Rotary conduit/ball connector
AssigneeRaytheon Company
InventorMohi Sobhani
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rotary connector that transfers electrical power and signals using conductive metallic balls confined by a nonmetallic spacer and conductive conduits that are formed on two opposed metal-backed printed wiring boards. The rotary connector transfers electrical signals and power from a stationary printed wiring board to a moving printed wiring board by way of the conductive balls disposed in some or all openings of the conductive conduits. Nonconductive balls may be used in some of the openings. The use of a relatively large number of balls disposed in the openings of the nonmetallic spacer mechanically balance the connector. The connector is sealed and its interior contains nonconductive lubricant to lubricate the balls and conduits.
Claims7
A rotary connector comprising:
- first and second printed wiring boards that each comprise a dielectric layer having a metal backing layer, and a plurality of concentric conductive conduits disposed adjacent one surface of the dielectric layer, and wherein the conduits of the respective printed wiring boards face each other;
- a plurality of electrical conductors coupled to selected ones of the conduits;
- a nonmetallic spacer disposed between the respective printed wiring boards having pluralities of openings therein that are aligned with the respective conduits of the printed wiring boards;
- a plurality of conductive balls disposed in a selected plurality of openings of the nonmetallic spacer that contact opposed conduits of the respective printed wiring boards;
- a sealing member for sealing the rotary connector;
- and
- nonconductive lubricant disposed within the rotary connector that lubricates the conductive balls and conduits.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.