US3871727A

US3871727A - Current collecting roller

Info

Publication number: US3871727A
Application number: US313070A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kazumi Matsui; Takashi Umemori; Yutake Shibata; Kinzo Yamamura
Original assignee: Japan National Railways
Current assignee: Japan National Railways
Priority date: 1971-12-20
Filing date: 1972-12-07
Publication date: 1975-03-18
Anticipated expiration: 1992-03-18
Also published as: DE2256453C2; GB1363784A; DE2256453A1

Abstract

This invention relates to a current collecting roller, and more particularly a rotating current collecting roller for providing electric current to a high speed transportation apparatus. The roller comprises plural flexible planar or linear conductors with a liquid filled elastomer between the conductors. The elastomer is allowed to solidify thus forming an integral structure with the conductors.

Description

ilnited States Paieni 1191 11] 3,871,727 Matsui et a1. Mar. 18, 1975 CURRENT COLLECTING ROLLER [51] Int. Cl. Hlr 39/64 [75] Inventors: Kazumi Matsui; Takashi Umemori, [58] 3 7? if? 1 g Q both of Tokyo; Yutake Shibata; i g 49 63 Kinzo Yamamura, both of Osaka, all of Japan 73 A JapaneseN tional Railways Tokyo [56] References CM ss1gnees: a

sumimmo Electric Industries Ltd" FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 0 aka.shi fJapan Switzerland R 739,625 l/l933 France 1,309,487 10/1962 France [22] Filed: Dec. 7, 1972 670,298 1/1966 Belgium 339/5 R 7 i [2]] Appl No 313,0 0 Primary Examiner-R1chard L. Moore Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Sugh rue, Rothwell, Mion, [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Zi & M k

Dec. 20, 1971 Japan .1 46-03432 Dec. 20, 1971 Japan 46-03433 57 ABSTRACT Dec. 20, 1971 Japan This invention relates to a current collecting roller, 3 46-20400 and more particularly a rotating current collecting rol- 19 1 Japan 46-20401 ler for providing electric current to a high speed transj f 46-20402 portation apparatus. The roller comprises plural flexil 46-20403 ble planar or linear conductors with a liquid filled 197] Japfm 47-41880 elastomer between the conductors. The elastomer is I972 allowed to solidify thus forming an integral structure A r. 25. 1972 Japan 47-49254 with the conductors [52] US. Cl. 339/8 R, 339/61 R 21 Claims, 66 Drawing Figures I l9 l9 l2 ll 18 8 x 9 l8 I7 .11 I I7 PATENTEWRBQYS. 3,871,727

' sum DlOF 15 PATENTEBHAR 1 815. 5

SHEET C2 0F 15 FIG. 5

PATENTEBHARIBEFS sum 03 or 15 I \W WM 0% Ha o PATENTEUHAR 1 81975 3,871,727 SHEET GUUF15 FIG. l4

FIG. |3B

PATENTEU m1 8 ms SHEET UBUF 15 FIG. 23A

FIG. 25(: ('20 FIG. 25B {'20 I25 FIG. 26C

FIG. 26B

PATENTED SHEET 07UF 15 PATENTEDMAmlms 3,871,727

SHEET I OSUF 15 PATENTED W 3,871.72?

SHEET 100F 15 PAI'ENTE HAR 1 81975 SHEET NW 15 IQIIIIIII ii? Illlllllll lgunm CURRENT COLLECTING ROLLER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various current collecting devices are used at present as various power sources for producing driving power for travelling transportation systems. The most general one is current collection by stringing and pantograph, but the current collection using this system is limited at a speed of 350 Km/hr. due to vibration, the propagation speed of stringing, wear resistance of the stringing material, etc. To overcome these problems, an electric wire or current collecting line composed of a rigid conductor of a rail shape is fixed to the ground and the system uses a sliding contactor for collecting an electric current by contacting the conductor. When using a sliding rigid conductor or current collector fixed to a vehicle, the current collector jumps at the raised portion of the feeder line or current collecting line due to its geometrical irregularity and at the hard portion thereof based on the resilient irregularity. This jumping causes difficulty in maintaining good contact between the rigid current collector and the feeder line due to the vibration of the rigid current collector.

