Electrical pickup / contactor for electric trains and busses

Abstract

The invention is a new electric-contactor suitable for application to electrically driven apparatus, such as model trains, wherein electricity that is available to a train car's wheels can now be further conducted by low friction rollers located between the train's wheels and a train car; thereby reducing friction and eliminating the drag and wear from carbon brushes presently utilized for this purpose, and thus enabling greater efficiency in the overall operation of the train, or other mobile apparatus.

1 ) A device for conducting electricity from an electric train wheel, rail, track or cable wire where the electricity is picked-up by an electrical contact roller for conveyance to a mobile apparatus, comprising: 
 a) a device comprised of a electrically conductive roller or rollers riding on an electrically conductive axle situate within an electrically conductive axle housing;    b) a device wherein the said roller-axle-housing apparatus is affixed to or made a part of a mounting plate;    c) a device wherein there is an adjustable tension spring mechanism to control roller contact pressure;    d) a device wherein the electricity is conveyed via the device to a feed wire.    
   
   
       2 ) A device according to  claim 1  wherein the mounting plate and roller-axle-housing assembly is sized to fit various model railway gauges.  
   
   
       3 ) A device according to  claim 1  wherein the mounting plate is of a conductive material.  
   
   
       4 ) A device according to  claim 1  wherein the mounting plate is of a non-conducting material.  
   
   
       5 ) A device according to  claim 1  wherein apparatus is enclosed in an external housing designed to be affixed to a wand or pole.  
   
   
       6 ) A device according to  claim 5  wherein the external housing is insulated from the roller-axle-housing apparatus.  
   
   
       7 ) A device according to  claim 2  wherein the mounting assembly is designed to contain the roller-axle-housing assembly.  
   
   
       8 ) A device according to  claim 2  wherein the apparatus is sized to fit industrial and commercial apparatus.