Electrical rotary joint

Claim 2

A rotary electrical joint comprising: a. at least one rotary electrical contact means adapted to be secured to a rotating member for rotation therewith about an axis, b. at least one oscillating electrical contact means mounted for movement to and fro in a predetermined arc about said axis to cooperate with said rotary contact to provide at least one pair of complementary contacts consisting of a rotary contact and an oscillating contact, c. means for maintaining said pair of complementary contacts in electrical engagement during at least a portion of one revolution of said rotary contacts, d. circuit breaker means for cyclically disengaging said complementary contacts, e. return drive means driving said oscillating contact means in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said rotary contact means when disengaged from said rotary contact means by said circuit breaker means, and f. releasable locking means for mechanically locking said complementaty contacts to one another to prevent slipping between the rotary and oscillating contacts, said locking means being released by said circuit breaker when said complementary contacts are disengaged to permit the return drive means to operate.

Claim 3

A rotary electrical joint comprising: a. at least two rotary electrical contact means adapted to be secured to a rotating member for rotation therewith about an axis, b. at least two oscillating electrical contact means mounted for movement to and fro in a predetermined arc about said axis independently of one another to cooperate with said rotary contacts to provide at least two pairs of complementary contacts, each consisting of a rotary contact and an oscillating contact, c. means for maintaining each pair of contacts in electrical engagement during at least a portion of one revolution of said rotary contacts, d. circuit breaker means for cyclically disengaging one pair of contacts while the other pair remains in contact and the second mentioned pair of contacts while the first mentioned pair of contacts remain in contact, e. return drive means for independently driving each of said oscillating contact means in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said rotary contact means when disengaged from said rotary contact means by said circuit breaker means, and f. releasable locking means for mechanically locking the contacts of each pair of complementary contacts relative to one another to prevent rotary slipping between the rotary contact and the oscillating contact of each pair, said locking means being releasable by said circuit breaker means when said complementary contacts of each pair of contacts are disengaged to permit the return drive means to operate.

Claim 4

A rotary electrical joint comprising: a. at least two rotary electrical contact means adapted to be secured to a rotating member for rotation therewith about an axis, b. at least two oscillating electrical contact means mounted for movement to and fro in a predetermined arc about said axis independently of one another to cooperate with said rotary contacts to provide at least two pairs of complementary contacts, each consisting of a rotary contact and an oscillating contact, c. means for maintaining each pair of contacts in electrical engagement during at least a portion of one revolution of said rotary contacts, d. circuit breaker means for cyclically disengaging one pair of contacts while the other pair remains in contact and the second mentioned pair of contacts while the first mentioned pair of contacts remain in contact, e. return drive means for independently driving each of said oscillating contact means in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said rotary contact means when disengaged from said rotary contact means by said circuit breaker means, and f. releasable locking means for mechanically locking the contacts of each pair of complementary contacts relative to one another to prevent rotary slipping between the rotary contact and the oscillating contact of each pair, said locking means being releasable by said circuit breaker means when said complementary contacts of each pair of contacts are disengaged to permit the return drive means to operate.

Claim 5

A rotary electrical joint for connecting two components, one of which is to be mounted for rotation relative to the other, comprising: a. a housing adapted to be secured to one of said components, b. a chamber formed in said housing, c. a hollow shaft rotatably mounted in said housing and extending into said chamber for rotation about a longitudinally extending axis, d. at least two rotary contact assemblies mounted for rotation on said shaft and spaced longitudinally relative to one another within said chamber, e. at least two oscillating electrical contact means mounted for movement to and fro within said housing relative to said shaft in a predetermined arc about said axis independently of one another, said oscillating contacts cooperating with said roTary contacts to provide at least two pairs of complementary contacts each consisting of a rotary contact and an oscillating contact, means for maintaining each pair of contacts in electrical engagement during at least a portion of one revolution of said rotary contacts, f. circuit breaker means for cyclically disengaging one pair of contacts while the other pair remains in contact and the second pair of contacts while the first mentioned pair of contacts remain in contact, g. return drive means for independently driving each of said oscillating contact means in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said rotary contact means when disengaged from said rotary contact means by said circuit breaker means, and h. releasable locking means for mechanically locking the contacts of each pair of complementary contacts relative to one another to prevent rotary slipping between the rotary contact and the oscillating contact of each pair, said locking means being releasable by said circuit breaker means when said complementary contacts of each pair of contacts are disengaged to permit the return drive means to operate.

