Wave current arrester and wave arrangement

Abstract

A shaft current arrester (22) for a shaft arrangement (10) with a shaft (12) and a machine part (14) encompassing the shaft (12), comprising: - an electrically conductive ring (24) for electrically contacting the shaft (12); characterized in that the ring (24) has an engagement recess (26) arranged axially to the central axis (Z) of the ring (24), and in that the shaft current arrester (22) comprises a blocking element (28) which can be fixed to the machine part (14) relative to the shaft (12) and which, when the shaft current arrester (22) is in the assembled state, engages in the engagement recess (26) of the ring (24) in such a way that, when the shaft (12) is rotating, the ring (24) is prevented from rotating by the blocking element (28), while the ring (24) is electrically conductively contacted by the blocking element (28).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a shaft current arrester for a shaft assembly comprising a shaft and a machine part enclosing the shaft, comprising an electrically conductive ring for electrically contacting the shaft. The present invention also relates to a shaft assembly comprising such a shaft current arrester.

[0002] Such a wave current arrester has become known, for example, from DE 10 2020 004 682 A1.

[0003] In shaft assemblies such as generators and electric motors, unwanted destructive electrical currents can arise during routine operation, which can damage bearing components and possibly also sealing elements used to seal the moving components. For example, shaft voltages and currents on a motor shaft can be induced simply by uneven air gap magnetic flux transitions in the motor. In other words, the difference between the individual poles of a motor (although ideally they are identical) leads to the formation of an induced current in the motor shaft. In addition, the use of variable-speed drives and the associated controllers (e.g., pulse-width modulation type) can also lead to abrupt current transitions and associated magnetic flux transitions, causing an unwanted induced current in the motor shaft.In practice, attempts are therefore made to dissipate such induced currents and voltages without endangering the operation of the motor or the integrity of its components. Established methods for dissipating shaft currents, especially induced ones, are based on an electrical discharge path in which the shaft currents are diverted from the shaft with the lowest possible electrical resistance, i.e., low-impedance. The currents must not be routed via the aforementioned bearing components to prevent damage.

[0004] The aforementioned DE 10 2020 004 682 A1 discloses a shaft grounding ring that is inserted into a grounded machine element and surrounds a shaft. The shaft grounding ring has a metallic housing and a discharge element made of electrically conductive material attached thereto, which electrically contacts the shaft with radially inwardly directed tongues.

[0005] US 8 488 293 B2, DE 10 2021 203 006 A1, and DE 10 2019 202 844 also disclose grounding rings for grounding a shaft. The grounding rings are designed as slotted rings and are therefore expandable, for example, to allow for a larger tolerance range.

[0006] DE 10 2018 117 315 ​​A1, for example, discloses a rolling bearing in which an electrical discharge element in the form of a sliding contact element is arranged between two bearing rings. This element serves to discharge the aforementioned parasitic currents. The sliding contact element is disc-shaped, non-rotatably attached to a first bearing ring, and is made of an electrically conductive material. The sliding contact element rests against a second bearing ring in the electrically conductive sliding contact. The sliding contact element can comprise, for example, so-called nanotubes as electrical conductors.

[0007] In contrast, US 2002 / 0121821 A1 discloses a shaft arrangement in which shaft currents are diverted from the shaft into a shaft housing surrounding the shaft via an electrically conductive lubricant. This poses the risk that the lubricant will be removed from the dedicated shaft current diversion area due to centrifugal force as the shaft rotates, preventing electrical contact between the components that can move relative to each other. High shaft speeds can also cause the electrically conductive lubricant to heat up, resulting in its loss of function as an electrical conductor.

[0008] JP 2000266067 A discloses a shaft arrangement in which the unwanted shaft currents are diverted via an electrically conductive contact of a shaft current diverter with the machine parts that can move relative to each other. Here, the shaft current diverter is designed as a wire at one end.

[0009] US 1,735,579 B, in turn, proposes a shaft current diverter comprising several wedge-shaped metal riders arranged circumferentially around the shaft and pressed together against a shaft hub by an elastic preload band. Due to centrifugal force, the metal riders contact a bevel of the housing in an electrically conductive manner.

[0010] It should be noted that any wave current arrester whose function is based on dynamic electrical contact with one of the electrically conductive components is subject to considerable mechanical wear. Similar to the brush wipers of electric motors, this generally poses a risk of premature failure. Electrical contact can also be hindered or even prevented by typically encountered liquid or pasty lubricants.

