公开(公告)号：EP0862806A4

公开(公告)日：1999-04-14

申请号：EP97934279

申请日：1997-07-30

申请人： FIFTH DIMENSION INC

发明人： SENNI ALFRED R

IPC分类号： H01R39/64 ,  H01R39/00 ,  H01R39/18 ,  H01R39/28

CPC分类号： H01R39/643

摘要： A brushless slip ring includes a housing, a plurality of annular spaces (15) disposed in the housing and spaced apart along a common longitudinal axis (A), and a cageless assembly of electrically conductive spherical balls (16) freely rotatably disposed in each of the spaces (15). Each of the spaces is formed between radially inner and outer electrically conductive surfaces of a rotor (12) and stator (14), respectively, and a pair of axially spaced retainer rings. The spherical balls conduct electrical current between the outer and inner surfaces. The balls (16) are rigid and harder than the inner and outer surfaces and are arranged in an annular row. The balls (16) occupy substantially the entire circumference of the space and are freely circumferentially movable relative to one another within the space for making contact with one another.