Low-friction electrically conductive assembly for bearings

Abstract

An electrically conductive assembly for a bearing disposed about a shaft in a bearing housing, the assembly comprising an annular retainer attachable to either the bearing outer race or the bearing housing, the retainer having a centerline and an open inner end defining an annular recess. At least two, and in a preferred case, a plurality of electrically conductive bodies each have a radially outer end located within the retainer recess and a radially inner end capable of contacting the shaft. Each of the electrically conductive bodies is formed from a plurality of electrically conductive fibers designed to extend radially inwardly from the inner end of the retainer. The at least two electrically conductive bodies are circumferentially spaced about the centerline to define at least two axial passages between the retainer and the shaft. In a preferred case, the electrically conductive bodies are separated by a spacer formed from electrically conductive fibers having a length less than the electrically conductive fibers of the bodies.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to bearings, and more particularly to grounding devices for preventing current or charge from passing through a bearing. BACKGROUND

[0002] Bearings used in electrical machinery, such as motors, generators, and the like, are damaged if current or charge passes through them, particularly through the bearing raceway. Devices such as grouding brushes have been developed to provide a bypass for the current, thereby preventing it from passing through the bearing. These devices often include a plurality of conductive fibers spaced circumferentially around the entire outer surface of the shaft to form a relatively solid ring of fibers through which current flows between the shaft and the bearing housing. However, the friction between this ring of conductive fibers and the shaft surface is relatively significant, resulting in overheating within the electrical machinery. SUMMARY

[0003] In one aspect, the present invention is a conductive assembly for a bearing. The bearing is disposed about a shaft in a housing, and includes an inner race, an outer race, and a plurality of rolling elements disposed between the inner and outer races. The conductive assembly includes a ring-shaped retainer that is connectable to the outer race of the bearing or the housing, and has a centerline and an open inner end defining an annular groove. At least two conductive bodies each have a radially outer end positioned in the groove of the retainer and a radially inner end that is contactable with the shaft. Each conductive body is formed from a plurality of conductive fibers configured to extend radially inwardly from the open inner end of the retainer. The at least two conductive bodies are spaced apart circumferentially about the centerline so that at least two axial passages are defined between the retainer and the shaft.

[0004] In another aspect, the present invention also provides a conductive assembly for a bearing. The bearing is disposed in a bearing housing around a rotating shaft and includes an inner ring, an outer ring, and a plurality of rolling elements disposed between the inner and outer rings. The conductive assembly includes an annular retaining member capable of being attached to the bearing outer ring or the bearing housing. The retaining member has a centerline and an open inner end defining an annular groove. At least two groups of first conductive fibers and two groups of second conductive fibers are alternately distributed circumferentially around the centerline of the retaining member, such that each group of second conductive fibers is located between two groups of first conductive fibers. Each first conductive fiber extends radially inward from the groove of the retaining member, has a first radial length, and is capable of contacting the outer surface of the rotating shaft. Each second conductive fiber extends radially inward from the groove of the retaining member and has a second radial length that is substantially less than the first radial length, such that each group of second conductive fibers radially defines an arc-shaped axial channel with the outer surface of the rotating shaft.

[0005] On the other hand, the present invention is also a method for forming a conductive assembly for a bearing, wherein the bearing is arranged in a bearing seat around a rotating shaft. The method comprises the following steps: providing a plurality of conductive fibers each having opposite ends and defining a first length between the two ends, a length of metal wire, and an elongated rectangular strip made of a metal material, wherein the strip has a certain length, an upper surface, and edges located in the length direction on both sides; placing the plurality of conductive fibers on the upper surface of the strip so that the two ends of each fiber extend beyond the edge of the strip, and arranging the plurality of fibers along the length of the strip; placing the metal wire on the arranged plurality of conductive fibers so that the metal wire extends in the length direction of the strip at a central position; folding the edge of the metal strip in the length direction on one side toward the length direction on the other side. An upward edge is used to form two legs spaced apart, and each conductive fiber is bent around the metal wire so that the two ends of each fiber are close to each other, and the two legs thus define the groove and retain the metal wire and multiple fibers in the groove; forming the strip and the metal wire into an annular body having a center line, so that the multiple fibers extend radially toward the center line; and cutting the fibers in multiple different parts so that the fibers in each cut part have a second length less than the first length, and when the annular body is set around the rotating shaft, each cut part of the fibers defines an independent ( / separate) axial channel. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The above summary of the present invention and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments will be better understood by reading them in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the present invention, the accompanying drawings show exemplary embodiments that are currently preferred. However, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the specific structures and means shown in the drawings. In the following drawings:

