JP2023165226A - Brush body, brush unit, slip ring device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a brush body, a brush unit, and a slip ring device that can easily bring a brush into contact with a slip ring.SOLUTION: A brush body 15 for a slip ring device 1 includes a brush 16 made of a plurality of straight metal wires, and a metal brush holder 17 that restrains and holds one end of the brush 16 such that the other end is exposed. The brush holder 17 includes a first thick portion 31, and a thin portion 32 that is integral with the first thick portion 31 and adjacent to the first thick portion 31. A through hole 17a for inserting the brush 16 is formed in the first thick portion 31 and the thin portion 32. The first thick portion 31 has a thickness larger than that of the thin portion 32 in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the through hole 17a. The brush 16 is inserted into the through hole 17a such that the one end is exposed from the first thick portion 31, and is restrained and held by the brush holder 17 by caulking the thin portion 32.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to a brush body, a brush unit, and a slip ring device.

2. Description of the Related Art Slip ring devices for transmitting electrical signals and electric power between rotating parts and stationary parts of industrial equipment have been known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-43558

However, in the conventional slip ring device as described above, the brush is fixed to the board on the stationary part side by soldering, so the direction in which the brush extends changes due to soldering, making it difficult to bring the brush into contact with the slip ring. There was a problem.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a brush body, a brush unit, and a slip ring device that can easily bring a brush into contact with a slip ring.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention
A brush made of multiple straight metal wires,
A brush body for a slip ring device, comprising a metal brush holder for restraining and holding the other end so that one end of the brush is exposed,
The brush holder has a first thick part and a thin part integrally adjacent to the first thick part,
A through hole for inserting the brush is formed in the first thick part and the thin part,
The first thick portion has a thickness greater than the thin portion in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the through hole,
The brush is inserted into the through hole so that the one end is exposed from the first thick part, and the thin part is caulked so that the brush is restrained and held by the brush holder. To provide a brush body with special characteristics.

Moreover, the present invention
A brush body consisting of a brush made of a plurality of straight metal wires, and a metal brush holder for restraining and holding the other end so that one end of the brush is exposed;
A brush unit for a slip ring device, comprising a metal plate-shaped terminal for holding the brush body,
A slit is formed in the terminal,
The present invention provides a brush unit characterized in that the brush holder is inserted and held in the slit of the terminal.

Moreover, the present invention
A brush body consisting of a brush made of a plurality of straight metal wires, and a metal brush holder for restraining and holding the other end so that one end of the brush is exposed;
A brush unit for a slip ring device, comprising a metal plate-shaped terminal for holding the brush body,
The brush holder has a first thick part and a thin part integrally adjacent to the first thick part,
A through hole for inserting the brush is formed in the first thick part and the thin part,
The first thick portion has a thickness greater than the thin portion in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the through hole,
The brush is inserted into the through hole so that the one end is exposed from the first thick part, and is restrained and held by the brush holder by caulking the thin part,
A slit is formed in the terminal,
The present invention provides a brush unit characterized in that the brush holder is inserted and held in the slit of the terminal.

Moreover, the present invention
There is provided a slip ring device characterized by having the brush body or brush unit described above.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a brush body, a brush unit, and a slip ring device that can easily bring a brush into contact with a slip ring.

FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) are a perspective view and an exploded view showing the configuration of a slip ring device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2(a) is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the slip ring device, FIG. 2(b) is a view showing the brush unit and rotating shaft, and FIG. 2(c) is a cross-sectional view showing the brush unit and rotating shaft. FIG. FIG. 3(a) is an exploded view showing the configuration of the brush unit, and FIG. 3(b) is a front view of the terminal. FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) are a perspective view and a sectional view showing the structure of the brush body. FIG. 5 is an exploded view showing the configuration of the rotating shaft.

