U.S. patent number 3,735,170 [Application Number 05/170,074] was granted by the patent office on 1973-05-22 for commutator for d.c. machines.
Invention is credited to Roland S. Christensen, Stanley A. Heider.
United States Patent |
3,735,170 |
Christensen , et
al. |
May 22, 1973 |
COMMUTATOR FOR D.C. MACHINES
Abstract
A pair of electrically conducting rings having continuous
contact surfaces thereon positioned in parallel spaced apart
relationship to form a channel, and a plurality of contacts adapted
to be connected to the various windings of the machine and
positioned in a circular spaced apart orientation within the
channel so that at least one contact is engaged with one of the
rings and an oppositely disposed contact is engaged with the
opposite ring. A mounting device is engaged with the shaft to
produce relative oscillatory movement between the pair of rings and
the contacts so that the contacts sequentially engage each ring
during each rotation of the shaft.
Inventors: |
Christensen; Roland S.
(Minneapolis, MN), Heider; Stanley A. (St. Louis Park,
MN) |
Family
ID: |
22618444 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/170,074 |
Filed: |
August 9, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
310/219; 310/237;
310/82 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02K
25/00 (20130101); G01P 3/46 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G01P
3/46 (20060101); G01P 3/42 (20060101); H02K
25/00 (20060101); H02k 013/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;310/231,232,236,237,82,46,219 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Dugan; D. F.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A commutator for electric machines having a rotor mounted on an
externally accessible shaft for rotation within a stator, said
commutator comprising:
a. a pair of conducting rings adapted to receive opposite
polarities of a voltage thereon, each ring having at least one
contact surface extending therearound with said rings being mounted
so that said contact surfaces are generally parallel and uniformly
spaced apart to define an annular channel of uniform width
therebetween;
b. a plurality of contact adapted to be electrically connected to
coils of the machine, said contacts being mounted on a mounting
member in a circular spaced apart orientation with a diameter
approximately equal to the mid diameter of the annular channel
between said rings;
c. means fixedly mounting one of said mounting member and said pair
of rings concentrically relative to the shaft of the machine;
and
d. bearing means mounting the other of said mounting member and
said pair or rings on said shaft to effect relative oscillatory
movement between the plurality of contacts and said rings in
response to rotation of said shaft, said mounting member being
positioned so that said plurality of contacts lie within said
circular channel and at least one contact engages one ring while at
least one opposed contact engages the other ring.
2. A commutator as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pair of rings
are mounted coaxially and are axially spaced apart to define a
radially extending channel.
3. The commutator as set forth in claim 2 wherein the pair of rings
are mounted on the shaft and the plurality of contacts are fixedly
mounted on radially inwardly directed fingers.
4. A commutator as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pair of rings
are mounted concentrically and are radially spaced apart to define
an axially extending channel.
5. A commutator as set forth in claim 4 wherein the plurality of
contacts are mounted on fixed finger members extending axially from
the mounting member.
6. A permanent magnet direct current machine comprising:
a. a housing;
b. a permanent magnet rotor having at least a north and south pole
mounted on a shaft for rotation within said housing;
c. a generally toroidally shaped stator having a continuous winding
therearound along substantially the entire periphery, said winding
having a plurality of taps thereon positioned in substantially
equally spaced relationship therearound;
d. a commutator including
1. a pair of conducting rings adapted to receive opposite
polarities of a D. C. voltage thereon, each ring having at least
one contact surface extending therearound with said rings being
mounted so that said contact surfaces are generally parallel and
uniformly space apart to define an annular channel of uniform width
therebetween,
2. a plurality of contacts each connected to a separate one of said
taps of said winding, said contacts being mounted on a mounting
member in a circular spaced apart orientation with a diameter
approximately equal to the mid diameter of the annular channel
between said rings,
3. means fixedly mounting one of said mounting member and said pair
of rings concentrically relative to said shaft, and
4. bearing means mounting the other of said mounting member and
said pair of rings on said shaft for relative oscillatory movement
between each of said contacts and and said rings in response to
rotation of said shaft, said mounting member being positioned so
that said plurality of contacts lie within said circular channel
and at least one contact engages one ring while at least one
opposed contact engages the other ring; and
e. said rotor being affixed to said shaft so that the north and
south poles thereof are aligned approximately perpendicular to a
line through the taps of said winding connected to the contacts in
engagement with the pair of rings.
