Description:DESCRIPTION

Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to end caps and trolley systems. The present disclosure specifically relates to: an end cap configured to be attached to a trolley wire; and a trolley system.

Background Art
[0002] Document 1 (JP H07-112636 A) discloses an insulated trolley wire including: a conductor; an insulation cover covering the conductor, the insulation cover having a pair of leg portions between which part of the conductor is exposed as a slid surface; and a shield layer disposed in an exposed state on an outer surface of the insulation cover.
[0003] The insulated trolley wire (trolley wire) described in Document 1 is electrically connected to a connection member at an end thereof. Therefore, to adjust the insulated trolley wire to an arbitrary length, the insulation cover (covering member) at the end of the insulated trolley wire has to be processed so that the end can be electrically connected to the connection member. However, since processing the insulation cover at the end of the insulated trolley wire is complex, there is the problem that adjusting the length of the insulated trolley wire is not easy.

Summary of Invention
[0004] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide an end cap and a trolley system which are configured to facilitate adjustment of the length of a trolley wire.
[0005] An end cap of an aspect is an end cap configured to be attached to an end of a trolley wire including a conductor and a covering member. The conductor is electrically connected to a mover which is movable. The conductor is a supply path of electric power to the mover. The covering member is electrically insulating. The covering member covers at least part of the conductor and exposes the conductor at the end of the trolley wire. The end cap includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is configured to, in a state where the end cap is attached to the conductor, cover at least one of: part or an entirety of a rear surface of the conductor; or part or an entirety of a side surface of the conductor, the side surface connecting the rear surface to a front surface of the conductor, the front surface being on an opposite side of the rear surface. The second portion is configured to, in a state where the end cap is attached to the conductor, expose at least part of the rear surface of the conductor and cover at least of the front surface of the conductor.
[0006] A trolley system according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes the end cap, the trolley wire, and a connection member. The trolley wire includes the conductor and the covering member. On the connection member, the trolley wire is to be installed.

Brief Description of Drawings
[0007] FIG. 1A is a perspective front view of an end cap before attached to a trolley wire in a trolley system according to an embodiment;
FIG. 1B is a perspective front view of the end cap attached to the trolley wire in the trolley system;
FIG. 2 is a perspective back view of the end cap attached to the trolley wire in the trolley system;
FIG. 3A is a view illustrating an operation of removing the end cap to adjust the length of the trolley wire in the trolley system;
FIG. 3B is a view illustrating an operation of cutting the trolley wire to an arbitrary length to adjust the length of the trolley wire in the trolley system;
FIG. 3C is a view illustrating an operation of stripping a covering member to adjust the length of the trolley wire in the trolley system;
FIG. 3D is a view illustrating an operation of attaching the end cap when the length of the trolley wire in the trolley system is adjusted;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the end cap attached to the trolley wire in the trolley system taken along line IV―IV of FIG. 1B;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the end cap attached to the trolley wire in the trolley system taken along line V―V of FIG. 1B;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the end cap attached to the trolley wire in the trolley system taken along line VI―VI of FIG. 1B;
FIG. 7A is a perspective view of the trolley wire before attached to a connection member in the trolley system;
FIG. 7B is a perspective view of the trolley wire attached to the connection member in the trolley system;
FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the trolley wire attached to the connection member in the trolley system taken along line VIII―VIII of FIG. 7B; and
FIG. 9 is a perspective front view of an end cap before attached to a trolley wire in a trolley system according to a variation of the embodiment.

