Patent ID: 7416039

Claim:
A self propelled vehicle comprising wheel means for supporting the vehicle for movement along a surface; electric motor means for powering motive operation of the vehicle; an electric current source for energizing the motor means; a regenerative system for recapturing energy that would otherwise be lost in the operation of the vehicle; said regenerative system including, a flywheel, mounted for rotation about a flywheel axis spaced from the motor means and having a fixed relation to said vehicle, and having means for mounting the electric current source thereon; conductive means for providing an electrical connection between the electric current source and the motor means, said conductive means comprising a pair of axially spaced, circumferential, conductive rails, mounted for rotation with the flywheel, means for electrically interconnecting said electric current source and said rails, to establish one of said rails at a positive potential relative to the other rail, shoe support structure having a fixed relation relative to said rails, a pair of conductive shoes mounted on the shoe support structure, and respectively engaging each of said rails, and means for transferring the potential across the rotating rails from the shoes to the motor means.