7. A permanent magnet direct current machine as set forth in claim
6 wherein the contacts are affixed to the housing on radially
inwardly extending fingers and the bearing means includes a bearing
having independently rotatable inner and outer races affixed to the
shaft by the inner race, said rings being affixed to the outer race
and flexibly attached to the housing to permit oscillatory movement
with substantially no rotating movement.
8. A commutator for electric machines having a rotor mounted on an
externally accessible shaft for rotation within a stator, said
commutator comprising:
a. a plurality of contacts adapted to be electrically connected to
coils of the machine, said contacts being mounted in spaced apart
relationship to define a circle;
b. a pair of electrically conducting rings having contact surfaces
thereon mounted so that said contact surfaces are substantially
parallel and spaced apart to define a circular channel
therebetween;
c. first means for mounting one of said plurality of contacts and
said pair of conducting rings in a stationary position;
d. second means including bearing means for mounting the other of
said plurality of contacts and said pair of conducting rings on the
shaft for free rotation relative thereto, the plurality of contacts
disposed within said channel and at least one contact engaged with
one ring an at least one oppositely disposed contact engaged with
the other ring;
e. the contact surfaces of the conducting rings and the circularly
arranged contacts being cooperably constructed to permit relative
rotational movement therebetween when engaged;
f. and means for resiliently restraining relative rotational
movement between the conducting rings and the plurality of
contacts.
9. The commutator defined by claim 8, wherein the resilient
restaining means comprises a plurality of wire springs operatively
connected between the first and second mounting means.
10. The commutator defined by claim 8, wherein said plurality of
electrical contacts are carried by the first mounting means.
11. The commutator defined by claim 10, and further comprising
means cooperable with the second mounting means for urging each of
said conducting rings into engagement with said plurality of
contacts.
12. An electric machine comprising:
a. a housing
b. a straight shaft rotatably carried by the housing;
c. a stator mounted in a stationary position within the housing and
having a continuous winding there around with a plurality of
taps;
d. a rotor mounted on the shaft for rotation within the housing
relative to the stator;
e. and a commutator comprising:
i. a plurality of contacts respectively electrically connected to
the taps of said winding, the contacts being in spaced apart
relationship to define a circle;
ii. contact means defining a pair of electrically conducting
contact surfaces, the surfaces being spaced apart to define an
annular channel therebetween;
iii. first means carried by the housing for mounting one of said
plurality of contacts and said contact means in a stationary
position;
iv. second means including bearing means for mounting the other of
said plurality of contacts and said contact means on the shaft for
free rotation relative thereto with the plurality of contacts
disposed in said channel and at least one contact engaged with one
contact surface and at least one oppositely disposed contact
engaged with the other contact surface;
v. the bearing means having a rotational axis disposed at an angle
relative to the rotational axis of the shaft and responding to
rotation of the shaft to produce relative oscillatory movement of
each contact within said annular channel and cause sequential
engagement of the contacts with the respective contact
surfaces.
13. The electric machine defined by claim 12, and further
comprising first and second sleeves mounted on the shaft in spaced
relation with the bearing means disposed therebetween, the sleeves
having opposed, parallel end surfaces angularly formed relative to
the shaft and cooperable to force the bearing means into a position
defining said angular rotational axis.
14. The electric machine defined by claim 12, wherein the contact
means comprises first and second electrically conducting rings each
having a contact surface thereon and mounted so that said contact
surfaces are substantially parallel and spaced apart to define said
annular channel therebetween.
15. The electric machine defined by claim 12, wherein said
plurality of contacts are carried by the first mounting means.
16. The electric machine defined by claim 12, wherein the rotor
comprises a permanent magnet having a north pole and a south pole,
and the contact surfaces of the contact means are adapted to
receive opposite polarities of a D.C. voltage thereon.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
Throughout this disclosure the term "electric machines" is utilized
to designate motors and/or generators, since they are constructed
similarly but simply connected differently to produce torque or
electric power. It is well known in the electric machine art that
the fields of the rotor and stator in a machine must be
substantially stationary relative to each other for the correct
operation of the machine. For example, in a D.C. motor utilizing a
permanent magnet rotor, the field of the rotor is traveling at the
same speed as the rotor. It is essential, therefore, to produce a
stator field which is rotating at the same speed as the rotor.
Conversely, if the stator field is stationary in space it is
essential that the rotor field be rendered stationary in space.
