Abstract: In a module which is usable in a wide band DC to UHF range, a vernier connection is employed in a slip ring and brush assembly. A source is connected to a ring by four slip ring feeds and a load is coupled to the ring by three brush leads. The unequal number of feeds and brushes reduces the standing wave reflections on the ring enabling the module to perform satisfactorily at high frequencies.

Abstract: Gas-cooled slip ring for electrical machines mountable on a slip-ring shaft including a hub fastenable on the slip-ring shaft in insulating relationship thereto, and, a ring flange extending in axial direction from both sides of the hub, the slip ring being formed with a radially outer surface having a multiplicity of mutually adjacent grooves incised therein, and a radially inner surface spaced from the surface of the slip-ring shaft when the hub is fastened thereon and defining therewith a plurality of ring channels serving as coolant gas supply channels, radially inner surface of the ring flange being formed with incised notches shaped as substantially circular segments and extending in radial direction, the incised notches connecting the grooves to the ring channel.

Abstract: A brush assembly for use with rotating slip rings wherein a plurality of brush modules composed of flat separate elements with brushes therein are assembled in a stacking order with spacers selectively placed between modules to facilitate the positioning of the brushes opposite the slip rings. Each module is molded separately to provide ease of molding, assembling and maintenance.

Abstract: In a dynamoelectric machine of the type wherein cooling air taken from outside of the machine is circulated through the housing of the machine by means of a fan and a casing containing slip rings is mounted on the outside of the housing, a portion of the cooling air pressurized by the fan is circulated through the casing for cooling the slip rings.

Abstract: A homopolar machine designed to operate as a generator and motor in reversibly storing and transferring energy between the machine and a magnetic load coil for a thermo-nuclear reactor. The machine rotor comprises hollow thin-walled cylinders or sleeves which form the basis of the system by utilizing substantially all of the rotor mass as a conductor thus making it possible to transfer substantially all the rotor kinetic energy electrically to the load coil in a highly economical and efficient manner. The rotor is divided into multiple separate cylinders or sleeves of modular design, connected in series and arranged to rotate in opposite directions but maintain the supply of current in a single direction to the machine terminals. A stator concentrically disposed around the sleeves consists of a hollow cylinder having a number of excitation coils each located radially outward from the ends of adjacent sleeves.

Abstract: A support carrier of electrically conductive material is secured to the shaft of the machine. A plurality of slip rings are secured to the support carrier, one of the slip rings being fixed thereto directly so that the support carrier will form one terminal of the electrical connection for the slip rings, and an insulating layer is placed over the support carrier over which the other slip ring is located. Preferably, the support carrier is formed with a flange which is notched, one of the notches serving to form an electrical connection for the wire of the field of the machine for connection to the slip ring which is directly secured to the support carrier, the other notch in the flange being wider and gripping around the insulation of the other wire of the field, the wire of the field then being connected to the slip ring which is carried on the insulation. That slip ring, preferably, is also formed with an external flange to which its connecting wire can be secured, for example by soldering.

Abstract: A contact clamp for graphite electrodes, which comprises a shaft, the one end of which is shaped as a cone, while the other ends with a neck, onto which there is seated a metal hub shaped as a truncated cone, and to the shaft there is fastened a current-carrying disk, which is in contact with current-supplying brushes.

Abstract: A stationary disc of electrically insulating material is sandwiched between two rotating discs of electrically insulating material, the rotating discs carrying electrical contacts and the stationary disc carrying electrical brushes engaging the electrical contacts.

Abstract: A full rotational freedom, substantially zero friction electrical contact assembly for conducting electrical currents between relatively rotatable members of sensitive instruments such as gyroscopic devices and the like and a method of and apparatus for the assembly thereof is disclosed. Each electrical transfer unit of the assembly comprises a pair of coaxial, concentric, coplanar, continuous, concave conductor rings, one mounted on a relatively fixed member and the other mounted on the rotatable member, the relative diameters of the rings providing a substantial annular radial gap therebetween. A resilient, electrically conducting, continuous, filamentary loop is disposed in the radial gap such that its generally flat outside surface contacts and rolls on the concave surfaces of the concentric conductor rings.

Abstract: An alternating current generator of the kind having a superconductive direct current field winding wherein: the field winding is carried on the stator; the armature winding is carried on the rotor; shaft and current collection from the armature winding is effected via a liquid metal slip-ring arrangement. The invention also provides a liquid metal slip-ring arrangement, for use with dynamo electric machines, comprising a first annular member which rotates with the machine rotor, and a non-rotating second annular member which is electrically connected to the first annular member via the liquid metal of the slip-ring arrangement, and arranged to move axially with the first annular member during axial movement of the rotor.

Abstract: A slip ring device including a metallic sleeve inside an insulated rotor assembly consisting of conductive rings. A friction fit between the metallic sleeve and metallic supporting shaft drilled in such a manner as to accommodate electrical leads routed out through the center of the shaft. A metallic sleeve supporting the insulated conductive rings positioned by a step in the supporting shaft diameter and not cemented to the supporting shaft so that it can easily be replaced without requiring the main rotor support shaft to be replaced.

Abstract: A commutator or slip-ring has a contact face formed of at least two dissimilar electrically conductive materials which have different values of electrical resistance. The two materials each occupy different discrete areas with a brush bearing on both areas simultaneously.According to a further feature a commutator comprises pairs of segments of alternately high resistance and low resistance mounted in a machine which is arranged to rotate so that brushes bear firstly on a low resistance segment and then on a high resistance segment.

Abstract: A slip ring for the transfer of very large currents to the rotor of an electric power generator is provided with a slip contact surface in the form of a surface of revolution oblique to the axis of rotation that is a ruled surface, which is to say straight lines (known as generatrices) can be drawn on it, whether the surface be flat, as a conical surface, or curved as, for example, a hyperboloidal surface. Cooling grooves centered on straight lines are provided, as well as cooling channels beneath the surface and parallel to it, through which air passes and may thereafter be used to cool the brushes and their supports. The brushes are arranged on self-adjusting ring-shaped carriers hung on centering arms rolling on axially directed guides and urged by a spring arrangement so as to press the brushes towards the slip ring. When one ring of brushes is worn away, it is carried beyond the slip ring where it can be removed for renewal and new rings of brushes can be added, all without stopping the generator.

Abstract: A slip ring assembly for an a.c. machine comprises a pair of copper rings mounted on an electrically insulating sleeve formed of two arcuate portions, each of which extends for less than the true semi-circle so that the sleeve is not a true cylinder of circular cross-section. Means internally of the sleeve urges the arcuate portions outwardly when the sleeve is mounted on a rotor shaft of the a.c. machine so as to retain the rings in position on the sleeve. The means may be in the form of a separate, split cylindrical spring or in the form of a taper on the inner surface of the sleeve which engages a corresponding taper on the rotor shaft.

Abstract: A brush and slip ring assembly in which specific resilient characteristics are developed in the brushes by forming them in shapes which will allow the brushes to be simultaneously displaced a finite amount with the slip ring assembly in a vibratory environment which would otherwise produce relative sliding motion therebetween. By preventing the relative sliding motion between the brushes and slip ring assembly, the formation of electrically insulating friction polymers on the points of contact between the brushes and slip rings is inhibited.