Slip ring assembly for electrical power transfer to centrifugal turbomachinery
AssigneeThe United States of America Department of the Navy
InventorsMichael E. Slipper, Tristan M. Wolfe, Daniel J. Simmons
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The disclosed invention is a slip ring assembly that provides electrical power transfer to centrifugal turbomachinery while minimizing or eliminating the presence of wires in the flow path. The device transfers electrical power through a set of wires connected to a plurality of brushes that are held rotationally stationary, but allowed to displace axially or radially through a set of springs. The brushes make contact with conductive busbar rings, transferring electricity to the busbar rings. The busbar rings rotate with the centrifugal turbomachine with a set of wires that connect the busbar rings to the blades or other aerodynamic surfaces of the centrifugal turbomachine.
Claims6
A slip ring assembly for providing electrical power transfer to a centrifugal turbomachine comprising:
- a slip ring with an inner surface and an outer surface;
- a first conductive busbar ring connected along the outer surface of the slip ring;
- a second conductive busbar ring, separate from the first conductive busbar ring, connected along the outer surface of the slip ring;
- a brush assembly with an inner surface and an outer service, comprising:
- a first conductive brush connected to the inner surface of the brush assembly, and in radial contact with the first conductive busbar ring;
- and
- a second conductive brush connected to the inner surface of the brush assembly, and in radial contact with the second conductive busbar ring;
- and
- connective wires extending from an end of the slip ring assembly to connect the slip ring assembly to the centrifugal turbomachine and transfer power and ground to the centrifugal turbomachine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.