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Find Rotary Slip Ring

Author: Peter Harris
by Peter Harris
Posted: Nov 15, 2017

Slip rings may be small in size, but they’re a part of a larger mechanical system and you’ll find them anywhere from industrial and military equipment to ordinary everyday devices. They do an amazing job of simplifying processes by providing a simple, straight-forward way of powering rotating devices, making the lives of both engineers and designers easier and safer.

They have great versatility, being able to handle handle both power and data and ranging from power levels measured in miliwatts to large systems generating hundreds of kilowatts. Often they are coated with precious metals like gold and silver to better handle friction, thus bringing the life cycle of a slip ring to millions of rotations, even tens of millions if conditions like speed, power level and environment are optimum.

But how do they work? At a glance, their two main components are a brush and a ring, both made out of metal. While the ring rotates, it stays in contact with the brush and the resulting friction creates an electrical signal which delivers the power. The brush is usually made from metal fibers and has the look of a regular brush, though it can also be a single wire or a spring. The ring is usually insulated from the main axis with synthetic materials like plastic or nylon and has to be perfectly matched with the brush, hence the reason for them usually being sold as a pair.

This simple device has been used for a number of years for a multitude of tasks, and has even taken the evolutionary technological step toward wireless and contact less technology. Wireless slip rings don’t rely on friction like their classic counterparts, but on an electromagnetic field which they generate in order to transfer either power, data or both, the field being created by coils in the stationary transmitter and the rotating receiver. The advantages of eliminating friction from the process are a much higher lifespan with lower maintenance costs and a simpler design that easily fits any device.

Their simplicity and versatility has enabled them to be useful in many different fields and on many different products. They’ve been used in aerospace for over 50 years for electronic systems, helicopter propellers or different vehicles. Also in the heavy equipment industry for anything from bridge or platform cranes to conveyor systems, off-shore drilling rigs, forklifts and even amusement rides or car wash equipment. Their capability of transferring data makes them useful for video transfers, ESD signals or fiber optic data.

Long story short, the slip ring, while small in size and basic in design, is one of the most versatile components of any mechanical system looking to transfer electrical signals from a rotating to a stationary structure. They come in tens of thousands of different shapes and sizes to fit individual purposes, and with their transition to wireless communications and data we can all be sure they’ll be with us for a long time. And if someone wants to find rotary slip ring, going online is the best option.

If you want to Find Slip Rings And Split Rings, the author of this article recommends MOFLON TECHNOLOGY.

About the Author

Slip rings are an essential component of wind turbines. They facilitate effective transmission of signals and electric power from stationary cables in nacelle to the rotating parts. Here’s a guide to buying them.

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Author: Peter Harris

Peter Harris

Member since: Sep 20, 2017
Published articles: 9

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