SLIP RING MODULE

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. A slip ring module, comprising: a plurality of electrically conductive elements; a dielectric support body, a material of the dielectric support body including a ceramic material; wherein the slip ring module is additively produced; wherein each electrically conductive element is formed as a single piece, includes a first region arranged as a slip ring, and a second region arranged as a connecting conductor; and wherein the dielectric support body includes webs between which cavities are located.

2. The slip ring module according to claim 1, wherein the slip ring includes an outer circumferential shell surface.

3. The slip ring module according to claim 1, wherein a material of the electrically conductive elements includes copper or silver.

4. The slip ring module according to claim 1, wherein the connecting conductor is enclosed by webs of the dielectric support body.

5. The slip ring module according to claim 1, wherein the webs of the dielectric support body have a circumferential shape in a cross-section of the slip ring module, so that the web delimits an inner cavity.

6. The slip ring module according to claim 5, wherein the web is shaped as a polygon.

7. The slip ring module according to claim 5, wherein the web is shaped as a regular polygon.

8. The slip ring module according to claim 1, wherein, in a cross-section of the slip ring module, at least one of the cavities is arranged between two connecting conductors.

9. The slip ring module according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the cavities is arranged between two first regions.

10. The slip ring module according to claim 1, wherein the material of the dielectric support body includes a glass-ceramic material.

11. The slip ring module according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the electrically conductive elements and the dielectric support body are arranged within one and the same cross-section.

12. The slip ring module according to claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive elements and the dielectric support body are simultaneously sintered together.

13. The slip ring module according to claim 1, further comprising a bearing seat.

14. The slip ring module according to claim 13, wherein the bearing seat is additively-produced with the electrically conductive elements.

15. The slip ring module according to claim 1, wherein the material of the dielectric support body includes at least 80% of the ceramic material by mass.

16. The slip ring module according to claim 3, wherein the material of the electrically conductive element includes at least 80% copper or silver by mass.

17. The slip ring module according to claim 1, wherein the slip ring module is 3D printed.

18. The slip ring module according to claim 17, wherein the slip ring module is sintered.

19. The slip ring module according to claim 1, wherein the webs delimit axially extending hexagonal channels of the dielectric support body.

20. The slip ring module according to claim 1, wherein the ceramic material includes a glass-ceramic material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a slip ring module.

[0026] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, taken from D-D, of a slip ring module.

[0027] FIG. 3 is another cross-sectional view, taken from E-E, of a slip ring module.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a slip ring module produced by an additive method. With this additive production method or, for example, 3D printing method, layers are built up one after the other, each extending in a plane (e.g., cross-section) perpendicular to an axis X, i.e., in FIG. 1, for example, from bottom to top. Two materials may be combined with each other in one layer such that electrically conductive and non-conductive materials may be processed additively in one and the same layer. For example, two light-polymerizable materials are used in the additive method, e.g., a silver-containing material and a glass-ceramic-containing material. This method is thus used to successively build up a body which, according to the terminology of additive manufacturing technology, is referred to as a green body.

[0029] This green body is placed in a sintering or, for example, firing oven for debinding. At elevated temperatures, the organic resin components or, for example, the binding agent decompose, in which the materials are simultaneously sintered together.

[0030] The slip ring module produced by such a method has electrically conductive elements 1 to 12 and a dielectric support body 13, in which the electrically conductive elements 1 to 12 are embedded in the support body 13. In addition, the additive method is used to produce two components 14, 15 arranged as bearing seats, which are firmly formed on the support body 13. The material of the electrically conductive elements 1 to 12 includes silver as a, e.g., substantial, component, and the material of the dielectric support body 13 includes a glass-ceramic material.

[0031] The electrically conductive elements 1 to 12 are each formed as a single piece. In sections, these each have a first region A, which in the subsequent intended operation is arranged in each case as a slip ring 1.1, 2.1, 3.1, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1, 8.1, 9.1, 10.1, 11.1, 12.1. In the illustrated example embodiment, the slip rings 1.1, 2.1, 3.1, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1, 8.1, 9.1, 10.1, 11.1, 12.1 have a cylindrical shape with an outer shell or circumferential surface S extending around the axis X. Furthermore, the electrically conductive elements 1 to 12 each have a second region B, which is arranged as a connecting conductor 1.2, 2.2, 3.2, 4.2, 5.2, 6.2, 7.2, 8.2, 9.2, 10.2, 11.2, 12.2 (see, e.g., FIG. 3) and extends parallel to the axis X at least in sections, for example.