This task can be performed mechanically by incorporating a
commutator in the electrical circuitry of the machine.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the prior art, commutators consist of a plurality of arcuate
sections spaced apart by non-conducting material and formed into a
continuous ring. The sections are electrically connected to the
windings of the motor and brushes, which are connected to a source
of power or adapted to have power removed therefrom, are slidably
engaged with the ring and disposed oppositely thereon to engage
opposite sections of the ring simultaneously. The brushes are
generally formed of relatively soft material and have a tendency to
wear relatively quickly, so that they must be changed periodically.
Further, because of this brush wearing, there is a tendency for
brush-type commutators to produce substantial electrical noise and
dust or particles of the brushes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention pertains to a commutator for electric machines
including a plurality of contacts adapted to be electrically
connected to the coils of the machine and mounted in spaced apart
relationship to define a circle, a pair of electrically conducting
rings mounted in parallel spaced apart relationship to define a
continuous circular channel therebetween and means mounting the
contacts and rings with the contacts disposed within the channel
and at least one contact engaged with one ring and an oppositely
disposed contact engaged with the other ring, with said means
engaging the shaft of the machine and responding to rotations
thereof to produce relative oscillatory movement of said contacts
within the channel so as to cause each contact to periodically
engage each ring for each rotation of the shaft, thereby effecting
sequential engagement of the contacts with each ring.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved
commutator for electric machines.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an
improved commutator for electric machines which does not utilize
brushes to provide contact between a stationary and a rotating
surface.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an
improved electric machine having an improved commutator attached
thereto, which machine can be utilized as a generator with a
greatly reduced ripple in the output voltage.
These and other objects of this invention will become apparent to
those skilled in the art upon consideration of the accompanying
specification, claims and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring to the drawings, wherein like characters indicate like
parts throughout the figures:
FIG. 1 is an axial sectional view of an electric machine having an
embodiment of the improved commutator operatively attached
thereto;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view as seen from the line 2--2 in FIG. 1,
portions thereof broken away;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view as seen from the line 3--3 in FIG.
1;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view as seen generally from the line 4--4 in
FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the
apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a developed view of the contacts and parallel conducting
rings with the rotor shaft in a first position;
FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 with the rotor shaft rotated 90
mechanical degrees;
FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of the electric machine
illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of another
embodiment of the commutator, portions thereof broken away and
shown in section;
FIG. 10 is a sectional view as seen from the line 10--10 in FIG. 9;
and
FIG. 11 is a sectional view as seen from the line 11--11 in FIG.
9.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIGS. 1 through 8, the numeral 15 generally designates
an electric machine, which may be utilized either as a motor or a
generator, and the numeral 16 generally designates a commutator
operatively attached to the electric machine 15. The electric
machine 15 includes a tubular housing 17 having an elongated shaft
18 coaxially mounted for rotation therein by means of bearings 19
and 20. The shaft 18 has a permanent magnet rotor 21 (which in this
embodiment is a two pole rotor) fixedly attached thereto. A
toroidally shaped stator core 22 (which is formed of a plurality of
annular laminations) has a continuous winding 23 therearound and is
fixedly mounted in the housing 17 concentric with the rotor 21. The
continuous winding 23 of the stator has a plurality of taps 24, in
this embodiment fifteen taps are provided, which are equally spaced
about the toroidally shaped winding 23 (see FIG. 8). While other
types of electric machines might be utilized in the present
disclosure, the present electric machine 15 is illustrated because
it produces very little ripple voltage in the output when the
electric machine 15 is utilized as a generator and, therefore, is
extremely useful in applications, such as tachometers or the
like.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5 specifically, the shaft 18 extends
outwardly from the right side of the electric machine 15 and is
formed with a first diameter having a flat side 25 and a second
smaller diameter adjacent the end having a flat side 26. A first
sleeve 30, having a flat portion on the inner surface thereof, is
coaxially engaged over the flat side 25 of the shaft 18 with the
flat sides mating and correctly positioning the sleeve 30. The end
of the sleeve 30 closest to the right end of the shaft 18 is cut at
an angle to the axis thereof, which angle in this embodiment is
approximately 3.degree.. A bearing 31, having an inner race 32 and
an outer race 33, is coaxially mounted on the shaft 18 adjacent the
angular end of the sleeve 30 by means of an at least slightly
deformable spacer 34. A second sleeve 35 having a flat on the inner
surface thereof is coaxially engaged over the flat side 26 of the
shaft 18, with the flat sides engaged to correctly position the
sleeve 35 on the shaft 18. The end of the sleeve 35 adjacent the
spacer 34 is cut at an angle to the axis equal to and parallel with
the angular end of the sleeve 30. The end of the shaft 18 is
threaded and a nut 36 is threadedly engaged thereon to maintain the
entire assembly in position.
