Abstract: A compact slip ring (20), which is particularly adapted for use in small spaces, is adapted to provide electrical contact between a rotor (22) and a stator (21). The improved slip ring broadly includes an electrically-conductive monofilament (24) having one end (28) mounted on the stator and having a distal end (34); a sleeve (25) mounted on and secured to the marginal end portion of the monofilament, adjacent the distal end; and a fiber bundle (26) having a longitudinal axis (39), one marginal end portion of the fiber bundle being recessed in and secured to the sleeve, the other end of the fiber bundle engaging the rotor such that the longitudinal axis of the fiber bundle will be substantially perpendicular to an imaginary line tangent to the rotor surface at the point of contact with the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: The present invention provides several improvements in a slip ring (36) that is adapted to provide electrical contact between a rotor (42) and stator (40). In one aspect, a brush tube (39) is crimped around the upper marginal end portions of a plurality of individual fibers (38) inserted therein. In another aspect, a collimator tube (41) extends downwardly beyond the end of the brush tube to limit lateral movement of the fibers in the bundle when the rotor rotates. In yet another arrangement, a spring (55, 56) is arranged to bear against a current-carrying conductor to adjustably vary the force by which the lower ends of the fibers are urged to move toward the rotor.

Abstract: A fiber optic rotary joint is provided that is unaffected by variations in the optical properties of a fluid that fills its internal cavity. The rotary joint includes a housing defining the internal cavity, first and second optical collimation arrays on opposite sides of the internal cavity, and a reversion prism between the optical collimation arrays. Further, the rotary joint includes an interface optical element proximate at least one of the first and second optical collimation arrays and the reversion prism. Each interface optical element includes an optically-flat surface adapted to contact the fluid such that optical signals that are oriented normal to the optically-flat surface can be transmitted without refraction, thereby rendering the optical signals immune to variations in the fluid's optical properties. A reversion prism assembly, an optical collimation assembly and a method of aligning an optical collimation array utilizing alignment pins are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides several improvements in a slip ring (36) that is adapted to provide electrical contact between a rotor (42) and stator (40). In one aspect, a brush tube (39) is crimped around the upper marginal end portions of a plurality of individual fibers (38) inserted therein. In another aspect, a collimator tube (41) extends downwardly beyond the end of the brush tube to limit lateral movement of the fibers in the bundle when the rotor rotates. In yet another arrangement, a spring (55, 56) is arranged to bear against a current-carrying conductor to adjustably vary the force by which the lower ends of the fibers are urged to move toward the rotor.

Abstract: A fiber optic rotary joint is provided that is unaffected by variations in the optical properties of a fluid that fills its internal cavity. The rotary joint includes a housing defining the internal cavity, first and second optical collimation arrays on opposite sides of the internal cavity, and a reversion prism between the optical collimation arrays. Further, the rotary joint includes an interface optical element proximate at least one of the first and second optical collimation arrays and the reversion prism. Each interface optical element includes an optically flat surface adapted to contact the fluid such that optical signals that are oriented normal to the optically flat surface can be transmitted without refraction, thereby rendering the optical signals immune to variations in the fluid's optical properties. A reversion prism assembly, an optical collimation assembly and a method of aligning an optical collimation array utilizing alignment pins are also provided.