Slip-ring mounting assembly for high-power rotary current collector system

An electrical current collector system includes a rotatable shaft (

28); an electrically conductive slip ring (

27); and a slip ring support assembly (

42). The slip ring support assembly (

42) comprises plural post insulators (

102) spaced radially about the rotatable shaft for attaching the conductive slip ring to the rotatable shaft. The post insulators facilitate adjusting of the position of the slip ring relative to the rotatable shaft, e.g., to provide concentric positioning. The post insulators comprise an attachment/adjustment assembly (

106) for connecting to the slip ring. In one embodiment, the attachment/adjustment assembly comprises a spring plate (

134) which is adjustably biased to provide a preloading displacement that absorbs differential movement due to temperature changes of the slip ring an the rotatable shaft. In one example deployment, the current collector system is provided as part of a rotary transformer system (

20) which, e.g., transfers electrical power between a first electrical system (e.g., first electrical grid) and a second electrical system (e.g., second electrical grid).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of an example rotating transformer system according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of a shaft assembly of the rotating transformer system of FIG.

1.

FIG. 3 is a top sectional view of the rotating transformer system of FIG.

1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line

4—

4 of FIG.

3.

FIG.

5A and FIG. 5B are sectioned top and side views, respectively, of a post insulator included in the rotary transformer system of FIG.

1.

FIG. 6A is a sectional view of a portion of the rotary transformer system of FIG. 1, showing a bus conductor and its corresponding three phase isolated bus duct.

FIG. 6B is a sectioned view taken along line

6B—

6B of FIG.

6A.

FIG. 6C is a sectioned view taken along line

6C—

6C of FIG.

6A.

FIG. 7A is a side view of a rotatable shaft of the rotary transformer system of FIG. 1, particularly showing emergence of a bus conductor from its associated bus duct, as well as a cover plate and flux plate for the bus duct.

FIG. 7B is a sectioned end view of a portion of a rotatable shaft of the rotary transformer system of FIG. 1, showing, e.g., the cover plate and flux plate of FIG.

7A.

FIG. 7C is an enlarged sectioned end view of a portion of FIG. 7B, particularly showning a fastener assembly for a flux plate.

FIG. 8A is a sectional view taken along line

8A—

8A of FIG.

3.

FIG. 8B is a sectional view taken along line

8B—

8B of FIG.

3.

FIG. 8C is a view taken along line

8C—

8C of FIG.

8B.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view resembling that of FIG. 8B, but additionally showing a gap between a U-shaped ring structure and a slip ring.

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view showing a roller assembly used as the slip ring-contacting elements of the rotary transformer system.

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic view showing usage of a contact strap or band to position the rollers of the roller assembly of FIG.

10.

1. An electrical current collector system comprising:

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the post insulators comprises means for adjusting the position of the slip ring relative to the rotatable shaft.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the post insulators has an exterior surface which is grooved to increase a creepage path to ground.

4. An electrical current collector system comprising:

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the wherein the attachment assembly further comprises means for adjusting biasing of the spring plate to provide a preloading displacement that absorbs differential movement due to temperature changes of the slip ring an the rotatable shaft.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein at least one of the post insulators comprises means for adjusting the position of the slip ring relative to the rotatable shaft.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, herein the at least one of the post insulators has an exterior surface which is grooved to increase a creepage path to ground.

8. A rotating transformer system comprising:

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein at least one of the post insulators comprises means for adjusting the position of the slip ring relative to rotatable shaft.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one of the post insulators has an exterior surface which is grooved to increase a creepage path to ground.

11. A rotating transformer system comprising:

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the wherein the attachment and adjustment assembly further comprises means for adjusting biasing of the spring plate to provide a preloading displacement that absorbs differential movement due to temperature changes of the slip ring an the rotatable shaft.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein at least one of the post insulators comprises means for adjusting the position of the slip ring relative to the rotatable shaft.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one of the post insulators has an exterior surface which is grooved to increase a creepage path to ground.

15. A rotating transformer system comprising:

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one of the post insulators has an exterior surface which is grooved to increase a creepage path to ground.