[0007] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the conductive assembly according to the present invention;

[0008] Figure 2 is a front view of the conductive assembly, without showing its housing, but shown engaged with the rotating shaft in a radial cross-section;

[0009] Figure 3 is a front view of the conductive assembly separated from the rotating shaft;

[0010] Figure 4 It is along Figure 3 Cross-section taken along line 4-4;

[0011] Figure 5 It is along Figure 3 Cross-section taken along line 5-5;

[0012] Figure 6 is a partially cutaway axial cross-sectional view of the conductive assembly, showing the assembly engaged with a rotating shaft of an electric machine and mounted on a bearing;

[0013] Figure 7 A partially cutaway axial cross-sectional view of the conductive assembly shows that the assembly is in contact with a rotating shaft of an electric machine and is installed in a bearing seat;

[0014] Figure 8 A partially cutaway axial cross-sectional view of the conductive assembly shows the assembly being engaged with a rotating shaft of an electric machine and assembled around one end of a bearing seat;

[0015] Figure 9 is a perspective view of a plurality of conductive fibers and a metal wire being placed on a metal strip during formation of the conductive assembly;

[0016] Figure 10A and 10B Together they constitute FIG10, which is a partial radial cross-sectional view of the conductive assembly, wherein: Figure 10A Showing independent conductive fibers, Figure 10B Shows conductive fibers bundled together by a protective sheath;

[0017] Figure 11is a front view of a retaining member and conductive fibers formed before forming a channel; and

[0018] Figure 12 is a front view of the holder and the conductive fibers formed after the channel is formed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] In the following description, certain terms are used for convenience only and are not intended to be limiting. The terms "inward," "inwardly," "outwardly," and "outwardly" refer to directions toward or away from, respectively, a designated centerline or geometric center of the components being described, and their specific meanings will be apparent from the context. Furthermore, as used herein, the words "connected" and "connected" are intended to encompass both a direct connection between two components without any intervening components and an indirect connection between two components with one or more intervening components. This terminology includes the above-mentioned specific words, their derivatives, and words of similar meaning.

[0020] Reference is now made in detail to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like parts throughout. Figures 1 to 12 The conductive assembly 10 for the bearing 1 is shown in FIG. 1 , wherein the bearing 1 is located in the bearing seat 3 and surrounds the bearing 1 with A C The bearing 1, the shaft 2 and the bearing seat 3 are preferably components of the following equipment: an electric motor, other electric machinery (such as a generator) M, or any other machine with a rotating part that may accumulate charge or conduct current, such as Figures 6-8 As shown in FIG. A conductive assembly 10, also known as a "grounding brush," is preferably used with a rolling bearing 1 comprising inner and outer rings 4, 5 and a plurality of rolling elements 6 disposed between the inner and outer rings 4, 5. The conductive assembly 10 primarily comprises an annular retaining member 12 and at least two arc-shaped conductors 14 extending radially inward from the retaining member 12. Preferably, the conductive assembly 10 also comprises at least two arc-shaped spacers 16 separating the at least two conductors 14, and a housing 18 for directly connecting the assembly 10 to the bearing 1 or bearing seat 3.