Description of Embodiments
[0008] An end cap and a trolley system according to an embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiment described below is merely an example of various embodiments of the present disclosure. To the embodiment described below, various modifications may be made depending on design or the like as long as the object of the present disclosure is achieved. Moreover, figures described in the following embodiment are schematic views. The ratio of sizes and the ratio of thicknesses of components in the figures do not necessarily reflect actual dimensional ratios.
[0009] (Embodiment)
(1) Overview
With reference to FIG. 1A to FIG. 5, an overview of an end cap 1 according to the present embodiment will be described below.
[0010] As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the end cap 1 according to the present embodiment is to be attached to an end (terminating end) of a trolley wire 2 including a conductor 21 exposed at the end and a covering member 22. The conductor 21 is electrically connected to a mover which is movable. The conductor 21 is a supply path of electric power to the mover. The covering member 22 is electrically insulating and covers at least part of the conductor 21.
[0011] As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the end cap 1 of the present embodiment includes a first portion 11 and a second portion 12. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, in a state where the end cap 1 is attached to the conductor 21, the first portion 11 covers at least one of: part or the entirety of a rear surface 211 of the conductor 21; or part or the entirety of a side surface 213 of the conductor 21. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, in a state where the end cap 1 is attached to the conductor 21, the second portion 12 exposes at least part of the rear surface 211 of the conductor 21 and covers at least part of a front surface 212 of the conductor 21.
[0012] Note that as used in the present disclosure, “the rear surface 211 of the conductor 21” is a rear face of the conductor 21, and “the front surface 212 of the conductor 21” is a front face of the conductor 21, that is, a surface on an opposite side of the rear surface 211. Moreover, “the side surface 213 of the conductor 21” is a surface connecting the front surface 212 to the rear surface 211 and is a left or right surface of the conductor 21.
[0013] The conventional trolley wire requires, at the time of adjusting the insulated trolley wire to an arbitrary length, the covering member at the end of the trolley wire to be processed such that a connection member for supplying electric power to the conductor of the trolley wire can be electrically connected to the conductor. Specifically, the covering member has to be processed such that at the end of the trolley wire, the rear surface of the conductor is exposed and the front surface of the conductor is covered with the covering member. Processing of the covering member at the time of adjusting the trolley wire to the arbitrary length is complex, and the level of difficulty in the processing is thus high. Therefore, the conventional trolley wire has the problem that adjusting the length of the trolley wire is not easy.
[0014] In the present embodiment, however, at the time of adjusting the trolley wire 2 to the arbitrary length, the trolley wire 2 (see FIG. 3A) from which the end cap 1 has been detached is cut to the arbitrary length (see FIG. 3B), the covering member 22 is stripped to expose part of the conductor 21, the part being a necessary part to which the end cap 1 is to be attached (see FIG. 3C), and the end cap 1 is attached again to the end at which the conductor 21 has been exposed (see FIG. 3D). As a result, as shown in FIGS. 1B and 2, at the time of adjusting the trolley wire 2 to the arbitrary length, the difficult processing of the covering member 22 does not have to be performed on the end of the trolley wire 2, and simply attaching the end cap 1 to the end of the trolley wire 2 exposes at least part of the rear surface 211 of the conductor 21 and covers at least part of the front surface 212 of the conductor 21 with the end cap 1. That is, in the present embodiment, the length of the trolley wire 2 can be easily adjusted. In other words, the end cap 1 of the present embodiment has the advantage of facilitating adjustment of the length of the trolley wire 2.
[0015] Note that up/down, forward/backward, and left/right directions in the present disclosure merely represent the relative positional relationship of components of a trolley system 100 described later (i.e., the end cap 1, the trolley wire 2, and a connection member 3), but these directions are not intended to limit directions in which the trolley system 100 is used. Thus, for example, the trolley system 100 may be used in an orientation in which the “forward” direction as used in the present disclosure is the up, down, backward, left, or right direction. Arrows representing the up/down, forward/backward, and left/right directions in FIG. 1A are shown for the sake of description and are intangible.
[0016] (2) Detailed Configuration
(2-1) Trolley System
With reference to FIGS. 1A to 8, a detailed configuration of the trolley system 100 of the present embodiment will be described below.
[0017] The trolley system 100 (see FIGS. 7A and 7B) supplies electric power to the mover. That is, the trolley system 100 is a power feeding system. The mover as used in the present disclosure is, for example, a self-propelled hand truck or a hoist. The mover is supplied with the electric power from the conductor 21 of the trolley wire 2. The mover uses the electric power thus obtained as a drive source to move along the trolley wire 2.
[0018] The trolley system 100 and the mover are used , for example, in a facility such as a distribution warehouse or a factory. The mover is used, for example, as a carrier for carrying one or more items of goods.
[0019] In the present embodiment, the conductor 21 of the trolley wire 2 is connected via an electric power line (not shown) to an external power supply. Moreover, the mover includes a current collector which is in contact with the conductor 21 while the mover moves along the trolley wire 2. Thus, the electric power is supplied from the external power supply via the conductor 21 to the mover.
[0020] As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the trolley system 100 of the present embodiment includes a plurality of end caps 1, a plurality of (six) trolley wires 2, and the connection member 3. Note that in FIGS. 7A and 7B, two trolley wires 2 of the six trolley wires 2 are omitted for the sake of the description of the configuration of the connection member 3.
[0021] (2-2) Trolley Wire
As shown in FIGS. 1A to 2, each trolley wire 2 includes the conductor 21 and the covering member 22. The conductor 21 is made of a conductive material such as copper. The covering member 22 is made of a material such as an electrically insulating synthetic resin. Each trolley wire 2 is elongated in the left/right direction. That is, the conductor 21 and the covering member 22 are each elongated in the left/right direction. In the present embodiment, the longitudinal direction of each trolley wire 2 (the conductor 21 and the covering member 22) is aligned with the left/right direction.
[0022] (Conductor)
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the conductor 21 includes a contact 214 and a projection 215. The contact 214 has a plate shape having a thickness aligned with the forward/backward direction. The longitudinal direction of the contact 214 is aligned with the left/right direction. The projection 215 protrudes backward from a rear surface of the contact 214 and are formed to be aligned with the longitudinal direction (left/right direction) of the contact 214. More specifically, the projection 215 protrudes backward from a center part of the rear surface of the contact 214 in its cross section orthogonal to the left/right direction (i.e., when viewed in the left/right direction). That is, the conductor 21 has a T-shape in its cross section orthogonal to the left/right direction. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the rear surface 211 of the conductor 21 is a rear surface of the projection 215. More specifically, the rear surface 211 is a surface of a protruding tip end of the projection 215. Moreover, in the present embodiment, the front surface 212 of the conductor 21 is a front surface of the contact 214. In the present embodiment, the side surface 213 of the conductor 21 consists of upper, lower, and rear surfaces of the contact 214 and upper and lower surfaces of the projection 215.
[0023] The front surface of the contact 214 (the front surface 212 of the conductor 21) is a portion with which the current collector of the mover described above comes into contact. A center part of the front surface of the contact 214 is recessed backward. The front surface of the contact 214 is exposed outside. More specifically, the front surface of the contact 214 is not covered with the covering member 22 in any section between both ends of the contact 214 in the left/right direction and is exposed.
[0024] The projection 215 is a portion to be sandwiched, in the longitudinal direction of the conductor 21, between a pair of arms 321 and 322 of a terminal 32 (see FIG. 8), which will be described later, of the connection member 3.
[0025] (Covering Member)
The covering member 22 covers part of the conductor 21. The covering member 22 is disposed only in some sections between both ends (from a left end to a right end) of the conductor 21 in the left/right direction. As shown in FIG. 1A, a portion including the left end of the conductor 21 is not provided with the covering member 22 and is exposed over the entire periphery thereof. Similarly, a portion including the right end of the conductor 21 is not provided with the covering member 22 and is exposed over the entire periphery thereof. Thus, the end caps 1 are to be attached to the exposed portions of the conductor 21. In one trolley wire 2, the end caps 1 are attached one to one to: a portion, which is not provided with the covering member 22, at the left end of the conductor 21 (portion where the conductor 21 is exposed); and a portion, which is not provided with the covering member 22, at the right end of the conductor 21(portion where the conductor 21 is exposed). In sum, two end caps 1 are attached to one trolley wire 2.
[0026] As shown in FIG. 6, the covering member 22 includes a cover body 221 and a plurality of (two) ribs 222.
[0027] The cover body 221 covers at least the rear surface 211 of the conductor 21. In the present embodiment, the cover body 221 covers the rear surface 211 and the side surface 213 of the conductor 21. The cover body 221 is formed to have a shape conforming to the shape of the conductor 21. More specifically, the cover body 221 is a portion which is included in the covering member 22 and which has a thickness measured from a surface of the conductor 21 and being ess than or equal to a threshold. Portions which are included in the covering member 22 and each of which has a thickness measured from the surface of the conductor 21 and being greater than the threshold correspond to the ribs 222 in the present embodiment.
[0028] The cover body 221 of the present embodiment includes a front part 2211 and a rear part 2212. The front part 2211 covers a region except for part of the front surface of the contact 214 (front surface 212 of the conductor 21). The front part 2211 has a C-shape having a forward opening in its cross section orthogonal to the left/right direction. The rear part 2212 covers the entirety of the projection 215. The rear part 2212 has a U-shape having a forward opening in its cross section orthogonal to the left/right direction.
[0029] The covering member 22 has a window 23 which exposes the front surface of the contact 214 (front surface 212 of the conductor 21). The window 23 is an opening. The window 23 is provided for the cover body 221 of the covering member 22. More specifically, the window 23 is defined by an edge (front end) of the front part 2211 of the cover body 221.
[0030] The two ribs 222 protrude forward from the cover body 221. More specifically, the two ribs 222 protrude forward from the edge (front end) of the front part 2211 of the cover body 221.
