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AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsWilliam A. Lynch, Neal A. Sondergaard
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The present invention's unique utilization of an electrolytic solution renders more efficient the conduction of electricity between two objects (such as two parts of electrical or electromechanical machinery) in relative motion. According to typical inventive practice, the electrolytic solution is a “strong” electrolytic solution of a “dual-valance” nature, including two compatible solute compounds containing electron donor ions and electron acceptor ions. When inventively implemented at the current collector interface, the electrolytic solution serves to improve current transfer across the interface. During machine operation in which a brush (e.g., fiber brush) slidingly contacts a first machine part while being affixed to a second machine part, the inventive additive represents an auxiliary vehicle for conducting electrical current from one machine part to the other machine part. Among the benefits of inventive practice are reduced conduction power losses, reduced friction power losses, and reduced wear rate.
Apparatus for conducting electricity between two objects that are moving relative to each other, said apparatus comprising a brush and an electrolytic solution, said brush being capable of electronic conduction of electricity between two objects while said brush is fixed with respect to the first said object and is in sliding contact at an interface of said brush with respect to the second said object, said electrolytic solution being capable of ionic conduction of electricity between said brush and the second said object while said electrolytic solution is situated at said interface, said apparatus thereby effecting an overall conduction of electricity between said objects that represents the sum of said electronic conduction and said ionic conduction.
The combination comprising electronic conduction means and ionic conduction means, said electronic conduction means including plural fibers for effecting electronic conduction during relatively moving contact of said fibers with a structure, said contact of at least some said fibers being characterized by intermittency associated with the relatively moving nature of said contact along with surface roughness characterizing said structure, said electronic conduction being characterized by discontinuity associated with said intermittency, said ionic conduction means including a strong electrolytic solution for effecting ionic conduction when placed in the vicinity of said contact, said ionic conduction supplementing said electronic conduction so as to promote the constancy of the overall conduction of electricity, said overall conduction representing the sum of said ionic conduction and said electronic conduction.
A method for conducting electricity between two objects that are moving relative to each other, said method comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.