Slip rings tested for years of trouble-free operation

In response to demands for longer, uninterrupted service life, DEUBLIN Co. manufactures a complete line of electrical slip ring systems. These devices are used in many industrial applications such as wind turbines, tooling machines, plastic-molding machines, propulsion centrifuges, robotics, and others.

The company says its slip rings are optimized with material configurations tested and proven for hundreds of millions of cycles, which translates into many years of trouble-free operation with unsurpassed performance, significantly reducing down-time and maintenance costs.

The electrical slip rings feature flexible engineering to support unique requirements and allow for easy replacement of existing slip ring brands by the end user. DEUBLIN designs slip rings to a variety of EMI, operating temperatures, storage temperatures, acceleration, mechanical vibration, and mechanical shock requirements as required by the customer application. The company’s rotary union and slip ring combinations have a unique plug-and-play configuration to reduce installation and maintenance time. Other design innovations include slip rings that meet requirements such as RF shielding, mixed signal handling, high frequency impedance matching, reduced temperature generation, and miniaturization.

A slip ring allows transmitting power and electrical signals from a stationary to a rotating structure. Also called a rotary electrical joint, collector, or electric swivel, a slip ring can be used in any electromechanical system that requires unrestrained, intermittent, or continuous rotation while transmitting power, or data, or both. Typically, it is compromised of a graphite or metal contact brush which rubs on the outside diameter of a rotating metal ring. As the slip ring turns, the electrical current or signal is conducted through the stationary brush to the metal ring making the connection. A new Electrical Slip Ring brochure is available (#SR1104 US), that replaces the SR102 US.

DEUBLIN Co.
www.deublin.com

Slip rings ready for demanding apps

Slip rings for a wide variety of industrial applications come from Deublin Co., Waukegan, Ill. The devices are easily configured for both power connections and signal connections. The signal portion of the slip rings is compatible with Ethernet, Profinet, RS-232, RS-485, RS-422, CAN as well as generic analog or digital sensing and 24V control signals.

Slip rings are well suited for a variety of demanding applications such as wind turbines, robotics, industrial machinery (textile, bottling, and packaging for example), test equipment, commercial displays, crane and hoist controls just to name a few. Deublin Company has used the same high quality standards in the development of the new Slip Ring product line as we have established in our rotary union designs for over 60 years.

The electrical device allows transmitting power and electrical signals from a stationary to a rotating structure. A slip ring can be used in any electromechanical system that requires unrestrained, intermittent or continuous rotation while transmitting power and/or data. Typically, a slip ring is comprised of a graphite or precious metal brush, which contacts the outside diameter of a rotating metal ring. As the ring turns, electrical current or signal is conducted through the stationary brush to the metal ring making the connection. Additional ring/brush assemblies are stacked along the rotating axis if more than one electrical circuit is needed. A new brochure, Catalog SR084 US, is available along with a Request for Quote form that assists in specifying a slip ring.

Take a look at Deublin’s Slip Ring catalog here

Hydraulic pitch control for wind-turbine blades

Generating steady shaft speed on a wind turbine means constantly adjusting the pitch of each blade to accommodate wind variations. The blades connect to a huge hub mounted to a shaft that turns a gearbox and a generator. Best turbine efficiency calls for a continuous pitch control on the blades.

Blade pitch is powered by either an electric or hydraulic drive. Electric-pitch control uses slip rings to conduct power to motors rotating in the hub. Hydraulic systems, on the other hand, use a rotary union to deliver hydraulic power to the drive motor. The industry is split about 45% electric and 55% for hydraulic controls. The advantage of the hydraulic control is that its power density is higher than electrical equipment and it needs fewer components, making for a simpler system. There are other pluses.

Rotating unions, such as those from Deublin Co., are precision mechanical devices for transferring fluid from stationary sources to rotating machinery. Ball bearings in a typical union support the rotating components (attached to the machinery) against the stationary component (attached to the fluid supply) and a mechanic seal prevents leaks. While often found on wind turbines, rotating unions device work well in other applications such as air clutches, gearboxes, machine tool spindles, and more.