Slip Ring Assembly With Porous Sintered Spacer for High Current
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing slip rings are limited by their inability to transmit high currents and voltages efficiently at high RPM values while maintaining low operating temperatures, often resulting in excessive wear and heat generation.
Innovation Solution
A slip ring assembly comprising a non-electrically conducting spindle with conduction assemblies, including interior and exterior conductor-connection disks and insulator disks, utilizing porous/sintered materials like Oilite for reduced wear and lubrication, and a resilient mechanism for compression, allowing for efficient high-current transmission at high RPMs without detectable wear or excessive heat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional slip rings are used to transmit electricity between stationary and rotating parts, then electrical current can be transferred, but excessive wear occurs on the contact members and heat generation increases at high RPM values
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical brush-contact system with a magnetic coupling system that uses magnetic fields to transfer rotational motion and electrical current without physical contact. This eliminates mechanical wear on contact members while maintaining the ability to transmit power and signals between stationary and rotating components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces magnetic fields as an intermediary medium to transfer energy and motion between the stationary and rotating parts. The magnetic coupling acts as a mediator that enables power transmission without direct mechanical contact, thereby preventing wear and reducing heat generation at high RPM values.
2Speed
If conventional slip rings operate at high RPM values, then rotational speed is achieved, but operating temperature increases and wear accelerates
Solution Approach 1:
By replacing the mechanical contact-based slip ring system with a magnetic coupling system, the patent eliminates the friction and heat generation associated with physical contact at high rotational speeds. The magnetic field transmission allows high RPM operation without the temperature increases that plague conventional slip rings.
3Power
If conventional slip rings are designed for high current transmission, then current capacity increases, but heat generation and wear problems worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical contact system with magnetic coupling to transmit electrical current. This substitution eliminates the resistive heating and arcing problems that occur in conventional slip rings when transmitting high currents, as the magnetic field transmission does not involve physical contact between conductive surfaces.
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 assembly effectively transmits high currents and voltages at high RPMs, maintaining low operating temperatures and preventing wear, as demonstrated by continuous operation at 50°C or below for 100 hours, with significant thrust increases in counter-rotating motor applications.
Implementation Method 1
an electrically conducting and lubricated porous/sintered spacer disk
Implementation Method 2
a resilient mechanism for applying compression to the plurality of conduction assemblies to maintain electrical transmission
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
A high current and RPM-capable slip ring assembly for use in a selected application for transferring electricity between an exterior environment and an interior environment that includes multiple electrical conduction assemblies with each having a fixed exterior electrical connection disk and rotating interior electrical connection disk mounted around a non-electrically conducting spindle that has a central aperture and a central axle running through the center of the spindle with one end of the central axle connected to the selected application and the other end of the central axle connect to a supporting structure mount and an oiled porous/sintered disk sandwiched around the spindle between the interior and exterior electrical connection disks of each conduction assembly to allow easy rotation between each exterior electrical connection disk and each rotating interior electrical connection disk.