[0021] Specifically, the annular retainer 12 is made of a conductive material (preferably aluminum) and is preferably connected to the bearing outer ring 5 or the bearing seat 3 (via the housing 18). The retainer 12 has a center line L C (See Figures 1 to 3 ), defining the inner opening end 12a of the annular groove 13 (see Figure 4 、 5 and 10), and the closed outer end 12b (see Figure 4 、 5and 10). Each conductor 14 has a radially outer end 14a disposed in the retainer groove 13 and a radially inner end 14b capable of contacting the rotating shaft 2 (see Figure 2 and 3 ). In addition, the conductor 14 is made of a plurality or a group 15 of conductive fibers 20 distributed on the circumference and arranged to extend radially inward from the inner end 12a of the holder (see Figure 1 and 3 ), each conductive fiber 20 is preferably made of carbon. The plurality / group 15 of conductive fibers 20 provide a path for electric charge or current to flow from the rotating shaft 2 through the plurality of fibers 20 to the retaining member 12 and then to the bearing seat 3, as described below. In this manner, the conductive assembly 10 functions as a grounding device, preventing potential damage to the bearing raceways (not shown) caused by electric current or charge passing through the bearing 1.

[0022] At least two (preferably multiple, preferably eight) conductors 14 are shown around the center line L. C The retaining member 12 and the rotating shaft 2 are spaced apart on the circumference, thereby defining at least two (preferably multiple) axial channels 22 (see Figure 2 and 3 That is, an independent channel 22 is formed between each pair of adjacent but separated conductors 14. Compared to previously known grounding devices having continuous conductors (i.e., fibers extending around the entire inner circumference), by forming the conductive assembly 10 with a plurality of independent or discrete conductors 14 separated by channels 22, friction and heat generated during use are significantly reduced. Furthermore, the channels 22 allow fluids, particularly lubricants and air, to pass through the assembly 10 unimpeded to flow to and from the bearing 1.

[0023] As described above, the conductive assembly 10 preferably includes at least two spacers 16, specifically, the same number of spacers 16 as the conductive elements 14. Each spacer 16 is preferably arcuate-shaped, positioned between the two conductive elements 14 to circumferentially separate or space the two conductive elements 14, and has a radially outer end 16a disposed within the retainer recess 13 and a radially inner end 16b opposite the radially outer end 16a. The inner end 16b of each spacer 16 is radially spaced from the outer surface 2a of the rotating shaft 2, such that an axial passage 22 is radially defined between the inner end 16b of the spacer 16 and the rotating shaft 2. Preferably, each spacer 16 is formed from a plurality or a group 17 of conductive fibers 24 distributed circumferentially and formed in the same manner as the conductive fibers 20 of the conductive elements 14, except for their fiber length, as described in detail below. Specifically, at least two groups 15 of first conductive fibers 20 and at least two groups 17 of second conductive fibers 24 surround the center line L of the holder 12. C The second conductive fibers 24 of each group 17 (for providing the spacer 16) are alternately distributed around the circumference so that each group 17 of the second conductive fibers 24 (for providing the spacer 16) can be disposed between two groups 15 of the first conductive fibers 20 (for forming the conductors 14). However, the spacer 16 can also be formed in any other suitable form, such as a solid arc-shaped member formed of a metallic material or even a non-metallic material, as long as it can separate the two conductors 14 and is sized to provide the axial channel 22.

[0024] In the case where each conductor 14 is formed by a group 15 of first conductive fibers 20 and each spacer 16 is formed by a group 17 of second conductive fibers 24, the conductive assembly 10 preferably further comprises an annular ring 30 disposed in the holder 12, such as Figure 4 、 5 , and 10. The annular ring 30 is preferably formed by bending a section (length not indicated) of conductive metal wire 31 into a circular or ring shape (see Figure 9 ) is formed, as described later. With such annular ring 30, each conductive fiber 20, 24 of each conductor 14 and spacer 16 has two opposite ends 20a, 20b and 24a, 24b, which are bent around the annular ring 30 so that the two ends 20a, 20b and 24a, 24b of each fiber 20, 24 are located at the inner radial ends 14b and 16b of the conductor 14 and spacer 16 respectively (see Figure 4 and 5 ).