[0032] The dielectric support body 13 does not have a solid configuration, but has webs 13.1 between which cavities 13.2 are located. In the illustrated example embodiment, the webs 13.1 extend substantially with a direction component parallel to the X axis. For example, the webs 13.1, which may also be referred to as walls, have their longest extension along a direction oriented parallel to the axis X. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the webs 13.1 are configured such that they have a circumferential shape in cross-section (e.g., in section D-D or E-E) of the slip ring module, so that a web 13.1 delimits an inner cavity 13.2. In the illustrated example embodiment, the webs 13.1 are configured such that they form the shape of a regular hexagon in cross-section, i.e., they are honeycomb-shaped. For example, the corresponding honeycombs penetrate the dielectric support body 13 and are open in the axial direction.

[0033] As illustrated, in a cross-section of the slip ring module, the connecting conductors 1.2, 2.2, 3.2, 4.2, 5.2, 6.2, 7.2, 8.2, 9.2, 10.2, 11.2, 12.2 are enclosed by the webs 13.1 of the dielectric support body 13, e.g., in the regions B in which the connection conductors 1.2, 2.2, 3.2, 4.2, 5.2, 6.2, 7.2, 8.2, 9.2, 10.2, 11.2, 12.2 extend parallel to the axis X. Thus, the electrically conductive elements 1 to 12 and the dielectric support body 13 are arranged within one and the same cross-section of the slip ring module.

[0034] The slip ring module is configured such that in a cross-section of the slip ring module, e.g., in cross-section E-E or D-D, one or a plurality of cavities 13.2 is/are arranged between two connecting conductors 1.2, 2.2, 3.2, 4.2, 5.2, 6.2, 7.2, 8.2, 9.2, 10.2, 11.2, 12.2. Likewise, one or a plurality of cavities 13.2 is/are arranged between the first regions A arranged as slip rings 1.1, 2.1, 3.1, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1, 8.1, 9.1, 10.1, 11.1, 12.1, axially located between adjacent slip rings 1.1, 2.1, 3.1, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1, 8.1, 9.1, 10.1, 11.1, 12.1.

[0035] The slip ring module is used to transmit currents and/or electrical signals, e.g., high-frequency signals. For this purpose, brushes are brought to the shell surfaces S of the first regions A arranged as slip rings 1.1, 2.1, 3.1, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1, 8.1, 9.1, 10.1, 11.1, 12.1. For example, these brushes are in permanent sliding contact with the rotating shell surfaces S during a rotational movement of the slip ring module.

[0036] In order to be able to guarantee suitable operating characteristics, rolling bearings are installed in the slip ring unit with an axis of rotation that is congruent with the axis X. In the Figures, only the two components 14, 15 are visible, which are intended to serve as bearing seats for inner rings of the rolling bearings. These components 14, 15 are also produced using the additive method. The components 14, 15 are non-rotatably connected to the support body 13. For example, 3D printing can be utilized to create a form-locking connection between the support body 13 and the components 14, 15. For simplicity, the same material used for the electrically conductive elements 1 to 12 may be used as material for the components 14, 15.

[0037] Accordingly, the slip ring module may be designated as a rotor within a slip ring unit, while the brushes may be assigned to a stator. Via the connecting conductors 1.2, 2.2, 3.2, 4.2, 5.2, 6.2, 7.2, 8.2, 9.2, 10.2, 11.2, 12.2, the currents and/or signals may be tapped or introduced on the rotor side.

[0038] For example, the configuration of the support body 13 with its cavities 13.2 allows the slip ring module to transmit signals at high data rates, for example, for Ethernet, Sercos data connections or other real-time data connections. This characteristic ultimately results from the arrangement of webs 13.1 and cavities 13.2 as an insulator creating a support body 13 that considerably reduces the degree of coupling or, for example, crosstalk between, e.g., adjacent, electrically conductive elements 1 to 12.

[0039] Furthermore, due to the possibilities of the additive production method, the slip ring module has slip rings 1.1, 2.1, 3.1, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1, 8.1, 9.1, 10.1, 11.1, 12.1 that have a comparatively small extension in the radial direction. This configuration results in a comparatively small electrical capacitance in the transmission path, so that even high-frequency signals may be transmitted well, which helps to increase the transmittable bandwidth.

[0040] In addition, the routing of the connecting conductors 1.2, 2.2, 3.2, 4.2, 5.2, 6.2, 7.2, 8.2, 9.2, 10.2, 11.2, 12.2, which is precisely defined compared to conventional slip ring modules, creates geometrical conditions that are always reproducible. This arrangement also reproducibly contributes to increased reliability in the transmission of high data rates within a type series.