Patent NZ-600135-A (NZ)
Title: Providing a plurality of vehicles, in particular track bound vehicles, with electric energy
Inventor: WORONOWICZ KONRAD
IPC: B60L5/00
Filed: 2010-12-21
Abstract: An arrangement and a method for providing a plurality of vehicles (162), in particular track bound vehicles, with electric energy are disclosed. The arrangement comprises an electric conductor arrangement for producing alternating electromagnetic fields and for thereby transferring electromagnetic energy to the vehicles (162). The conductor arrangement comprises a plurality of consecutive segments (157) and each segment (157) extends along a different section of a path of travel of the vehicles (162). Each of the consecutive segments (157) comprises at least one phase line (135a, 135b, 135c) for carrying a phase of an alternating current for producing the alternating electromagnetic field. Corresponding phase lines of neighbouring consecutive segments for carrying the same phase of the alternating current are connected in series to each other. The arrangement comprises a power supply line (141a, 141b) for supplying electric energy to the segments (157). A switching device (152; INV), for producing the alternating current of the conductor arrangement from the current carried by the power supply line (141a, 141 b), is connected to each interface between two neighbouring consecutive segments (157), thereby connecting the power supply line (141 a, 141 b) with the phase lines (135) of the neighbouring consecutive segments (157). The arrangement comprises a control device (152a; 159). The control device (152a; 159) controls the operation of the switching devices so that a first active sector (157b) of the conductor arrangement, which sector comprises at least one of the consecutive segments (157), is operated to produce an electromagnetic field in order to transfer electromagnetic energy to a first vehicle (162a). A first switching device (INV A) is connected to a first end of the first sector (157b) and a second switching device (INV 1) is connected to a second end of the first sector (157b) opposite to the first end so that the first switching device (INV A) and the second switching device (INV 1) are connected by at least one phase line of the first sector (157b). Each phase line consists of the phase line or the phase lines of one or more than one segment corresponding to the number of the segments of the first sector. The first (INV A) and second switching device (INV 1) are controlled to operate at a phase shift so that an alternating voltage is produced across each phase line of the first sector (157b). The control device (152a; 159) further controls the operation of the switching devices so that a second active sector (157e) of the conductor arrangement, which comprises at least one of the consecutive segments (157), is operated to produce an electromagnetic field in order to transfer electromagnetic energy to a second vehicle (162b). A third switching device (INV 3) is connected to a first end of the second sector (157e) and a fourth switching device (INV 4) is connected to a second end of the second sector (157 e) opposite to the first end so that the third switching device and the fourth switching device are connected by at least one phase lines of the second sector (157 e). Each phase line consists of the phase line or the phase lines of one or more than one segment corresponding to the number of the segments of the sector (157e). The third (INV 3) and fourth (INV 4) switching device are controlled to operate at a phase shift so that an alternating voltage is produced across each phase line of the second sector (157e). The control device (152a; 159) further controls the operation of the switching devices so that if there are further segments (157c, 157d) of the plurality of consecutive segments of the conductor arrangement connecting the segments of the first (157b) and second (157e) sector and if none of the further segments (157c, 157d) is to be operated to transfer electromagnetic energy to a vehicle, the first to fourth switching device are controlled to produce no voltage across the phase line( s) of the further segments (157 c, 157 d).