A slip ring device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the accompanying drawings.
The slip ring device 1 transmits electrical signals and electric power between a rotating part (hereinafter referred to as rotating equipment) and a stationary part (hereinafter referred to as stationary equipment) in a rotating part of industrial equipment. The slip ring device 1 includes a plurality of rotating side electric wires 2, a plurality of stationary side electric wires 3, a rotating shaft 4, and a housing 5, as shown in FIG. 1(a).

As shown in FIG. 1(b), the housing 5 consists of a housing body 6, a lid member 7, a cover 8, and a side plate 9. The lid member 7 is made of an insulating material, and the other members are made of insulated metal. It is preferable that
The housing main body 6 includes a thick semi-cylindrical portion 6a cut out in a plane parallel to the central axis, and a substantially disk-shaped side plate portion 6b integrally provided at one end of the semi-cylindrical portion 6a. A cover 8 made of a curved thin plate-like member is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the semi-cylindrical portion 6a.

The lid member 7 fits into the notch portion of the housing body 6, and is made of a thick plate-like member having a substantially arc-shaped cross section. By attaching the lid member 7 to the housing body 6, the housing body 6 has a cylindrical shape as a whole. In the lid member 7, a plurality of slots 7a into which a plurality of brush units 10 are inserted are formed in two rows alternately at equal intervals along the central axis direction of the housing body 6. The lid member 7 is fixed to the housing body 6 with a plurality of screws 11.

Here, as shown in FIG. 3A, the brush unit 10 includes a plate-shaped terminal 12 and two brush bodies 15 held by the terminal 12. The brush body 15 includes a brush 16 and a brush holder 17 that holds the brush 16. Note that the terminal 12, the brush 16, and the brush holder 17 are all made of a conductive material. The brush unit 10 and brush body 15 will be detailed later.

As shown in FIG. 1(b), the side plate 9 has a substantially disk shape that closes the end of the semi-cylindrical portion 6a of the housing body 6 on the side opposite to the side plate portion 6b. The side plate portion 6b and the side plate 9 are equipped with ball bearings 13 and 14, and the ball bearings 13 and 14 rotatably support the rotary shaft 4, specifically, pipes 22 and 26 of the rotary shaft 4, which will be described later. A through hole 6c for allowing the rotating shaft 4 to protrude outside the housing 5 is formed in the side plate portion 6b.

A plate-shaped rectangular portion 18 of the terminal 12 of the brush unit 10, which will be described later, is inserted into the slot 7a of the lid member 7 from inside the lid member 7 and projects out of the housing 5. The stationary electric wire 3 is connected to the rectangular portion 18, and this connecting portion and the rectangular portion 18 are covered with a heat shrinkable tube 19 made of an insulating material. An insulating plate 21 is attached to the lid member 7 from the inside, and the brush unit 10 is fixed to the lid member 7 by the insulating plate 21. The insulating plate 21 is a plate-like member made of an insulating material, and has a plurality of through holes, specifically two through holes for one brush unit 10. The two bundles of brushes 16, 16 of the brush unit 10 each protrude downward from the through hole, and come into contact with the groove of the slip ring 20 of the rotating shaft 4 from both sides (the front side and the back side in FIG. 2(a)). There is.

As shown in FIG. 5, the rotating shaft 4 includes, in order from the left in FIG. , these are integrated so as to form a cylindrical shape as a whole. The rotation-side electric wire 2 is housed inside the rotation shaft 4, and is filled with resin (not shown).

The pipes 22 and 26 are cylindrical members, and are rotatably supported by ball bearings 13 and 14 provided in the side plate 6b and the side plate 9 of the housing 5. The pipe 22 is longer than the pipe 26 and projects out of the housing 5 from the through hole 6c of the side plate 6b.
The bearing rings 23 and 25 are annular members made of an insulating material such as resin and abut against the inner ring sides of the ball bearings 13 and 14. The bearing rings 23 and 25 have circular grooves formed inside the rotating shaft 4 in the axial direction to fit into the slip ring 20.

