GB1050644A - - Google Patents

Abstract

1,050,644. Couplings between relatively movable conducting parts. SPACE TECHNOLOGY & RESEARCH CORPORATION. Jan. 23, 1964 [Feb. 8, 1963], No. 2903/64. Heading H2E. A slip ring assembly comprising concentric inner and outer conducting elements relatively rotatable by an unlimited amount and connected by conductors in slidable engagement with at least one of said elements, is built up of a number of identical stacked modules. Each module comprises inner and outer units 62, 42. The outer unit 42 comprises an outer contact 44 and outer case 46, having respectively slots 48 and 50 for receiving conductor leads 40, and a metal ring 58 attached to lead 40, which is secured to contact 44 by a suitable adhesive or by cooling it under cryogenic conditions and allowing it to expand into contact 44. Inner unit 62 comprises large diameter hub 64 and small diameter hub 66 separated by flange 68, and inner metal ring 74 which has lead 41 secured to its internal surface and which is fitted over hub 64. Continuous contact is maintained between two cylindrical conducting surfaces by resilient ring 60, which may take many shapes, Figs. 3-9 (not shown), and may provide contact between either the inner or outer surfaces of contact 44, and inner or outer surfaces of hub 64. In the assembly flange 68 aligns with wall section 52 of outer unit 42 to form a common wall for two modules having relatively rotatable inner and outer sections. In forming the assembly, hub section 66 extends beyond the wall section and into hub 64 of the next unit. The contacting parts may be made of metal, or made of a ceramic with a conductive coating on one surface, e.g. copper and/or silver, gold alloys or rhodium- or gold-plated coin silver. In a modification, Fig. 10, the inner and outer modules are of solid ring construction and have annular grooves in which are press-fitted metal rings 58 and 74 which are electrically connected by contact 60. In a further embodiment, Fig. 11 (not shown), the structures of the joint are held together by a bolt running axially of the cylinders.