Claim 6

A rotary electrical joint for connecting two components, one of which is to be mounted for rotation relative to the other, comprising: a. a housing adapted to be secured to one of said components, b. a chamber formed in said housing, c. a hollow shaft rotatably mounted in said housing and extending into said chamber for rotation about a longitudinally extending axis, d. at least two rotary contact assemblies mounted for rotation on said shaft and spaced longitudinally relative to one another within said chamber, e. at least two oscillating electrical contact means mounted for movement to and fro within said housing relative to said shaft in a predetermined arc about said axis independently of one another, said oscillating contacts cooperating with said roTary contacts to provide at least two pairs of complementary contacts each consisting of a rotary contact and an oscillating contact, means for maintaining each pair of contacts in electrical engagement during at least a portion of one revolution of said rotary contacts, f. circuit breaker means for cyclically disengaging one pair of contacts while the other pair remains in contact and the second pair of contacts while the first mentioned pair of contacts remain in contact, g. return drive means for independently driving each of said oscillating contact means in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said rotary contact means when disengaged from said rotary contact means by said circuit breaker means, and h. releasable locking means for mechanically locking the contacts of each pair of complementary contacts relative to one another to prevent rotary slipping between the rotary contact and the oscillating contact of each pair, said locking means being releasable by said circuit breaker means when said complementary contacts of each pair of contacts are disengaged to permit the return drive means to operate.

Claim 7

A rotary electrical joint as claimed in claim 3 wherein said releasable locking means comprises latch means carried by each of said rotary contacts and complementary slot means formed in each of said oscillating contacts, said means for maintaining each pair of contacts in electrical engagement serving to urge said latch means into engagement with said slot means.

Claim 8

A rotary electrical joint as claimed in claim 3 wherein said means for maintaining each pair of contacts in electrical engagement comprises a pair of compression springs mounted coaxially with said shaft and reacting between said shaft and each of said electrical contact means.

Claim 9

A rotary electrical joint as claimed in claim 3 wherein said return drive means comprises coil spring means connecting each of said oscillating contact means to said housing, said coil spring means being biased to rotatably drive said oscillating assemblies in said direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the rotary contact means.

Claim 10

A rotary electrical joint as claimed in claim 6 including stop means coacting between said housing and each of said oscillating contact means to limit the rotation of said oscillating contact means in the direction of rotation of said coil spring bias.

Claim 11

A rotary joint as claimed in claim 3 wherein each of said rotary contact means is in the form of a contact assembly comprising: a. a rotary contact support disc having a central passage therein to receive said shaft, said disc being keyed to said shaft for longitudinal movement relative to said shaft and rotation with said shaft, b. a plurality of contact support rings mounted adjacent the outer peripheral edge of said rotary disc and arranged one on top of the other in a direction towards the opposite ends of said housing, said rotary contact support rings having inner peripheral edges spaced radially outwardly from said shaft to form an annular contact chamber therebetween, c. rotary electrical contacts extending radially inwardly from each of said rotary contact support rings into said contact chamber, each of said oscillating electrical contact means consisting of an assembly comprising, d. an oscillating contact support disc mounted on said shaft for rotation relative to said shaft about said axis and secured against longitudinal movement relative to said shaft, e. a plurality of oscillating support rings mounted on said oscillating support disc and extending longitudinally inwardly of said housing and oscillating electrical contacts extending radially outwardly from each of said oscillating contact support rings, each of said oscillating contact assemblies being mounted for rotation about said shaft with said oscillating contact support rings extending into a contact chamber of a rotary contact assembly such that the radially extending electrical contacts of the rotAry assembly and the radially extending electrical contacts of the oscillating assembly overlap one another.

Claim 12

A rotary joint as claimed in claim 8 wherein said circuit breaker means comprises: a. at least one cam roller mounted for rotation about a transverse axis and fixed to said housing to extend into said chamber, b. each of said rotary support discs having an annular cam track surface extending inwardly from the peripheral edge thereof, said cam surfaces overlying said cam roller means and having at least one protruding section extending outwardly from the plane of the remainder of the cam surface, the protruding sections of one cam surface being circumferentially spaced relative to the protruding sections of the other cam surface such that said cam roller will displace one of said rotary contact members longitudinally out of contact with its complementary oscillating assembly when one of said protruding sections of said cam surface engages said roller means, and the other rotary contact will be moved out of engagement with the other oscillating assembly when the protruding sections of the cam surface of the other rotary assembly is engaged by said cam means such that one or other of the rotary assemblies will at all times remain in contact with an oscillating assembly.

Claim 13

A rotary joint as claimed in claim 3 including electrical conductor means for electrically connecting each of the electrical contact means of one of the rotary contacts with an electrical contact means of the other rotary contact.

Claim 14

A rotary joint as claimed in claim 6 wherein said shaft is formed with a plurality of passageways extending therethrough and opening into said chamber and further including a first electrical junction means secured to said shaft for rotation therewith and a second electrical junction means secured to said housing, first electrical contact means extending from said first junction means through said hollow shaft and through said passage means formed in said hollow shaft into said chamber to communicate between each rotary contact and the terminal of said junction means, and electrical conductor means extending coextensively with respect to said coil spring means to communicate between each of said oscillating contact means and a terminal of said junction carried by said housing and additional electrical conductor means communicating between electrical contacts of one of said rotary assemblies and the corresponding electrical contact of the other of said rotary assemblies whereby one electrical contact of each assembly is connected to a single terminal of the rotary junction means.