[0025] In particular, each conductive fiber 20 or 24 generally assumes a U-shape or V-shape having a first side branch and a second side branch 20c, 20d or 24c, 24d and a central bight 20e, 24e. The fibers 20, 24 are arranged such that their bights 20e, 24e are located on the outer lateral surface 30a of the annular ring 30 and the two side branches 20c, 20d or 24c, 24d extend radially inwardly (see Figure 4 and 5 ). In this manner, each fiber 20 of the conductive body 14 provides two conductive side branches 20c, 20d and the radial depth or length r c , r s of each fiber 20 or 24 is half of its respective fiber linear total length. Although in the preferred case they are bent into a U-shape or V-shape, as described above, the fibers 20 and / or 24 can also be arranged to extend substantially linearly in the radial direction from one end 20a, 24a located at the radially outer end 14a, 16a to the other end 20b, 24b located at the radially inner end 14b, 16b (see Figures 2 to 5 ).

[0026] Furthermore, each conductive fiber 20, 24 is preferably made of carbon, but can alternatively be made of any suitable electrically conductive material, such as a metallic material, an electrically conductive polymer, etc. In the preferred case, each fiber 20, 24 is arranged to have a diameter in the size range of 5 micrometers (5 μm) to 100 micrometers (100 μm). Moreover, the conductive fibers 20 and 24 can be arranged as single fibers, as shown in Figure 10A , or as a plurality of fibers 20 or 24 bundled together by a polymer material, as shown in Figure 10B . Such a polymer-bundled sub-group 26 of fibers 20, 24 facilitates the handling of the fibers 20, 24 during installation into the holder 12 and reduces the risk of breakage.

[0027] As mentioned above, in addition to the difference in radial length, the conductive fibers 20 and 24 also have substantially the same formation as each other. In particular, the radial length r s of each conductive fiber 24 of the spacer 16 is substantially smaller than the radial length r c of each conductive fiber 20 of the conductive body 14, as shown in Figure 4 and 5 . The shorter length r sEach spacer 16 partially defines the aforementioned channel 22 between its radially inner end 16b (defined by the ends 24a, 24b of all the conductive fibers 24 in each spacer 16) and the outer surface 2a of the rotating shaft (in the radial direction). The fibers 20, 24 are formed in substantially the same manner, and a plurality of conductive fibers 24 are used to form the spacer 16, in order to enable the conductive assembly 10 to be manufactured using the preferred method described in detail below.

[0028] See also Figure 4 、 5 9-11, the retainer 12 preferably includes an outer axial base portion 40 having two axial ends 40a, 40b and two radial legs 42, 44 extending radially inward from the ends 40a, 40b of the base portion 40. The base portion 40 and the legs 42, 44 define an annular groove 13 of the retainer, wherein the legs 42, 44 function to retain the annular ring 30 and the outer radial ends 14a, 16a of the conductor 14 and the spacer 16, respectively, within the groove 13 of the retainer 12. In other words, the legs 42, 44 of the retainer clamp the sides of the fibers 20 and 24 to prevent the annular ring 30, the bights 20e, 24e, and the upper ends of the two side legs 20c / 20d, 24c / 24d from radially dislodging from the groove 13. However, depending on the specific structure of the conductor 14 and the spacer 16, the annular retaining member 12 may also adopt any other suitable shape and / or structure, as long as it can retain the components 14, 16 and provide a conductive path between the conductor 14 and the bearing outer ring 5 and / or the bearing seat 3.