[0031] The two ribs 222 protrude forward from an edge (front end) of the cover body 221 defining the window 23 and extend in a longitudinal direction (left/right direction) of the conductor 21. Respective thicknesses of the two ribs 222 are aligned with the up/down direction. That is, the two ribs 222 face each other in the up/down direction. More specifically, one rib 222a of the two ribs 222 protrudes forward from above the window 23. In contrast, the other rib 222b of the two ribs 222 protrudes forward from below the window 23. Thus, the ribs 222 are provided above and below the window 23, and therefore, the two ribs 222 prevent, for example, a finger or the like of a worker from moving toward the conductor 21. Thus, the possibility that the finger or the like of the worker comes into contact with the conductor 21 can be reduced. Moreover, the plurality of trolley wires 2 are assumed to be attached to the connection member 3 by being aligned side by side in the up/down direction as shown in FIG. 7B. In this case, the effect is that an insulation distance between two conductors 21 of adjacent trolley wires 2 can be increased as compared with the case where the two ribs 222 are not provided. That is, there is the advantage that the performance of insulating the trolley wires 2 from each other can be improved.
[0032] (2-3) End Cap
Each end cap 1 is a terminal cap which is to be attached to a terminal of the trolley wire 2 in the longitudinal direction (left/right direction) of the trolley wire 2. More specifically, the end cap 1 is to be attached to an end (a left end or a right end), where the covering member 22 is not provided and the conductor 21 is exposed over the entire periphery, of the trolley wire 2 as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. When attention is focused on an end cap 1 which is to be attached to the left end of the trolley wire 2, the end cap 1 is inserted from the left of the left end of the trolley wire 2 in the left/right direction (i.e., in a direction indicated by an arrow X1 of FIG. 1A) into the left end of the trolley wire 2 as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, and thereby, the end cap 1 is attached to the trolley wire 2. Similarly, when attention is focused on an end cap 1 which is to be attached to the right end of the trolley wire 2, the end cap 1 is inserted from the right of the right end of the trolley wire 2 in the left/right direction into the right end of the trolley wire 2, and thereby, the end cap 1 is attached to the trolley wire 2.
[0033] As shown in FIGS. 1A to 2, the end cap 1 includes the first portion 11, the second portion 12, and a third portion 13. The second portion 12 is a portion extending leftward from a first end (a left end) of the first portion 11, and the third portion 13 is a portion extending rightward from a second end (a right end) of the first portion 11. The first portion 11, the second portion 12, and the third portion 13 are formed integrally with each other.
[0034] In the present embodiment, the first portion 11, the second portion 12, the third portion 13 are configured to be detachably attachable to the conductor 21. This configuration provides the advantage that readjustment of the length of the trolley wire 2 is facilitated.
[0035] (First Portion)
The first portion 11 of the present embodiment is a portion of the end cap 1, the portion covering the entirety of the rear surface 211 and the entirety of the side surface 213 of the conductor 21 of the trolley wire 2 in a state where the end cap 1 is attached to the trolley wire 2 as shown in FIG. 4.
[0036] The first portion 11 of the present embodiment includes a base 111, a plurality of (two) flanges 112, and a plurality of (two) recesses 113.
[0037] The base 111 is a column body having a bottom surface curved along the rear surface 211 and the side surface 213 of the conductor 21 of the trolley wire 2. The axial direction of the base 111 is aligned with the left/right direction. The base 111 includes a front part 1111 and a rear part 1112. The front part 1111 covers a region except for part of the front surface of the contact 214 (front surface 212 of the conductor 21) in a state where the end cap 1 is attached to the trolley wire 2. The front part 1111 is a columnar portion of the base 111, the columnar portion having a U-shaped bottom surface having a forward opening. The rear part 1112 covers the entirety of the projection 215 in a state where the end cap 1 is attached to the trolley wire 2. The rear part 1112 is a columnar portion of the base 111, the columnar portion having a U-shaped bottom surface having a forward opening.
[0038] The first portion 11 has a window 114 which exposes the front surface of the contact 214 (front surface 212 of the conductor 21). The window 114 is an opening. The window 114 is provided for the base 111 of the first portion 11. More specifically, the window 114 is defined by an edge (front end) of the front part 1111 of the base 111.
[0039] Each of the two flanges 112 is in contact with the front surface 212 of the conductor 21. This configuration advantageously facilitates pushing the trolley wire 2, to which the end cap 1 has been attached, against the connection member 3 from the front of the connection member 3.
[0040] At least part of a front surface 1120 of each of the two flanges 112 intersects the forward/backward direction of the conductor 21 in a state where the end cap 1 is attached to the trolley wire 2. In the present embodiment, the at least part of a front surface 1120 of each of the two flanges 112 is orthogonal to the forward/backward direction of the conductor 21 in a state where the end cap 1 is attached to the trolley wire 2. This configuration advantageously further facilitates pushing the trolley wire 2, to which the end cap 1 has been attached, against the connection member 3 from the front of the connection member 3.
[0041] The two flanges 112 are provided at the front part 1111 of the base 111. One flange 112a of the two flanges 112 is disposed above the window 114, and the other flange 112b of the two flanges 112 is disposed below the window 114. That is, the two flanges 112 are aligned side by side in the short direction (up/down direction) of the trolley wire 2 in a state where the end cap 1 is attached to the trolley wire 2.
[0042] The flange 112a includes a contact 1121a and a plate 1122a. Similarly, the flange 112b includes a contact 1121b and a plate 1122b.
[0043] As shown in FIG. 4, each of the contact 1121a and the contact 1121b is a plate member having a thickness aligned with the up/down direction. Each of a rear end 1123a of the contact 1121a and a rear end 1123b of the contact 1121b is in contact with the front surface 212 of the conductor 21. The rear end 1123a of the contact 1121a is connected to an inner surface of a front end at an upper portion of the front part 1111, and the rear end 1123b of the contact 1121b is connected to an inner surface of a front end of a lower portion of the front part 1111.
[0044] Each of the contact 1121a and the contact 1121b extends in an axial direction (left/right direction) of the base 111. The contact 1121a and the contact 1121b face each other in the up/down direction. The contact 1121a is located above the window 114, and the contact 1121b is located below the window 114.
[0045] The plate 1122a protrudes from a tip end (front end) of the contact 1121a upward (i.e., away from the contact 1121a). In contrast, the plate 1122b protrudes from a tip end (front end) of the contact 1121b downward (away from the contact 1121b). Respective thicknesses of the plate 1122a and the plate 1122b are aligned with the forward/backward direction of the conductor 21 in a state where the end cap 1 is attached to the trolley wire 2. This configuration advantageously further facilitates pushing the trolley wire 2, to which the end cap 1 has been attached, against the connection member 3 from the front of the connection member 3 without complexing the structure of the two flanges 112.
[0046] As shown in FIG. 4, a gap Y11 between the two flanges 112 in the short direction (up/down direction) is smaller than a dimension Y2 of the front surface 212 of the conductor 21 in the short direction. As used herein, the “gap Y11” is, more specifically, a gap between a lower end of the plate 1122a of the flange 112a and an upper end of the plate 1122b of the flange 112b in the up/down direction. With this configuration, the two flanges 112 prevent, for example, a finger or the like of a worker from moving toward the conductor 21. Thus, the possibility that the finger or the like of the worker comes into contact with the conductor 21 can be reduced. Moreover, the plurality of trolley wires 2 are assumed to be attached to the connection member 3 by being aligned side by side in the up/down direction as shown in FIG. 7B. In this case, the effect is that an insulation distance between two conductors 21 of adjacent trolley wires 2 can be increased as compared with the case where the two flanges 112 are not provided. That is, there is the advantage that the performance of insulating the trolley wires 2 from each other can be improved.
[0047] In the two recesses 113, projections 319a and 319b (see FIG. 7A) which are provided for the connection member 3 and which will be described later are fitted when the trolley wire 2, to which the end cap 1 has been attached, is connected to the connection member 3. This configuration has the advantage that the trolley wire 2 is prevented from falling off from the connection member 3 due to vibration or the like.
[0048] As shown in FIG. 4, one recess 113a of the two recesses 113 is provided in an upper surface of the contact 1121a of the flange 112a. More specifically, the recess 113a is provided in the upper surface of the contact 1121a of the flange 112a to extend from one end to the other end of the base 111 in the left/right direction. The recess 113a has a trapezoidal shape with a longer upper base longer than a lower base in its cross section orthogonal to the left/right direction.
[0049] Similarly, the other recess 113b of the two recesses 113 is provided in a lower surface of the contact 1121b of the flange 112b. More specifically, the recess 113b is provided in the lower surface of the contact 1121b of the flange 112b to extend from one end to the other end of the base 111 in the left/right direction. The recess 113b has a trapezoidal shape with a shorter upper base than a lower base in its cross section orthogonal to the left/right direction.
[0050] (Second Portion)
As shown in FIG. 5, the second portion 12 of the present embodiment is a portion of the end cap 1, the portion exposing the entirety of the rear surface 211 and the entirety of the side surface 213 of the conductor 21 and covering part of the front surface 212 (more specifically, an upper portion and a lower portion of the front surface 212) of the conductor 21 of the trolley wire 2 in a state where the end cap 1 is attached to the trolley wire 2.
[0051] As shown in FIGS. 1A and 2, the second portion 12 extends leftward from the first end (the left end) of the first portion 11 in the axial direction (left/right direction) of the base 111 of the first portion 11.
[0052] As shown in FIG. 5, the second portion 12 of the present embodiment includes a plurality of (two) flanges 122 and a plurality of (two) recesses 123.
[0053] Each of the two flanges 122 is in contact with the front surface 212 of the conductor 21. This configuration advantageously facilitates pushing the trolley wire 2, to which the end cap 1 has been attached, against the connection member 3 from the front of the connection member 3.
[0054] At least part of a front surface 1220 of each of the two flanges 122 intersects the forward/backward direction of the conductor 21 in a state where the end cap 1 is attached to the trolley wire 2. In the present embodiment, the at least part of a front surface 1220 of each of the two flanges 122 is orthogonal to the forward/backward direction of the conductor 21 in a state where the end cap 1 is attached to the trolley wire 2. This configuration advantageously further facilitates pushing the trolley wire 2, to which the end cap 1 has been attached, against the connection member 3 from the front of the connection member 3.
[0055] The two flanges 122 are aligned side by side in the short direction (up/down direction) of the trolley wire 2 in a state where the end cap 1 is attached to the trolley wire 2.
[0056] One flange 122a of the two flanges 122 is a portion extending leftward from a left end of the flange 112a of the first portion 11. The flange 122a includes a contact 1221a and a plate 1222a. The contact 1221a is a portion extending leftward from a left end of the contact 1121a of the first portion 11, and the plate 1222a is a portion extending leftward from a left end of the plate 1122a of the first portion 11. In sum, the shape of the flange 122a is substantially the same as the shape of the flange 112a of the first portion 11 in its cross section orthogonal to the left/right direction. The contact 1221a has a rear end 1223a in contact with the front surface 212 of the conductor 21.