Claim 15

A rotary electrical joint comprising: a. at least one rotary electrical contact means adapted to be secured to a rotating member for rotation therewith about an axis, b. at least one oscillating electrical contact means mounted for movement to and fro in a predetermined arc about said axis to cooperate with said rotary contact to provide at least one pair of complementary contacts consisting of a rotary contact and an oscillating contact, c. means for maintaining said pair of complementary contacts in electrical engagement during at least a portion of one revolution of said rotary contacts, d. circuit breaker means for cyclically moving said complementary contacts away from one another in a direction substantially normal to the direction of rotation of said contacts to disengage said complementary contacts, and e. return drive means driving said oscillating contact means in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said rotary contact means when disengaged from said rotary contact means by said circuit breaker means.

Claim 16

A rotary electrical joint comprising: a. at least one rotary electrical contact means adapted to be secured to a rotating member for rotation therewith about an axis, b. at least one oscillating electrical contact means mounted for movement to and fro in a predetermined arc about said axis to cooperate with said rotary contact to provide at least one pair of complementary contacts consisting of a rotary contact and an oscillating contact, c. means for maintaining said pair of complementary contacts in electrical engagement during at least a portion of one revolution of said rotary contacts, d. circuit breaker means for cyclically moving said complementary contacts away from one another in a direction substantially normal to the direction of rotation of said contacts to disengage said complementary contacts, and e. return drive means driving said oscillating contact means in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said rotary contact means when disengaged from said rotary contact means by said circuit breaker means.

Claim 17

A rotary electrical joint comprising: a. at least two rotary electrical contact means adapted to be secured to a rotating member for rotation therewith about an axis, b. at least two oscillating electrical contact means mounted for movement to and fro in a predetermined arc about said axis independently of one another to cooperate with said rotary contacts to provide at least two pairs of complementary contacts, each consisting of a rotary contact and an oscillating contact, c. means for maintaining each pair of contacts in electrical engagement during at least a portion of one revolution of said rotary contacts, d. circuit breaker means for cyclically disengaging one pair of contacts while the other pair remains in contact and the second mentioned pair of contacts while the first mentioned pair of contacts remain in contact, said circuit breaker means including means for removing the complementary contacts of each pair of contacts away from one another in a direction substantially normal to the direction of rotation of said contacts to disengage the contacts while permitting slipping to occur between the contacts, e. return drive means for independently driving each of said oscillating contact means in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said rotary contact means when disengaged from said rotary contact means by said circuit breaker means.

Claim 18

A rotary electrical joint comprising: a. at least two rotary electrical contact means adapted to be secured to a rotating member for rotation therewith about an axis, b. at least two oscillating electrical contact means mounted for movement to and fro in a predetermined arc about said axis independently of one another to cooperate with said rotary contacts to provide at least two pairs of complementary contacts, each consisting of a rotary contact and an oscillating contact, c. means for maintaining each pair of contacts in electrical engagement during at least a portion of one revolution of said rotary contacts, d. circuit breaker means for cyclically disengaging one pair of contacts while the other pair remains in contact and the second mentioned pair of contacts while the first mentioned pair of contacts remain in contact, said circuit breaker means including means for removing the complementary contacts of each pair of contacts away from one another in a direction substantially normal to the direction of rotation of said contacts to disengage the contacts while permitting slipping to occur between the contacts, e. return drive means for independently driving each of said oscillating contact means in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said rotary contact means when disengaged from said rotary contact means by said circuit breaker means.

Claim 19

A rotary electrical joint for connecting two components, one of which is to be mounted for rotation relative to the other, comprising: a. a housing adapted to be secured to one of said components, b. a chamber formed in said housing, c. a hollow shaft rotatably mounted in said housing and extending into said chamber for rotation about a longitudinally extending axis, d. at least two rotary contact assemblies mounted for rotation on said shaft and spaced longitudinally relative to one another within said chamber, e. at least two oscillating electrical contact means mounted for movement to and fro within said housing relative to said shaft in a predetermined arc about said axis independently of one another, said oscillating contacts cooperating with said rotary contacts to provide at least two pairs of complementary contacts each consisting of a rotary contact and an oscillating contact, means for maintaining each pair of contacts in electrical engagement during at least a portion of one revolution of said rotary contacts, f. circuit breaker means for cyclically disengaging one pair of contacts while the other pair remains in contact and the second pair of contacts while the first mentioned pair of contacts remain in contact, said circuit breaker means including means for moving the complementary contacts of each pair of contacts away from one another in a direction substantially normal to the direction of rotation of said contacts to disengage the contacts while permitting slipping to occur between the contacts, g. return drive means for independently driving each of said oscillating contact means in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said rotary contact means when disengaged from said rotary contact means by said circuit breaker means.

