Rugged slip rings replace an existing design

The Moog AC7008 slip ring provides direct connection to the gearbox with wire terminals in the stator and rotor-junction boxes. Each AC7008 ships with a heater installed.

A recent slip-ring design, which is also a direct replacement for pitch-control slip rings on GE 1.5 MW series wind turbines, comes from Moog Industrial Group, East Aurora, NY. The AC7008 slip ring provides a reliable transmission of power and data signals from the nacelle to the control system for the rotating blades. The advantage of the recent design over traditional models is its performance in harsh environments. For instance, fiber brushes and reliable mechanical components in the new unit eliminates costly downtime.

The AC7008 slip ring operates maintenance free for over 100 million revolutions. What’s more, it does so without lubrication and over a wide range of temperatures, humidity, and rotational speeds. The fiber brush handles high power while at the same time transferring data signals. The slip ring is protected from the environment and sealed to an IP54 rating.

Key plusses for the design include:

• Maintenance free for over 100 million revolutions
• Minimal generation of wear debris
• No lubrication required
• Wide operating temperature range
• Lower life cycle cost
• High reliability