There is provided a hybrid turbine system comprising a plurality of flexible and thin film photovoltaic modules or panels attached to a plurality of blades of a vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT) for energy generation. Electrical performance of rotating photovoltaic modules or panels is enhanced since rotating photovoltaic modules are self-cooled by rotation of the blades of the wind turbine. It is experimentally shown that voltage of the photovoltaic modules decreases when the photovoltaic modules' temperature increases, and this decrease was modelled by four parameters namely ideality factor, reverse saturation current, short-circuit current, and material band gap. The present invention evidences that the proposed rotating photovoltaic modules increases the output voltage of the photovoltaic modules. Rotation of the photovoltaic modules as a part of the plurality of blades cools down and lowers the operating temperature of the photovoltaic modules and improves overall performance of the hybrid turbine system.

A slip ring for use in a slip ring brush type rotation sensor device, includes a metal ring having an approximately cylindrical shape, and a resin ring that supports the metal ring. Slits extending in an axial direction are formed in respective side surfaces on outer peripheries of the metal and resin rings. The metal ring includes a common part formed on a side surface at one end along the axial direction of the approximately cylindrical shape and segmented by the slits into segments to form common regions, so that adjacent common regions are electrically connectable to each other, and a detection part formed on a side surface at the other end and segmented by the slits into segments to form conducting regions and isolated regions that are alternately provided with the slit interposed between adjacent conducting and isolated regions.

A slip ring for use in a slip ring brush type rotation sensor device, includes a metal ring having an approximately cylindrical shape, and a resin ring that supports the metal ring. Slits extending in an axial direction are formed in respective side surfaces on outer peripheries of the metal and resin rings. The metal ring includes a common part formed on a side surface at one end along the axial direction of the approximately cylindrical shape and segmented by the slits into segments to form common regions, so that adjacent common regions are electrically connectable to each other, and a detection part formed on a side surface at the other end and segmented by the slits into segments to form conducting regions and isolated regions that are alternately provided with the slit interposed between adjacent conducting and isolated regions.

A surgical instrument includes a body assembly, a shaft assembly extending distally from the body assembly along a shaft axis, and an end effector at a distal end of the shaft assembly. The shaft assembly includes an outer tube configured to rotate relative to the body assembly about the shaft axis. The surgical instrument further includes a slip ring assembly configured to enable electrical communication between the shaft assembly and the body assembly while permitting relative rotation therebetween. The slip ring assembly includes a first electrical contact supported by the outer tube, and a second electrical contact electrically coupled with the first electrical contact and positioned radially outward of the outer tube. The first electrical contact is configured to rotate with the outer tube about the shaft axis relative to the second electrical contact while the first and second electrical contacts remain electrically coupled.

The present invention is an electrical slip ring device comprised of a stator, a rotor and an independent rotationally free brush ring. The brush ring may include a multitude of slipping fingers, chevrons or other current carrying structures that extend between the rotor and the stator. These current carrying structures have a directional bias or lay. The rotational freedom of the brush ring enables bi-directional movement of the rotor with reduced torque and wear at the sliding interfaces because sliding always occurs in the direction of the lay.

The present invention is an electrical slip ring device comprised of a stator, a rotor and an independent rotationally free brush ring. The brush ring may include a multitude of slipping fingers, chevrons or other current carrying structures that extend between the rotor and the stator. These current carrying structures have a directional bias or lay. The rotational freedom of the brush ring enables bi-directional movement of the rotor with reduced torque and wear at the sliding interfaces because sliding always occurs in the direction of the lay.

Systems and methods to mitigate electrical voltage on a rotating shaft in an oil rich environment exposed to a viscous fluid or immersed in oil are disclosed. An example grounding brush assembly includes a plurality of conductive filaments configured to extend through the viscous medium surrounding the rotating shaft to be in electrical contact with the rotating shaft when the brush assembly is disposed proximate the shaft.

Systems and methods to mitigate electrical voltage on a rotating shaft in an oil rich environment exposed to a viscous fluid or immersed in oil are disclosed. An example grounding brush assembly includes a plurality of conductive filaments configured to extend through the viscous medium surrounding the rotating shaft to be in electrical contact with the rotating shaft when the brush assembly is disposed proximate the shaft.

A surgical instrument includes a body assembly, a shaft assembly extending distally from the body assembly along a shaft axis, and an end effector at a distal end of the shaft assembly. The shaft assembly includes an outer tube configured to rotate relative to the body assembly about the shaft axis. The surgical instrument further includes a slip ring assembly configured to enable electrical communication between the shaft assembly and the body assembly while permitting relative rotation therebetween. The slip ring assembly includes a first electrical contact supported by the outer tube, and a second electrical contact electrically coupled with the first electrical contact and positioned radially outward of the outer tube. The first electrical contact is configured to rotate with the outer tube about the shaft axis relative to the second electrical contact while the first and second electrical contacts remain electrically coupled.

The bike's crank speed and crank position are sensed via a micro controller, torque sensor, gyro and accelerator disposed on the bike's crank. External power and control signals can be passed to and from the crank micro controller and the e-bike controller through a throttle connector of the e-bike controller via slip rings around the crank hub with bearings, fixed rings, bushings or springs contacting the respective slip rings. Throttle data can also be provided to the e-bike controller wirelessly via a wireless dongle coupled to the throttle connector of e-bike controller.