Method and test tool for adjusting brush holders in slip ring systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10236741-B2
Application number	US-201515504135-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 16, 2015
Priority date	Oct 8, 2014
Publication date	Mar 19, 2019
Grant date	Mar 19, 2019

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of adjusting a brush holder (41) of a slip ring and brush assembly comprising at least one slip ring (50) with a radius of curvature R. With the method a test tool (80) is used to simulate a brush in the brush holder with the important difference that the test tool is able to indicate to the operator whether full contact between the slip ring and the contact surface of the test tool is obtained.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of adjusting a brush holder of a slip ring and brush assembly, wherein said slip ring and brush assembly comprises at least one slip ring with a radius of curvature R and at least one brush holder for holding a brush therein to abut the slip ring and being adjustably mounted to the slip ring; said method comprising the following steps:
inserting a test tool in said brush holder;
adjusting an adjustable connection of said brush holder until a position has been reached in which said test tool indicates that a correct positioning of the brush holder has been achieved; and
fixating said brush holder in said position.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said brush holder defines an opening into which said test tool can be push-fitted along a pre-defined one-dimensional path in the brush holder.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said test tool comprises areas or points of contact along a concave surface having a radius of curvature R corresponding to the slip ring radius of curvature R; said tool indicating correct position of the test tool when said areas or points of contact abut the slip ring.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein in said step of inserting a test tool, the brush holder leads the test tool into a unique position in the brush holder when the test tool contacts the slip ring.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the indication that a correct positioning of said brush holder is obtained is established through the steps of:
bringing together said test tool and said slip ring, thereby actuating an actuator of the test tool, and thereby causing an indicator to indicate full contact.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said slip ring and brush assembly comprises at least six brush holders and said test tool is used with all of these during installation of said slip ring and brush assembly.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said adjustable connection allows the brush holder to perform a rotational movement of the brush holder; the correct position being achieved through rotational adjustment.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said step of fixating said brush holder includes tightening one or more bolts of said adjustable connection.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said brush holder comprises releasable clamps for allowing fixation of said test tool in said brush holder and further allowing removal of said test tool from said brush holder.

10. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of removing said test tool and the step of inserting a brush in the fixated brush holder.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said slip ring and brush assembly is mounted in a wind turbine.

12. A test tool for indicating correct mounting of a brush holder on a generator or a motor equipped with slip ring systems;
said test tool comprising an elongate form with a constant cross-section so that it can be inserted into a brush holder of a slip ring and brush assembly and further comprising areas or points of contact along a concave surface of radius of curvature R;
said test tool comprising an actuator for being actuated when said areas or points of contact is brought together with an object with a radius of curvature R; and
said test tool comprising an indicator to indicate actuation of said actuator,
wherein the test tool is shaped similar to a brush to be inserted into said brush holder in the relevant dimensions such that the test tool upon insertion in the brush holder will follow the same pre-defined one-dimensional path in the brush holder and stop at the same unique position in the brush holder as the position where the brush would stop upon insertion.

13. The test tool according to claim 12 , wherein said points of contact comprises at least one concave contact surface spanning a radius of curvature R.

14. The test tool according to claim 12 , wherein said test tool further comprises at least one indentation at an end of the test tool opposite said areas or points of contact for receiving part of releasable clamps when inserted into a brush holder.

15. The test tool according to claim 12 , wherein said test tool comprises an inside chamber comprising an electronic circuit to provide for a signal from said actuator to said indicator.

16. The test tool according to claim 12 , wherein said actuator is a push button actuator.

17. The test tool according to claim 12 , wherein said indicator is an LED.

18. The test tool according to claim 12 , wherein the radius of curvature R is between 50 and 500 mm.

19. A brush assembly comprising a brush holder and a test tool according to claim 12 .

20. A slip ring and brush assembly comprising a brush assembly according to claim 19 .

21. A method of adjusting a brush holder of a slip ring and brush assembly, wherein said slip ring and brush assembly comprises at least one slip ring with a radius of curvature R and at least one brush holder for holding a brush therein to abut the slip ring and being adjustably mounted to the slip ring; said method comprising the following steps:
providing a brush holder having an adjustable connection and a pre-defined, one-dimensional path for insertion of a brush in the brush holder;
inserting a test tool in said brush holder along the pre-defined, one-dimensional path, wherein the test tool is shaped similar to the brush to be inserted into said brush holder in the relevant dimensions such that the test tool upon insertion in the brush holder will stop at the same unique position in the brush holder as the position where the brush would stop upon insertion;
adjusting an adjustable connection of said brush holder until a position has been reached in which said test tool indicates that a correct positioning of the brush holder has been achieved; and
fixating said brush holder in said position.

Assignees

• Vestas Wind Sys As

Inventors

• Sørensen Kim Sveinsson
• Kristensen Kim

Classifications

• H02K5/141 Primary

  for cooperation with slip-rings · CPC title

• H01R39/38

  Brush holders · CPC title

• H02K15/00

  Processes or apparatus specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining or repairing of dynamo-electric machines · CPC title

• H01R39/40

  enabling brush movement within holder during current collection · CPC title

• H01R39/08

  Slip-rings · CPC title