A method of coating a slip ring for use with a surgical instrument is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing a slip ring including a plurality of conductive elements, and depositing a material less conductive than the conductive elements onto the conductive elements of the slip ring.

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.

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.

An alternator includes an external ignition protection system including a shaft rotatable about an axis. The shaft includes a slip ring end. A slip ring support is mounted at the slip ring end of the shaft. A slip ring cover is mounted to the shaft. The slip ring cover defines a slip ring cavity. A first slip ring end housing supports the slip ring cover. The first slip ring end housing includes a first plurality of openings. A second slip ring end housing is arranged axially outwardly of the slip ring end. The second slip ring end housing includes a second plurality of openings. The first slip ring end housing, slip ring cover and the second slip ring end housing define a labyrinth flow path that provides an air flow through the slip ring cavity and prevents passage of ignition inducing elements from the alternator.

A slip ring module includes a plurality of electrically conductive elements and a dielectric support body. The material of the dielectric support body includes a ceramic material. The slip ring module is produced by an additive method such that each electrically conductive element is formed as a single piece, has a first region arranged as a slip ring, and a second region arranged as a connecting conductor. The dielectric support body has webs between which cavities are located.

A method for making contact wires for sliprings comprising the steps of: coating and/or plating a wire with a first metal of the group of nickel, chrome or a combination thereof; coating and/or plating the wire with a second metal of the group of gold, silver, or a combination thereof; delivering laser radiation and generating an interference pattern of the laser radiation to the surface of the wire; heating the surface selectively as defined by the interference pattern, modifying of the crystal structure and/or providing protrusions and/or recesses due to melting and/or evaporation of the surface material.

A method for making contact wires for sliprings comprising the steps of: coating and/or plating a wire with a first metal of the group of nickel, chrome or a combination thereof; coating and/or plating the wire with a second metal of the group of gold, silver, or a combination thereof; delivering laser radiation and generating an interference pattern of the laser radiation to the surface of the wire; heating the surface selectively as defined by the interference pattern, modifying of the crystal structure and/or providing protrusions and/or recesses due to melting and/or evaporation of the surface material.

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 method for manufacturing a slipring module comprising a plurality of sliding tracks and an insulating body. The method includes: making a monolithic sliding track component preferably by a 3D printing process. The monolithic sliding track component comprises a plurality of sliding tracks, multiple connector for electrically connecting the sliding tracks, and at least one strut for mechanically interconnecting the sliding tracks and the connector to form a monolithic sliding track component; inserting the monolithic sliding track component into a mold; filling the mold with an insulating material such as a plastic material, and curing the plastic material; removing the molded product forming a slipring module from the mold, and removing the at least one strut from the slipring module.