GROUNDING OF A SHAFT

Abstract

A transmission having a first component (101) mounted so as to rotate, a rotationally fixed second component (105) and a third component (107). The first component has a radially extending face and the third component (107) is fixed in the second component (105). The third component (107) is braced against the face and the third component (107) electrically connects the face and the second component (105) to one another.

Claims

1-11. (canceled)

12. A transmission comprising: a first component (101) mounted so as to rotate; a rotationally fixed second component (105); a third component (107); the first component (101) having a radially extending face; the third component (107) being fixed in the second component (105); the third component (107) being braced against the face of the first component (101); and the third component (107) electrically connecting the face of the first component (101) and the second component (105) to one another.

13. The transmission according to claim 12, wherein the first component (101) is electrically connected to at least part of a bearing.

14. The transmission according to claim 12, wherein the face is rotationally symmetrical relative to a rotational axis (103) of the first component (101).

15. The transmission according to claim 12, wherein the first component (101) is a shaft and the face is part of an end-face of the shaft.

16. The transmission according to claim 12, wherein the third component (107) comprises an electrical contact (109) and the contact (109) is braced against the face.

17. The transmission according to the claim 16, wherein the third component (107) comprises a spring (111), and the spring (111) is braced against the contact (109).

18. The transmission according to claim 16, wherein the contact (109) comprises at least in part hardened steel.

19. The transmission according to claim 12, wherein the third component (107) is arranged concentrically with respect to the first component (101).

20. The transmission according to claim 19, wherein the face has a circular shape.

21. The transmission according to claim 12, wherein the third component (107) is arranged eccentrically relative to the first component (101).

22. The transmission according to claim 21, wherein the face has a shape of a circular ring.

23. A transmission comprising: a housing; a shaft and the shaft being mounted within the housing by a bearing such that the shaft being rotatable about a rotational axis with respect to the housing; the shaft being electrically connected to the bearing and having an end face that extends radially; a connecting component being connected to the housing such that at least a portion of the connecting component is fixed in position relative to the housing; and the connecting component being braced against the end face of the shaft such that the connecting component electrically connects the end face of the shaft to the housing to equalize electrical potential between the bearing, the shaft and the housing.

24. The transmission according to claim 23, wherein the connecting component comprises an electrical contact and a spring, the spring abuts against the electrical contact and pushes the electrical contact such that the electrical contact abuts the end face of the shaft.

25. The transmission according to claim 24, wherein the connecting component is connected to the housing such that the electrical contact is offset laterally from the rotational axis.

26. The transmission according to claim 25, wherein the end face of the shaft is rotationally symmetrical relative to the rotational axis of the shaft such that the electrical contact slides over the end face of the shaft as the shaft rotates.

27. The transmission according to claim 24, wherein the connecting component is cylindrical and has a closed end and an axially opposite open end, the closed end of the connecting component is immovably fixed to the housing and the open end of the connecting component faces the end face of the shaft, the spring and the electrical contact are received within an interior of the connecting component such that the spring abuts the electrical contact and the closed end of the shaft, and the spring applies a biasing force on the electrical contact such that the electrical contact extends through the open end of the connecting component and abuts against the end face of the shaft.

28. The transmission according to claim 27, wherein an end surface of the electrical contact that abuts against the end face of the shaft is offset laterally from the rotational axis.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] The shaft 101 of a transmission 115 has two end-faces with only one end-face 123 being shown in the FIGURE. The shaft 101 is mounted so that it can rotate about a rotational axis 103. The shaft 101 shown in the FIGURE is electrically connected to at least part of a bearing 117, such as a roller bearing. In particular, by virtue of the bearing 117, the shaft 101 can rotate—for example in the housing 105. This entails fixing the shaft 101 in an inner ring 119 and an outer ring 121 of the bearing 117. Also shown in the FIGURE is a transmission housing 105. To the transmission housing 105 are attached means 107 for grounding the shaft 101. The means 107 are electrically connected to the transmission housing 105. Furthermore, the means 107 comprise an electrically conductive pin 109. This is loaded by a spring 111 and pressed against the shaft 101, so that an electrically conductive connection is formed between the shaft 101 and the transmission housing 105.

[0026] The means 107 with the pin 109 and the spring 111 are arranged offset relative to the rotational axis 103 by a radial distance 113. This results in a self-cleaning effect of the electrically conductive connection between the pin 109 and the shaft 101.

[0027] Compared with the radius of the shaft 101, the distance 113 is small. For example, the distance 113 can be less than 20%, less than 15%, less than 10% or even less than 5% of the radius of the shaft 101.

INDEXES

[0028] 101 Shaft [0029] 103 Rotational axis [0030] 105 Transmission housing [0031] 107 Means for grounding the shaft [0032] 109 Pin [0033] 111 Spring [0034] 113 Radial distance