[0057] Similarly, the other flange 122b of the two flanges 122 is a portion extending leftward from a left end of the flange 112b of the first portion 11. The flange 122b includes a contact 1221b and a plate 1222b. The contact 1221b is a portion extending leftward from a left end of the contact 1121b of the first portion 11, and the plate 1222b is a portion extending leftward from a left end of the plate 1122b of the first portion 11. In sum, the shape of the flange 122b is substantially the same as the shape of the flange 112b of the first portion 11 in its cross section orthogonal to the left/right direction. The contact 1221b has a rear end 1223b in contact with the front surface 212 of the conductor 21.
[0058] Similarly to the contact 1121a and the contact 1121b of the first portion 11, each of the contact 1221a and the contact 1221b extends in the axial direction (left/right direction) of the base 111 of the first portion 11. Respective thicknesses of the contact 1221a and the contact 1221b are aligned with the up/down direction. That is, the contact 1221a and the contact 1221b face each other in the up/down direction.
[0059] The plate 1222a protrudes from a tip end (front end) of the contact 1221a upward (away from the contact 1221a). In contrast, the plate 1222b protrudes from a tip end (front end) of the contact 1221b downward (away from the contact 1221b). Respective thicknesses of the plate 1222a and the plate 1222b are aligned with the forward/backward direction of the conductor 21 in a state where the end cap 1 is attached to the trolley wire 2. This configuration advantageously further facilitates pushing the trolley wire 2, to which the end cap 1 has been attached, against the connection member 3 from the front of the connection member 3 without complexing the structure of the two flanges 122.
[0060] As shown in FIG. 5, a gap Y12 between the two flanges 122 in the short direction (up/down direction) is smaller than a dimension Y2 of the front surface 212 of the conductor 21 in the short direction. As used herein the “gap Y12” is, more specifically, a gap between a lower end of the plate 1222a of the flange 122a and an upper end of the plate 1222b of the flange 122b in the up/down direction. With this configuration, the two flanges 122 prevent, for example, a finger or the like of a worker from moving toward the conductor 21. Thus, the possibility that the finger or the like of the worker comes into contact with the conductor 21 can be reduced. Moreover, the plurality of trolley wires 2 are assumed to be attached to the connection member 3 by being aligned side by side in the up/down direction as shown in FIG. 7B. In this case, an insulation distance between two conductors 21 of adjacent trolley wires 2 is increased as compared with the case where the two flanges 122 are not provided.
[0061] In the two recesses 123, the projections 319a and 319b which are provided for the connection member 3 and which will be described later are fitted as shown in FIG. 8 when the trolley wire 2, to which the end cap 1 has been attached, is connected to the connection member 3. This configuration has the advantage that the trolley wire 2 is prevented from falling off from the connection member 3 due to vibration or the like.
[0062] As shown in FIG. 5, one recess 123a of the two recesses 123 is provided in an upper surface of the contact 1221a of the flange 122a. More specifically, the recess 123a is provided in the upper surface of the contact 1221a of the flange 122a to extend from one end to the other end of the base 111 of the first portion 11 in the left/right direction. The recess 123a has a trapezoidal shape with a longer upper base longer than a lower base in its cross section orthogonal to the left/right direction.
[0063] Similarly, the other recess 123b of the two recesses 123 is provided in a lower surface of the contact 1221b of the flange 122b. More specifically, the recess 123b is provided in the lower surface of the contact 1221b of the flange 122b to extend from one end to the other end of the base 111 of the first portion 11 in the left/right direction. The recess 123b has a trapezoidal shape with a shorter upper base than a lower base in a cross section orthogonal to the left/right direction.
[0064] (Third Portion)
As shown in FIG. 6, the third portion 13 of the present embodiment is a portion of the end cap 1, the portion covering at least part of the covering member 22 of the trolley wire 2 in a state where the end cap 1 is attached to the trolley wire 2. More specifically, in a state where the end cap 1 is attached to the trolley wire 2, the third portion 13 covers an end, on a side on which the end cap 1 is to be attached, of the covering member 22 of the trolley wire 2. Specifically, when the end cap 1 is assumed to be attached to the left end of the trolley wire 2, the third portion 13 covers part of a left end of the covering member 22 of the trolley wire 2 as shown in FIG. 2. Similarly, when the end cap 1 is assumed to be attached to the right end of the trolley wire 2, the third portion 13 covers part of a right end of the covering member 22 of the trolley wire 2. With this configuration, the plurality of trolley wires 2 are assumed to be attached to the connection member 3 by being aligned side by side in the up/down direction, and in this case, the effect is that an insulation distance between two conductors 21 of adjacent trolley wires 2 can be increased as compared with the case where the third portion 13 is not provided. That is, there is the advantage that the performance of insulating the trolley wires 2 from each other can be improved.
[0065] As shown in FIGS. 1A and 2, the third portion 13 extends rightward from the second end (the right end) of the first portion 11 in the axial direction (left/right direction) of the base 111 of the first portion 11.
[0066] As shown in FIG. 6, the third portion 13 of the present embodiment includes a plurality of (two) front parts 131 and a plurality of (two) rear parts 132.
[0067] The two front parts 131 cover the front part 2211 of the cover body 221 in a state where the end cap 1 is attached to the trolley wire 2. Each of the two front parts 131 is an L-shaped plate member in its cross section orthogonal to the left/right direction. One front part 131a of the two front parts 131 is connected to an upper portion (see FIG. 4) of the front part 1111 of the base 111 and the contact 1121a (see FIG. 4) of the flange 112a at the second end (the right end) of the first portion 11. Similarly, the other front part 131b of the two front parts 131 is connected to a lower side portion (see FIG. 4) of the front part 1111 of the base 111 and the contact 1121b (see FIG. 4) of the flange 112b at the second end (the right end) of the first portion 11.
[0068] In the present embodiment, the front end of the front part 131a and the front end of the front part 131b are located between a set of front ends of the two ribs 222 and the front end of the front part 2211 of the cover body 221 in the forward/backward direction as shown in FIG. 6.
[0069] The two rear parts 132 cover a region except for the rear surface of the rear part 2212 of the cover body 221. Each of the two rear parts 132 is a rectangular plate member. The two rear parts 132 are connected to the rear part 1112(see FIG. 4) of the base 111 at the second end (the right end) of the first portion 11. As shown in FIG. 6, the front end of one rear part 132a of the two rear parts 132 is connected to a lower end of the front part 131a. The front end of the other rear part 132b of the two rear parts 132 is connected to an upper end of the front part 131b.
[0070] (2-4) Connection Member
The connection member 3 is a member on which the trolley wire 2 is to be installed. The connection member 3 is fixed, by a fastening member such as a screw or a bolt, to a rail (i.e., a rail on which the trolley wire 2 is to be installed) in a facility where the trolley system 100 is used. That is, the trolley wire 2 is attached to the connection member 3 via the end cap 1, thereby installing (constructing) the trolley wire 2 in the facility where the trolley system 100 is used. As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, to the connection member 3 of the present embodiment, a plurality of trolley wires 2 are attachable. Note that to the connection member 3 of the present embodiment, up to six trolley wires 2 are attachable.
[0071] The connection member 3 of the present embodiment supplies electric power from the external power supply via an electric power line (not shown) to the conductor 21 of the trolley wire 2 attached thereto the connection member 3. Moreover, the connection member 3 of the present embodiment functions also as a joint that electrically connects each other the conductors 21 of respective two trolley wires 2 attached to the connection member 3 side-by-side in the left/right direction. As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the connection member 3 of the present embodiment includes a body 31, a plurality of (three) terminals 32, and an insulation cover 33. Note that in FIG. 7A, a state where the three trolley wires 2 have already been attached is shown, and therefore, two terminals 32 of the three terminals 32 are shown.
[0072] (2-4-1) Body
The body 31 may be made of, for example, a synthetic resin. The body 31 is electrically insulating. The body 31 has a space therein.
[0073] As shown in FIGS. 7A to 8, the body 31 includes a bottom wall 310, a first side wall 311, a second side wall 312, a third side wall 313, a fourth side wall 314, a first partition wall 315, a second partition wall 316, a first attachment piece 317, and a second attachment piece 318.
[0074] The bottom wall 310 has a rectangular shape. The thickness of the bottom wall 310 is aligned with the forward/backward direction. The first side wall 311 protrudes forward from an upper end of the bottom wall 310. The second side wall 312 protrudes forward from a lower end of the bottom wall 310. The third side wall 313 protrudes forward from a left end of the bottom wall 310. The fourth side wall 314 protrudes forward from a right end of the bottom wall 310.
[0075] The first partition wall 315 and the second partition wall 316 protrude forward from positions the bottom wall 310 which are between the first side wall 311 and the second side wall 312. The thickness of the first partition wall 315 and the second partition wall 316 is aligned with the up/down direction. The first partition wall 315 and the second partition wall 316 are disposed side-by-side in the up/down direction, wherein the first partition wall 315 is upward of the second partition wall 316. Each of the first partition wall 315 and the second partition wall 316 is a partition between a space in which any one trolley wire 2 of the plurality of trolley wires 2 is to be disposed and a space in which another trolley wire 2 than the one trolley wire 2 of the plurality of trolley wires 2 is disposed.
[0076] The first attachment piece 317 protrudes leftward from the left end of the bottom wall 310. The first attachment piece 317 has a through part 3171 penetrating the first attachment piece 317 in the forward/backward direction. Similarly, the second attachment piece 318 protrudes rightward from the right end of the bottom wall 310. The second attachment piece 318 has a through part 3181 penetrating the second attachment piece 318 in the forward/backward direction. The connection member 3 is fixed to the rail by inserting a bolt into the through part 3171 or the through part 3181 and a hole formed in the rail in the facility where the trolley system 100 is used, and by inserting a bolt through a nut on a rear surface of the rail.
[0077] As shown in FIGS. 7A and 8, the body 31 includes a plurality of pairs (in the present embodiment, six pairs) of projections 319a and 319b. In other words, the six pairs of projections 319a and 319b are provided for the body 31 of the connection member 3. Note that the state where the three trolley wires 2 have already been attached is shown, and therefore, three pairs of projections 319a and 319b of the six pairs of projections 319a and 319b are omitted.
