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.

An intraoperative monitoring module (IMM) for assessing strength of screw attachments to bone and detecting breaches includes a torque sensor on a rotatable tool receptacle and a variable-output current source. The IMM provides concurrent monitoring of rotational torque applied to a screw and stimulus current passing through the screw into bone for evoked electromyography. A motor housing configured to drive in rotation a tool receptacle on the IMM, a screw driver modified for carrying the stimulus current, and a screw attached to the screw driver are optionally included. Cooperative anti-rotation features on the motor housing and IMM support accurate torque measurements and prevent the outer housing of the IMM from rotating with the tool receptacle while a screw is being driven. The motor housing optionally provides electrical power to the IMM.

A grounding brush assembly including a grounding brush and a mounting plate configured to axially and radially retain the brush, the brush providing a support and a plurality of electrically conductive fibers mounted in the support. The mounting plate is at least partially coated with an electrically conductive coating.

The lifetime of sliding contact surface(s) of a precious metal or a precious metal alloy can be enhanced by embedding at least one nano-particle in the layer forming the sliding contact surface(s).

The lifetime of sliding contact surface(s) of a precious metal or a precious metal alloy can be enhanced by embedding at least one nano-particle in the layer forming the sliding contact surface(s).

A device (i.e., a slip-ring or a homopolar motor/generator) (40, 50, 80) is adapted to provide electrical contact between a stator and a rotor (41, 83), and includes: a current-carrying brush-spring (31, 84) mounted on the stator, and having two opposite surfaces; a fibrous brush assembly (35, 69) mounted on the conductor, the brush assembly having a bundle of fibers (36, 71) arranged such that the tips of the fibers will engage the rotor for transferring electrical current between the stator and rotor; a ribbon (33, 85) of superconducting material mounted on each opposite surface of the current-carrying brush-spring and communicating with the stator and the brush assembly; and another ribbon (29, 86) of superconducting material mounted on the rotor. The device is submerged in a cryogenic fluid at a temperature below the transition temperatures of the superconducting materials such that the electrical resistivity of the device will be reduced and the current-transfer capability of the device will be increased.

A device (i.e., a slip-ring or a homopolar motor/generator) (40, 50, 80) is adapted to provide electrical contact between a stator and a rotor (41, 83), and includes: a current-carrying brush-spring (31, 84) mounted on the stator, and having two opposite surfaces; a fibrous brush assembly (35, 69) mounted on the conductor, the brush assembly having a bundle of fibers (36, 71) arranged such that the tips of the fibers will engage the rotor for transferring electrical current between the stator and rotor; a ribbon (33, 85) of superconducting material mounted on each opposite surface of the current-carrying brush-spring and communicating with the stator and the brush assembly; and another ribbon (29, 86) of superconducting material mounted on the rotor. The device is submerged in a cryogenic fluid at a temperature below the transition temperatures of the superconducting materials such that the electrical resistivity of the device will be reduced and the current-transfer capability of the device will be increased.

Disclosed are a conductive ring assembly, a conductive device and a wind turbine. The conductive ring assembly includes a sun gear, a ring gear and one or more planet gear. The sun gear is located in the ring gear, and the sun gear and the ring gear are coaxially arranged. The one or more planet gear is engaged between the sun gear and the ring gear. The planet gear is conducted with the sun gear and the ring gear at the same time, so that an electrical signal is transmitted between the sun gear and the ring gear by means of the one or more planet gear. The conductive ring assembly uses a planet gear structure for communication data transmission to improve the interference resistance of the conductive ring assembly.

Disclosed are a conductive ring assembly, a conductive device and a wind turbine. The conductive ring assembly includes a sun gear, a ring gear and one or more planet gear. The sun gear is located in the ring gear, and the sun gear and the ring gear are coaxially arranged. The one or more planet gear is engaged between the sun gear and the ring gear. The planet gear is conducted with the sun gear and the ring gear at the same time, so that an electrical signal is transmitted between the sun gear and the ring gear by means of the one or more planet gear. The conductive ring assembly uses a planet gear structure for communication data transmission to improve the interference resistance of the conductive ring assembly.