US 12,377,732 B2
Electrical shunt apparatus and system
Travis McMahan, Honea Path, SC (US); Steven J. Knox, II, Pittsburgh, PA (US); Gary Piotrowski, Greenville, SC (US); and Stacy Neil Smith, Simpsonville, SC (US)
Assigned to Transportation IP Holdings, LLC, Norwalk, CT (US)
Filed by Transportation IP Holdings, LLC, Norwalk, CT (US)
Filed on Jan. 21, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/580,858.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/151,498, filed on Feb. 19, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0266696 A1, Aug. 25, 2022
Int. Cl. B60L 5/38 (2006.01)
CPC B60L 5/38 (2013.01) 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A shunt apparatus comprising:
a mounting bracket assembly configured for connection to a vehicle;
an actuator connected to the mounting bracket assembly; and
a shoe unit comprising a biasing assembly connected to the actuator and a conductive shoe attached to the biasing assembly,
wherein the actuator is controllable to selectively move the shoe unit from a retracted position to an extended position, wherein the conductive shoe is configured to be positioned to contact a conductive first running surface on which the vehicle travels while the shunt apparatus is connected to the vehicle for use and the shoe unit is in the extended position, for an electrical connection between the shoe and the first running surface, and wherein the biasing assembly is configured to exert a force on the shoe for pressing the shoe against the first running surface during movement of the vehicle,
wherein the biasing assembly of the shoe unit comprises a support member connected to the actuator and at least two torsion units, each torsion unit respectively comprising a torsional elastic member connected to the support member and a pair of pivot arms, wherein first ends of the pivot arms are connected to the torsional elastic member, and the conductive shoe is pivotally attached to second ends of the pivot arms.