Sliding contact
AssigneeABB Power TD & Company
InventorRuben D. Garzon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sliding contact comprises a stationary contact member having an opening extending therethrough and a movable contact member, at least a portion of which is disposed within the opening. Conductive bearing means are disposed within the opening between the stationary contact member and the movable contact member for supporting the movable contact member within the opening and for maintaining an electrical connection between the movable contact member and the stationary contact member. Preferably, the conductive bearing means comprises a plurality of conductive ball bearings.
Claims7
A sliding contact comprising:
- a stationary contact member having an opening extending therethrough;
- a movable contact member, at least a portion of which is disposed within said opening;
- and
- conductive bearing means disposed within said opening between said stationary contact member and said movable contact member for supporting said movable contact member within said opening and for maintaining an electrical connection between said movable contact member and said stationary contact member as said movable contact member slides within said opening over said bearing means;
- said stationary contact member having means mounted thereon for adjustably imparting a force on said conductive bearing means to urge said bearing means against said movable contact member;
- said force imparting means comprising a plurality of pressure plates pivotally mounted on said stationary contact member proximate the opening thereof, each of said pressure plates being operable to pivot against said bearing means thereby urging said bearing means against said movable contact member.
A sliding contact comprising:
- a stationary contact member having a cylindrical opening extending therethrough, at least one end of said opening being beveled;
- a plurality of pressure plates each pivotally mounted on said stationary contact member with their distal ends disposed proximate the beveled end of said opening and positioned in a ring about said beveled end, the distal end of each pressure plate being beveled, the beveled ends of each pressure plate cooperating with the beveled end of said opening to form an annular channel about said opening;
- a cylindrical movable contact member, at least a portion of which is disposed within said opening;
- and
- a plurality of conductive ball bearings each partially disposed within said annular channel and forming a ring about said movable contact member, said conductive ball bearings supporting said movable contact member within said opening and forming an electrical connection between said movable contact member and said stationary contact member, said movable contact member being operable to slide linearly in said opening over said conductive ball bearings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.