Another method is to slide a current collector, including linear conductors parallel to each other and perpendicular to a feeder line; and synchronization collector OF TJ E INVENTION having relatively high natural vibration, along the feeder line of rail state. This method raises problems such as the deposition of the conductor by frictional heat, the deposition of the conductors to each other, or the wear of the conductor, etc. It is proposed in order to avoid the problems caused by the above friction to mount the current composed of the above conductors on a rotatable rigid body at the conductive center to form a roller current collector and to collect an electric current from the feeder line while rotating the collector in synchronization with the vehicle movement. However, such a roller current collector receives a great deal of shocking force due to the centrifugal force at high speed and damage occurs due to the conductors contact with the feeder line, the wear of the conductors due to the partial friction of the conductors with the feeder line and the friction of the conductors to each other, and the deposition of the conductors to each other. Further to adopt a synchronous rotation, the current collector be comes complicated and heavy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention contemplates eliminating the various disadvantages of the conventional current collecting roller and to provide a novel and improved current collecting roller.

The feature of the current collecting roller of this invention resides in the provision of the roller which comprises a composite current collecting element having liquid elastomer completely filled in between plural flexible planar or linear conductors, wherein at least one end of the conductors is exposed at a cylindrical current collecting surface contacting with a feeder line or current collecting line of a rigid conductor, and a support having a rotary shaft electrically or mechanically contacted or connected between the conductors in the composite current collecting element.

The current collecting roller of this invention has the following various advantages:

I. Since the current collecting roller using a liquid elastomer such as, polyurethane rubber acts like a solid tire, the current collecting roller may rotate only by pushing it onto the feeder line.

2. Since the respective conductors are surrounded by elastomer, the bending deformation or vibration of the conductors themselves are restrained. Particularly, the shocking force acting on the conductor when contacting the feeder line is almost negligible. For this reason, the damage of the conductor, or the deleterious effect of the interference between the conductors is eliminated so as to greatly improve the endurability. Generally, since the liquid elastomer material used for the current collecting roller has relatively large attenuating coefficient, it acts as a vibration-absorbing material, and the damage to the conductor is prevented.

3. Even though the feeder line has geometrical irregularities when the current collecting roller rotates in contact with the rigid conductor rail, feeder line or current collecting line to collect the current, proper spring action of the elastomer between the flexible conductors and the rigid conductor rail prevents the current collecting roller from jumping up, and even if it jumps up, an electric contact is held with the feeder line by the returning force of the flexed conductor and the elastomer. Thus, current collection at high speed can be accomplished.

4. Since the friction coefficient between the current collecting roller and the feeder line can be increased by using a proper liquid elastomer, the slip between the current collecting roller and the feeder line may be almost negligible. For this reason, the friction of the clastomer or conductor on the surface of the current roller may be greatly reduced.

When electricity is applied to a vehicle using the current collecting roller of this invention, the electricity is applied to the flexible conductor exposed on a current collecting surface of cylindrical shape contacting the feeder line. Another current collector is used at the end surface of a rotary shaft of the current collecting roller for feeding the electricity to the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which,

FIG. I is a perspective view of a composite current collecting element of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of one embodiment of the current collecting roller of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the current collecting roller shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of another embodiment of the current collecting roller of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of a further embodiment of the current collecting roller of this invention;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but showing still another embodiment of the roller;

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view of still another embodiment of the current collecting roller of this invention;

FIGS. 8A and 8B, and 9A and 9B are views of partial structures of the embodiments of the current collecting roller of this invention;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of still another embodiment of the current collecting roller of this invention;

FIGS. 11 to 15 are views of still another embodiment of the current collecting roller using a ring or rod for fixing the resilient conductors;

FIGS. 16 to 20 are views of still another embodiment of the current collecting roller utilizing a belt implanted with plural resilient conductors;

FIGS. 21 and 22 are views of still another embodiment of the current collecting roller of this invention;

FIGS. 23 and 28 are views of a metal foil conductor and a spacer used in the current collecting roller of this invention;

FIG. 29 is a perspective view of still another embodiment of the current collecting roller using a metal foil conductor and spacer in an assembly shown in FIG. 23;

FIG. 30 is a partial perspective view of still another embodiment of the current collecting roller using a ring to mount a metal foil and spacer to a conductive supporting rigid body of this invention;

FIG. 31 is a partial perspective view of the roller using the metal foil and the spacers as shown in FIG. 27;

FIG. 32 is a view of the metal foil and the spacer of another embodiment and of their assembly of the roller of this invention;