[0078] The six pairs of projections 319a and 319b are disposed on respective surfaces, which face the terminal 32, of the first side wall 311, the second side wall 312, the third side wall 313, the fourth side wall 314, the first partition wall 315, and the second partition wall 316. Each of the six pairs of projections 319a and 319b is fit in the recess 113 of the first portion 11 or the recess 123 of the second portion 12 of the end cap 1 in a state where the trolley wire 2 is attached to the connection member 3 via the end cap 1. In the present embodiment, each of the six pairs of projections 319a and 319b has a triangular shape in its cross section orthogonal to the left/right direction as shown in FIG. 8.
[0079] As a specific example, the pair of projections 319a and 319b to be fitted in an end cap 1a (see FIG. 7A) which is configured to be attached to a trolley wire 2a will be described. As shown in FIG. 8, the projection 319a is provided on a surface (a lower surface), facing the terminal 32, of the second partition wall 316, and the projection 319b is disposed on a surface (an upper surface), facing the terminal 32, of the second side wall 312. As shown in FIG. 7A, the projection 319a and the projection 319b of the pair of projections 319a and 319b are disposed spaced apart from each other in the left/right direction. In other words, the projection 319a and the projection 319b of the pair of projections 319a and 319b are disposed not to overlap each other in the up/down direction.
[0080] (2-4-2) Terminal
As shown in FIGS. 7A and 8, the terminal 32 includes the two pairs of arms 321 and 322, a coupler 323, and a holder 324. The two pairs of arms 321 and 322 and the coupler 323 may be formed from, for example, a metal plate. The holder 324 may be made of, for example, a synthetic resin. An electric power line electrically connecting the external power supply to the conductor 21 of the trolley wire 2 is attached to the terminal 32 by using, for example, a rivet and is electrically connected to the terminal 32. That is, the electric power supplied from the external power supply via the electric power line is supplied via the terminal 32 and the conductor 21 of the trolley wire 2 to the mover.
[0081] The coupler 323 has a rectangular plate shape. As shown in FIG. 8, the thickness of the coupler 323 is aligned with the forward/backward direction. As shown in FIG. 7A, one of the pair of arms 321 and 322 are disposed leftward of the center part of the coupler 323, and the other pair of the pair of arms 321 and 322 are disposed rightward of the center part of the coupler 323.
[0082] As shown in FIG. 8, the coupler 323 couples rear end parts of the two pairs of the arms 321 and 322 to each other. As shown in FIGS. 7A and 8, in a region leftward of the center part of the coupler 323, the arm 321 and the arm 322 of one of the two pairs protrude forward respectively from an upper end part and a lower end part of the coupler 323. Moreover, in a region rightward of the center part of the coupler 323, the arm 321 and the arm 322 of the other of the two pairs protrude forward respectively from the upper end part and the lower end part of the coupler 323.
[0083] The two pairs of arms 321 and 322 and the coupler 323 have spring properties. While no external force is applied to one pair of arms 321 and 322, the opening and closing port formed between the front ends of the one pair of arms 321 and 322 is closed due to the spring properties of the two pairs of arms 321 and 322 and the coupler 323.
[0084] The holder 324 is a plate member having a U-shape in its cross section orthogonal to the left/right direction. The holder 324 holds the pair of arms 321 and 322 such that the opening and closing port is in a closed state.
[0085] In the course of inserting the projection 215 of the conductor 21 into the opening and closing port between the pair of arms 321 and 322, the pair of arms 321 and 322 elastically deform in a direction to open the opening and closing port. Due to an elastically returning force of the pair of arms 321 and 322, the projection 215 is pinched between the pair of arms 321 and 322 as shown in FIG. 8. At this time, the contact 214 of the conductor 21 is not pinched between the pair of arms 321 and 322 and is located forward of the pair of arms 321 and 322.
[0086] Moreover, the terminal 32 includes the two pairs of arms 321 and 322. Of the two pairs of arms 321 and 322, one pair of, that is, first arms 321 and 322 are electrically connected via the coupler 323 to the other pair of, that is, second arms 321 and 322. The first arms 321 and 322 pinch a conductor 21 of a first trolley wire 2b of trolley wires 2b and 2c (see FIG. 7A) attached side by side in the left/right direction. The second arms 321 and 322 pinch a conductor 21 of a second trolley wire 2c of the trolley wires 2b and 2c attached side by side in the left/right direction. Thus, the terminal 32 electrically connects the conductor 21 of the first trolley wire 2b to the conductor 21 of the second trolley wire 2c.
[0087] (2-4-3) Insulation Cover
The insulation cover 33 may be made of, for example, a synthetic resin. The insulation cover 33 is electrically insulating. The insulation cover 33 has a rectangular plate shape. The thickness of the insulation cover 33 is aligned with the forward/backward direction. The conductor 21 of the trolley wire 2 is disposed forward of the insulation cover 33. In the present embodiment, the conductors 21 of the plurality of trolley wires 2 are disposed forward of the insulation cover 33. An electric power line (not shown) electrically connecting the external power supply to the conductors 21 of the trolley wires 2 is disposed backward of the insulation cover 33. That is, the insulation cover 33 is disposed between the electric power line and the conductors 21 of the trolley wires 2.
[0088] The insulation cover 33 is disposed between the first side wall 311 and the second side wall 312. The insulation cover 33 is fitted to the first partition wall 315 and the second partition wall 316.
[0089] (3) Installation Method
Next, an example of a procedure of installing the trolley wire 2 in a facility such as a distribution warehouse or a factory will be described. Note that the order of the following steps may accordingly be chanced. Moreover, a step(s) may accordingly be added or omitted. Note that in the following description, it is assumed that at a time point at which the trolley wire 2 is manufactured in a factory, the end of the trolley wire 2 manufactured to have a prescribed length is provided with the covering member 22 to expose the conductor 21, and the end cap 1 is attached.
[0090] (3-1) Method for Attaching End Cap to Trolley Wire
A worker, first of all, adjusts the trolley wire 2 to an arbitrary length in accordance with a facility in which the trolley wire 2 is to be installed or an application of the trolley wire 2. That is, the worker detaches the end cap 1 from the trolley wire 2 in the axial direction of the trolley wire 2 (i.e., in a direction aligned with the arrow X2) as shown in FIG. 3A and cuts the trolley wire 2 to the arbitrary length by using a tool to remove an unnecessary portion of the trolley wire 2 as shown in FIG. 3B. Note that an arrow X3 of FIG. 3B shows removal of the unnecessary portion of the trolley wire 2 in a simplified manner, and a direction in which the unnecessary portion is removed is not limited to the direction indicated by the arrow X3.
[0091] Then, the worker strips the covering member 22 in the axial direction of the trolley wire 2 (i.e., in a direction indicated by an arrow X4) by using a tool to completely expose part of the conductor 21 as shown in FIG. 3C, the part being a necessary part to which the end cap 1 is to be attached. Thus, after stripping the covering member 22, the worker attaches the end cap 1 to the exposed part of the conductor 21 in the axial direction (i.e., in a direction indicated by an arrow X5) of the trolley wire 2 as shown in FIG. 3D.
[0092] Note that two dotted lines in FIG. 3 are each shown merely to facilitate the understanding of the location where the trolley wire 2 is cut to the arbitrary length and the location where the covering member 22 is stripped, and the two dotted lines are intangible.
[0093] (3-2) Method for Attaching Trolley Wire to Connection Member
After attaching the end cap to the trolley wire as described above, the worker moves the plurality of trolley wires 2 (e.g., the trolley wires 2a show in FIG. 7A) such that the plurality of trolley wires 2 are pushed against the connection member 3 from the front of the connection member 3 (i.e., in a direction indicated by an arrow X6 shown in FIG. 7A).Thus, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the plurality of trolley wires 2 are inserted in the connection member 3.
[0094] Moreover, when the trolley wire 2 is inserted into the connection member 3, as shown in FIG. 8, the projection 215 of the conductor 21 is pinched by the terminal 32. That is, the pair of arms 321 and 322 pinch the conductor 21 in the longitudinal direction of the conductor 21, the conductor 21 being inserted into the opening and closing port formed between the front ends of the pair of arms 321 and 322 from the front of the opening and closing port. More specifically, the pair of arms 321 and 322 pinch the conductor 21 which is inserted into the opening and closing port from the front of the opening and closing port while the longitudinal direction of the conductor 21 is aligned with the left/right direction.
[0095] The installation is completed when the worker has inserted all of the trolley wires 2 into the connection member 3.
[0096] (4) Advantages
The conventional trolley wire requires, at the time of adjusting the insulated trolley wire to an arbitrary length, the covering member at the end of the trolley wire to be processed such that a connection member for supplying electric power to the conductor of the trolley wire can be electrically connected to the conductor. Specifically, the covering member has to be processed such that at the end of the trolley wire, the rear surface of the conductor is exposed and the front surface of the conductor is covered with the covering member. Processing of the covering member at the time of adjusting the trolley wire to the arbitrary length is complex, and the level of difficulty in the processing is thus high. Therefore, the conventional trolley wire has the problem that adjusting the length of the trolley wire is not easy.
[0097] In the present embodiment, however, the method described in “(3-1) Method for Attaching End Cap to Trolley Wire” enables the trolley wire 2 to be adjusted to an arbitrary length. That is, at the time of adjusting the trolley wire 2 to the arbitrary length, the difficult processing of the covering member 22 does not have to be performed on the end of the trolley wire 2, and simply attaching the end cap 1 to the end of the trolley wire 2 exposes the rear surface 211 and the side surface 213 of the conductor 21 and covers part of the front surface 212 of the conductor 21 with the end cap 1. That is, in the trolley system 100 of the present embodiment, the length of the trolley wire 2 can be easily adjusted. In other words, the end cap 1 of the present embodiment has the advantage of facilitating adjustment of the length of the trolley wire 2.
[0098] (5) Variations
The embodiment described above is a mere example of various embodiments of the present disclosure. The embodiment described above may be modified variously depending on design or the like as long as the object of the present disclosure is achieved. Variations described below may accordingly be implemented in combination. The variations described below may accordingly be combined with each other. Similar components to those in the embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference signs as those in the embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.
[0099] (5-1) Variation
As shown in FIG. 9, a plurality of (three) trolley wires 2A may be provided, and covering members 22A of the plurality of trolley wires 2A may be integrally formed. In this case, respective end caps attached to the plurality of trolley wires 2A may be integrally formed as an end cap 1A.
[0100] More specifically, the end cap 1A includes a plurality of (three) first portions 11A, a plurality of (three) second portions 12A, and a plurality of (three) third portions 13A. A plurality of (three) sets S1 to S3 each including the first portion 11A, the second portion 12A, and the third portion 13A are assigned to the plurality of trolley wires 2A on a one-to-one basis. Each of the sets S1 to S3 each including the first portion 11A, the second portion 12A, and the third portion 13A is attached to an associated one of the trolley wires 2A. This configuration provides the effect that the end cap 1A can be attached to the plurality of trolley wires 2A in one process. That is, there is the advantage that the end cap 1A can be attached to the trolley wires 2A quickly as compared with the case where respective end caps which are to be attached to the plurality of trolley wires are separately formed.