[0029] Now see Figure 1 and 6As noted above, the electrically conductive assembly 10 preferably includes a ring-shaped housing 18. The housing 18 can be coupled to either the bearing outer race 5 or the bearing housing 3 and is configured to support the retaining member 12 around the shaft 2. In the preferred embodiment, the housing 18 includes an L-shaped ring 50 formed from an electrically conductive material such as aluminum, steel, copper, etc. The ring 50 has an outer axial portion 52 and a radial portion 54 extending radially inwardly from the outer axial portion 52. The axial portion 52 has opposite inner and outer circumferential surfaces 53A, 53B and opposite axial ends 52a, 52b, respectively. The radial portion 54 has an outer radial end 54a formed integrally with one end 52b of the axial portion 52, an inner radial end 54b defining a central aperture 56, and a plurality of mounting tabs 58 circumferentially spaced about an intermediate portion 54c. The tabs 58 are engageable with the ring-shaped retaining member 12 to couple the retaining member 12 to the housing 18, Figure 1 is shown most clearly.

[0030] In addition, the housing 18 can be coupled to the bearing outer race 5 by inserting the free end 52a of the axial portion 52 over one end of the bearing outer race 5 to frictionally engage the inner surface 53A of the axial portion 52 with the outer surface 5a of the outer race 5, as shown in Figure 6 Alternatively, the housing 18 can be coupled to the bearing housing 3 by frictionally engaging the outer surface 53B of the axial portion 52 with the inner surface 3a of the bearing housing 3, as shown in Figure 7 Further alternatively, the housing 18 can be coupled to the end portion 3b of the bearing housing 3 by frictionally engaging the inner surface 53A of the axial portion 52 with the outer surface 3c of the bearing housing 3, as shown in Figure 8 Although the housing 18 is preferably configured as described above, the housing 18 can be formed in any suitable manner so long as the housing 18 is capable of coupling the retaining member 12 to either the bearing outer race 5 or the bearing housing 3. Alternatively, the electrically conductive assembly 10 can be formed without any housing and the retaining member 12 can be formed to be directly mountable to either the bearing outer race 5 or the bearing housing 3.

[0031] Referring now to Figures 9-12, as previously described, the preferred configurations of the retaining member 12, the conductor 14, and the spacer 16 are the result of the preferred method of manufacturing these components. Specifically, the conductor 14, the spacer 16, and the retaining member 12 are preferably first formed by providing a plurality or a plurality of first conductive fibers 20, a strand of metal wire 31, and a flat, elongated rectangular strip 60, wherein the length (not shown) of the metal wire 31 is sufficient to provide the desired circumference of the annular ring 30. The strip 60 has opposing major surfaces 62A, 62B, opposite ends 60a, 60b, two longitudinal edges 61A, 61B extending between the ends 60a, 60b, and a defined length L to form the desired circumference of the retaining member 12. S Then, the plurality of fibers 20 are placed on one side surface 62A or 62B of the strip 60, so that the two ends 20a, 20b of each fiber 20 extend out of the two side edges 62A and 62B of the strip 60 respectively, and the fibers 20 are arranged along the length L of the strip. S Next, the wire 31 is placed centrally on the fiber 20 so that the strip 60 has a length L S Afterwards, the side edges 61A and 61B of the strip 60 in the length direction are folded toward the other side length edges 61B and 61A to form the two legs 42 and 44, the bottom 40 and the groove 13 of the retaining member 12 separated from each other, as shown in FIG. Figure 9 As best shown, the bending of the strip edges 61A, 61B causes the fibers 20 to be bent around the wire 31, causing the ends 20a, 20b of each fiber 20 to approach each other and extend outward from the retainer groove 13, while the retainer legs 42, 44 retain the fibers 20 and wire 31 within the groove 13.