The plurality of insulating rings 24 are annular members made of resin, and circular grooves into which the slip rings 20 fit are formed on both sides of the rotating shaft 4 in the axial direction.
The plurality of slip rings 20 are annular members made of metal and having a smaller diameter than the bearing rings 23 and 25 and the insulating ring 24. The slip ring 20 is provided with a circumferentially extending groove 20a that guides the brush 16 of the brush unit 10 and extends around the outer peripheral surface.

A plurality of rotating side electric wires 2 are inserted into the pipe 22 from the outside in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 4, and each of the plurality of rotating side electric wires 2 is connected to the inner peripheral surface of the corresponding slip ring 20. Note that the plurality of rotating side electric wires 2 are covered within the pipe 22 with a heat shrinkable tube 27 made of an insulating material.

In the slip ring device 1 configured as described above, the stationary side electric wire 3 and the rotating side electric wire 2 are connected to a stationary device and a rotating device, respectively, and the pipe 22 of the rotating shaft 4 is connected to the rotating device and rotates. The rotating electric wire 2 and the inner rings of the ball bearings 13 and 14 can rotate together with the rotating shaft 4. At this time, the brush 16 of the brush unit 10 is always kept in contact with the groove 20a of the rotating slip ring 20. As a result, the slip ring device 1 transmits the electric signal or power output from the stationary equipment to the stationary side electric wire 3, the terminal 12 of the brush unit 10, the brush holder 17, the brush 16, the slip ring 20, and the rotating side electric wire 2 in order. It is also possible to transmit electrical signals or power from a rotating device to a stationary device.

The brush body 15 and brush unit 10, which are characteristic configurations of the slip ring device 1 according to the present embodiment, will be explained.
As shown in FIG. 4A, the brush body 15 includes a brush 16 and a brush holder 17 that restrains and holds the other end of the brush 16 so that one end of the brush 16 is exposed.
The brush 16 is made of a plurality of (10 in this embodiment) straight metal wires.

The brush holder 17 is formed by processing the central portion of a cylindrical member in the axial direction into a cylindrical shape with a small diameter. In other words, the brush holder 17 includes, in order from the tip side of the brush 16, a cylindrical first thick part 31, a cylindrical thin part 32 having a smaller diameter than the first thick part 31, and a cylindrical thin part 32 that is the same as the first thick part 31. The second thick part 33 has a cylindrical diameter. The brush holder 17 is made of metal, and in this embodiment is made of brass, which has good electrical conductivity and is easy to process. Note that the shapes of the first thick portion 31 and the second thick portion 33 are not limited to a cylindrical shape, and may be, for example, a substantially quadrangular prism shape with chamfered corners of the side surfaces.

Two shallow grooves 31a, 31a extending in the axial direction are formed on the side surface of the first thick portion 31 so as to face each other with the central axis interposed therebetween. Similarly, two groove portions 33a, 33a are formed on the side surface of the second thick portion 33. Grooves 31a, 31a of the first thick portion 31 and grooves 33a, 33a of the second thick portion 33 can be fitted into slit forming portions 36, 36 of the terminal 12, which will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 4(b), the brush holder 17 is formed with a circular through hole 17a extending along the central axis into which the brush 16 is inserted. In this embodiment, the brush 16 is inserted into the through hole 17a of the brush holder 17, and the brush 16 is held in the brush holder 17 by caulking the thin wall portion 32. In detail, the brush 16 is restrained by the thin wall portion 32 by applying force to the thin wall portion 32 from all sides with a tool toward the central axis as a caulking process to deform the thin wall portion 32 . Note that the process of caulking the thin wall portion 32 is also referred to as crimping the thin wall portion 32 .

The size of the through hole 17a of the brush holder 17 is small enough to allow the brush 16 to be inserted thereinto, and prevents the brush 16 exposed from the first thick part 31 from spreading out when the thin part 32 is caulked. It is designed to be small enough to maintain the straight state of the metal wire forming the brush 16.

