Rotor Slip Ring Connection Adapters for Axial Compactness

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rotating electrical machines face challenges in reducing the axial dimensions of the rotor shaft while maintaining electrical safety creepage distances and clearances, particularly due to the complexity of connecting the slip ring body to the rotor winding.

Innovation Solution

The integration of connection adapters that protrude beyond the slip ring body, with the driver unit arranged at the same height, electrically insulated from the adapters, allows for reduced axial extent by utilizing the axial height for improved integration and maintenance access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If the slip ring body and drive unit are integrated at the axial end of the rotor shaft, then the axial dimensions of the rotor shaft are reduced, but electrical safety creepage distances and clearances may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaxial dimensions of rotor shaftVSAvoidelectrical safety creepage distances
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The slip ring body is segmented into multiple insulating segments arranged axially, with conductive contact surfaces on each segment. This segmentation allows the drive unit to be positioned in the axial space between segments while maintaining required creepage distances through the insulating material, thus reducing overall axial dimensions without compromising electrical safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

An insulating intermediate structure (the insulating segments) is introduced between the conductive parts of the slip ring body and the drive unit. This intermediary maintains the necessary electrical clearance and creepage distances while enabling compact axial integration of the drive unit with the slip ring body.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of repair

If connection adapters protrude beyond the slip ring body, then integration and maintenance access are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance access to rotor winding connectionsVSAvoidstructure of slip ring body
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connection adapters serve multiple functions: they provide electrical connection points for the rotor winding, protrude axially to enable maintenance access from the end of the rotor shaft, and integrate with the insulating segment structure. This multi-functionality improves ease of repair without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3977602B1Rotor for a rotating electric machine
Publication Date: 2023.05.10 FLENDER GMBH
  • EP3977602B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3977602B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3977602B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a rotor (14) for a rotating electrical machine (10), comprising: - a rotor shaft (40), - a rotor winding (28) on the rotor shaft (40), - a slip ring body (22) disposed at an axial end (26) of the rotor shaft (40), wherein an end face (32) of the slip ring body (22) is formed at an axial end of the slip ring body (22) opposite the rotor winding (28), and - a driver unit (24) for a rotary encoder (36), which driver unit is fastened to the end face (32) of the slip ring body (22) and/or to the axial end (26) of the rotor shaft (40). According to the invention, the slip ring body (22) has connection adapters (38) which project axially beyond the end face (32) of the slip ring body (22) and to which conductor ends (42) of the rotor winding (28) are connected, and the driver unit (24) is electrically insulated from the connection adapters (38) at least in a portion (44) which is disposed at the same level as the connection adapters (38) in the direction of an axis of rotation (30) of the rotor shaft (40).