , each linear electrical supply structure is supported by a square plate  39 ,  40  attached to the corresponding end plate. The connection with each electric supply profile  47  or  48  is effected through a horizontal electrical insulator  43 ,  44  with a slidably mounted front plate  45  or  46  sliding within a corresponding groove on the electrical supply profile and attached at the rear to the upper portion of the square plate. 
     For the last variation shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , each horizontal insulator  43  or  44  supports conductive profile  47  or  48  in the same way by a front plate  45  or  46  cooperating with a groove formed in the rear surface of the rail. Each insulator is attached to the corresponding terminal plate so as to be adjustable in distance and orientation using a system of diagonal wedges in an oblong longitudinal opening  65  and  66  located in each oblique terminal plate  54 ,  55  allowing central rail  2  to be moved closer or farther away. 
       FIG. 11  is a detailed exploded perspective view. This drawing clearly shows the regulating or adjustment means based on the combined use of two diagonal wedges  67  and  68  on either side of terminal plate  54  and  55  together with the oblique disposition of these terminal plates. Near oblong opening  65 ,  66  these wedges are traversed by the end of a rod  69  integral with the insulator body supporting the conductive electrical supply profile. 
     Diagonal wedges  67  and  68  are angled wedges, that is, their two principal surfaces converge. 
     They are traversed by rod  69  of insulator  43 ,  44  which also traverses oblong opening  65 ,  66 . The unit is tightened by a screw  70  and contact washer  71 . 
     The slight angle of each terminal plate  54  and  55  is neutralized by the diagonal wedges, allowing insulator  43 ,  44  to be maintained in alignment relative to the transverse local track axis. 
     Because of diagonal wedges  67  and  68 , the insulator can be displaced along oblong opening  65 ,  66  while still remaining parallel to the transverse axis of the track. This displacement constitutes a regulating displacement that allows insulator  52 ,  53 , which also serves as a support for the electrical supply rail, to be slightly displaced closer to or farther from central guide rail  2  while adopting an adaptive orientation. 
     This adjustment capability constitutes an important feature of the invention.