FIGS. 33 to 40 are views of other embodiments of the metal foil and the spacer used in the roller of this invention;

FIG. 41 is a perspective view of the current collecting roller in still another embodiment using the foil of this invention;

FIG. 42 is a partial side view of the roller shown in FIG. 41;

FIGS. 43A to 478 are views of the embodiment of the conductive metal foil used in the roller of this invention;

FIGS. 48 to 57 are views of various embodiments of the current collecting roller using a gauze;

FIG. 58 is a view of an embodiment of a composite current collecting element using two sheets of reinforcing circular plates;

FIG. 59 is a view of the embodiment of the composite current collecting roller using three elements;

FIGS. 60 to 63 are partial sectional views of the current collecting roller showing the density of the lead wires and their graphical representations for the explanatory purpose; and portions FIG. 64 is a view of one embodiment of the transportation apparatus incorporating the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Reference is now made to the drawings, particularly to FIGS. 1 to 10, which show a current collecting roller which comprises resilient lead wires including contacting portions and an electroconductive disc having holes provided near the peripheral edge thereof for connection electrically and mechanically to the resilient lead wires. Constant lengths of resilient lead wire bundles are inserted through the holes in such a manner that both the ends of the bundles are directed outwardly in a U shape. A plurality of discs are superimposed and held together and a liquid elastomer is caused to flow between the lead wires to form an integral structure with the discs.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 represents an electroconductive disc made of metal such as high tensile strength aluminum alloy having a plurality of holes 2 5 thereof are bent outwardly to form a U shape. Instead of bending the lead wire bundle after the bundle is inserted through the hole, the bundle may be bent in advance in the U shape and then inserted through the hole. The resilient lead wires may be any of aluminum, aluminum alloy wire, copper, copper alloy wire stainless steel wire, or steel wire.

FIG. 2 shows a partial sectional view of one embodiment of the current collecting roller of this invention, and FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the roller shown in FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, the lead wire bundles 3 are inserted radially through the respective holes 2 of two thin plate discs 1 and 1' and these two discs are superimposed. Then, push

plates

6 and 7 are placed on both sides of the discs. and these are tightened by bolt 11 and nut 12 to a support body 10 composed of two portions 8 and 9. Numerals l3 and 14 are rotary shafts of the support body l0, 15 are bearings of the rotary shafts, .17 are bearing nuts, and 18 are bearing washers. Elastomer 19, such as polyurethane, is solidified upon filling be tween the steel wire bundles 3 and the

disc

1 and 1 and outside thereof. Elastomer 20 also fills the holes provided near the periphery of the

push plates

6 and 7. 16 is a cylindrical current collecting surface with lead wire ends 21 exposed on the surface of the cylindrical current collecting surface 16. In FIG. 1, the composite current collecting element is formed with the liquid elastomer l9 filled between the

discs

1 and 1,

push plates

6 and 7, lead wire bundles 3 and therebetween and then solidified to form an integral structure.

The operation of the

push plates

6 and 7 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 require consideration of the following three points. First, to prevent the resilient lead wire bundles 3 from greatly expanding, it is necessary to push the lead bundles 3 to the discs I and l with high pressure so that even if the elastomer 19 is poured, the electroconductivity between the lead bundles 3 and the discs 1 and 1' may not be damaged. Second, a reinforcing effect against the centrifugal force is required. This is normally difficult with the elastomer l9 and the

discs

1 and 1 or push

plates

6 and 7. For this reason, the holes 20 are formed with proper diameter and position in the

push plates

6 and 7, and the elastomer l9 occupies these holes 20 so as to perform the reinforcing effect. In order to obtain a similar effect, the holes 20 may be formed in the discs. Third, it is necessary to quickly release the heat produced by the current through the lead wire bundles or the heat produced by the elastomer pushed onto the rail toward the shaft.

As shown in FIG. 3, instead of the resilient lead wire bundles 3 disposed radially, they may be disposed at a constant angle and oblique direction with respect to the radial direction as shown in FIG. 4. In FIG. 4, numeral 1 represents a disc, 3 lead wire bundles, and 26 wires for holding the lead wire bundles at a proper angle. The bundles are interleaved between the push plates 6 and the disc I or the disc 1 and the disc 1'. Holes are formed at proper positions of the disc for receiving tightening bolts and the bundles are tightened therethrough. After the angle of the lead wire bundles is determined and fixed with the bolts, the bolts may be left as is or removed.

