Brush mechanism for a homopolar generator
US4562368A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 26, 1982 |
| Grant date | Dec 31, 1985 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 26, 2002 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01R39/42
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A homopolar generator includes a stator producing a magnetic field and a rotor which rotates in the stator magnetic field to generate electrical discharge current. The current is available from a slip ring surface defined on the rotor, and a plurality of brush mechanisms are provided to collect and transfer the discharge current from the rotor slip ring. Each brush mechanism includes a brush pad for contacting the rotor slip ring. The brush pad is attached to one end of a laminated trailing arm brush strap. A brush actuator forces the brush pad into contact with the rotor slip ring against the yieldable brush lifting force of the brush strap. To compensate for the reaction between adjacent brush straps due to the magnetic fields set up by the discharge current being transferred by each, a conductor strap is electrically connected to the end of the brush strap opposite the attached brush. The conductor strap receives current from the brush strap and directs it oppositely to the direction of the current in the brush strap.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.