[0011] It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a wave current arrester and a wave arrangement which overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and which can be provided cost-effectively with little technical effort.

[0012] The problem concerning the wave current arrester is solved by a wave current arrester according to claim 1. The wave arrangement according to the invention has the features specified in claim 11. Preferred developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims and in the description.

[0013] The shaft current arrester according to the invention is intended for use in a shaft arrangement with a shaft and a machine part encompassing the shaft and comprises: - an electrically conductive ring for electrically contacting arrangement on the shaft, with an engagement recess arranged axially to the central axis; and - an electrically conductive blocking element which can be fixed relative to the shaft on the machine part and which, when the shaft current diverter is in the assembled state, engages in the engagement recess of the ring in such a way that, when the shaft is rotating, the blocking element prevents the ring from rotating, with the ring being electrically conductively contacted by the blocking element.

[0014] The shaft current arrester according to the invention enables the reliable discharge of shaft currents into the machine part surrounding the shaft during operation. According to the invention, the electrically conductive ring can consist entirely of an electrically conductive material or can comprise an electrically conductive material. The electrically conductive material can be, in particular, metal or an electrically conductive polymer material, in particular a polymer doped with metal or carbon.

[0015] According to a further development of the invention, the ring is designed to be fully slotted. A fully slotted ring is easier to mount on a shaft and also offers another crucial advantage: If the ring, when mounted on the shaft, is prevented from rotating with the shaft by the locking element, the ring can expand (slightly) in the event of frictional engagement with the shaft and with a free end of the ring supported by the locking element, so that the ring and the shaft can easily transition into sliding friction relative to each other while maintaining mutual electrically conductive contact.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the invention, the ring comprises a base body from which at least one rib extends on the outer circumference, defining the engagement recess. The rib can be arranged, for example, on the center plane of the ring.

[0017] The aforementioned rib can have two end sections that are spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction of the ring, forming the engagement recess. As a result, the engagement recess is open in a radial direction, which simplifies the overall assembly of the wave current arrester.

[0018] According to the invention, the ring can be designed, in particular, as a spring washer. The spring washer is preferably expandable with a rubber-elastic material. This ensures particularly reliable electrical contact with the shaft through the ring at all times when the spring washer is assembled. Manufacturing tolerances of the spring washer and the shaft can be easily compensated. This also further simplifies the proper installation of the ring on the shaft.

[0019] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the blocking element can be locked into the engagement recess of the ring. This simplifies the assembly of the wave current arrester and reliably holds the ring and the blocking element in a predetermined relative position. The blocking element can, for example, have a mushroom head that can be locked into a complementary engagement opening in the ring.

[0020] According to the invention, the blocking element can have a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape with side flanks that converge outward in a radial direction relative to the central axis Z. If the ring has end faces corresponding to / complementary to the side flanks that converge outward relative to each other in a radial direction, this can further facilitate the expansion of the ring during operation by the blocking element.

[0021] According to one embodiment of the invention, the electrically conductive ring can also consist of individual segments arranged one behind the other in the circumferential direction of the shaft. These individual segments can be arranged in the (sealing) gap between the shaft and the machine part when the shaft current arrester is assembled and engage in a retaining groove in the machine part, or they can be secured or fixed in position relative to the blocking element or the shaft by a retaining ring in the axial direction.

[0022] According to an embodiment of the invention, the electrically conductive ring can be provided with a rubber-elastic deformable preload ring in the form of a spring or an elastomer ring, by means of which the ring is pressed against the shaft in a radial direction.

[0023] According to the invention, the electrically conductive ring can furthermore have profile structures or tribostructures on its contact side facing the shaft for draining lubricant from the contact gap. The tribostructures can be designed, in particular, in the form of ribs or triangular or wing-shaped.

[0024] The shaft assembly according to the invention comprises a shaft and a machine part encompassing the shaft, which are arranged at a distance from one another to form a sealing or bearing gap and are movable relative to one another about a rotational axis. The shaft assembly has a shaft current diverter as described above. The electrically conductive ring is mounted on the shaft, and the electrically conductive blocking element is (statically) fixed to the machine part in such a way that, when the shaft rotates, the blocking element prevents the ring from rotating, while the blocking element makes electrically conductive contact with the ring. It is understood that the shaft is made of metal or another, preferably electrically conductive, material.