FIG. 5 shows the structure of many discs 1 superimposed for collecting a great deal of current. In order to pass the lead wire bundles 3, when many discs 1 are superimposed with holes 2 at the peripheral edge thereof, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, or as shown in FIG. 5, the discs 1 may be superimposed in such a manner that the holes 2 are displaced by one half of the pitch of the holes 2 with respect to each other, or the discs and the push plates are superimposed alternatively. The respective positions of the discs may be displaced by the angle divided by the number of the discs superimposed at an angle of pitch of the hole through which the lead wire bundles are inserted so that ,the density of the lead wires are as uniform as possible on the circular peripheral surface of the discs.

A plurality of discs 1, with the lead wire bundles 3 through the holes 2 of the peripheral edges thereof, are tightened with the bolts 1 l and the nuts 12 between the

push plates

6 and 7 and the electroconductive support body 22. The elastomer 19 is then poured therebetween. Numeral 23 represents the bearings and 24 is a rotary shaft of the support body 22. A number of holes for facilitating the pouring of the elastomer may be provided at proper positions in the push plates and the discs.

The electroconductivity between the lead wire bundles and the discs is normally obtained by pushing the bundles onto the discs and the push plates. If, however, the material has relatively small Young's modulus as the lead wires and has plastic properties such as, aluminum, the electroconductivity between the lead wire bundles and the discs may sometimes be decreased by the flow of the liquid elastomer. In such a case, an electric connection between the lead wire bundles and the discs may be improved by soldering, welding or a mechanical process after the lead wire bundles are passed through the holes on the discs.

FIG. 6 shows the roller having peripheral grooves 25 on the circular periphery of the roller shown in FIG. 5, wherein the same numerals and characters show the same parts as these therebetween.

There may be one or several grooves 25 as shown in FIG. 6. The grooves 25 dissipate heat. This is the required heat dissipating effect for dissipating the heat generated by the current flowing through the lead wire bundles 3, or the heat produced by the deformation of the elastomer 19.

A uniform contacting pressure between the roller and the feeder line of rail shape should be maintained. In order to increase the current capacity, the width of the roller must be enlarged, but a broad roller introduces irregular contacting pressure, and accordingly, it becomes difficult to maintain uniform contact between the lead wires and the rail. By the provision of the groove 25, the roller divided by the grooves may act as independent rollers with respect to the rail so as to maintain uniform contacting pressure. The grooves 25 may not only be circular peripheral, but may be like the tread surface of a tire of a vehicle.

FIG. 7 shows partial sectional view of a further embodiment of the present invention. Numeral 3 represents lead wire bundles, 27 to 33 are electroconductive discs having holes 2 for inserting the lead wire bundles at the periphery thereof, and 34 and 35 are push plates. Bolts 36 at

push plates

34 and 35 tighten the superimposed discs 27 to 33 with the lead wire bundles inserted therein. The bolts 37 and nuts 38 are for fixing the electroconductive discs 27 to 33 and the

push plates

34 and 35 to the

supports

39 and 40 opposite to each other, and

rotary shafts

41 and 42 are provided thereat. 43 and 44 arebearings. 45 shows the end surface of the lead wires exposed at the outer peripherial surface of the roller. 25 are grooves provided on the periphery of the roller. The discs have holes formed at the periphery thereof for inserting the lead wire bundles therethrough. The holes in each disc are slightly displaced with respect to the holes in a superimposed disc. The

holes 45 shown in FIG. 7 are not for passing the lead wire bundles, but are provided for the flow of the liquid elastomer 19. The holes 20 provided at the

push plates

34 and 35 are provided for the same purpose as that of those holes 20 shown in FIG. 3. Numeral I9 is the elastomer. 46 and 47 are partially bent at the peripheral portion of the push plates so the line density of the lead wires is uniform. Numeral 48 is the part bent at the outer periphery of the disc 30 for the same purpose. In FIG. 7, the diameters of the discs 30 or push