A mounting block, generally designated 40 is formed from a first
annular member 41, an annular spacer 42 and a second annular member
43. The diameter of the opening through the annular members 41 and
43 is slightly larger than the outer diameters of the sleeves 30
and 35 but smaller than the outer diameter of the outer race 33 of
bearing 31. The diameter of the opening through the spacer 42 is
approximately equal to the outer diameter of the outer race 33 of
bearing 31 and a portion of the openings through the annular
members 41 and 43 are enlarged slightly to receive the outer race
33 of the bearing 31 snugly therein. Bolts 45 are threadedly
engaged in an axial direction through the annular member 43, spacer
42 and annular member 41 to clamp them tightly onto the outer race
33 of the bearing 31. It should of course be understood that other
mounting devices might be utilized but the present assembly is
illustrated because of its simplicity and ease of assembly.
Each of the annular members 41 and 43 has a radially outwardly
extending flange 46 in the periphery thereof adjacent the axially
outwardly directed surface thereof. The spacer 42 extends radially
outwardly a somewhat greater distance than the annular members 41
and 43, but not as great a distance as the flanges 46. The flanges
46 cooperate with the axial surfaces of the spacer 42 to provide
two spaced apart circular grooves extending around the periphery of
the mounting block 40. Each of the grooves has a flat annular,
electrical conducting ring 47 mounted therein for axial sliding
movements along the outer surfaces of the annular members 41 and
43. The rings 47 each have flat surfaces directed toward each other
in a parallel relationship and spaced apart by the spacer 42. Two
annular springs 50, having spring fingers pressed therefrom, are
positioned in abutment with the flanges 46 so that the spring
fingers bias the rings 47 inwardly against the edges of the spacer
42. The annular springs 50 have a plurality of axially extending
abutments or projections 51, formed integral with the flanges 46,
to prevent rotary movement of the annular springs 50 relative to
the mounting block 40. It should be understood that the rings 47
are illustrated as continuous conducting surfaces for simplicity
but a variety of embodiments, including arcuate sections
electrically connected and not necessarily mechanically connected,
might be devised by those skilled in the art.
A second mounting block 55 is formed by constructing a hollow
cylinder having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer
diameter of the rings 47 and affixing a plurality (15 in this
embodiment) of radially extending fingers 56 therethrough in
equally spaced relation therearound. In this embodiment, each of
the fingers 56 has a generally central opening therethrough and a
non-conducting material, such as plastic or the like, is molded
around and through the openings in the fingers 56 to form the
cylindrical mounting block 55 with the fingers 56 rigidly engaged
therein. The fingers 56 extend radially inwardly beyond the inner
diameter of the mounting block 55 and into the channel formed
between the adjacent surfaces of the conducting rings 47. The inner
end of each of the fingers 56 has a contact surface 57 extending
outwardly from either axial side thereof so as to be in a position
to engage the adjacent surfaces of either of the rings 47. The
contact surface 57 may be a single contact having opposed surfaces,
they may be two contacts on opposite sides of the fingers 56 or
they may be separate contacts and fingers each adapted to engage
only the adjacent ring 47. The fingers 56 extend radially outwardly
beyond the outer diameter of the mounting block 55 and the outer
ends form connecting lugs which have wires from the various taps 24
of the winding 23 fixedly attached thereto.
Three axially extending holes are formed in the mounting block 55
in spaced apart relationship and tubular non-conducting spacers 59
are aligned therewith between the mounting block 55 and a
non-conducting end cap 58 of the electric machine 15. Three bolts
60, 61 and 62 are engaged through the openings in the mounting
block 55 and the spacers 59 and are threadedly engaged in openings
in the end cap 58 to position the mounting block 55 in the desired
position relative to the mounting block 40. A lug 65 is engaged
between the head of the bolt 60 and the outer surface of the
mounting block 55, which lug 65 has an externally extending,
electrical conducting wire 66 attached thereto. The lug 65 also has
one end of an arcuate shaped spring wire 67 attached thereto with
the other end of the spring wire 67 being fixedly attached to a
radially outwardly extending ear 68 of the annular spring 50
engaged with the flange 46 of the annular member 43. A lug 70 is
engaged between the head of the bolt 61 and the outer surface of
the mounting block 55, which lug 70 has an externally extending,
electrical conducting wire 71 attached thereto. One end of a second
arcuately shaped spring wire 72 is engaged over the bolt 61 between
the rear surface of the mounting block 55 and the spacer 59 (not
shown) and the other end of the spring wire 72 is affixed to a
radially outwardly extending ear 73 on the annular spring 50
engaged with the flange 46 of the annular member 41. The spring
wires 67 and 72 provide an electrical connection from the wires 66
and 71, respectively, through the annular springs 50 to the rings
47. Also, the spring wires 67 and 72 prevent rotation of the
mounting block 40 relative to the mounting block 55 while allowing
oscillatory movements thereof, as will be described presently.
