Current diverter ring
First Claim
1. A current diverter ring comprising:
- a. a body that is substantially ring-shaped;
b. a main aperture positioned in the center of said main body;
c. a shaft positioned in said main aperture, wherein said shaft is rotatable with respect to said CDR;
d. a first radial channel, wherein said first radial channel extends from the radial exterior surface of said body to the radial interior surface of said body;
e. a first conductive assembly positioned in said first radial channel, wherein a contact portion of said first conductive assembly protrudes from said first radial channel radially inward past said radial interior surface;
f. a second radial channel, wherein said second radial channel extends from the radial exterior surface of said body to the radial interior surface of said body;
g. an indicator conductive assembly positioned in said second radial channel, wherein a contact portion of said indicator conductive assembly protrudes from said second radial channel radially inward past said radial interior surface;
h. an indicator in electrical communication with said indicator conductive assembly, wherein said indicator is configured to alert a user when an electrical resistance to electrical current flow reaches a predetermined threshold in a circuit comprised of said first conductive assembly, said indicator conductive assembly, and said shaft.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The current diverter rings (CDRs), captured CDRs, bearing isolators, and explosion-proof CDRs 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 explosion-proof CDR includes a stator that may be mounted to the equipment housing and a rotor that may be mounted to a shaft. The rotor may rotate with the shaft may be encompassed by stator and a cap, which cap may be secured directly to the stator or the housing. A conductive assembly may be positioned in a radial channel formed in the stator such that the conductive assembly contacts the shaft to conduct electricity from the shaft to the housing. Another embodiment of an explosion-proof CDR does not require a rotor. The explosion-proof CDR may be configured to define a flame path to achieve various explosion-proof certifications.
69 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A current diverter ring comprising:
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a. a body that is substantially ring-shaped; b. a main aperture positioned in the center of said main body; c. a shaft positioned in said main aperture, wherein said shaft is rotatable with respect to said CDR; d. a first radial channel, wherein said first radial channel extends from the radial exterior surface of said body to the radial interior surface of said body; e. a first conductive assembly positioned in said first radial channel, wherein a contact portion of said first conductive assembly protrudes from said first radial channel radially inward past said radial interior surface; f. a second radial channel, wherein said second radial channel extends from the radial exterior surface of said body to the radial interior surface of said body; g. an indicator conductive assembly positioned in said second radial channel, wherein a contact portion of said indicator conductive assembly protrudes from said second radial channel radially inward past said radial interior surface; h. an indicator in electrical communication with said indicator conductive assembly, wherein said indicator is configured to alert a user when an electrical resistance to electrical current flow reaches a predetermined threshold in a circuit comprised of said first conductive assembly, said indicator conductive assembly, and said shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for determining electrical contact using a current diverter ring (CDR) comprising:
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a. positioning a CDR adjacent a shaft, wherein said shaft is rotatable with respect to said CDR, and wherein said CDR comprises; i. a body that is substantially ring-shaped; ii. a main aperture positioned in the center of said main body; iii. a shaft positioned in said main aperture, wherein said shaft is rotatable with respect to said CDR; iv. a first radial channel, wherein said first radial channel extends from the radial exterior surface of said body to the radial interior surface of said body; v. a first conductive assembly positioned in said first radial channel, wherein a contact portion of said first conductive assembly protrudes from said first radial channel radially inward past said radial interior surface; vi. a second radial channel, wherein said second radial channel extends from the radial exterior surface of said body to the radial interior surface of said body; vii. an indicator conductive assembly positioned in said second radial channel, wherein a contact portion of said indicator conductive assembly protrudes from said second radial channel radially inward past said radial interior surface; viii. an indicator in electrical communication with said indicator conductive assembly; b. alerting a user, via said indicator, when an electrical resistance to electrical current flow reaches a predetermined threshold in a circuit comprised of said first conductive assembly, said indicator conductive assembly, and said shaft. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification