Homopolar generator with variable packing factor brushes
US4710666A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 29, 1986 |
| Grant date | Dec 1, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 29, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S428/929
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A homopolar dynamoelectric machine is provided with a rotor having a central axis and being mounted for relative rotation with a stator structure that supports a field coil encircling the rotor and has a main pole piece for directing magnetic flux produced by current flowing in the field coil into a first section of the rotor. Brush assemblies which are capable of making sliding electrical contact with a current collection zone of the rotor extend longitudinally adjacent to that current collecting zone and include a plurality of contact elements. These contact elements are packed in an increasing density in a longitudinal direction from one end of the brush assembly to the other end. The use of a variable packing factor for the contact elements of the brush assembly results in more uniform heating of the rotor in the current collecting zone, thereby minimizing the peak rotor temperatures and permitting the machine to operate for longer time periods.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.