Systems and methods to mitigate electrical voltage on a rotating shaft immersed in oil
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsMatthew Roman, Richard Nye
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods to mitigate electrical voltage on a rotating shaft in an oil rich environment exposed to a viscous fluid or immersed in oil are disclosed. An example grounding brush assembly includes a plurality of conductive filaments configured to extend through the viscous medium surrounding the rotating shaft to be in electrical contact with the rotating shaft when the brush assembly is disposed proximate the shaft.
Claims20
A grounding brush assembly to mitigate electric current in a rotating shaft in the presence of a viscous medium, the grounding brush assembly comprising a first conductive filament having a first length and a second conductive filament having a second length, the first and second conductive filaments extending in a common direction radially inward toward the rotating shaft,
- wherein the first and second conductive filaments are configured to extend through the viscous medium surrounding the rotating shaft to be in physical and electrical contact with the rotating shaft when the brush assembly is disposed proximate the rotating shaft.
A grounding brush assembly to mitigate electric current in a rotating shaft in the presence of an oil, the grounding brush assembly comprising:
- a first plurality of conductive filaments having a first length and a first stiffness;
- and
- a second plurality of conductive filaments having a second length and a second stiffness, wherein the first and second plurality of conductive filaments are configured to extend in a common direction radially inward toward the rotating shaft through the oil to be in physical contact and electrical continuity with the rotating shaft when the brush assembly is disposed proximate the rotating shaft.
A brush assembly to distribute a fluid lubricant about a rotating shaft, wherein the brush assembly comprises:
- a body having an inner channel;
- a first plurality of filaments having a first length distributed along a first radial position within the channel;
- and
- a second plurality of filaments having a second length distributed along a second radial position within the channel,
- wherein the first and second plurality of filaments are configured to extend in a common direction radially inward toward the rotating shaft and to physically contact and maintain electrical continuity with the rotating shaft when the brush assembly is disposed proximate the rotating shaft to generate a pressure in the fluid lubricant to distribute the fluid lubricant about the rotating shaft in a film having a threshold thickness.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.