Rotary electrical contact device and method for providing current to and/or from a rotating member
| DWPI Title: Device for maintaining electrical contact between components of electrical motor and generator, has pair of orbital sheaves that is arranged between sheaves to revolve about center axis of first sheave |
| Abstract: Examples of rotary electrical connectors include a first pair and a second pair of opposing sheaves coupled together by intersecting first shaft connecting the first pair of opposing sheaves and a second shaft connecting the second pair of opposing sheaves, and at least partially electrically conductive belt disposed about respective perimeters of the first pair and second pair of opposing sheaves and adapted to remain in contact with at least a portion of the respective perimeters of the sheaves during motion of said sheaves. In example devices, one of the plurality of sheaves may remain stationary during operation of the device while the remaining sheaves rotate and/or orbit around a center axis of the stationary sheave, the device being configured to couple current between a stationary power source and a rotating member through the electrically conductive belt. |
| Use: Device for maintaining electrical contact between stationary and rotating components of electrical motor and generator e.g. synchronous motor-generator (claimed). |
| Advantage: The macroscopic sliding contact between stationary and rotating elements can be minimized, so that the large reductions in overall wear rate can be achieved. The electrical arcing can be effectively suppressed by maintaining continuous electrical contact at large contact area. |
| Novelty: The device (100) has a first sheave that remains stationary relative to the first component during operation of the device. A second sheave is spaced apart from and rotatably coupled to the first sheave, and is provided to remain stationary relative to the second component during operation of the device. A pair of orbital sheaves is arranged between the sheaves to revolve about the center axis of the first sheave during operation of the device. A belt (110) is provided to maintain electrical contact between the sheaves and the pair of orbital sheaves. |
| Filed: 5/18/2012 |
| Application Number: US13475831A |
| Tech ID: SD 12001.1 |
| This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention. |
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