Envelope for slip-ring contacting members in high-power rotary current collector system

Abstract

An electrical current collector system ( ) comprises a rotatable shaft ( ) having at least one and preferably plural electrically conductive slip rings ( ) mounted thereon. For each phase, a slip ring is paired with a fixed conducting ring assembly ( ). The fixed conducting ring assembly forms an envelope within which slip ring-contacting members are situated. The slip ring-contacting members can take many forms, including brushes ( ) or rollers ( ). The fixed conducting ring assembly comprises a first conducting plate ( T) and a second conducting plate ( B) positioned parallel to one another to form a conductive ring channel ( ) therebetween. The slip ring-contacting members ( ) are mounted in the conductive ring channel. An at least partially transparent wall ( W) extends between the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate of the fixed conducting ring assembly to further define the conductive ring channel and permit visual inspection of the slip ring-contacting members. An air flow gap ( ) exists is preferably provided between the slip ring and the fixed conducting ring assembly. The envelope acts as an electrostatic shield or Faraday cage. The envelope is a high voltage envelope which puts the slip ring-contacting members and other components within the envelope at a same high voltage as the fixed conducting ring assembly. Each pair of fixed conducting ring assembly and slip ring is substantially enclosed in its own grounded compartment ( ) for providing electromagnetic shielding.