[0025] The ring is preferably designed as a slotted spring washer, whereby shaft rotation while the ring is supported on the blocking element causes the spring washer supported on the blocking element to expand. This allows the ring to contact the shaft with particularly low friction while maintaining an electrically conductive connection.

[0026] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings. The exemplary embodiments shown are purely exemplary and should not be understood as limiting the invention.

[0027] The drawing shows: Fig. 1 a shaft arrangement with a shaft and a machine part encompassing the shaft, a sealing set and a bearing as well as a shaft current arrester with an electrically conductive ring and with an associated blocking element, via which capacitive and / or inductive currents can be diverted from the shaft into the machine part; Fig. 2 the electrically conductive ring according to Fig. 1 in a cut-out view; Fig. 3 shows a further embodiment of the ring of a wave current arrester according to Fig. 1, in a cut-out perspective view; Fig. 4 shows a further embodiment of the wave current arrester, in which the blocking element and the electrically conductive ring can be locked together, in a detailed view. Fig. 5 shows a further embodiment of the wave current arrester, in which the blocking element has at least in sections a trapezoidal basic shape and engages in a corresponding engagement recess of the ring, in a plan view; Fig. 6A, Fig. 6B shows a further embodiment of the wave current arrester in a cut-out perspective view ( Fig. 6A) and in a side view ( Fig. 6B), in which the blocking element has a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape and in which the engagement recess is delimited by end faces converging radially outwards, so that the blocking element is caught in the engagement recess in a purely radial outward direction; Fig. 7 an electrically conductive ring for the wave current arrester according to Fig. 1, which is provided with a plurality of spiral tribostructures on the inner circumference, in a cut-out perspective view; and Fig. 8 shows a further embodiment of an electrically conductive ring for the wave current arrester according to Fig. 1, which is provided with wing profile-like tribostructures on the inner circumference, in a cut-out perspective view.

[0028] Fig. 1 shows a shaft arrangement 10 with a shaft 12 and with a machine part 14 encompassing the shaft 12, for example a shaft housing, in a partial sectional view.

[0029] The shaft 12 and the machine part 14 are arranged at a distance from each other, forming a sealing or bearing gap 16, and are mounted by means of several bearings 18 so as to be movable relative to each other about an axis of rotation designated L. In Fig. For illustrative purposes, only one of the bearings 18 is shown in Figure 1. One or more sealing elements 20, each of which can be designed as a radial or axial sealing element, serve to dynamically seal the sealing or bearing gap 16.

[0030] A shaft current diverter, designated overall by 22, is used to divert potentially damaging inductive or capacitive currents from the shaft 12. The shaft current diverter 22 comprises an electrically conductive ring 24, which is arranged on the shaft 12 to electrically contact the shaft 12. The ring 24 is arranged on the shaft in a sliding-play positive fit. The ring 24 has at least one engagement recess 26, which is arranged axially relative to the central axis Z of the ring 24.

[0031] The wave current diverter 22 further comprises an electrically conductive blocking element 28. The blocking element 28 is attached to the machine part 14. This can be achieved by screwing, soldering, or welding the blocking element 28 to the machine part 14, or in another suitable—electrically conductive—manner.

[0032] In the illustrated assembled state of the shaft current diverter 22, the blocking element 28 engages the engagement recess 26 of the ring 24, such that the blocking element 28 prevents the ring 24 from rotating when the shaft 12 rotates. The ring 24 contacts both the shaft 12 and the blocking element 28 in an electrically conductive manner.

[0033] The ring 24 can, in principle, consist entirely of an electrically conductive material or at least comprise an electrically conductive material. In the latter case, only a part or a section of the ring 24 can be made of an electrically conductive material. For example, metal or an electrically conductive polymer material, in particular a polymer doped with metal or carbon, can be used as the electrically conductive material of the ring 24.

[0034] In Fig. 2, the ring 24 is according to Fig. 1 in a cut-out perspective view. The ring 24 is designed with a slotted design and thus has two end sections 24a, 24b facing each other in the circumferential direction. These end sections 24a, 24b delimit the engagement recess 26 in the circumferential direction of the ring 24. The ring 24 is designed here as a spring washer, and can therefore be deformable in a rubber or viscoelastic manner. This allows the ring 24 to be mounted on the shaft 12 in a simplified manner. If the ring 24 is designed as a spring washer, manufacturing tolerances of the ring 24 and the shaft 12 can be reliably compensated.