plates

34 and 35, when bent, are larger than those of the other discs 27 to 33, but the same diameter of the discs may be bent similarly.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are explanatory views showing the effect of bending at the outer periphery of the push plates or discs, wherein FIG. 8 is prior to bending, while FIG. 9A shows a side view 9B shows front view after bend- Numeral 49 represents an electroconductive disc, 50 push plates or electroconductive discs, and 16 the cylindrical current surface of the current collecting roller. As shown in FIGS. 2 or 8, when the adjacent disc near the outer periphery of the disc or push plates (part to which the lead wire bundles are pushed) are in parallel, or as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when they are expanded as going to the outer periphery, even if the discs or push plates are superimposed, and pushed, the lead wire bundles do not expand in circular periperal direction of the roller (see FIG. 88). On the contrary, as shown by 51 and 52 in FIG. 9A, if the distance between the adjacent discs or the discs and the push plates is decreased gradually toward the outer periphery thereof by bending the discs or push plates, the lead wire bundles are expanded in a sector shape in peripheral direction of the current collecting roller as shown by A-A in FIG. 98. For this reason, the current collecting roller may have small irregularity of the density of the lead wire in peripheral direction at the cylindrical current collecting surface of the roller. A small irregularity of the density of the lead wire means that the current capacity is irregular at the respective parts of the circular periphery of the current collecting roller.

FIG. 10 shows partial sectional view of the embodiment of the effect shown in FIG. 9.

Numerals

53 and 54 represent push plates, and 55 and 56 are discs having holes 2 for inserting the lead wire bundles. 58 is a rivet for fixing these.

As shown in FIGS. I through It), the current collecting roller which comprises resilient lead wire bundles of U shape are inserted through holes near the peripheral edge of the disc. A plurality of these discs are superimposed and tightened. A liquid elastomer is placed between the lead wire bundles and the discs and their periphery, and is then solidified. The structure, therefore, does not destroy itself, due to the centrifugal force of the rotation thereof, and is extremely rigid mechanically. The electric connection between the discs and the lead wires is very good, and yet contact is always maintained between the current collecting roller and the current collecting wires or feeder lines during rotation, by the resiliency of the elastomer and the lead WII'eS.

FIGS. 11 to 15 show the embodiments of the current collecting rollers using a ring or rod for fixing the resilient lead wires. More particularly, it is a current collecting roller which comprises an electroconductive ring or electroconductive rod, a plurality of relatively constant length of resilient lead wires of U shape closely arranged to the ring or rod in such a manner that both ends thereof are directed outwardly. A plurality of current collecting rings or rods are supported on a rotary shaft support, and liquid elastomer is placed between the lead wires, and current collecting rings or rods to form an integral solid structure.

FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of the current collecting element. Numeral 59 represents a metal ring such as steel and 60 is a constant length of resilient lead wires which are bent in a U shape. Both ends 61 and 62 of the lead wires are directed outwardly to be engaged with the ring, and similarly many lead wires are arranged closely around the ring to form a current collecting ring 63.

FIG. 12 shows superimposed current collecting rings 63, 64, 65 and 66 so arranged on the horizontal or slightly tapered peripheral surface of rotary support 67 held by the push plate 68. Liquid elastomer 19 is filled between the lead wires and the current collecting ring to be integrally solidified. Numeral 69 represents a rotary shaft. Similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. I, the bearings are provided on the rotary shaft, but are not shown. 16 is the cylindrical current collecting surface of the current collecting roller.

FIG. 13 shows still another embodiment for supporting the current collecting ring, wherein FIG. 13A is a partial sectional view, and FIG. 13B is a plan of FIG. 13A.

The current collecting rings 63 and 64 are arranged between the comb shaped flange 71 of rotary support 70, and the supporting ring 72. The support 70 and the support ring 72 are fixed with bolts 73. A liquid elastomer such as urethane is filled between the lead wires and the current collecting ring and solidified to form a solid integral structure. In order to further strengthen the lead wires, the lead wires are inserted into a metal foil conductor having holes for inserting the lead wires, and tne foil conductor may be fixed to the support. In this case, the sectional configuration of the electroconductive ring may be a circle, rectangle, etc.

FIGS. 14 and 15 show the current collecting roller utilizing an electroconductive rod, wherein FIG. 14 is a front sectional view and FIG. 15 is a side view thereof.

Numeral 74 represents a rotating electroconductive support and 75 is the side thereof. 76 is an electroconductive rod arranged to be fixed uniformly near the side peripheral edge thereof and 77 is a resilient lead wire bundle of a U shape of constant length engaged at both ends thereof and directed outwardly. 78 is an electroconductive pressing ring having holes 79 near the peripheral edge thereof. 80 is the engaging portion of the pressing ring engaged or welded with the engaging grooves 81 of a part of the electroconductive support 74. 19 is a liquid elastomer such as urethane filled and solidified between the lead wires.