More specifically, the diameter of the through-hole 17a is such that the cross-sectional area of the through-hole 17a is 1.54 to 2.24 times the cross-sectional area of the brush 16 (in this embodiment, the sum of the cross-sectional areas of 10 metal wires). It is designed to be within the size. When the cross-sectional area of the through-hole 17a is less than 1.54 times the cross-sectional area of the brush 16, it becomes difficult to insert the brush 16 into the through-hole 17a. On the other hand, if the cross-sectional area of the through hole 17a exceeds 2.24 times the cross-sectional area of the brush 16, the effect of suppressing the spread of the brush 16 when the thin portion 32 is caulked will be reduced. Therefore, by making the cross-sectional area of the through-hole 17a within 1.54 to 2.24 times the cross-sectional area of the brush 16, the brush 16 can be smoothly inserted into the through-hole 17a, and when the thin-walled portion 32 is caulked, The effect of preventing the brush 16 from spreading can be maximized.
The diameter of the through hole 17a in the second thick portion 33 is designed to gradually increase toward the outside in the axial direction so that the brush 16 can be easily inserted therein.

Here, the conventional brush body is manufactured by, for example, inserting a brush into a through hole of a cylindrical brush holder and caulking the brush holder. In such a conventional brush body, the extending direction of the brush changes when the brush holder is caulked. Specifically, the brush becomes wider, that is, the distance between the metal wires forming the brush becomes wider. Furthermore, when the brushes are soldered and fixed to the board of a stationary device as in the conventional slip ring device described above, the brushes spread out due to the heat of soldering. Since these spread brushes protrude from the grooves of the slip ring when the slip ring device is assembled, the brushes must be assembled into the device while being assembled so that they fit in the grooves, which is a complicated task.

In contrast, the brush body 15 in this embodiment has a configuration in which the brush holder 17 is provided with the first thick part 31 and the thin part 32 in order from the tip side of the brush 16, and the thin part 32 is caulked. By doing so, it is possible to minimize the spread of the brush 16 when the thin portion 32 is caulked, and to maintain the state in which the plurality of metal wires forming the brush 16 are bundled. In addition, in the brush body 15 of this embodiment, by appropriately setting the size of the through hole 17a of the brush holder 17 as described above, the effect of suppressing the spread of the brush 16 when the thin wall portion 32 is caulked can be maximized. can be demonstrated.

Therefore, when assembling the slip ring device 1, the brush 16 can be easily assembled so as to properly contact the groove 20a of the slip ring 20, and the spread of the brush 16 when it comes into contact with the groove 20a of the slip ring 20 is also minimized. It can be kept to a limit. Thereby, electric signals and electric power can be reliably and stably transmitted between the brush 16 and the slip ring 20.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the brush unit 10 includes two brush bodies 15 and a terminal 12 that supports the two brush bodies 15.
The terminal 12 has an approximately L-shape as a whole, consisting of an elongated plate-shaped rectangular part 18 and a plate-shaped extension part 34 that is integrally provided with the rectangular part 18 and extends perpendicularly from one end of the rectangular part 18. This is a plate-like member. The terminal 12 is made of metal, and in this embodiment is made of brass, which has good electrical conductivity and is easy to process.

Two rectangular slits 35 , 35 are formed in the extending portion 34 of the terminal 12 and open in the direction opposite to the rectangular portion 18 in order to insert the brush holder 17 of the brush body 15 . .
The two slits 35, 35 are provided at an angle in the extending portion 34 so that the distance between them gradually increases in the direction opposite to the rectangular portion 18. More specifically, the inclination angle of each slit 35 is such that when the terminal 12 with the brush holder 17 attached to the slit 35 is assembled to the slip ring device 1, the brush 16 held by the brush holder 17 is attached to the slip ring 20. It is designed to have a size that allows it to contact the groove 20a with an appropriate pressure.
When looking at the slit 35 from the direction opposite to the rectangular portion 18, raised portions 36a, 36a that are raised in a trapezoidal shape toward the central axis of the slit 35 are provided at the back of the slit forming portions 36, 36 that constitute the slit 35. The slit width is smaller than other parts.