[0035] With a slotted ring 24, a particularly low friction between the shaft 12 and the ring 24 can be achieved during operation while at the same time maintaining electrically conductive contact between the shaft 12 and the ring 24.

[0036] According to the Fig. 3, the ring 24 can have a base body 30, from which at least one profile element 32, here in the form of a rib or a web, extends on the outer circumference. This profile element 32 defines the axially extending engagement recess 26 for the blocking element 28. The engagement recess is radially inside at least partially or as in Fig. 3, is completely delimited by the base body. The profile element 32 has two end sections 32a, 32b, which are arranged spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction of the ring 24, forming the engagement recess 26. According to an embodiment not shown in detail in the drawing, the engagement recess 26 can also be formed as an (axial) through-bore or as a radial indentation (= depression) of the ring 24 or the profile element 32.

[0037] The Fig. 3 comprises an electrically conductive metal or is formed from it. If, on the other hand, the base body 30 of the ring 24 consists of an insulator, for example an electrically non-conductive plastic polymer, the base body 30 preferably has a plurality of radial openings 34 that are arranged spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction of the ring 24. The material of the profile projection 32 can extend inwardly in a direction radial to the central axis Z through the radial openings 34 of the base body 30 in the direction of the central axis Z, in order to thus ensure direct electrically conductive contact with the shaft 12. The base body 30 allows a broad-based and tilt-resistant support of the ring 24 on the shaft 12. The base body can be Fig. 3 can be designed as a closed ring or even slotted. If the base body is made of an elastically deformable polymer material, the ring as a whole can be designed as an elastically expandable spring ring.

[0038] The blocking element 28 shown in the drawing can basically consist of metal or of an electrically conductive polymer or comprise one of these materials.

[0039] According to the Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the blocking element 28, preferably with its free end portion 36, can be latched into the engagement recess 26 of the ring 24. This allows the ring 24, in the assembled state of the shaft current diverter 22, to be secured in its predetermined axial (and rotational) functional position on the shaft 12 relative to the blocking element 28 in a simple and reliable manner. The latching connection 38 between the blocking element 28 and the ring 24 can have or allow both axial and radial play between the blocking element 28 and the ring 24.

[0040] In Fig. 5 shows another wave current diverter 22. The blocking element 28 here has, at least in sections, a trapezoidal basic shape, i.e., a free end section 36 that widens distally. The engagement recess 26 of the electrically conductive ring 24 is shaped in a corresponding manner, so that the blocking element can be locked or is held locked in the engagement recess 26.

[0041] In the Fig. 6A and Fig. 6B shows another wave current arrester 22 in a cut-out perspective view. The blocking element 28 is pin- or web-shaped with a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape. The blocking element 28 tapers outward in a radial direction relative to the central axis Z of the electrically conductive ring 24. Side flanks 40 of the blocking element 28 converge outward in a radial direction. The free end sections 24a, 24b of the ring 24 have corresponding or complementarily shaped end faces 42, which converge outward relative to one another in a radial direction. During operational use of the wave current arrester 22, the ring 24 can thus be expanded in a simplified manner by a side flank 40 of the blocking element 28 resting against one of the end faces 42 of the ring 24. This allows the frictional resistance between ring 24 and shaft 12 ( Fig. 1) can be reduced particularly reliably. This is independent of the respective direction of rotation of the shaft 12 around the rotation axis L ( Fig. 1).

[0042] According to the Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, the electrically conductive ring 24 of a wave current arrester according to the invention can have profile projections 32 on the inner circumference in the form of tribostructures 44. By means of such tribostructures 44, lubricant that is present in the sealing or bearing gap 16 ( Fig. 1) between the ring 24 and the shaft 12 ( Fig. 1), during operation of the wave current arrester 22, it can be moved at least partially out of the contact area of ​​the ring 24 and the shaft 12 in a direction axial to the axis of rotation L. In the embodiment according to Fig. 7, the tribostructures 44 each extend helically in an axial direction from one edge 46 of the ring 24 to the other and are arranged one behind the other at a distance from one another in the circumferential direction of the ring 24. The tribostructures 44 can be arranged according to Fig. 8 can also be designed as triangular or wing profiles. In the latter case, several tribostructures 44 can be arranged one behind the other in the direction of the central axis Z or offset from one another, for example, "with a gap." Other suitable profiles of the tribostructures 44 are certainly conceivable by the person skilled in the art.