[0101] More specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the first portion 11A, the second portion 12A, and the third portion 13A included in the set S1 are attached to a first trolley wire 2Aa from the top of the three trolley wires 2A aligned in the up/down direction. Similarly, the first portion 11A, the second portion 12A, and the third portion 13A included in the set S2 are attached to a second trolley wire 2Ab from the top of the three trolley wires 2A aligned in the up/down direction. Moreover, the first portion 11A, the second portion 12A, and the third portion 13A included in the set S3 are attached to a third trolley wire 2Ac from the top of the three trolley wires 2A aligned in the up/down direction.
[0102] In the end cap 1A, a lower end of a flange 112b of the first portion 11A and a lower end of a flange 122b of the second portion 12A included in the set S1 are respectively connected to an upper end of a flange 112a of the first portion 11A and an upper end of a flange 122a of the second portion 12A included in the set S2. Similarly, a lower end of a flange 112b in the first portion 11A and a lower end of a flange 122b of the second portion 12A included in the set S2 are respectively connected to an upper end of a flange 112a of the first portion 11A and an upper end of a flange 122a of the second portion 12A included in the set S3.
[0103] (5-2) Other Variations
Other variations of the embodiment described above will be enumerated below. The variations described below may accordingly be combined with each other.
[0104] In the embodiment described above, the end cap 1 includes the first portion 11, the second portion 12, and the third portion 13. However, the end cap 1 may include only the first portion 11 and the second portion 12. That is, the end cap 1 does not have to include the third portion 13.
[0105] In the embodiment described above, the first portion 11 covers the entirety of the rear surface 211 and the entirety of the side surface 213 of the conductor 21 of the trolley wire 2. However, it suffices that the first portion 11 include at least one of the rear surface 211 or the side surface 213 of the conductor 21. Moreover, the first portion 11 may cover part of the rear surface 211 or may cover part of the side surface 213 of the conductor 21. In sum, it suffices that the first portion 11 covers at least one of: part or the entirety of the rear surface 211; or part or the entirety of the side surface 213, of the conductor 21 of the trolley wire 2. In other words, it suffices that the first portion 11 covers at least one of: at least part of the rear surface 211, or at least part of the side surface 213, of the conductor 21 of the trolley wire 2.
[0106] In the embodiment described above, the second portion 12 exposes the entirety of the rear surface 211 and the entirety of the side surface 213 of the conductor 21 and covers part of the front surface 212 (more specifically, an upper portion and a lower portion of the front surface 212) of the conductor 21 of the trolley wire 2. However, it suffices that the second portion 12 exposes at least part of the rear surface 211 of the conductor 21 and covers at least part of the front surface 212 of the conductor 21 of the trolley wire 2.
[0107] Moreover, in the embodiment described above, the first portion 11 includes the flange 112, and the second portion 12 includes the flange 122. However, it suffices that at least one of the first portion 11 or the second portion 12 includes the flange 112 or 122, respectively.
[0108] Moreover, in the embodiment described above, the first portion 11 includes two flanges 112, and the second portion 12 includes two flanges 122. However, the first portion 11 may include one flange 112 or three or more flanges 112, and the second portion 12 may include one flange 122 or three or more flanges 122. That is, each of the number of the flanges 112 and the number of flanges 122 is not limited to a particular number.
[0109] In the embodiment described above, the shape of the conductor 21 of the trolley wire 2 is a substantially T-shape but may be a rectangular shape or a triangular shape in its cross section orthogonal to the left/right direction. That is, the shape of the conductor 21 in its cross section orthogonal to the left/right direction is not limited to a particular shape.
[0110] The trolley system 100 is not limited to a contact-type power feeding system which comes into contact with a mover to feed power to the mover. The trolley system 100 may be a non-contact-type power feeding system which feeds power to the mover without coming into contact with the mover.
[0111] In the embodiment described above, the trolley system 100 includes six trolley wires 2 but may include less than six trolley wires 2 or seven or more trolley wires. That is, the number of the trolley wires 2 included in the trolley system 100 is not limited to a particular value. Note that the number of end caps 1 included in the trolley system 100 preferably correspond to the number of trolley wires 2.
[0112] Moreover, in the embodiment described above, the trolley system 100 includes one connection member 3 but may include two or more connection members 3. That is, the number of connection members 3 included in the trolley system 100 is not limited to a particular value.
[0113] In the embodiment described above, the connection member 3 supplies electric power to the conductors 21 of the trolley wires 2 attached thereto from an external power supply via an electric power line and electrically connects to each other the conductors 21 of the two trolley wires 2 aligned side by side in the left/right direction. However, the connection member 3 supplies electric power to the conductors 21 of the trolley wires 2 attached thereto from an external power supply via an electric power line, but the connection member 3 does not have to electrically connect to each other the conductors 21 of the two trolley wires 2 aligned side by side in the left/right direction. That is, the connection member 3 may function only as a terminal end member of the trolley system 100. Moreover, the connection member 3 electrically connects to each other the conductors 21 of the two trolley wires 2 aligned side by side in the left/right direction, but the connection member 3 does not have to supply electric power to the conductors 21 of the trolley wires 2 attached thereto from an external power supply via an electric power line. That is, the connection member 3 may function only as a joint of the trolley system 100.
[0114] (Summary)
An end cap (1, 1A) of a first aspect is an end cap configured to be attached to an end of a trolley wire (2, 2A) including a conductor (21) and a covering member (22, 22A). The conductor (21) is electrically connected to a mover which is movable. The conductor (21) is a supply path of electric power to the mover. The covering member (22, 22A) is electrically insulating. The covering member (22, 22A) covers at least part of the conductor (21) and exposes the conductor (21) at the end of the trolley wire (2, 2A). The end cap (1, 1A) includes a first portion (11, 11A) and a second portion (12, 12A). The first portion (11, 11A) is configured to, in a state where the end cap (1, 1A) is attached to the conductor (21), cover at least one of: part or an entirety of a rear surface (211) of the conductor (21); or part or an entirety of a side surface (213) of the conductor (21), the side surface (213) connecting the rear surface (211) to a front surface (212) of the conductor (21), the front surface (212) being on an opposite side of the rear surface (211). The second portion (12, 12A) is configured to, in a state where the end cap (1, 1A) is attached to the conductor (21), expose at least part of the rear surface (211) of the conductor (21) and cover at least of the front surface (212) of the conductor (21).
[0115] This aspect has the advantage that the length of the trolley wire (2, 2A) is facilitated to be adjusted.
[0116] In an end cap (1, 1A) of a second aspect referring to the first aspect, the first portion (11, 11A) and the second portion (12, 12A) are detachably attachable to the conductor (21).
[0117] This aspect has the advantage that the length of the trolley wire (2, 2A) is facilitated to be adjusted.
[0118] In an end cap (1, 1A) of a third aspect referring to the first or second aspect, at least one of the first portion (11, 11A) or the second portion (12, 12A) includes a flange (112, 122) configured to come into contact with a front surface (212) of the conductor (21).
[0119] This aspect has the advantage that the trolley wire (2, 2A) to which the end cap 1 has been attached is facilitated to be pushed from the front of a connection member (3) against the connection member (3).
[0120] In an end cap (1, 1A) of a fourth aspect referring to the third aspect, at least part of a front surface (1120) of the flange (112, 122) is configured to intersect a forward/backward direction of the conductor (21).
[0121] This aspect has the advantage that the trolley wire (2, 2A) to which the end cap (1) has been attached is further facilitated to be pushed from the front of a connection member (3) against the connection member (3).
[0122] In an end cap (1, 1A) of a fifth aspect referring to the fourth aspect, the flange (112, 122) includes a plate (1122a, 1122b, 1222a, 1222b). A thickness of the plate (1122a, 1122b, 1222a, 1222b) is aligned with the forward/backward direction of the conductor (21) in a state where the end cap (1, 1A) is attached to the conductor (21).
[0123] This aspect has the advantage that without complexing the structure of the flange (112, 122), the trolley wire (2, 2A) to which the end cap has been attached is further facilitated to be pushed from the front of a connection member (3) against the connection member (3).
[0124] In an end cap (1, 1A) of a sixth aspect referring to any one of the third to fifth aspects, the trolley wire (2, 2A) is elongated. At least one of the first portion (11, 11A) or the second portion (12, 12A) includes a plurality of the flanges (112, 122). The flanges (112, 122) are aligned side by side in a short direction of the trolley wire (2, 2A). A gap between the flanges (112, 122) in the short direction is smaller than a dimension of the front surface (212) of the conductor (21) in the short direction.
[0125] This aspect has the advantage of reducing the possibility that a finger or the like of a worker comes into contact with the conductor (21).
[0126] An end cap (1, 1A) of a seventh aspect referring to any one of the first to sixth aspects further includes a third portion (13, 13A) configured to, in a state where the third portion (13, 13A) is attached to the conductor (21), cover at least part of the covering member (22, 22A).
[0127] This aspect has the advantages of improving the insulation performance of the trolley wire (2, 2A).
[0128] In an end cap (1, 1A) of an eighth aspect referring to any one of the first to seventh aspects, at least one of the first portion (11, 11A) or the second portion (12, 12A) has a recess (113, 123), and a projection (319a, 319b) provided for a connection member (3) is fitted in the recess (113, 123) in a state where the end cap (1, 1A) is attached to the conductor (21), the connection member (3) being a member on which the trolley wire (2, 2A) is installed.
[0129] This aspect has the advantage that the trolley wire (2, 2A) can be suppressed from falling off from the connection member (3) due to vibration or the like.
[0130] In an end cap (1A) of a ninth aspect referring to any one of the first to eighth aspects, the end cap (1A) includes a plurality of sets (S1, S2, S3) each including the first portion (11A) and the second portion (12A). The plurality of sets (S1, S2, S3) are associated to a plurality of the trolley wires (2A) on a one-to-one basis.
[0131] This aspect has the advantage that the end cap (1A) can be quickly attached to the trolley wires (2A) as compared with the case where a plurality of end caps which are to be attached to the trolley wires (2A) on a one-to-one basis are individually formed.
[0132] A trolley system (100) of a tenth aspect includes the end cap of any one of the first to ninth aspects, a trolley wire (2, 2A), and a connection member (3). The trolley wire (2, 2A) includes a conductor (21) and a covering member (22, 22A). On the connection member (3), the trolley wire (2, 2A) is to be installed.
[0133] This aspect has the advantage that the trolley system configured to easily adjust the length of the trolley wire (2, 2A) can be provided.

