Low-drag electrical-contact arrangement for maintaining continuity between horizontally movable members
Abstract
This invention is a low-drag electrical contact arrangement for establishing continuity between upper and lower spaced members which are subject to relative horizontal movement. In one aspect, the invention comprises an electrical commutating arrangement which includes a horizontally disposed linear electrical commutator. A horizontally movable electrically conductive pedestal is positioned below the commutator and defines a clearance therewith. The pedestal is formed with a cavity confronting the commutator. In the cavity is a bead of electrical conductive liquid, the bead being characterized by an upwardly convex meniscus portion which extends across the clearance and contacts the commutator. The surface tension of the bead is sufficient to maintain the bead intact when the commutator and pedestal are displaced horizontally at speeds from zero to at least twelve inches a minute. This arrangement provides a significant advance in highly precise machining processes, such as diamond-turning, where precision is limited by the drag imposed by conventional commutators of the carbon-brush type.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- OSTI Identifier:
- 5678461
- Application Number:
- ON: DE82004466
- Assignee:
- Dept. of Energy
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-26
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 42 ENGINEERING; CUTTING TOOLS; ELECTRIC CONTACTS; POSITIONING; DESIGN; SLIDING FRICTION; ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT; FRICTION; TOOLS; 420200* - Engineering- Facilities, Equipment, & Techniques
Citation Formats
Brown, R J, Gerth, H L, and Robinson, S C. Low-drag electrical-contact arrangement for maintaining continuity between horizontally movable members. United States: N. p., 1981.
Web.
Brown, R J, Gerth, H L, & Robinson, S C. Low-drag electrical-contact arrangement for maintaining continuity between horizontally movable members. United States.
Brown, R J, Gerth, H L, and Robinson, S C. Fri .
"Low-drag electrical-contact arrangement for maintaining continuity between horizontally movable members". United States.
@article{osti_5678461,
title = {Low-drag electrical-contact arrangement for maintaining continuity between horizontally movable members},
author = {Brown, R J and Gerth, H L and Robinson, S C},
abstractNote = {This invention is a low-drag electrical contact arrangement for establishing continuity between upper and lower spaced members which are subject to relative horizontal movement. In one aspect, the invention comprises an electrical commutating arrangement which includes a horizontally disposed linear electrical commutator. A horizontally movable electrically conductive pedestal is positioned below the commutator and defines a clearance therewith. The pedestal is formed with a cavity confronting the commutator. In the cavity is a bead of electrical conductive liquid, the bead being characterized by an upwardly convex meniscus portion which extends across the clearance and contacts the commutator. The surface tension of the bead is sufficient to maintain the bead intact when the commutator and pedestal are displaced horizontally at speeds from zero to at least twelve inches a minute. This arrangement provides a significant advance in highly precise machining processes, such as diamond-turning, where precision is limited by the drag imposed by conventional commutators of the carbon-brush type.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jan 23 00:00:00 EST 1981},
month = {Fri Jan 23 00:00:00 EST 1981}
}