[0032] Then, the strip 60 and the retained wire 31 are formed or bent to surround the center line L. C annular body (forming the retainer 12 and the annular ring 30 respectively) so that the plurality of fibers 20 are radially inwardly directed toward the center line L C Extension, such as Figure 11 As shown. In this case, the retaining member 12 and the conductive fiber 20 can be placed in the housing 18 and used as a conductive assembly in the prior art. However, in order to form the conductive assembly 10 of the present invention, the multiple different parts 21 of the conductive fiber 20 (such as Figure 12 is preferably cut along the shear line CL by a punching operation (see Figure 11 ), so that the fiber length of each cut portion 21 is reduced to the second radial length r sTherefore, each second conductive fiber 24 is made of a first conductive fiber 20. When the conductive assembly 10 is placed around the shaft 2, each cut portion 21 of the fiber 20 defines an axial channel 22 between the radial inner end 21a of each cut portion 21 and the outer surface 2a of the shaft.

[0033] Although preferably manufactured in the manner described above, the conductive assembly 10 of the present invention may also be manufactured in any other suitable manner. For example, each conductor 14 may be formed as an arc-shaped group or arc-shaped body formed by conductive fibers 20, which are then assembled into the holder 12 and define the channel 22 in the holder 12 with solid spacers 16 or without spacers. The scope of the present invention encompasses all methods capable of forming the conductive assembly 10 having the above-described basic structure.

[0034] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that variations may be made to the above-described specific embodiments without departing from the broad inventive concept of the present invention. Therefore, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, but rather is to be construed as encompassing variations within the spirit and scope of the present invention as generally defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A conductive assembly for a bearing, the bearing being disposed around a rotating shaft and disposed in a bearing seat, the bearing comprising an inner ring, an outer ring, and a plurality of rolling elements disposed between the inner and outer rings, the conductive assembly comprising: an annular retainer capable of being coupled to the bearing outer ring or the bearing seat, having a centerline and an open inner end defining an annular groove; as well as At least two electrical conductors each having a radially outer end disposed in the groove of the retainer and a radially inner end capable of contacting the rotating shaft, each electrical conductor being formed of a plurality of conductive fibers configured to extend radially inwardly from the open inner end of the retainer, the at least two electrical conductors being circumferentially spaced apart around the centerline so as to define at least two axial channels between the retainer and the rotating shaft.

2. The conductive assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The conductive assembly also includes at least two spacers, each of which is arranged between two of the at least two conductors and has a radial outer end arranged in the retaining member and a radial inner end spaced apart from the rotating shaft from the outside, so that each of the axial channels is defined between the radial inner end of the spacer and the rotating shaft.

3. The conductive assembly according to claim 2, wherein: Each of the spacers is formed of a plurality of conductive fibers, and each conductive fiber of each spacer has a radial length significantly shorter than that of each conductive fiber of each electrical conductor.

4. The conductive assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The conductive assembly further comprises an annular ring disposed in the retaining member, each conductive fiber of each conductor having two opposite ends, the conductive fibers being bent around the annular ring so that the two ends of each fiber are located at the radial inner end of the conductor.

5. The conductive assembly according to claim 4, wherein: The conductive assembly also includes at least two spacers, each of which is arranged between two of the at least two conductors and contains multiple conductive fibers. The conductive fibers of each spacer have two ends and a second length defined between the two ends. The conductive fibers of each spacer are bent around the annular ring so that each of the two ends is located at the radial inner end of the spacer. The second radial length of the conductive fibers of each spacer is significantly smaller than the first radial length of the conductive fibers of each conductor, so that an independent axial channel is partially defined between the radial inner end of each spacer and the outer surface of the rotating shaft.

6. The conductive assembly according to claim 1, wherein: Each of the at least two axial passages allows lubricant to flow through the conductive assembly.

7. The conductive assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The conductive assembly further includes an annular housing capable of being connected to a bearing outer ring or a bearing seat and configured to support a retaining member surrounding the rotating shaft.

8. The conductive assembly according to claim 7, wherein: The housing includes an outer axial portion and a radial portion extending inward from one end of the outer axial portion. The radial portion has a plurality of fitting protrusions capable of engaging with the annular retainer to connect the retainer to the housing.

