Slip Rings
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Slip Rings
The function of a slip ring is to make one or more continuous electrical connections from points in a stationary unit to points in a rotating section. Electrical connections on slip rings can be for both power and data signal connections.
Uses include rotating antennas, rotary couplings, cord reels and anywhere electrical current needs to be coupled to a rotating or reciprocating point. Applications for slip rings vary from commercial and consumer products along with specialized scientific and military uses.
Slip rings are supplied in a variety of sizes, number of tracks and current ratings and are custom made to meet the specific requirements of each application. Signal and power tracks are often combined on the same slip ring. The slip rings are the disk or "pancake" type typically ranging from two to 15 tracks and from one to 12 inches in diameter. The inside diameter or bore is sized for mounting on shafts or for other mechanical clearances. Disk type slip rings are compact and usually are less than half an inch thick from the top of the brush block assembly to the bottom side of the slip ring. Rotation speeds can vary from a slow creep to high revolutions per minute.
Brush blocks are designed to meet the specific current loading needs and other operational requirements. Multiple contacts per track keep electrical noise extremely low using silver brush contacts riding on gold or silver plated slip ring tracks. Other brush contact materials for sensitive low current applications include palladium and gold alloys. Slip rings are designed to be very cost effective and to provide a long, highly reliable service life.
Slip rings can be supplied from low quantity prototype lots to high production volumes. Wire harnesses, cables and connectors along with other assembly levels are available.
For more information, contact: The Sibley Company, 98 Bridge Street, Haddam, CT 06438 (USA) by phone at (860) 345-4523; fax at (860) 345-4526 or e-mail at sibley@snet.net.
