Floating electrical contact for spindle motor

A low-friction rotary electrical connector for providing a controlled-resistance electrical path between a first element of an electrical device, which rotates with respect to a second element of said device, and said second element, the connector comprising:

• an electrically conductive contact means disposed upon said first element of said device and substantially at the axis of rotation of said first element;
• a preloading means for urging said contact means into substantial electrical contact with said first element;
• a substantially electrically conductive housing means disposed upon said second element of said device, centered substantially at the axis of rotation of said first element, said housing means in substantial electrical contact with said second element and defining a cavity means therein, said cavity means defining an opening facing said first element and further centered substantially at the axis of rotation of said first element;
• a quantity of electrically conductive fluid disposed within said cavity in said housing means, and in substantial electrical contact with said housing means;
• and
• said contact means disposed through said opening in said cavity means and in substantial electrical contact with said conductive fluid therein.

A low-friction rotary electrical connector for providing a controlled-resistance electrical path between a first element of an electrical device, which rotates with respect to a second element of said device, and said second element, the connector comprising:

• an electrically conductive contact means formed integrally with said first element of said device and substantially at the axis of rotation of said first element;
• a substantially electrically conductive housing means disposed upon said second element of said device, centered substantially at the axis of rotation of said first element, said housing means in substantial electrical contact with said second element and defining a cavity means therein, said cavity means defining an opening facing said first element and further centered substantially at the axis of rotation of said first element;
• a quantity of electrically conductive fluid disposed within said cavity in said housing means, and in substantial electrical contact with said housing means;
• and
• said contact means disposed through said opening in said cavity means and in substantial electrical contact with said conductive fluid therein.

A low-friction rotary electrical connector for providing a controlled-resistance electrical path between a first element of an electric motor, which rotates with respect to a second element of said motor, and said second element, the connector comprising:

• a contact element disposed upon said first element of said device and substantially at the axis of rotation of said first element;
• a preloading device for urging said contact element into substantial electrical contact with said first element;
• a substantially electrically conductive housing disposed upon said second element of said motor, centered substantially at the axis of rotation of said first element, said housing in substantial electrical contact with said second element and defining a cavity means therein, said cavity means defining an opening facing said first element and further centered substantially at the axis of rotation of said first element;
• a quantity of electrically conductive fluid disposed within said cavity in said housing, and in substantial electrical contact with said housing;
• and
• said contact element disposed through said opening in said cavity and in substantial electrical contact with said conductive fluid therein.

A low-friction rotary electrical connector for providing a controlled-resistance electrical path between a first element of an electric motor, which rotates with respect to a second element of said motor, and said second element, the connector comprising:

• a contact element formed integrally with said first element of said device and substantially at the axis of rotation of said first element;
• a substantially electrically conductive housing disposed upon said second element of said motor, centered substantially at the axis of rotation of said first element, said housing in substantial electrical contact with said second element and defining a cavity means therein, said cavity means defining an opening facing said first element and further centered substantially at the axis of rotation of said first element;
• a quantity of electrically conductive fluid disposed within said cavity in said housing, and in substantial electrical contact with said housing;
• and
• said contact element disposed through said opening in said cavity and in substantial electrical contact with said conductive fluid therein.

A method of providing a low-friction, controlled-resistance electrical path between a first element of an electrical device, which rotates with respect to a second element of said device, and said second element, the method comprising the steps of:

• disposing an electrically conductive contact means upon said first element of said device and substantially at the axis of rotation of said first element;
• urging, with a preloading means, said contact means into substantial electrical contact with said first element;
• disposing a substantially electrically conductive housing means upon said second element of said device, said housing means centered substantially at the axis of rotation of said first element and in substantial electrical contact with said second element and defining a cavity means therein, said cavity means defining an opening facing said first element and further centered substantially at the axis of rotation of said first element;
• disposing a quantity of electrically conductive fluid within said cavity in said housing means, and in substantial electrical contact with said housing means;
• and
• disposing said contact means through said opening in said cavity means and in substantial electrical contact with said conductive fluid therein.

A method of providing a low-friction, controlled-resistance electrical path between a first element of an electrical device, which rotates with respect to a second element of said device, and said second element, the method comprising the steps of:

• forming an electrically conductive contact means integrally with said first element of said device and substantially at the axis of rotation of said first element;
• disposing a substantially electrically conductive housing means upon said second element of said device, said housing means centered substantially at the axis of rotation of said first element and in substantial electrical contact with said second element and defining a cavity means therein, said cavity means defining an opening facing said first element and further centered substantially at the axis of rotation of said first element;
• disposing a quantity of electrically conductive fluid within said cavity in said housing means, and in substantial electrical contact with said housing means;
• and
• disposing said contact means through said opening in said cavity means and in substantial electrical contact with said conductive fluid therein.

A low-friction rotary electrical connector for providing a controlled-resistance electrical path between a first element of an electric motor, which rotates with respect to a second element of said motor, and said second element, the connector comprising:

• said first element of said motor defining therein a coaxial chamber, substantially at the axis of rotation of said first element;
• a magnet disposed within said chamber;
• a spherical electrical contact element formed of magnetic material, and urged into mechanical and electrical contact with said first element by magnetic attraction of said magnet, thereby forming a linear contact between said contact element and a perimeter formed by said coaxial chamber and said first element.
• a substantially electrically conductive housing disposed upon said second element of said motor, centered substantially at the axis of rotation of said first element, said housing in substantial electrical contact with said second element and defining a cavity therein, said cavity defining an opening facing said first element and further centered substantially at the axis of rotation of said first element;
• a quantity of electrically conductive grease disposed within said cavity in said housing, and in substantial electrical contact with said housing;
• and
• said contact element disposed through said opening in said cavity and in substantial electrical contact with said conductive grease therein.