9. The conductive assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The retaining member includes an outer axial bottom with two ends and two radial legs extending radially inward from the two ends of the bottom, respectively. The bottom and the legs define the annular groove.

10. A conductive assembly for a bearing, the bearing surrounding a rotating shaft and disposed in a bearing seat, the bearing comprising an inner ring, an outer ring, and a plurality of rolling elements disposed between the inner and outer rings, the conductive assembly comprising: an annular retainer capable of being coupled to the bearing outer ring or the bearing seat, having a centerline and an open inner end defining an annular groove; and At least two groups of first conductive fibers and at least two groups of second conductive fibers are alternately spaced circumferentially around the center line of the retaining member, such that each group of second conductive fibers is located between the two groups of first conductive fibers. Each first conductive fiber extends radially inward from the groove of the retaining member, has a first radial length, and is capable of contacting the outer surface of the rotating shaft. Each second conductive fiber extends radially inward from the groove of the retaining member and has a second radial length that is significantly smaller than the first radial length, such that a circular arc-shaped axial channel is radially defined between each group of second conductive fibers and the outer surface of the rotating shaft.

11. The conductive assembly according to claim 10, wherein: Each of the second conductive fibers is formed by chopping a fiber having a first length into a second length.

12. The conductive assembly according to claim 10, wherein: Each of the axial channels is circumferentially located between two groups of first conductive fibers.

13. The conductive assembly according to claim 10, wherein: The conductive assembly further includes an annular ring disposed in the annular groove of the retainer; and Each of the first conductive fiber and the second conductive fiber has two opposite ends that are bent around the annular ring so that the two ends are located radially inward of the retaining member.

14. The conductive assembly according to claim 10, wherein: The at least two electrical conductors include eight electrical conductors, and the at least two channels include eight channels.

15. The conductive assembly according to claim 10, wherein: The conductive assembly further includes an annular housing capable of being connected to the bearing outer ring or the bearing seat and configured to support the retaining member.

16. The conductive assembly according to claim 15, wherein: The housing includes an outer axial portion and a radial portion extending inward from one end of the outer axial portion. The radial portion has a plurality of fitting protrusions capable of engaging with the annular retainer to connect the retainer to the housing.

17. The conductive assembly according to claim 10, wherein: The retaining member includes an outer axial bottom with two ends and two radial legs extending radially inward from the two ends of the bottom, respectively. The bottom and the legs define the annular groove.

18. A method of forming a conductive assembly for a bearing disposed about a rotating shaft and disposed in a bearing housing, the method comprising the steps of: Providing a plurality of conductive fibers each having opposite ends and defining a first length therebetween, a length of metal wire, and an elongated rectangular strip of metal material, the strip having a length, an upper surface, and edges on both sides in the length direction; placing the plurality of conductive fibers on the upper surface of the strip so that both ends of each fiber extend beyond the edge of the strip, and arranging the plurality of fibers along the length of the strip; Placing the metal wire on the arranged plurality of conductive fibers so that the metal wire extends in the center along the length direction of the strip; Folding one edge of the metal strip in the longitudinal direction toward the other edge of the metal strip in the longitudinal direction to form two spaced-apart legs, and bending each conductive fiber around the metal wire so that the two ends of each fiber are close to each other, the two legs thus defining a groove, and holding the metal wire and the plurality of fibers in the groove; forming the ribbon and the wire into an annular body having a centerline, with the plurality of fibers extending radially toward the centerline; as well as The fibers are cut at multiple different portions so that each cut portion of the fibers has a second length that is less than the first length. When the annular body is disposed around the rotating shaft, each cut portion of the fibers defines an independent axial channel.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein The following steps are also included: Providing a housing that can be connected to the bearing outer ring or bearing seat; and The annular body is coupled to the housing.

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