Patent ID: 7748509

Claim:
A ground power supply system ( 1 ), for a land vehicle traveling along a predetermined course, comprising a ground electrical supply system for achieving sliding contact with at least one conductive element, the system comprising a device ( 2 ) located on the ground for supplying electrical current and a current sensing device ( 3 ) attached to and moving with the vehicle, wherein the electrical current supply device ( 2 ) is located in a cable duct ( 4 ) that is open at a top and includes at least one supply wire ( 7 ) connected to an electrical voltage source, the at least one wire ( 7 ) is laterally located in the cable duct ( 4 ), relative to a rail ( 6 ) that supports at least one zero volt reset conductor strip ( 8 ), and further comprises at least one protective profile ( 35 ) having an L-shape which at least partially covers the at least one supply wire ( 7 ) located beneath the at least one protective profile ( 35 ), an end of a horizontal longer side of the L-shaped protective profile ( 35 ) being attached to an upper end of the electrical current supply device ( 2 ) while a substantially vertical shorter side of the L-shaped protective profile ( 35 ) extending downwardly for at least partially protecting the at least one supply wire ( 7 ); the current sensing device ( 3 ) comprises at least one movable sensor subassembly ( 38 ) supported by a support unit ( 46 ) that moves inside the cable duct ( 4 ) laterally relative to the rail ( 6 ), the at least one sensor subassembly ( 38 ) comprising a power contactor ( 41 ) positionable under the at least one supply wire ( 7 ) for forming a sliding electrical contact with the at least one supply wire ( 7 ) and a zero volt contactor ( 42 ) forming a sliding electrical contact with the at least one zero volt reset conductor strip ( 8 ), the power contactor ( 41 ) and the zero volt reset contactor ( 42 ) are electrically connected to at least one utility circuit of the vehicle; and the contact between the power contactor ( 41 ) and the at least one supply wire ( 7 ) occurs below the at least one protective profile ( 35 ) and is laterally covered by a return of the at least one protective profile ( 35 ).