Reference Signs List
[0134] 100 Trolley System
1, 1A End Cap
2, 2A Trolley Wire
21 Conductor
211 Rear Surface
212 Front Surface
213 Side Surface
22, 22A Covering Member
3 Connection Member
319a, 319b Projection
11, 11A First Portion
112:112a, 112b Flange
1122a, 1122b Plate
113:113a, 113b Recess
12, 12A Second Portion
122:122a, 122b Flange
123:123a, 123b Recess
1222a, 1222b Plate
13, 13A Third Portion
S1, S2, S3 Set
Y11, Y12 Gap
Y2 Dimension
, Claims:
1. An end cap (1, 1A) configured to be attached to an end of a trolley wire (2, 2A) including a conductor (21) and a covering member (22, 22A), the conductor (21) being electrically connected to a mover which is movable, the conductor being a supply path of electric power to the mover, the covering member (22, 22A) being electrically insulating, the covering member (22, 22A) covering at least part of the conductor (21) and exposing the conductor (22) at the end of the trolley wire (2, 2A), the end cap (1, 1A) comprising:
a first portion (11, 11A) configured to, in a state where the end cap (1, 1A) is attached to the conductor (21), cover at least one of
part or an entirety of a rear surface (211) of the conductor (21), or
part or an entirety of a side surface (213) of the conductor(21), the side surface connecting the rear surface (211) to a front surface (212) of the conductor (21), the front surface (212) being on an opposite side of the rear surface (211); and
a second portion (12, 12A) configured to, in a state where the end cap (1, 1A) is attached to the conductor (21), expose at least part of the rear surface (211) of the conductor (21) and cover at least of the front surface (212) of the conductor (21).

