Brushblock Dust Collector for Sliprings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dust collection systems for sliprings are complex, expensive, and inefficient, leading to contamination of other parts and difficulty in maintaining minimum airgap and creepage distances required by electrical safety standards.

Innovation Solution

A dust collector designed to collect dust at individual slipring brushes, featuring a body made from insulating materials like plastic with a concave dust collection rim and attachment means such as clips, optimized for side and bottom positions, and capable of being manufactured using 3D printing or injection molding, with optional metal construction and ribbed surfaces to prevent dust re-suspension.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a central dust collection device is used for multiple brushes, then device complexity is reduced, but dust collection efficiency decreases and contamination of other parts occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust collection system complexityVSAvoiddust collection efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the dust collection system into individual modular dust collectors, each attached to a specific brush holder. This segmentation allows each collector to handle dust from its corresponding brush independently, improving collection efficiency while preventing cross-contamination between different brush positions. The modular design maintains reasonable system complexity through standardization of individual units.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If dust is collected at individual brushes, then dust collection efficiency improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust collection efficiencyVSAvoiddust collection system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The dust collector is merged with the existing brush holder structure, combining dust collection functionality with the support mechanism. The collector body integrates with the brush holder sleeve, and the attachment means (clips) connect to existing structural elements. This merging approach adds dust collection capability without significantly increasing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If a forced air stream system with fan and filter is used, then dust collection capability improves, but cost and device complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust collection capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the complex forced air stream system (fan, filter, ductwork) from the dust collection solution and replaces it with a passive gravitational collection approach. By removing these unnecessary components, the system achieves adequate dust collection through simple geometric containment and gravity-driven dust accumulation, dramatically reducing device complexity and cost while maintaining sufficient capability for the application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Reliability

If minimum airgap and creepage distance are maintained according to electrical safety standards, then electrical safety is ensured, but space requirements increase and design flexibility decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical safetyVSAvoidspace requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The dust collector acts as an intermediary barrier between dust-generating brushes and the sliding tracks. By collecting dust at the source and containing it within the collector's geometric structure, the system maintains the required electrical clearance distances without needing excessive space. The collector's design ensures dust does not bridge gaps between components of different potentials, satisfying electrical safety standards with compact dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively reduces dust accumulation on slipring assemblies, simplifies maintenance, and maintains required electrical safety standards by collecting dust close to its source, reducing contamination and facilitating easy cleaning and assembly.

Implementation Method 1

dust and debris (herein for simplicity simply called dust) has the tendency to follow gravitation and to fall to the ground

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP3407439B1Brushblock with dust collector for sliprings
Publication Date: 2020.11.25 SCHLEIFRING GMBH
  • EP3407439B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3407439B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3407439B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A dust collector for sliprings comprises a body of an insulating material forming a concave collection space and further comprising at least one attachment means for attaching the collector to a brush block or a brush holder sleeve.