Claim 20

A rotary electrical joint for connecting two components, one of which is to be mounted for rotation relative to the other, comprising: a. a housing adapted to be secured to one of said components, b. a chamber formed in said housing, c. a hollow shaft rotatably mounted in said housing and extending into said chamber for rotation about a longitudinally extending axis, d. at least two rotary contact assemblies mounted for rotation on said shaft and spaced longitudinally relative to one another within said chamber, e. at least two oscillating electrical contact means mounted for movement to and fro within said housing relative to said shaft in a predetermined arc about said axis independently of one another, said oscillating contacts cooperating with said rotary contacts to provide at least two pairs of complementary contacts each consisting of a rotary contact and an oscillating contact, means for maintaining each pair of contacts in electrical engagement during at least a portion of one revolution of said rotary contacts, f. circuit breaker means for cyclically disengaging one pair of contacts while the other pair remains in contact and the second pair of contacts while the first mentioned pair of contacts remain in contact, said circuit breaker means including means for moving the complementary contacts of each pair of contacts away from one another in a direction substantially normal to the direction of rotation of said contacts to disengage the contacts while permitting slipping to occur between the contacts, g. return drive means for independently driving each of said oscillating contact means in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said rotary contact means when disengaged from said rotary contact means by said circuit breaker means.

Claim 21

A rotary electrical joint as claimed in claim 14 including releasable locking means for mechanically locking the contacts of each pair of complementary contacts relative to one another to prevent rotary slipping between the rotary contact and the oscillating contact of each pair, said locking means being releasable by said circuit breaker means when said complementary contacts of each pair of contacts are disengaged to permit the return drive means to operate.

Claim 22

A rotary electrical joint as claimed in claim 14 wherein said means for maintaining each pair of contacts in electrical engagement comprises a pair of compression springs mounted coaxially with said shaft and reacting between said shaft and each of said electrical contact means.

Claim 23

A rotary electrical joint as claimed in claim 14 wherein said return drive means comprises coil spring means connecting each of said oscillating contact means to said housing, said coil spring means being biased to rotatably drive said oscillating assemblies in said direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the rotary contact means.

Claim 24

A rotary electrical joInt as claimed in claim 17 including stop means coacting between said housing and each of said oscillating contact means to limit the rotation of said oscillating contact means in the direction of rotation of said coil spring bias.

Claim 25

A rotary joint as claimed in claim 14 wherein each of said rotary contact means is in the form of a contact assembly comprising: a. a rotary contact support disc having a central passage therein to receive said shaft, said disc being keyed to said shaft for longitudinal movement relative to said shaft and rotation with said shaft, b. a plurality of contact support rings mounted adjacent the outer peripheral edge of said rotary disc and arranged one on top of the other in a direction towards the opposite ends of said housing, said rotary contact support rings having inner peripheral edges spaced radially outwardly from said shaft to form an annular contact chamber therebetween, c. rotary electrical contacts extending radially inwardly from each of said rotary contact support rings into said contact chamber, each of said oscillating electrical contact means consisting of an assembly comprising: d. an oscillating contact support disc mounted on said shaft for rotation relative to said shaft about said axis and secured against longitudinal movement relative to said shaft, e. a plurality of oscillating support rings mounted on said oscillating support disc and extending longitudinally inwardly of said housing and oscillating electrical contacts extending radially outwardly from each of said oscillating contact support rings, each of said oscillating contact assemblies being mounted for rotation about said shaft with said oscillating contact support rings extending into a contact chamber of a rotary contact assembly such that the radially extending electrical contacts of the rotary assembly and the radially extending electrical contacts of the oscillating assembly overlap one another.

Claim 26

A rotary joint as claimed in claim 19 wherein said circuit breaker means comprises: a. at least one cam roller mounted for rotation about a transverse axis and fixed to said housing to extend into said chamber, b. each of said rotary support discs having an annular cam track surface extending inwardly from the peripheral edge thereof, said cam surfaces overlying said cam roller means and having at least one protruding section extending outwardly from the plane of the remainder of the cam surface, the protruding sections of one cam surface being circumferentially spaced relative to the protruding sections of the other cam surface such that said cam roller will displace one of said rotary contact members longitudinally out of contact with its complementary oscillating assembly when one of said protruding sections of said cam surface engages said roller means, and the other rotary contact will be moved out of engagement with the other oscillating assembly when the protruding sections of the cam surface of the other rotary assembly is engaged by said cam means such that one or other of the rotary assemblies will at all times remain in contact with an oscillating assembly.