[0043] Overall, the tribostructures enable particularly low-resistance electrical contact of the shaft 12 through the ring 24, even when exposed to lubricant. In other words, the electrical contact resistance between the shaft 12 and the ring 24 can be minimized.

[0044] The shaft current arrester 10 may additionally comprise a clamping ring 48, by means of which the ring 24 is pressed in a radial direction against the shaft 12, which Fig. 1 is shown with a dashed line.

[0045] In summary, the invention relates to a shaft current diverter 22 for a shaft assembly 10 having a shaft 12 and a machine part 14 encompassing the shaft 12. The shaft current diverter 22 comprises an electrically conductive ring 24 for electrically contacting the shaft 12 and having an engagement recess 26 arranged axially relative to the central axis Z of the ring 24. A blocking element 28 can be secured relative to the shaft 12 on the machine part 14 and, when the shaft current diverter 22 is in the assembled state, engages in the engagement recess 26 of the ring 24 such that, when the shaft 12 rotates, the blocking element 28 prevents the ring 24 from rotating, while the blocking element 28 makes electrically conductive contact with the ring 24. The invention further relates to a shaft assembly 10 having such a shaft current diverter 22.

Claims

[1] Shaft current arrester (22) for a shaft arrangement (10) with a shaft (12) and a machine part (14) encompassing the shaft (12), comprising: - an electrically conductive ring (24) for electrically contacting arrangement on the shaft (12); characterized by in that the ring (24) has an engagement recess (26) which is arranged to extend axially relative to the central axis (Z) of the ring (24), and in that the shaft current diverter (22) comprises a blocking element (28) which can be fixed to the machine part (14) relative to the shaft (12) and which, in the assembled state of the shaft current diverter (22), engages in the engagement recess (26) of the ring (24) in such a way that, when the shaft (12) is rotating, the ring (24) is prevented from rotating by the blocking element (28) while the ring (24) is in electrically conductive contact with the blocking element (28). [2] Wave current arrester (22) according to claim 1, characterized bythat the ring (24) consists entirely of an electrically conductive material or comprises an electrically conductive material. [3] Wave current arrester (22) according to claim 2, characterized by that the ring (24) has a base body (30) from which at least one profile projection (32) extends on the outer circumference, by which the engagement recess (26) is defined. [4] Wave current arrester (22) according to claim 3, characterized by that the profile projection (32) has two end sections (32a, 32b) which are arranged at a distance from one another in the circumferential direction of the ring (24) to form the engagement recess (26). [5] Wave current arrester (22) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized by that the base body (30) has a plurality of radial openings (34) through which the profile projection (32) extends radially in the direction of the central axis Z. [6] Wave current arrester (22) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the ring (24) is completely slotted and is designed as an elastically expandable spring ring. [7] Wave current arrester (22) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the blocking element (28) is shaped such that the blocking element can be locked in the engagement recess (26) of the ring (24). [8] Wave current arrester according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the blocking element (28) has a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape with side flanks (40) which converge outwards in a direction radial to the central axis (Z) and that the ring (24) has end faces (42) corresponding to the side flanks (40) which converge outwards in a radial direction. [9] Wave current arrester according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the electrically conductive ring (24) has tribostructures (44) on its inner circumference. [10] Wave current arrester (22) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the conductive material of the ring (24) is metal or an electrically conductive polymer material. [11] Shaft arrangement (10) comprising a shaft (12) and a machine part (14) encompassing the shaft (12), which are arranged at a distance from one another to form a sealing or bearing gap (16) and are movable relative to one another about an axis of rotation (L), characterized bythat the shaft arrangement (10) has a shaft current diverter (22) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrically conductive ring (24) of the shaft current diverter (22) is mounted on the shaft (12) and the electrically conductive blocking element (28) is fastened to the machine part (14) in such a way that, when the shaft (12) is rotating, the blocking element (28) prevents the ring (24) from rotating relative to the machine part (14) and the ring (24) is made in an electrically conductive contact by the blocking element (28). [12] Shaft arrangement (10) according to claim 11, characterized by that the ring (24) is designed as a spring ring and a rotation of the shaft (12) about the axis of rotation (L) causes an expansion of the spring ring (24) supported in the circumferential direction on the blocking element (28). [13] Shaft arrangement according to claim 11 or 12, characterized bythat the ring (24) is prestressed in a radial direction against the shaft (12) by means of a prestressing ring (48).

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