The brush holder 17 of the brush body 15 described above is press-fitted into the slit 35 of the terminal 12 having such a configuration. Specifically, the slit forming portions 36, 36 of the terminal 12 and the groove portions 31a, 31a, 33a, 33a of the brush holder 17 are press-fitted. The brush body 15 is attached to the terminal 12 by being press-fitted so that they fit together.

Here, the brush body is conventionally attached to the terminal by, for example, welding brush holders of the brush body to both ends of a plate-shaped terminal. For this reason, a jig for positioning the brush holder with respect to the terminal is required, or the position of the brush holder with respect to the terminal shifts due to welding, resulting in a change in the direction in which the brush extends. Further, in the case of a brush that is soldered and fixed to a board of a stationary device as in the conventional slip ring device described above, the direction in which the brush extends changes due to the soldering. These brushes whose extension direction has changed will protrude from the groove of the slip ring when assembling the slip ring device, so they must be assembled into the device so as to come into contact with the groove, which is a complicated process. Ta.

On the other hand, the brush unit 10 according to the present embodiment has a structure in which the brush holder 17 is inserted into the slit 35 of the terminal 12, so that the brush holder 17 is fixed in position and direction with respect to the terminal 12, and the brush 16 (setting the direction and angle in which the brush 16 extends from the terminal 12) can be easily, stably, and reliably performed. Therefore, when assembling the slip ring device 1, the brush 16 can be easily assembled so as to properly contact the groove 20a of the slip ring 20 with an appropriate pressure. Thereby, electric signals and electric power can be reliably and stably transmitted between the brush 16 and the slip ring 20. That is, regardless of the skill of the worker who assembles the slip ring device 1, the degree of pressing of the brush 16 against the groove 20a of the slip ring 20 can be made uniform, and product performance can be stabilized.

Note that by providing the protruding parts 36a, 36a in the slit forming parts 36, 36 of the terminal 12, when the brush holder 17 is inserted into the slit 35, the protruding parts 36a, 36a close the second thick part of the brush holder 17. 33 is sandwiched, it is possible to better secure the press-fitting strength.

The brush unit 10 in this embodiment includes a brush body 15 that prevents the brush 16 from spreading when the brush holder 17 is caulked as described above, and a brush body 15 that prevents the brush 16 from spreading when the brush holder 17 is caulked as described above. 16, the brush 16 can be assembled most easily so as to properly contact the groove 20a of the slip ring 20 when assembling the slip ring device 1. The assembled slip ring device 1 can transmit electric signals and power between the brush 16 and the slip ring 20 more reliably and stably.

The brush holder 17 in the brush unit 10 includes the first and second thick parts 31 and 33 and the thin part 32 as described above. However, the configuration of the brush holder 17 is not limited to this, and for example, the brush holder 17 may be configured with only the first thick part 31 and the thin part 32, and it is possible to prevent the brush 16 from spreading when caulking. .

Moreover, when the purpose is only for the effect of positioning the brush 16 described above, the brush holder 17 may be formed into a prismatic shape and may be configured to be mounted in the slit 35 of the terminal 12. In this case, it is desirable to provide grooves extending in the axial direction that can fit into the slit forming parts 36 of the terminals 12 on one side surface and the opposite side surface of the prismatic brush holder.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to realize the brush body 15, the brush unit 10, and the slip ring device 1 that can easily bring the brush 16 into contact with the slip ring 20 with a simple and inexpensive configuration.