2. The end cap (1, 1A) of claim 1, wherein
the first portion (11, 11A) and the second portion (12, 12A) are detachably attachable to the conductor (21).

3. The end cap (1, 1A) of claim 1 or 2, wherein
at least one of the first portion (11, 11A) or the second portion (12, 12A) includes a flange (112, 122) configured to come into contact with a front surface (212) of the conductor (21).

4. The end cap (1, 1A) of claim 3, wherein
at least part of a front surface (1120) of the flange (112, 122) is configured to intersect a forward/backward direction of the conductor (21).

5. The end cap (1, 1A) of claim 4, wherein
the flange (112, 122) includes a plate (1122a, 1122b, 1222a, 1222b), and
a thickness of the plate (1122a, 1122b, 1222a, 1222b) is aligned with the forward/backward direction of the conductor (21) in a state where the end cap (1, 1A) is attached to the conductor (21).

6. The end cap (1, 1A) of any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein
the trolley wire (2, 2A) is elongated,
the at least one of the first portion (11, 11A) or the second portion (12, 12A) includes a plurality of the flanges (112, 122),
the flanges (112, 122) are aligned side by side in a short direction of the trolley wire (2, 2A), and
a gap between the flanges (112, 122) in the short direction is smaller than a dimension of the front surface (212) of the conductor (21) in the short direction.

7. The end cap (1, 1A) of any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a third portion (13, 13A) configured to, in a state where the end cap (1, 1A) is attached to the conductor, cover at least part of the covering member (22, 22A).

8. The end cap (1, 1A) of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein
at least one of the first portion (11, 11A) or the second portion (12, 12A) has a recess (113, 123), and a projection (319a, 319b) provided for a connection member (3) is fitted in the recess (113, 123) in a state where the end cap (1, 1A) is attached to the conductor (21), the connection member (3) being a member on which the trolley wire (2, 2A) is installed.

9. The end cap (1A) of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein
the end cap (1A) includes a plurality of sets (S1, S2, S3) each including the first portion (11A) and the second portion (12A), and
the plurality of sets (S1, S2, S3) are associated with a plurality of the trolley wires (2A) on a one-to-one basis.

10. A trolley system (100) comprising:
the end cap (1, 1A) of any one of claims 1 to 9;
the trolley wire (2, 2A) including the conductor (21) and the covering member (22, 22A); and
a connection member (3) on which the trolley wire (2, 2A) is to be installed.