US 4,284,918 A · Porous interface stabilized liquid metal current collector

Abstract

A homopolar machine comprises a stator provided with channel structures caining liquid metal, a rotor concentrically positioned within the stator with circumferential rotor flanges disposed in the channels, and a porous, resilient braided structure slidably positioned in the channels and immersed in the liquid metal to provide a circumferential wetted surface in intimate contact with the peripheral flange surface. The braided structure comprises a longitudinal strip of braided material supported along its longitudinal edge portions by crimped edges of a braid holder such that the central portion of the braided material is resiliently biased toward the peripheral flange surface. The crimped edges of the braid holder are designed to slide into conforming grooves in the stator channel to facilitate easy replacement of the braided structures. Additional resilience is provided by an additional braided element disposed between the braided material and the braid holder.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A homopolar electrical machine comprising:

a stator having an inner surface with channels formed therein, each said channel including radial sidewalls and a bottom surface portion;
a rotor concentrically positioned within said stator, said rotor including outwardly projecting flanges, each of said flanges extending into a respective channel in said stator and being spaced from said radially extending sidewalls and said bottom portion;
liquid metal disposed in each said channel for making electrical contact between said flange and said channel;
a porous means removably secured in said channels and immersed in said liquid metal for maintaining said liquid metal in contact with said flanges;
means for removably securing said porous means in said channels;
said porous means comprises a porous, compliant strip of resilient material and a support means supporting said strip of material along its longitudinal edge portions such that the central longitudinal portion of said strip of material is resiliently biased toward the peripheral surface of said flange;
said strip of material comprises a porous material of woven filaments to provide a plurality of interstices therein and said support means comprises a holder element for said material having longitudinal edge portions crimped around respective said longitudinal edge portions of said strip of material to maintain said central portion in the biased position;
and
said means for securing said porous means includes grooves formed in opposite sidewalls of said channels and said longitudinal crimped edges of said holder element are dimensioned to slidably engage said grooves and to maintain said strip of material in a fixed position.

6 more elements

A homopolar electrical machine comprises:

a cylindrical stator having an inner surface with channels formed therein;
a rotor concentrically positioned within said stator, said rotor including radial flanges extending into said channels and being spaced from the walls of said channels;
liquid metal disposed in said channels for making electrical contact between said flanges and the walls of said channels;
and
a porous means removably secured in said channels for maintaining said liquid metal in contact with said flanges, said porous means comprises an elongated strip of pourous, resilient material secured to an elongated holder element, and the longitudinal edges of said holder element slidably engaging the walls of said channels for maintaining said holder element and said strip of material in a fixed position.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Porous interface stabilized liquid metal current collector

Life of this patent

Porous interface stabilized liquid metal current collector

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14