1 Slip ring device 2 Rotating side electric wire 3 Stationary side electric wire 4 Rotating shaft 5 Housing 6 Housing body 6a Semi-cylindrical part 6b Side plate part 7 Lid member 8 Cover 9 Side plate 10 Brush unit 11 Screw 12 Terminals 13, 14 Ball bearing 15 Brush body 16 Brush 17 Brush holder 18 Terminal rectangular part 19 Heat shrink tube 20 Slip ring 21 Insulating plate 22 Pipes 23, 25 Bearing ring 24 Insulating ring 27 Heat shrink tube 31 First thick part 32 Thin part 33 Second thick part 35 Slit 36 Slit forming part 36a Raised part

Claims (15)

A brush made of multiple straight metal wires,
A brush body for a slip ring device, comprising a metal brush holder for restraining and holding the other end so that one end of the brush is exposed,
The brush holder has a first thick part and a thin part integrally adjacent to the first thick part,
A through hole for inserting the brush is formed in the first thick part and the thin part,
The first thick portion has a thickness greater than the thin portion in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the through hole,
The brush is inserted into the through hole so that the one end is exposed from the first thick part, and the thin part is caulked so that the brush is restrained and held by the brush holder. Characteristic brush body. The brush body according to claim 1, wherein the through hole has a size that allows the brush to be inserted therein and that allows the metal wire to maintain a straight state when the thin wall portion is caulked. The brush body according to claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional area of the through hole is within 1.54 to 2.24 times the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the plurality of metal wires. The brush holder has a second thick part that is integral with the thin part and sandwiches the thin part from both sides with the first thick part,
The through hole penetrates the second thick part,
The brush body according to claim 1, wherein the second thick portion has a thickness greater than the thin portion in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the through hole extends. The brush body according to claim 4, wherein two grooves are formed on a side surface of the first thick portion and a side surface of the second thick portion so as to sandwich the through hole. A slip ring device comprising the brush body according to any one of claims 1 to 5. A brush body consisting of a brush made of a plurality of straight metal wires, and a metal brush holder for restraining and holding the other end so that one end of the brush is exposed;
A brush unit for a slip ring device, comprising a metal plate-shaped terminal for holding the brush body,
A slit is formed in the terminal,
The brush unit is characterized in that the brush holder is inserted and held in the slit of the terminal. The brush unit according to claim 7, wherein the brush holder is formed with a groove that fits into the slit of the terminal. 8. The brush unit according to claim 7, wherein the slit of the terminal is provided with a protuberance that protrudes toward the central axis of the slit. A slip ring device comprising the brush unit according to any one of claims 7 to 9. A brush body consisting of a brush made of a plurality of straight metal wires, and a metal brush holder for restraining and holding the other end so that one end of the brush is exposed;
A brush unit for a slip ring device, comprising a metal plate-shaped terminal for holding the brush body,
The brush holder has a first thick part and a thin part integrally adjacent to the first thick part,
A through hole for inserting the brush is formed in the first thick part and the thin part,
The first thick portion has a thickness greater than the thin portion in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the through hole,
The brush is inserted into the through hole so that the one end is exposed from the first thick part, and is restrained and held by the brush holder by caulking the thin part,
A slit is formed in the terminal,
The brush unit is characterized in that the brush holder is inserted and held in the slit of the terminal. 12. The through-hole of the brush holder has a size that allows the brush to be inserted therein and maintains the straight state of the metal wire when the thin-walled portion is caulked. brush unit. The brush unit according to claim 11, wherein the cross-sectional area of the through hole of the brush holder is within 1.54 to 2.24 times the sum of cross-sectional areas of the plurality of metal wires. The brush holder has a second thick part that is integral with the thin part and sandwiches the thin part from both sides with the first thick part,
The through hole penetrates the second thick part,
The second thick portion has a thickness greater than the thin portion in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the through hole,
two grooves that fit into the slits of the terminals are formed on a side surface of the first thick portion and a side surface of the second thick portion so as to sandwich the through hole;
The slit of the terminal is provided with a protuberance that protrudes toward the central axis of the slit,
The brush unit according to claim 11, wherein the second thick portion inserted into the slit of the terminal is restrained by the raised portion of the slit. A slip ring device comprising the brush unit according to any one of claims 11 to 14.

Images