Current diverter ring

• US 9,048,603 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2014
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inpro/Seal LLC (Waukesha Bearings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Inpro/Seal LLC (Waukesha Bearings Corporation)
• Inventors: Vicars, Dwight A., Tejano, Robert A., Orlowski, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TRAN N
• Application Number:
  US14/160,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20140132126A1
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 39/10 other than with external cylindrical contact surface, e.g. flat slip-rings
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 39/12 using bearing or shaft surface as contact surface
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 39/64 Devices for uninterrupted current collection
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/40 Structural association with grounding devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/1732 radially supporting the rotary shaft at both ends of the rotor H02K5/1737 takes precedence

Abstract

The current diverter rings and bearing isolators serve to dissipate an electrical charge from a rotating piece of equipment to ground, such as from a motor shaft to a motor housing. One embodiment of the current diverter is substantially arc shaped with a plurality of radial channels extending there through. A conductive assembly may be positioned in each radial channel such that a contact portion of the conductive assembly is positioned adjacent a shaft passing through the center of the current diverter ring. The arc-shaped body may be particularly useful during installation over certain existing shafts.

Claims

1. An arc current diverter ring comprising:

a. a body that is substantially arc-shaped;

b. a main aperture positioned in the center of said body;

c. a plurality of radial channels, wherein each said radial channel extends from the radial exterior surface of said body to the radial interior surface of said body;

d. a conductive assembly positioned in one of said radial channels, wherein a contact portion of said conductive assembly protrudes from said radial channel radially inward past said radial interior surface.

2. The arc current diverter ring according to claim 1 wherein said body is further defined as being 200 degrees of a full circle.

3. The arc current diverter ring according to claim 1 wherein said body is further defined as being less than 180 degrees of a full circle.

4. The arc current diverter ring according to claim 2 wherein said arc current diverter ring further comprises a plug, wherein said plug engages said radial channel to secure the radial position of a corresponding conductive assembly.

6. The arc current diverter ring according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of radial channels is further defined as three radial channels.

7. The arc current diverter ring according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of radial channels is further defined as four radial channels.

8. The arc current diverter ring according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of radial channels is further defined as five radial channels.

9. The arc current diverter ring according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of radial channels is further defined as six radial channels.

10. The arc current diverter ring according to claim 6 wherein said plurality of radial channels is further defined as being equally spaced about said body.

11. The arc current diverter ring according to claim 7 wherein said plurality of radial channels is further defined as being equally spaced about said body.

12. The arc current diverter ring according to claim 8 wherein said plurality of radial channels is further defined as being equally spaced about said body.

13. The arc current diverter ring according to claim 9 wherein said plurality of radial channels is further defined as being equally spaced about said body.

14. The arc current diverter ring according to claim 1 wherein said current diverter ring further comprises a plurality of conductive assemblies corresponding to said plurality of radial channels.

15. The arc current diverter ring according to claim 1 wherein a radial exterior surface of said body is further defined as being angled in the axial direction such that said radial current diverter ring may be securely pressed into either a receptor groove formed in a bearing isolator or an aperture formed in a motor housing.

16. The arc current diverter ring according to claim 1 wherein said body further comprises a plurality of mounting apertures positioned in an axial face thereof, and wherein a plurality of fasteners and straps cooperatively engage said plurality of mounting apertures.

17. The arc current diverter ring according to claim 1 wherein said conductive assembly comprises a carbon-based filament.

18. The arc current diverter ring according to claim 1 wherein said conductive assembly comprises a binder and a contact portion, and wherein said contact portion extends into said main aperture.

19. The arc current diverter ring according to claim 1 wherein said body is further defined as being constructed of bronze.

20. The arc current diverter ring according to claim 1 wherein said body is further defined as being positioned adjacent a body of a second radial current diverter ring.

5. A method of dissipating electrical current from a shaft, said method comprising the steps of:

a. mounting an arc current diverter ring (hereinafter “

arc CDR”

) around a portion of said shaft, wherein said arc CDR comprises;

i. a body that is substantially arc-shaped;

ii. a main aperture positioned in the center of said body;

iii. a plurality of radial channels, wherein each said radial channel extends from the radial exterior surface of said body to the radial interior surface of said body;

iv. a conductive assembly positioned in one of said radial channels, wherein a contact portion of said conductive assembly protrudes from said radial channel radially inward past said radial interior surface;

b. allowing said contact portion of said conductive assembly to contact said shaft such that electricity may flow from said shaft to said conductive assembly.