Belt structures for rotary electrical contact device

Patent · Tue Apr 06 04:00:00 EDT 2021

OSTI ID:1823821

Staats, Jr., Wayne Lawrence; Koplow, Jeffrey P.

Technologies pertaining to a rotary electrical contact device are described herein. A rotary electrical contact device comprises a first sheave that is disposed about a first axis and a second sheave that rotates about the first axis or a second axis that is parallel to the first axis. The device further includes two planetary sheaves that revolve around the first and second sheaves, and a belt that makes contact with each of the sheaves, the belt having an aspect ratio great than 1:1. As the first sheave rotates, the planetary sheaves revolve about the first and second sheaves and cause the belt to deform and roll along the second sheave. The belt makes rolling contact with the four sheaves. The belt comprises electrically conductive components arranged such that as the belt rolls along the sheaves, the belt maintains electrical contact between the first sheave and the second sheave.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: NA0003525
• Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC (Albuquerque, NM)
• Patent Number(s): 10,971,876
• Application Number: 16/420,697
• OSTI ID: 1823821
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English