A method for measuring a state of wear of a consumable friction element, a measuring device and a friction element, in particular a brush or the like. The measuring device includes a sensing device having a sensor. A magnetic field can be produced by means of the sensor, and the friction element can be moved in the magnetic field relative to the sensor. The measuring device comprises an indicator that can be attached to the friction element. The indicator comprises a ferromagnetic, antiferromagnetic and/or ferrimagnetic substance, and a change in the magnetic field can be detected by means of the sensing device as a result of a change in the position of the indicator relative to the sensor.

The disclosure relates to a wear measuring system for friction elements, in particular for brushes and the like, as well as to a method for measuring the wear of friction elements, comprising at least one consumable friction element, a holding device for movably positioning the friction element relative to a friction surface, and a measuring device for determining a wear status of the friction element relative to a wear length of the friction element, wherein the measuring device has a potentiometer, wherein the potentiometer is mechanically coupled with the friction element in such a way that a movement by the friction element relative to the friction surface induces a movement by the potentiometer.

The disclosure relates to a wear measuring system for friction elements, in particular for brushes and the like, as well as to a method for measuring the wear of friction elements, comprising at least one consumable friction element, a holding device for movably positioning the friction element relative to a friction surface, and a measuring device for determining a wear status of the friction element relative to a wear length of the friction element, wherein the measuring device has a potentiometer, wherein the potentiometer is mechanically coupled with the friction element in such a way that a movement by the friction element relative to the friction surface induces a movement by the potentiometer.

A slip ring apparatus including a ring assembly having a conductive ring with a conductive ring engagement surface, a contact assembly having a contact element with a contact element engagement surface for engaging with the conductive ring engagement surface, and a surface discontinuity provided in at least one of the conductive ring engagement surface and the contact element engagement surface. An apparatus including the slip ring apparatus, wherein the apparatus includes a housing having an interior and a shaft rotatably extending through the interior of the housing. A method for reducing the potential of a hydroplaning effect in a slip ring apparatus, including providing a surface discontinuity in at least one of a conductive ring engagement surface and a contact element engagement surface.

A slip ring apparatus including a ring assembly having a conductive ring with a conductive ring engagement surface, a contact assembly having a contact element with a contact element engagement surface for engaging with the conductive ring engagement surface, and a surface discontinuity provided in at least one of the conductive ring engagement surface and the contact element engagement surface. An apparatus including the slip ring apparatus, wherein the apparatus includes a housing having an interior and a shaft rotatably extending through the interior of the housing. A method for reducing the potential of a hydroplaning effect in a slip ring apparatus, including providing a surface discontinuity in at least one of a conductive ring engagement surface and a contact element engagement surface.

A contact-making rotary transmission includes a brush forming an electrically conductive sliding contact element and a contact path of electrically conductive material for contact with the brush. The brush is guided and/or held by an arrangement which includes a plurality of carrier segments arranged axially behind one another. Each carrier segment has attached thereto a brush receptacle such as to define a first gap between the carrier segment and the brush receptacle. The brush receptacle includes a stationary receiving shaft which is formed by walls and configured to receive the brush, and a guide element which is provided on a wall of the receiving shaft so as to define a second gap between the brush and the wall. At least one of the walls includes an opening in communication with the first and second gaps to allow a flow of cooling air for cooling the brush.

A contact-making rotary transmission includes a brush forming an electrically conductive sliding contact element and a contact path of electrically conductive material for contact with the brush. The brush is guided and/or held by an arrangement which includes a plurality of carrier segments arranged axially behind one another. Each carrier segment has attached thereto a brush receptacle such as to define a first gap between the carrier segment and the brush receptacle. The brush receptacle includes a stationary receiving shaft which is formed by walls and configured to receive the brush, and a guide element which is provided on a wall of the receiving shaft so as to define a second gap between the brush and the wall. At least one of the walls includes an opening in communication with the first and second gaps to allow a flow of cooling air for cooling the brush.

A slip ring unit comprises a brush block with multiple brushes rotatable against a module with multiple sliding tracks. A position encoder is connected to the brush block and the module, for detecting the relative position between the brush block and the module. An evaluation unit receives signals from the position encoder and generates a position-dependent signal indicating wear. The evaluation unit has multiple wear counters assigned to multiple positions and/or sections of the slip ring. If a movement is detected within a certain section, the related wear counter is incremented to allow to monitor wear at slip rings that are not continuously rotating.

A slip ring unit comprises a brush block with multiple brushes rotatable against a module with multiple sliding tracks. A position encoder is connected to the brush block and the module, for detecting the relative position between the brush block and the module. An evaluation unit receives signals from the position encoder and generates a position-dependent signal indicating wear. The evaluation unit has multiple wear counters assigned to multiple positions and/or sections of the slip ring. If a movement is detected within a certain section, the related wear counter is incremented to allow to monitor wear at slip rings that are not continuously rotating.

A measuring device for measuring the wear of carbon brushes includes: a slip ring; a carbon brush, which is arranged for sliding in a sliding direction and which is preloaded into sliding contact with the slip ring; and an indicator material, which extends in the sliding direction in, on or next to the carbon brush and is connected to the carbon brush in such a way that the indicator material moves together with the carbon brush at least with respect to the sliding direction. The indicator material is preloaded into sliding contact with the slip ring. An insulator is arranged between the carbon brush and the indicator material and electrically insulates the carbon brush from the indicator material. A resistance-measuring apparatus measures the resistance between two measurement points, between which at least a section of the indicator material and a section of the slip ring lie, wherein the specific resistance of the indicator material is greater than the specific resistance of the carbon brush.