Referring to FIG. 5 wherein the nut 36 is loosely engaged on the
shaft 18, it can be seen that the mounting block 40 lies generally
coaxial with the shaft 18. However, as the nut 36 is tightened the
adjacent angular ends of the sleeves 30 and 35 force the bearing 31
into an angular position wherein the axis of the bearing 31 and
mounting block 40 is oriented at an angle (in the present
embodiment approximately 3 degrees) to the axis of the shaft 18.
Thus, rotation of the shaft 18 causes the mounting block 40 and the
rings 47 thereon to describe a wobbling oscillatory movement, while
the spring wires 67 and 72 prevent rotation thereof. With the nut
36 threaded onto the shaft 18 so that the angular sides of the
sleeve 30 and 35 are in tight abutting engagement with the inner
race 32 of the bearing 31, the mounting block 40 is tilted
sufficiently, relative to the shaft 18, to bring one of the rings
47 into engagement with the contact 57 on one of the fingers 56 and
the other ring 47 into engagement with at least one of the contacts
57 on an oppositely disposed finger 56.
Referring to the development diagram of FIG. 6, it can be seen that
the first contact 57 in the line is in engagement with the lower
ring 47 and the eighth and ninth contacts 57 in the line are in
engagement with the upper ring 47. In FIG. 7 the shaft 18 is
rotated 90.degree. and the fourth and fifth contacts 57 are engaged
with the lower ring 47 while the twelfth contact 57 is engaged with
the upper ring 47. It is therefore apparent that, for each complete
rotation of the shaft 18, each of the contacts 57 periodically
engages each of the rings 47 in a manner to effect sequential
engagement of the respective contacts with each ring. The rings 47
are slidably mounted on the mounting block 40 and biased by the
annular springs 50 to allow slight axial movement thereof upon
engagement with any of the contacts 57 so that each of the contacts
57 engages either of the rings 47 with a slight sliding movement to
insure positive contact therebetween.
The flat sides 25 and 26 on the shaft 18 are provided so that the
rings 47 are engaged with contact 57 and, therefore, taps 24 which
are oriented in a plane generally perpendicular to a plane through
the poles of the rotor 21 (see FIG. 8). It should of course be
understood that this specific orientation is desirable for the
electric machine 15 illustrated and if the commutator 16 is
utilized with other electric machines the orientation thereof may
vary. The present electric machine 15 operates on the basis that a
flux pattern is produced between the poles of the permanent magnet
rotor 21 and the stator core 22. Rotation of the shaft 18, by
connecting it to a motor or the like, causes the flux lines in this
pattern to be cut by the coils of the stationary winding 23, which
produces a voltage in the winding 23. This voltage is at a minimum
in a plane perpendicular to a plane through the poles of the rotor
21 so that there is a minimum of arcing in the commutator 16 is the
induced current is removed at these points. To utilize the electric
machine 15 as a motor, it is necessary to apply a D.C. voltage to
the wires 66 and 71 so that the winding 23 sets up a field, which
coacts with the field produced by the permanent magnet rotor 21 and
causes rotation thereof. It has been found that the specific
electric machine 15 illustrated, in conjunction with the disclosed
commutator 16, can be utilized as a tachometer (generator) and
produces a very low ripple in the output voltage thereof.
Referring to FIGS. 9, 10 and 11, a second embodiment of the
commutator is illustrated wherein similar numbers are utilized to
designate similar parts and primes are added to all of the numbers
to indicate the different embodiment. A shaft 18' extending
outwardly from a housing 17', containing an electric machine, has a
bushing 27' eccentrically mounted thereon. A bearing 31' is mounted
on the bushing 27' by means of an inner race 32'. An outer race 33'
of the bearing 31' has an annular mounting block 40' coaxially
mounted thereon for rotation therewith. The outer race 33' of the
bearing 31' is fixedly engaged within the mounting block 40' by
means of a pair of snap rings 28'. A groove is formed in the side
of the mounting block 40' directed toward the electric machine and
having upper and lower parallel surfaces coaxial with each other
and with the mounting block 40'. A pair of electrical conducting
rings 47' are affixed to the upper and lower surfaces of the groove
in the mounting block 40' in concentric spaced apart relationship
to define a continuous circular channel therebetween.
