Slip Ring With A Tensioned Contact Element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017002613-A1
Application number	US-201415125792-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 15, 2014
Priority date	Apr 15, 2014
Publication date	Jan 5, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

One example embodiment is an apparatus including a ring assembly and a contact assembly. The ring assembly includes a conductive ring having a conductive ring engagement surface. The contact assembly includes a contact block and a contact element having a contact element engagement surface. The contact element is connected with the contact block. The contact element forms a loop around the conductive ring between the ends of the contact element. The contact element engagement surface is engaged with the conductive ring engagement surface along an electrical contact section of the loop. Another example embodiment is a method for assembling a slip ring.

First claim

1 . A slip ring comprising:
(a) a ring assembly, wherein the ring assembly comprises an electrically conductive ring, wherein the conductive ring has a perimeter, and wherein the conductive ring comprises a conductive ring engagement surface extending around the perimeter of the conductive ring; and (b) a contact assembly, wherein the contact assembly comprises:
a contact block; and
(ii) a contact element, wherein the contact element is connected with the contact block, wherein the contact element comprises a first contact element end, a second contact element end, and an electrically conductive contact element engagement surface, wherein the contact element forms a loop around the conductive ring between the first contact element end and the second contact element end, and wherein the contact element engagement surface is engaged with the conductive ring engagement surface along an electrical contact section of the loop.

2 . The slip ring as claimed in claim 1 wherein the contact block is located adjacent to the conductive ring on a contact block side of the conductive ring, wherein the electrical contact section of the loop is on an electrical contact side of the conductive ring, and wherein the electrical contact side of the conductive ring is opposite to the contact block side of the conductive ring.

3 . The slip ring as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first contact element end is connected with the contact block.

4 . The slip ring as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second contact element end is connected with the contact block.

5 . The slip ring as claimed in claim 1 wherein both the first contact element end and the second contact element end are connected with the contact block.

6 . The slip ring as claimed in claim 1 wherein the contact assembly is further comprised of a second contact block and wherein the second contact element end is connected with the second contact block.

7 . The slip ring as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a tensioning mechanism for tensioning the contact element against the conductive ring engagement surface.

8 . The slip ring as claimed in claim 7 wherein the tensioning mechanism comprises a device for adjusting a distance between the contact block and the conductive ring.

9 . The slip ring as claimed in claim 7 wherein the loop formed by the contact element around the conductive ring engagement surface has a loop length, and wherein the tensioning mechanism comprises a device for adjusting the loop length of the contact element.

10 . The slip ring as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a biasing mechanism for urging the contact element engagement surface against the conductive ring engagement surface.

11 . The slip ring as claimed in claim 10 wherein the biasing mechanism comprises a spring.

12 . The slip ring as claimed in claim 11 wherein the spring is integral with the contact element so that the contact element comprises the spring.

13 . The slip ring as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ring assembly comprises a plurality of conductive rings, wherein each of the conductive rings comprises the conductive ring engagement surface, wherein the contact assembly comprises a plurality of contact elements for engaging with the plurality of conductive rings, wherein each of the contact elements is connected with the contact block, wherein each of the contact elements comprises a first contact element end, a second contact element end, and a contact element engagement surface for engaging with one of the conductive ring engagement surfaces, and wherein each of the contact elements forms a loop around its respective conductive ring engagement surface between the first contact element end and the second contact element end.

14 . The slip ring as claimed in claim 1 wherein the slip ring apparatus is immersed in a dielectric fluid.

15 . The slip ring as claimed in claim 1 wherein the slip ring is a component of an apparatus comprising a housing having an interior and a shaft rotatably extending through the interior of the housing.

16 . (canceled)

17 . The slip ring as claimed in claim 15 wherein the apparatus is an apparatus for use in drilling a borehole.

18 . The slip ring as claimed in claim 15 wherein the apparatus is a rotary steerable drilling apparatus for use in drilling a borehole.

19 .- 30 . (canceled)

31 . A method for assembling a slip ring apparatus comprising a ring assembly and a contact assembly, the method comprising:
(a) providing the ring assembly, wherein the ring assembly comprises an electrically conductive ring, wherein the conductive ring has a perimeter, and wherein the conductive ring comprises a conductive ring engagement surface extending around the perimeter of the conductive ring; (b) providing the contact assembly, wherein the contact assembly comprises a contact block and a contact element, wherein the contact element comprises a first contact element end, a second contact element end, and an electrically conductive contact element engagement surface; (c) extending the contact element around the conductive ring so that the contact element forms a loop around the conductive ring between the first contact element end and the second contact element end and so that the contact element engagement surface is engaged with the conductive ring engagement surface along an electrical contact section of the loop; and (d) connecting the contact element with the contact block.

32 . The method as claimed in claim 31 wherein the contact block is located adjacent to the conductive ring on a contact block side of the conductive ring, wherein the electrical contact section of the loop is on an electrical contact side of the conductive ring, and wherein the electrical contact side of the conductive ring is opposite to the contact block side of the conductive ring.

33 . The method as claimed in claim 31 , further comprising tensioning the contact element against the conductive ring engagement surface.

34 . The method as claimed in claim 31 , further comprising urging the contact element against the conductive ring engagement surface.

35 . The method as claimed in claim 31 , further comprising immersing the slip ring apparatus in a dielectric fluid.

36 . The method as claimed in claim 31 wherein connecting the contact element with the contact block comprises connecting the first contact element end with the contact block.

37 . The method as claimed in claim 31 wherein connecting the contact element with the contact block comprises connecting the second contact element end with the contact block.

38 . The method as claimed in claim 31 wherein connecting the contact element with the contact block comprises connecting both the first contact element end and the second contact element end with the contact block.

39 . The method as claimed in claim 31 wherein the contact assembly is further comprised of a second contact block, further comprising connecting the second contact element end with the second contact block.

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Kirkhope Kennedy J

Classifications

• E21B17/028 Primary

  Electrical or electro-magnetic connections · CPC title

• H01R39/64

  Devices for uninterrupted current collection · CPC title

• E21B7/062 Primary

  the tool shaft rotating inside a non-rotating guide travelling with the shaft (E21B7/067 and E21B7/068 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01R43/10

  Manufacture of slip-rings · CPC title

• H01R39/08

  Slip-rings · CPC title