Multi-directional high current slip ring
AssigneeBAE Systems Land & Armaments L.P.
InventorsBrent J. Weyer, Jeffrey F. Kezar
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is an electrical slip ring device comprised of a stator, a rotor and an independent rotationally free brush ring. The brush ring may include a multitude of slipping fingers, chevrons or other current carrying structures that extend between the rotor and the stator. These current carrying structures have a directional bias or “lay”. The rotational freedom of the brush ring enables bi-directional movement of the rotor with reduced torque and wear at the sliding interfaces because sliding always occurs in the direction of the lay.
Claims13
A high-current bi-directional slip ring comprising;
- a rotor assembly;
- a stator assembly;
- and
- an independent brush ring assembly, said brush ring assembly including a brush ring support structure for maintaining a plurality of brushes in alignment with the rotor assembly and the stator assembly, the brushes having a lay that promotes movement of the brush ring assembly independent of the rotor and the stator.
A method for enabling a high electrical current transfer across a rotational axis of motion that alternates between clockwise and counter clockwise operation, the method comprising;
- inserting an independent brush ring assembly between a rotor assembly and a stator assembly;
- mounting a plurality of brushes in alignment with the rotor assembly and the stator assembly on the brush ring;
- and
- angling the brushes to form a lay that promotes movement of the brush ring assembly independent of the rotor and the stator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.