A pair of lugs 65' and 70' are formed as an integral part of the
rings 47' and electrical conducting wires 66' and 71',
respectively, are affixed thereto. An arcuate spring wire 67' is
affixed to an axially extending portion 37' of an end cap 58' and
to the mounting block 40' to substantially prevent rotation thereof
relative to the end cap 58'. Because the mounting block 40' is
mounted concentric with the bushing 27' which is in turn mounted
eccentrically on the shaft 18' and because the spring wire 67'
prevents rotation thereof, the conducting rings 47' affixed to the
mounting block 40' describe an oscillatory motion relative to a
point adjacent thereto.
In the present embodiment, three axially extending portions 37' are
affixed to the end cap 58' and space peripherally therearound. Each
of the axially extending portions 37' has a radially inwardly
projecting portion 38' affixed thereto with an annular mounting
block 55' affixed to the inner ends thereof coaxial with the shaft
18'. A plurality of axially extending fingers 56' are molded into
the annular mounting block 55' so as to extend outwardly from
either side thereof. The ends of the fingers 56' extending toward
the housing 17' are electrically connected to the winding of the
electric machine and the opposite ends of the fingers 56' extend
into the channel defined by the rings 47' and have contacts 57'
affixed thereto so as to extend radially outwardly from either side
thereof. The radius of the circle formed by the contacts 57' is
approximately equal to a mid radius of the channel defined by the
rings 47' and the eccentricity of the mounting block 40' is
sufficient to bring at least one contact 57' into engagement with
the lower ring 47'. In the present embodiment the fingers 56' are
relatively long and flexible and the eccentricity of the mounting
block 40' is sufficient to engage the contacts 57' and flex the
fingers 56' slightly to insure a positive contact between the
contacts 57' and the rings 47'. Thus, for each complete rotation of
the shaft 18' each of the contacts 57' engages each of the rings
47' by virtue of its oscillatory movement; and sequential
engagement of the contacts 57' with each of the rings 47' is
thereby effected.
While two embodiments are illustrated wherein contacts and parallel
rings form first and second pluralities of contact surfaces it
should be understood that many other embodiments and types of
contact surfaces may be devised by those skilled in the art.
Further the means for providing relative oscillatory movement
(sleeves 30-35 in FIG. 1-8 and eccentric bushing 27' in FIGS. 9-11)
may be modified or altered by those skilled in the art and may
include, for example, magnets to cause the required movement. If
magnets or the like are utilized the contacts of the commutator may
be hermetically sealed so that the electric machine can be used in
atmospheres where arcing would be dangerous. It is also possible to
incorporate additional mechanism between the commutator and the
electric machine, i.e., for example, connecting the contact
surfaces of the commutator to the windings of the electric machine
through semiconductor circuits or the like.
An improved commutator for electric machines has been disclosed
wherein a relatively small oscillatory motion is provided between
the parts of the commutator, as opposed to the rotating motion
provided in prior art devices. Because the contact surfaces, 47-57
and 47'-57', oscillate relative to each other, there is a
relatively short frictional engagement therebetween and, therefore,
relatively little wear. In fact it has been found that the
frictional wear is cut to approximately 2 percent of prior art
commutation apparatus. A slight sliding contact is provided between
the contacts and conducting rings to insure clean contacts and
positive engagement. Further, because of the unique configuration
of the present commutator the contacts can be oriented to provide
continuous engagement with one or more contacts, as desired, which,
in conjunction with the sliding effect described above, aids in
providing less arcing, less electrical noise and less resistance
across the interface. The unique configuration also renders the
coil contacts easily accessibile for the addition of auxiliary
circuitry and/or trimming networks connected across windings to
improve ripple, etc. The accessibility renders the commutator
easily replaceable without disassembly of the rotor or removal of
the electric machine from its installed location. Further, an
electric machine has been described in conjunction with the
commutator which provides a substantially decreased ripple voltage
in the output thereof when utilized as a generator.
While we have shown and described specific embodiments of this
invention, further modifications and improvement will occur to
those skilled in the art. We desire it to be understood, therefore,
that this invention is not limited to the particular forms shown,
and we intend in the appended claims to cover all modifications
which do not depart from the spirit and scope of this
invention.
* * * * *