In the current collecting roller utilizing the ring or rod shown in FIGS. 11 to 15, the resilient lead wires may be arranged at a constant angle or oblique direction with respect to the radial direction as shown in FIG. 4. The current collecting roller utilizing the ring or rod shown in FIGS. 11 to 15 is adapted for use when a current collecting roller having relatively large linear density is manufactured, that is one having many lead wires. Since the lead wires are engaged with the ring or rod, it is very strong against the centrifugal force and thus prevents the throwing of the lead wires. In FIG. 12, the composite current collecting element is filled with the elastomer 19 between the lead wires and the

rings

63, 64, and 66 and therebetween.

FIGS. 16 to 20 show a current collecting roller utilizing the belt implanted with many resilient lead wires. More particularly, a current collecting roller which comprises a resilient support secured around the electroconductive central portion with an electroconductive cylinder secured thereonto. A belt implanted with many resilient lead wires is wound thereon and secured onto the resilient cylinder, and liquid elastomer is placed between the lead wires provided on the belt and then solidified. The resilient support may be omitted, and the electroconductive cylinder may be omitted, or instead of the cylinder, the belt with an electroconductive tape adhered (metal tape or metal foil conductor, etc.) to the back thereof may be used. In this case, the member adhered at the back is used instead of the electroconductive cylinder.

FIG. 16 shows a sectional view of the belt implanted closely with many lead wires. Numeral 82 represents the lead wires, 83 a rubber-fiber laminated cloth, and 84 an electroconductive backing material such as, metal net, electroconductive rubber, metal foil conductor, etc. However, this backing material may be omitted.

FIG. 17 shows the embodiment of the current collecting roller utilizing the belt without the resilient support. Numeral 85 represents an electroconductive rigid central support and 86 is a tightening wire such as steel wire tensioned in peripheral direction so that the belt will not fly out due to the centrifugal force on the rubber-fiber laminated cloth 83 of the belt. 87 are holes provided at the electroconductive rigid support 85, through which tightening wires 86 are mounted to the flange portion 89 of the electroconductive rigid support by a proper method such as screws 88. Numeral 90 is an adhesive agent in the holes 87 for assuring the securing of tightening wire 86. Numeral 91 is the journal of the rigid support. Bearings 92 and a keep ring 93 are fixed to the rigid support 85 by fixing fittings 94. I6 is a cylindrical current collecting surface with lead wire ends 21 exposed on the current collecting surface.

FIG. I8 shows the embodiment of the tightening wire 86. Both ends of one tightening wire 86 are inserted through two holes 87 provided at the electroconductive rigid support 85 to be fixed by the screws 88 or to the flange 89. The tightening wire 86 is preferably wound in a superimposed manner of proper length. If the tightening wire 86 is fixed with an adhesive in the holes 87 so that the belt 83, the backing material 84 and the electroconductive rigid support 85 are secured by the electroconductive adhesive, its characteristics become even better.

Thus, the belt implanted closely with the lead wires is secured to the rigid electroconductive support using

Claims

1. A current collecting roller having a cylindrical current collecting surface and comprising: a. conductor means comprising a plurality of flexible conductors positioned in said roller at least in the proximity of said surface thereof for collecting current from a trolley wire; b. an elastomer filling the spaces between said conductor and forming the body of said roller; c. the ends of said conductors extending to said cylindrical surface, so that said elastomer and the outer ends of said conductors form said cylindrical current collecting surface; and d. shaft means for mechanically supporting said roller body, said shaft means being disposed centrally of said roller body and being electrically connected to said plurality of conductors.

2. The current collecting roller as set forth in claim 1, wherein said conductor means further comprises a plurality of superimposed gauze means, each gauze means comprising a mesh of electroconductive wires; and further comprising keep plate means on each side of said plurality of gauze means and fixed to said shaft means for clamping said plurality of gauze means tightly together, wherein said elastomer is between each of said gauze means and between said gauze means and said keep plate means such that the current collecting surface is formed at one end of said electroconductive wires of saiD gauze means.

3. A current collecting roller as defined in claim 1 wherein said elastomer is polyurethane.

4. A current collecting roller as defined in claim 2 wherein each gauze means is in the form of an annulus.

5. A current collecting roller as defined in claim 2 further comprising a rigid reinforcing disc disposed between an adjacent pair of said gauze means and clamped by said keep plate means, said reinforcing disc having a smaller diameter than that of said roller.

6. A current collecting roller as defined in claim 2 further comprising a pair of rigid reinforcing discs disposed on either side of said body and clamped by said keep plate means, said reinforcing discs having diameters smaller than that of said roller.

7. The current collecting roller as set forth in claim 1, wherein said conductor means comprises a plurality of electroconductive discs, each disc having a plurality of holes formed near the peripheral edges thereof with said conductors inserted through said holes in said disc in such a manner that both ends of the conductors are directed outwardly forming a U shape, wherein said plurality of said discs are superimposed upon each other and wherein said elastomer is between said conductive discs and said conductors such that the cylindrical current collecting surface is formed by both outer ends of each of said conductors.

8. The current collecting roller as set forth in claim 7, further including push plate means for effecting electroconductivity between said conductors and said electroconductive dics, and for reinforcing the roller against the centrifugal force while dissipating heat therein.

9. The current collecting roller as set forth in claim 8, wherein the distances between the electroconductive discs and between the discs and the push plate means gradually decrease toward the outer periphery of the roller.

10. The current collecting roller as set forth in claim 8, wherein said electroconductive discs are bent on their outer peripheral portion.

11. The current collecting roller as set forth in claim 1, wherein said conductor means comprises a plurality of electroconductive rings with said conductors contacting each said ring in such a manner that both ends thereof are directed outwardly forming a U shape, wherein said rings are supported on said shaft means, wherein said elastomer is between the conductors such that the cylindrical current collecting surface is formed by both outer ends of said conductors.

12. The current collecting roller as set forth in claim 1, wherein said conductor means comprises electroconductive rod fixed uniformly near the peripheral edges of the side portion of said shaft means; with said conductors forming a U shape and engaging said rod and a keep ring for fixing the other end of said rod to said shaft means wherein the elastomer is between said conductors and the cylindrical current collecting surface is formed by both outer ends of each of said conductors.

13. The current collecting roller as set forth in claim 1, wherein said conductor means comprises belt means implanted with said conductors, said belt means surrounding said shaft means wherein said elastomer is between said conductors such that the current collecting surface is formed at the ends of said conductors.

14. The current collecting roller as set forth in claim 1, wherein said conductor means comprises a resilient support positioned around said shaft means, and a belt means implanted with said conductors and surrounding an electroconductive outer support wherein said elastomer is between said conductors such that the current collecting surface is formed by the outer ends of the conductors.

15. The current collecting roller as set forth in claim 1, wherein said conductors are non-linear conductors are used as linear conductors.

16. The current collecting roller as set forth in claim 1, wherein said conductor are in the form of a plurality of conductive foil members, each foil member having an upper and lower pOrtion, said upper portion including a plurality of projections and said lower portion including an engaging means; and a plurality of spacer means, said spacer means being positioned between the lower portionns of said conductive foil members in an alternate manner wherein said spacer means includes engaging means corresponding to the engaging means of said foil members wherein said elastomer is between the upper portions of said conductive foil members thereby laminating said foil members and the cylindrical current collecting surface is formed at the ends of said projections, said shaft means comprising retaining means for cooperating with the aforesaid engaging means to secure said foil members and said spacer means to said shaft means.

17. The current collecting roller as set forth in claim 16, wherein each of said spacer means is a conductive foil.

18. The current collecting roller as set forth in claim 16, wherein each of said spacer means is an insulating foil.

19. The current collecting roller as set forth in claim 1, wherein said conductors are in the form of a plurality of conductive foil members, each foil member having an upper and lower portion, said upper portion including a plurality of projections and said lower portion including engaging means and separating means, wherein said foil members are positioned adjacent each other but substantially separated by said separating means and wherein said elastomer is between the separated portions of said foil members and the cylindrical current collecting surface is formed at the ends of said projections, said shaft means comprising retaining means for cooperating with said engaging means to secure said foil members to said shaft means.

20. The current collecting roller as set forth in claim 19, wherein said separating means are projections formed on said lower portion.

21. The current collecting roller as set forth in claim 1, wherein the density of said conductors is greater at the sides of said roller than at the center thereof.